By: Gunnar KallstromHead of Information Systems and Cybersecurity Research
Password managers offer valuable assistance in generating and recalling robust passwords, completing online forms, and ensuring the security of your information. If you’re using Linux as your operating system, our curated list will help you discover the best password managers compatible with Linux, whether you’re an individual user, seeking a solution for your family, or looking for a password manager to enhance your business’s security.
Best overall Linux password manager
(4.8)
1Password is a popular password manager provider with millions of individuals and businesses using its app. It offers exceptional security at a fair price and is continually innovating to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers.
| Starting price 4.8/5 | Platform compatibility 5.0/5 | User experience (UX) 5.0/5 | Form filling 5.0/5 | Security 4.5/5 | Two-factor authentication (2FA) 5.0/5 | Storage capability | Top features |
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| $2.99 per month | Works with almost every operating system and browser. | User-friendly design gives a concise view of all available features | Automatically populates login, billing, and shipping information and bypasses CAPTCHA requirements. | Uses robust AES 256-bit encryption with a Secret Key for optimum security. | 2FA available with authenticator apps, security keys, or Duo. | 1GB per user for most plans, or 5GB per user for business plans |
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1Password frequently tops best password managers lists for a good reason: It combines above-average security with one of the most user-friendly interfaces I’ve tested. I haven’t found any evidence of 1Password ever being hacked, which is more than can be said for many other top password managers.
1Password combines powerful AES 256-bit encryption with a Secret Key to ensure your data is always safe. Plus, it offers one of the best 2FA features I’ve seen, with many authentication options. It also helps you create firewalls and requires all users to have up-to-date apps. I appreciated how its Advanced Protection helped me identify where I should use 1Password.
Multi-user plans come with reporting capabilities that generate custom analytics for additional insights into how your business or household uses 1Password. Administrators can then use these reports to see which company emails may be compromised and areas where vital information is at risk of being exposed. 1Password’s superior reporting is one of the key features that elevate it above Keeper and Dashlane, which also rank on this list.
Who is 1Password best for?
After personally testing 1Password, I find it is most suitable for small, mid, and enterprise-level business owners. Families and personal users can also appreciate it, although some features seem more geared toward businesses.
Recent upgrades to 1Password:
1Password’s latest update provides admins with more features, such as copying, archiving, or creating password groups, as well as a dark mode for all customers.
This latest update also came with full Linux support, further expanding 1Password’s operating system compatibilities. Additional improvements include easier entry editing, improved performance and security, updated item icons, a detailed view for items and vaults, and a redesigned sidebar.
1Password pricing:
Pricing is similar to Keeper’s and Dashlane’s as all business plans are identical in features offered and cost. However, Dashlane offers 24/7 live support, while 1Password and Keeper provide 24/7 email support. 1Password’s individual plan starts at $2.99 per month compared to $2.91 per month for Keeper and $4.99 for Dashlane.
But Dashlane comes with dark web monitoring, and Keeper provides reporting even on individual plans. 1Password offers a 14-day free trial for personal, family, and business plans compared to a 30-day trial with Keeper on all plans. Dashlane’s free trial is only available on premium, team, and business plans.
Pros and cons of 1Password
Best free Linux password manager
(4.7)
After testing Dashlane, I find it offers the best free password manager for Linux clients. It is one of the few Linux password managers that raises the bar with premium features like virtual private network (VPN), password health checker, and live dark web monitoring. It is also the only password manager with an always-free plan option on this list.
| Starting price 5.0/5 | Platform compatibility 5.0/5 | User experience (UX) 4.8/5 | Form filling 4.8/5 | Security 4.8/5 | Two-factor authentication (2FA) 4.3/5 | Storage capability | Top features |
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| Free | Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, OS, iOS, Android | Simplistic and easy to navigate. | Automatically populates login information but occasionally struggles to recognize other fields. | Uses top-notch AES 256-bit encryption with zero-knowledge architecture and live dark web monitoring. | 2FA available on all plans. | From 1GB to 1GB per user, depending on the plan. |
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After testing Dashlane, I found it had everything I need from a password manager. It provides top-notch security, and various premium features such as live dark web monitoring and a password health checker, set it apart from the competition. The simplistic interface made it user-friendly and easy to navigate.
The free version is more limited than the premium offerings, but still one of the best always-free platforms I’ve tested. While I consider Dashlane the best free Linux password manager, the premium plan is the best value, especially with a VPN.
