Our bottom line: Norton Password Manager has the edge on price with an unrestricted free version, but LastPass offers more features and overall compatibility.
Learn how we evaluated Norton Password Manager vs. LastPass.
LastPass and Norton Password Manager are two highly regarded products, though only LastPass made it onto our list of the best password managers. Despite this, Norton has a distinct edge in the field with strong name recognition and its presence in the company’s online security bundles. It may even have been installed on your new computer by default.
There are pros and cons to both managers. While LastPass offers more features and is compatible with more platforms, Norton’s Password Manager is free outside of the paid security bundles it’s included with. LastPass’s free version is gimped by comparison with features such as cross-platform syncing, which is unavailable to free version users.
Which password manager should you get? Let this LastPass vs. Norton Password Manager face-off help you decide.
Review factor | Winner |
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Price | Norton Password Manager | (5.0)
Platform compatibility | LastPass | (5.0)
User experience (UX) | Tie: Norton Password Manager | (5.0), LastPass (5.0)
Form filling | LastPass | (4.5)
Security | Tie: Norton Password Manager | (3.0), LastPass (3.0)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) | LastPass | (4.7)
Best overall | LastPass | (4.4)
Our bottom line: Norton Password Manager has the edge on price with an unrestricted free version, but LastPass offers more features and overall compatibility.
Learn how we evaluated Norton Password Manager vs. LastPass.
Password manager | Details | Basic plan features |
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Norton Password Manager Overall rating: (3.8)Read our full Norton Password Manager review. | Starting price: Free Platform compatibility: Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari Security: LikelyAES 256-bit encryption, but undisclosed |
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LastPass Overall rating: (4.4)Read our full LastPass review. | Starting price: Free Platform compatibility: ChromeOS, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge, iOS, Android, Windows PC, MacOS, Linux Security: AES 256-bit encryption, 2FA |
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Price winner: Norton Password Manager | |
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Norton Password Manager | (5.0)Free |
LastPass | (4.5)Free; $36 per year for premium; $48 per year for up to six people |
Price is the biggest edge that Norton has over LastPass — Norton is completely free to use. While LastPass also has a free version, you’ll need a yearly subscription model in order to access all of its features. While this version of LastPass isn’t expensive (only around $3 to 4 per month, depending on the plan you choose), it’s still hard to compete with free.
However, Norton’s password manager doesn’t advertise itself as free — typically it’s listed as one of the features of its Norton 360 internet security suites.
In spite of this, the stand-alone password manager is free to download on its site without paying a dime.
LastPass does have a free tier, yet this version of the program loses some quality-of-life features (such as multi-device syncing) and is restricted to a single device. This may not be a deal-breaker for you, but the unrestricted access to every available feature from the outset at no cost gives Norton the clear win in this category.
Despite this, it’s still worth mentioning that LastPass still makes two of our shortlists as one of the best free password managers and one of the best cheap password managers available.
Winner: Norton Password Manager wins with a fully featured, completely free offering, though LastPass is close.
Platform compatibility winner: LastPass | |
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Norton Password Manager | (4.0)OS: Android, iOS Supported browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari |
LastPass | (5.0)OS: ChromeOS, iOS, Android, Windows PC, MacOS, Linux Supported browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge |
By offering only a browser extension, technically Norton is capable of running on any platform that can run a supported browser, with apps available for both iOS and Android. While this covers most major platforms, it’s clear that Norton is aiming squarely for the lowest common denominator.
To make matters worse, Norton also suffers from compatibility issues when attempting to import passwords from other password managers — a problem I did not encounter with LastPass.
LastPass operates similarly, but is compatible with more browsers as well as Apple Watch support, giving it the clear edge in this category. It also offers a stand-alone application that can run on Windows, macOS, and most common distributions of Linux.
Both services perform well on their respective supported platforms, but LastPass wins this category simply by offering a greater range of supported platforms as well as installation options.
Winner: LastPass offers compatibility across all common OS platforms (desktop and mobile) in addition to supporting more browsers than Norton.
UX winner: Draw | |
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Norton Password Manager | (5.0)Norton’s interface was simple and intuitive. I never had a problem finding exactly what I was looking for. |
LastPass | (5.0)LastPass’s browser extension is simple, understandable, and generally easy to navigate, with an interesting mechanic that rewards you for exploring its features. |
Both password managers offer full functionality via their websites and browser extensions are equally easy to navigate.
If you’ve ever used a stand-alone password manager, Norton’s UX will probably look familiar. The navigation panel with all of your major options is on the right-hand side, letting you access your login information, wallet, addresses, notes, safety dashboard, settings, and password generator.
