By: Gunnar KallstromHead of information systems and cybersecurity research
Password security is important for everyone, especially seniors. Managing multiple passwords and ensuring they are strong and unique can be challenging, particularly for seniors who may find it difficult to remember complex combinations. Password managers can be invaluable tools, storing and auto-filling passwords so you don’t have to remember them. From simplifying password management to providing a secure vault for storing credentials, these tools offer peace of mind, empowering seniors to navigate the digital realm confidently while safeguarding their sensitive information. Review our list to find the best password manager for you, your family, or your business, no matter your age.
Best password manager for seniors
(4.8)
1Password is a popular password manager provider with millions of individuals and businesses using its app. This company provides exceptional security at a fair price, is easy to use, and will run on just about anything.
| Starting price | Platform compatibility | User experience (UX) | Form filling | Security | Two-factor authentication (2FA) | Top features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.99 per month | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web (Brave, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari), Windows | Fantastic UX/user interface (UI) design, making it a wonderfully user-friendly option. | Automatic form filling saves you time and ensures you make data entries without errors. | 1Password protects your data using the same encryption used by many banks, financial institutions, and other government agencies. | Options included sending a verification code to my registered contact information (number and email). |
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I found 1Password the best password manager for seniors because it offers excellent customer support, an easy and intuitive design, and industry-leading privacy and security. It is easy enough to be used by those who are a touch tech shy, but even experts will be impressed with the advanced security and features.
1Password’s Advanced Protection feature can really help seniors determine how and where their password security really needs to be beefed up. It’s also very simple to use and only require seniors to remember one master password as opposed to a whole list of different (or, even worse, the same) passwords for every site they visit. It can even make suggestions for stronger passwords for them.
Seniors will find overview of all account activity helpful and reassuring — they can see if other people are trying to access their accounts as well as when. Overall, the reporting from 1Password is better than Dashlane or LastPass, which rank just below on this list. That could also be helpful for caregivers keeping an eye on seniors’ online activity.
Who is 1Password best for?
1Password is best suited as a password manager for individuals and families, but there are also business plans available for seniors who might own and operate a small to medium-sized business (SMB).
Recent upgrades to 1Password:
1Password is good about incorporating user feedback, and enhancing the ability to personalize your home dashboard. Also, some new features, like the capability to tweet your Watchtower (an online security scan) score. It’s also easier to edit vault entries, and the company improved security and performance, updated item icons, and redesigned the sidebar to offer a more detailed view of vault items.
1Password pricing:
Pricing is comparable to both Dashlane and LastPass. A personal plan on 1Password costs $2.99 per month (billed annually), while Dashlane is slightly cheaper at $2.75 and LastPass is slightly more at $3. Yet both LastPass and Dashlane offer a free tier for basic service, which 1Password does not.
Pros and cons of 1Password
Best password manager for easily changing passwords
(4.7)
Dashlane has all the makings of a top-notch password manager. While its security features like 256-bit AES encryption and 2FA are par for the course, Dashlane stands out with such premium features as VPN, password health checker, and live dark web monitoring.
| Starting price | Platform compatibility | User experience (UX) | Form filling | Security | Two-factor authentication (2FA) | Top features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Brave, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari | Dashlane has a simplistic, easy-to-navigate platform — one of the cleanest, most visually appealing interfaces. | This should work well for most people but doesn’t offer many options as other services. | Like most, Dashlane utilizes 256-bit AES encryption, widely regarded as unbreachable. Most people should feel perfectly secure with Dashlane’s chosen encryption. | Dashlane offers 2FA by way of an authenticator app. However, I would love to see more options. |
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Changing passwords is one of the most tedious and complicated aspects of cybersecurity since many experts recommend changing your passwords every few months. This is a hassle for anyone, let alone a senior who’s not confident in their computer skills. Dashlane makes this easy with a password changer that adjusts your login credentials without making you go to the provider’s website. This unique feature makes Dashlane a standout option for seniors who want to avoid the process of repeatedly changing passwords across every log-in they may have..
