mSecure Password Manager Review 2024: Expert Rated 3.8/5

While mSecure offers excellent security features at a low cost, it doesn’t work across all platforms and the UX can be clumsy.

While the website claims to be compatible with Windows and Android, I found actual full functionality is limited to Apple devices.

While there is a stand-alone application for Windows, all it does is store information. If you want it to automatically sign you in, you have to be a Mac user, as that feature has only been implemented on Apple computers and, even then, only when using Chrome or Firefox.

And if you’re using a PC or Safari on Mac, you must copy and paste your login information from the mSecure app.

It looks innocuous, but the first hurdle was importing my passwords using a pre-exported CSV file. I explored the settings for a few moments without much luck and eventually Googled the solution — this import feature was buried at the bottom of the “Backups” section. After I imported my CSV, none of the entries were identified correctly and had to be individually recategorized for mSecure to recognize them as login information.

Even when I got entries categorized, I couldn’t use them in any functional way. On Windows mSecure only stores your login info and passwords; it cannot autofill them on a webpage. You must find the entry you want and copy and paste the information. For me, it was little more than encrypted password storage.

This information was not clearly communicated on mSecure’s website either — the notification in the image above was clipped from the Chrome store’s mSecure extension listing, not from the website itself.

I’ve never encountered this level of control in a password manager before, and it was refreshing to see, particularly after a string of disappointments. It allows you to choose where your data lives and whether you value the convenience of passwords syncing across devices or the security of that data never leaving your local device.

By supporting third-party authenticator apps, mSecure opens the possibility for biometric authentication or even physical security keys depending on what authenticator you’re using. However, it loses a little credit for not supporting these security measures directly.

mSecure isn’t the only name in the password management game — it has several strong competitors including Dashlane, Keeper, Roboform, LastPass, and NordPass that could be a better fit.

We looked closely at each password manager, spent time using the services, and researched each one for hours. Our research provides objective information about each company so you can find the one that will be best for you.

See how mSecure compares to other top-tier password managers that the PasswordManager.com team recommends:

Our rating process involves a thorough and detailed study of the various features offered by each password manager when stacked against the competition. I looked at the multiple facets and features provided by mSecure compared to other significant industry players through direct testing to ensure an accurate rating. I’ve also applied my experience using mSecure to provide a user’s perspective.

I signed up for a plan with mSecure to test:

• Plan value: Most password managers offer various subscription plans from free to around $20 per month. While free plans may be sufficient for some, those that need more functionality may prefer paid plans.
• Platform compatibility: You likely access your online accounts from multiple devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, as well as through different web browsers. Your password manager should be compatible with various devices, operating systems and browsers, and sync seamlessly between them all.
• UX: This is how you interface with all the features and functions of your new password manager — if it’s bad, you’ll be less likely to use the service. While this is a highly subjective category and some will disagree, it’s important to provide an overview based on my experience.
• Form filling: A password manager doesn’t have to include form-filling, but it’s somewhat standard and the ease with which it performs that function can be the deciding factor in which password manager you ultimately choose.
• Security: Since a password manager is first and foremost a security tool, it should come with all of the most up-to-date standard security features. This includes the highest level of available encryption (256-bit AES with PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA512); 2FA, such as biometric logins or multi-factor authentication, and a password generator.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA): Used all over the internet to protect your accounts, this is quickly becoming a standard security practice. 2FA is a great way to secure more sensitive accounts to ensure they’re not breached.

Learn more about our review methodology.