For $4.99 per month, Dashlane’s premium tier includes a VPN, which is rare among password managers. It uses a licensed version of Hotspot Shield, which would cost you $12.99 per month if you were to buy it on its own. While Dashlane’s version is more limited, it’s still valuable.
All of Dashlane’s plans come with top-end security. I haven’t found evidence of any security breaches, and even if there were one, your data would be protected by its local encryption and zero-knowledge architecture that encrypts information at the device level rather than in the cloud.
Who is Dashlane best for?
Anyone who wants an always-free Linux password manager should choose Dashlane. I found its free plan among the best free password managers available. Meanwhile, Dashlane’s premium plan is the obvious choice for any VPN user as it offers one of the best value propositions in both the VPN and password manager marketplaces.
Recent upgrades to Dashlane:
Dashlane recently added a new CSV import process that lets you move information from other password managers to Dashlane. There is also now a bulk delete function to remove information you no longer need. Dashlane launched an extension that works with passkeys and lets you add your own linked websites and subdomains to your logins that share the same Dashlane account.
Dashlane pricing:
Dashlane offers one of the best values of any Linux password manager. While its free tier is more limited than other offerings, it’s the only one on this list to offer an always-free option. Paid plans start at $2.75 per month compared to $2.91 per month for Keeper and $2.99 per month for 1Password.
But Dashlane’s greatest value is for VPN users who can get a password manager with a VPN included for only $4.99 per month, the same price as 1Password’s family plan that does not include a VPN.
Pros and cons of Dashlane
Best Linux password manager for personal users
(4.6)
Keeper is a popular password manager provider that frequently ranks in lists of the best password managers. It offers a wide range of features on a user-friendly platform with top-notch security for a password management service you can trust.
| Starting price 4.5/5 | Platform compatibility 4.5/5 | User experience (UX) 5.0/5 | Form filling 4.5/5 | Security 4.5/5 | Two-factor authentication (2FA) 5.0/5 | Storage capability | Top features |
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| $2.91 | Compatible with almost every operating system and browser. | Clean and minimalistic interface makes navigation a breeze. | Automatically populates login, billing, and shipping information, as well as auto save for new passwords. | Uses top-notch AES 256-bit encryption with zero-knowledge architecture for optimum security. | 2FA available via text, authenticator apps, security keys, or Duo. | 100MB for Web Vault, 5GB for desktop app, 100GB for iOS and Android on most plans. |
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I found Keeper one of the best password managers for individuals, especially students, military, and medical professionals who can take advantage of its 30% to 50% discount.
Keeper offers military-grade security with a user-friendly interface compatible with just about any operating system or browser. I particularly appreciated the customizable vault, which lets you tailor it to your needs. For example, someone who stores a lot of data may like being able to split their vault into different tabs for categories like passwords, credit cards, personal information, and shared items.
The only shortcomings I found with Keeper were a lack of dark web monitoring and VPN, which would take high-end security to another level. While dark web monitoring is available, you have to pay extra, which is not the case with some of Keeper’s competitors. I also found that while Keeper’s autofill gets the job done, it’s not quite as smooth as some competitors, as it requires a few extra clicks.
That said, these flaws are more of the missing cherries on top of an already-packed sundae. Keeper still stands out in a crowded marketplace for offering great value at a competitive price.
Who is Keeper best for?
After testing Keeper, I found it is most suitable for personal users, especially those who qualify for its discount. The minimalist approach makes it easy to use, while the ability to expand for larger groups would also appeal to families and businesses.
Recent upgrades to Keeper:
Keeper is consistently updating its platform to improve functionality and the UX. Recent and planned improvements include mega speed improvements for both iOS and Android apps, as well as a new release for iOS 16.7.0 and Android 16.5.15 and 16.5.10. The vault will also be updated, and a share admin feature enabled. Keeper will also be entering Japan and Canada.
Keeper pricing:
Keeper’s pricing is in line with competitors like 1Password and Dashlane. While it doesn’t offer an always-free plan like Dashlane, Keeper is a cheaper password manager for personal users than 1Password at $2.91 per month versus $2.99 per month with comparable features. The Family plan on Keeper will set you back a bit more at $6.24 per month compared to 1Password’s $4.99 per month.
Dashlane’s more advanced paid plans start at $2.75 per month for individuals or $7.49 per month for the Friends and Family Plan. It’s worth noting that Dashlane does include dark web monitoring, but only Keeper offers reporting capabilities on personal plans. Keeper also provides a 30-day free trial on all plans.
Pros and cons of Keeper
While I chose 1Password as the best Linux password manager overall, Dashlane and Keeper are both excellent options that may be more suitable depending on what features are important to you.