Dashlane’s security stands out with two unique offerings — live dark web monitoring and a VPN. While other password managers offer dark web monitoring, few offer Dashlane’s live version. When Dashlane detects your information on the dark web, it notifies you in real-time. This is a useful feature because such matters can be timely.
Dashlane truly stands above the rest with the VPN in its premium tier. It uses a licensed version of Hotspot Shield, which on its own costs $12.99 per month. You get it with Dashlane for just $4.99 per month. While a VPN may feel like overkill and of limited use to the older loved ones in your life, you may find that a show that they want to watch is region locked to a certain location. A VPN can help you bypass such restrictions, unlocking their Netflix account to new possibilities.
Who is Dashlane best for?
Seniors looking for a host of premium security features will find a lot to love with Dashlane. Some of those features come at a higher price tag but are still a good value for what you get.
Recent upgrades to Dashlane:
Dashlane is constantly working on improving, having recently added a new CSV import process, allowing you to move information from other password managers. It is now also easier to bulk delete the information you no longer need.
Dashlane pricing:
Dashlane’s pricing is varied. You can choose free, advanced, premium, and friends & family plans. For businesses, Dashlane offers starter, team, and business tiers. The advanced tier is priced like most password managers’ premium tiers at $2.75 per month (billed annually). Dashlane’s premium tier, priced at $4.99 per month, includes a VPN.
Pros and cons of Dashlane
Best UX for a password manager
(4.4)
LastPass’s UI and competitive pricing scheme are its leading features, though there is reason to pause. Customer service is primarily a self-serve exploration of FAQs, so seniors may find it difficult to get help. LastPass has been the target of several high-profile data breaches over the years. Still, the program is so easy and intuitive to use we can’t help but overlook these flaws.
| Starting price | Platform compatibility | User experience (UX) | Form filling | Security | Two-factor authentication (2FA) | Top features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | ChromeOS, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge, iOS, Android, Windows PC, MacOS, Linux | LastPass’s browser extension is understandable and easy to navigate, with an interesting mechanic that rewards you for exploring its features. | This works as intended, with a big, friendly reminder in text fields that might warrant it. | LastPass is good at analyzing potential security risks, but recent data breaches may give you pause. | Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is limited in scope but available for an extra layer of security. |
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In the past, we gave LastPass our top award in password managers for seniors. But several data breaches tarnished its reputation significantly. The company assures users’ passwords were not leaked. Yet it admits the attacker gained access to certain elements of customers’ information, though the specifics are unclear.
This doesn’t change that LastPass is one of the most senior-friendly password managers I’ve ever tried. The provider goes out of its way to teach newbies how to use the platform and rewards them with a discount on a premium plan for completing those steps. In many ways, this is the ideal password manager for those who aren’t comfortable with new tech.
The actual front-facing Security Dashboard built into the browser extension is a breeze to use, with features not commonly seen for these kinds of services, such as dark web monitoring. Other features, such as identifying weak or compromised passwords, worked well, with helpful suggestions on strengthening your security. These reminders might be particularly helpful for seniors, gently guiding them toward greater online security.
Who is LastPass best for?
I’d recommend LastPass to seniors looking for an easy-to-use password manager who aren’t bothered by the company’s recent data breaches. With end-to-end encryption, data stored in your account is safe even in the event of a breach.
Pros and cons of LastPass
While I chose 1Password as the best password manager, Dashlane and LastPass are both excellent options that may suit you better, with a good value and great UX. These three stood out above their competitors with their value for the price, access to support, and an accessible UI. All offer services under $3 a month, and Dashlane and LastPass even have limited free versions you can use forever on a single device.
1Password is a great overall option, offering an easy-to-use password management solution for a great rate. But a lack of a free version and customer support limited to email may lead you toward choosing another option for the senior in your life.
Dashlane is the most affordable option on this list. Plans are routinely lower than the other two (absent any sales), and it has a number of ease-of-use options which may be particularly helpful for seniors, including streamlined password changing. However, many premium options are locked behind paid upgrades, which may turn off some.