On the LastPass side, the desktop app has six primary and five secondary sections, making it more like the web experience. It also employs a reward mechanism for exploring the user interface (UI). You will get a 10% discount for completing “achievements,” which are mainly geared toward teaching you how to use the features of this service.
Both have clearly put a lot of thought into their UX design and made it as easy as possible to jump into their password management ecosystems.
Winner: Draw — both password managers have excellent UX.
Form filling winner: LastPass | |
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Norton Password Manager | (3.0)Form filling works fine for usernames and passwords but stumbles when it comes to more complicated forms. |
LastPass | (4.5)Form filling works as intended, with a big, friendly reminder in text fields that might warrant it. |
Both LastPass and Norton Password Manager offer form-filling — but only the former works as intended.
LastPass’s form-filling function on mobile devices works via a Safari browser extension for iOS 8 and above and as a built-in app feature for Android 8.0 Oreo or later.
Norton Password Manager’s autofill worked fine for simple sign-ins requiring only an email and password. But it couldn’t seem to recognize address forms, despite having added an address to my vault.
When I looked to Norton’s support for help, I didn’t find a solution through the help center or community support and had to move to live chat support.
To Norton’s credit, I didn’t wait long for help, which included the team remote-accessing my computer. But they couldn’t get the address form filling to work, despite having access to my computer for almost an hour and installing another browser onto my workstation.
Winner: LastPass, for having robust form filling which works as intended.
Security winner: Draw | |
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Norton Password Manager | (3.0)Some useful security features, but no transparent information regarding encryption standards or known security breaches raise red flags. |
LastPass | (3.0)LastPass is good at analyzing potential security risks, but recent data breaches may give you pause. |
Most password managers, including LastPass, use powerful 256-bit AES encryption, and both companies’ vaults are unlocked on your device only after you’ve entered your master password. While Norton says that your password data is “encrypted,” it isn’t forthcoming on what exactly that means.
It’s highly likely that it’s also using 256-bit encryption protocols. The company doesn’t tout this because it wouldn’t mean anything to the target audience, but it still would have been nice to find any kind of confirmation.
The biggest red flag which dropped the score tremendously for both providers is an unfortunate history of security breaches. LastPass’s last breach was in November of 2022, while Norton’s was the following month. Encrypted data should hold firm against any potential attacks, but both companies have suffered breaches within the past few months, which could be a possible warning for some.
Winner: It’s a tie, as both have some great security features, but suffer from recent public data breaches.
2FA winner: LastPass | |
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Norton Password Manager | (3.0)
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LastPass | (4.7)
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Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an important cornerstone of modern online security. Both LastPass and Norton Password Manager support authenticator apps (which use time-based one-time passwords, or TOTPs).
Norton locks you into using its own authenticator app while LastPass lets you choose between its first-party authenticator or a third-party app you might already be using. Neither sends 2FA codes via text message; trust us, that’s a good thing.
LastPass’s free plan works with authenticator apps including LastPass Authenticator, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Duo Security, and Transakt. Those with a LastPass premium subscription can also use hardware authenticators such as Yubico’s YubiKey, a fingerprint sensor, or a smart-card reader.
The platform also offers an MFA feature called Grid, a chart you can print out to generate security codes manually.
Norton Password Manager’s options are far more limited. Outside of using its authenticator app to unlock your password vault, it doesn’t use this capability for anything else or give you additional options for 2FA.
Winner: LastPass gives you many more options for proving who you are and wins this category handily.
Bottom line winner: LastPass | |
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Norton Password Manager | (3.8)
Best for: Those who want every feature at no cost |
LastPass | (4.4)
Best for: Those who want the best bang for their buck |
Norton holds a slight price advantage over LastPass with its more robust free version, though LastPass is still arguably a better value with more security features and options.
LastPass has a leg up with its ability to import passwords from other platforms, however, few customers will use that function more than once. Regardless, it’s a pain to start that process from scratch with Norton, whose import tool leaves a lot to be desired.
Both companies lose points with their recent security breaches. Though I cannot give LastPass a higher score, it does earn a little more trust since it self-reported its last breach (Norton did not). Also, LastPass is upfront about the encryption and security protocols it uses to keep your data safe in the event of a breach.
On the surface, all password managers essentially generate and store passwords. As I evaluated providers, I dug deeper, comparing software on what matters most, including price, platform compatibility, security, and other factors.
I signed up for a plan with each provider to test:
Learn more about our review methodology.
About the Password Manager, Gunnar Kallstrom:
Gunnar Kallstrom is a Cyber Team Lead for a DOD contracting company in Huntsville, AL, and has also worked as a CND Cyber Analyst. An author and content creator for a cybersecurity academy, Gunnar 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 Secruity+, 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).