These three stood out above the competitors for three main reasons — their value, top-end security, and user-friendly interface. You can get any one for less than $3 per month, with Dashlane even offering a free plan that, while limited, can’t be beat in terms of price.
While other password managers may offer similar features and pricing, 1Password, Dashlane and Keeper all excelled at the criteria I evaluated. You can’t go wrong with any of these options.
Other password managers we considered but didn’t rank among the best include:
See how the best password managers compare to other top-tier options:
| Password manager | Details | Best features |
|---|---|---|
| 1Password Overall rating: (4.8) Read our full 1Password review. | Starting price: $2.99 per month Platform compatibility: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web (Brave, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari), Windows Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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| Dashlane Overall rating: (4.7) Read our full Dashlane review. Consider Dashlane if: You’re only interested in a personal plan. | Starting price: Free Platform compatibility: Android, iOS, Mac, Web (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari), Windows Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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| Keeper Overall rating: (4.6) Read our full Keeper review. Consider Keeper if: You want to enjoy the feature of secure biometric logins. | Starting price: $3.75 per user Platform compatibility: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad. Browser extensions for Safari, Opera, Firefox, Edge, Chrome Security: AES 256-bit encryption, PBKDF2 |
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| RoboForm Overall rating: (4.5) Read our full RoboForm review. Consider RoboForm if: You want to sync your passwords through multiple platforms and won’t mind its compatibility with fewer platforms than 1Password. | Starting price: $24 per year Platform compatibility: Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android support for their respective major browsers, including Edge Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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| LastPass Overall rating: (4.4) Read our full LastPass review. Consider LastPass if: You want additional features and are willing to pay a high price. | Starting price: $3 per month Platform compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile platform Security: Zero-knowledge security model |
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| NordPass Overall rating: (4.3) Read our full NordPass review. Consider NordPass if: You want the same packages for your family and business. | Starting price: $2.49 per month Platform compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and popular browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, and Safari Security: XChaCha20 encryption algorithm and a zero-knowledge policy |
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If you want to store passwords offline, we recommend KeePassXC. Unlike most other password managers which store your information in encrypted form in the cloud, KeePassXC is designed to store data offline.
Many password managers work with Linux. Our top picks are 1Password, Keeper, and Dashlane, each of which offer an exceptional value at varying price ranges.
The two best alternatives to 1Password for Linux are Keeper and Dashlane. Keeper is best for personal users who don’t mind paying a few dollars a month for the premium plans. If you prefer a no-cost password manager, Dashlane offers an always-free plan option that has most of the features the average person could want.
All of your passwords on Linux are stored in local, plain text files that only root user accounts can access. If you have root access, you can view the stored passwords in the /etc/passwd files.
Our top pick for the strongest password manager that works on Linux is 1Password. It uses robust AES 256-bit encryption along with a Secret Key for optimum security. Keeper and Dashlane also use AES 256-bit encryption, but pair it with zero-knowledge architecture, which ensures only you can access your data in unencrypted form.
Many work on both Linux and Windows, including the three on our best Linux password managers list. Keeper, 1Password, and Dashlane are all compatible with Linux and Windows operating systems.
All password managers are designed around one central need — to securely generate and store passwords — but the best password managers go even further. To determine which password managers are the best of the best, we evaluated each across multiple metrics, including price, platform compatibility, security, and other factors.
I personally tested each provider to evaluate its:
Learn more about our review methodology.
About The Password Manager, Gunnar Kallstrom:
Kallstrom, The Password Manager, is a Cyber Team Lead for a Department of Defense (DOD) contracting company in Huntsville, Alabama, and has worked as a Computer Network Defense (CND) Cyber Analyst. An author and content creator for a cybersecurity academy, Kallstrom spent nearly 15 years in the Army as a musician before entering the cybersecurity field.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Thomas Edison State University and a master’s in organizational development and leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word.
Kallstrom has completed several Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) courses, including Security+, Network+, A+ Core 1, and A+ Core 2. He earned a CompTIA Security+ Certification. Additionally, he has completed the Cyber Warrior Academy program with more than 800 hours of hands-on, intensive, and lab-driven technical training in cybersecurity methods and procedures.
Passionate about all things cyber, Kallstrom was a speaker on a panel at the 2022 InfoSec World conference, giving a talk entitled “Hacking into a Cyber Career – True Stories.” Kallstrom is also a mentor to entry-level cybersecurity candidates seeking to break into the field. When he’s not working, he still enjoys playing guitar and fishing (not phishing).