While LastPass has dropped down the list significantly this year due to an unfortunate data breach late in 2022, I still feel the overall design and UX are so strong it warrants remaining on our recommended list. If I were grading purely on a scale of ease of use, LastPass would win handily.
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: 4.8/5 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: 4.75/5 Read our full Dashlane review. Consider Dashlane if: You’re only interested in a personal plan. | Starting price: Free Platform compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Brave, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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| LastPass Overall rating: 4.4/5 Read our full LastPass review. Consider LastPass if: You want additional features and are willing to pay a high price for it. | Starting price: $3 per month Platform compatibility: ChromeOS, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge, iOS, Android, Windows PC, MacOS, Linux Security: Zero-knowledge security model |
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| Bitwarden Overall rating: 4.8/5 Read our full Bitwarden review. Consider Bitwarden if: You’re looking for an excellently priced premium plan. | Starting price: Free Platform compatibility: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave, Tor) Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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| Keeper Overall rating: 4.6/5 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, iOS. Browser extensions for Safari, Opera, Firefox, Edge, Chrome Security: AES 256-bit encryption, PBKDF2 |
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| RoboForm Overall rating: 4.5/5 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. | Starting price: $24 per year Platform compatibility: Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and Android. Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari). Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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| NordPass Overall rating: 4.3/5 Read our full NordPass review. Consider NordPass if: You don’t want different packages for your family and business. | Starting price: $2.49 per month Platform compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iOS, and popular browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, and Safari Security: XChaCha20 encryption algorithm and a zero-knowledge policy |
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While it’s hard to answer definitively, 1Password is our current favorite overall password manager and we’d recommend it to anyone, seniors included. It offers a compelling balance of ease and usability with a strong security track record.
In all of my experience using and testing password managers, I’d have to admit that LastPass has been the easiest password manager to use. It’s the only one that I can think of that literally walks you through how to use it and gives a great incentive for you to do so.
With a password manager, the only password they’ll have to remember is their master password. This is part of what makes a good password manager essential — no more lined notebooks in an upper drawer filled with passwords and log-in information for every website they’ve ever signed into.
While password managers have been around for a long time, they’re not the kind of program that typically comes pre-installed on a new phone or computer. If they haven’t been told about them and how important they are, they’re not going to seek them out for themselves.
These third-party apps manage your passwords, creating and storing them so all you have to do is remember a secure master password. Once you sign up with a service and install any necessary software or browser extensions, the password manager will suggest and save strong passwords for your accounts and websites you visit.
Most password managers use end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption (the same standard used by many banks and government institutions) and “no-knowledge architecture.”
These services scramble up your information in a way that your device can only decode. Your data is safe, even during a breach, because they typically don’t have that information.
Many password managers (such as Dashlane and LastPass) offer free versions only limited by the ability to be used on other devices — for example, from a phone to a computer. This may be enough for many people, though the yearly cost for a premium version that can be used across many platforms is usually around $36 a year.
You can use your web browser’s built-in password manager, but for the best protection, a secure password manager with a master password is the better option. While security for web browser versions has improved in recent years, third-party password managers typically have more layers of built-in security. Designed to sync up across different browsers and devices, they are more nimble than a web browser.
As with any software program, password managers can get hacked. There have been data breaches and vulnerabilities in password manager software. But using a secure password manager still provides significant protection because of the security protocols in place. Also, because password managers stake their reputations on providing customer security, they quickly resolve weaknesses.
No — trustworthy password managers use a zero-knowledge protocol, encrypting your information before it is stored on servers, and no one can read it. Another option is to use a password manager that offers local data storage so your passwords never leave your local network.
On the surface, all password managers essentially fulfill the same functions — generating and storing passwords. In creating our list of recommendations for the best password manager, we dug deeper, comparing software on what matters most, including price, platform compatibility, security, and other factors. We also tried to keep in mind the needs of seniors — what platforms they’re using, barriers to entry, and cost.
I signed up for a plan with each provider to test:
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 CompTIA courses, including Security+, Network+, A+ Core 1, and A+ Core 2. He earned a Computing Technology Industry Association (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).