Should You Use a Password Manager?

In today’s digital landscape, where people commonly possess numerous online accounts, password managers simplify the management of login credentials. If you have reservations about using a password manager, learn more about how password managers work and the benefits of using one.

Password managers are applications that store, sync, and share passwords and other information. For example, some password managers accept credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, personal notes, and usernames and passwords.

Most people who aren’t using a dedicated password manager store passwords in their browser or a cloud account, such as iCloud. When you start with a password manager, you can import passwords from your existing provider. The password manager should also be able to recognize new passwords and enter them on the corresponding site automatically.

Some people hesitate to switch to a dedicated password manager because they’re concerned about their security or simply unfamiliar with this software. That said, password managers are a good idea for most people because they make keeping track of your passwords easier and your accounts more secure.

Without a password manager, it’s difficult for most people to create and remember strong passwords for each account. However, that’s far from the only reason to use a password manager. Let’s look at some main arguments for and against using one.

If you’ve ever tried to log into one of your accounts on a different device from the one used to sign up, you know how frustrating this can be. For example, even if your passwords are stored on your work computer, they won’t pop up on your phone unless you set up cross-device syncing.

In 2023, virtually every major password manager streamlines access on all devices. As long as you’re logged in using your master password, you can log in seamlessly regardless of your device. If you change a password on one device, you won’t have to worry about updating it on the rest.

Accessing accounts on different devices, apps, and browsers is a key issue for browser-based password managers. When you want to use a new device, app, or just a different browser, you’ll have to figure out how to import your passwords from your existing browser. Some browsers have started to close the gap concerning cross-device compatibility, but it’s hard to beat the convenience of a dedicated password manager.

Most current password managers include generators that can create strong passwords quickly. You won’t have to think about whether a password is strong enough or if you’ll be able to remember it — let your password manager do the work for you.

Some password managers offer fine-grained customization options that give you full control over your generated passwords. You might be able to set the number of characters, the types of characters included, such as capital letters or special characters, and whether you want to use a password or passphrase. Whatever kinds of passwords you want to use, you can create them instantly and save them to your password manager account.

If you don’t have a secure password manager, sharing passwords safely can be surprisingly complicated. Channels like email and short message service (SMS) aren’t great for sending sensitive information; writing passwords down on paper is never a good idea.

Even after sharing your password with someone, you still have to send them another update every time you change that password in the future. Furthermore, you won’t be able to stop them from copying and pasting your password and sending it to anyone else they want.

Password managers streamline the process of sharing passwords without sacrificing security. While each provider’s approach differs, every major password manager encrypts data in transit so that any third parties can’t intercept it.

If you want to share account passwords with family members, you can also find subscriptions that usually support five or six users. Shared family vaults are an easy way to manage shared accounts without having to text or email passwords back and forth.

Additionally, most password managers give you options for sharing information. For example, you could enable the recipient to use the password through autofill without letting them see the password text or share it with anyone else. Overall, password sharing is one of the main advantages of dedicated password managers compared to other solutions.

One of the main reasons to use a password manager is not having to remember your passwords anymore. Instead, you’ll just have to remember a single master password that controls access to the individual passwords for each account.

Without a password manager, people often rely on a single, memorable password for some or even all of their accounts. Unfortunately, this approach makes your accounts extremely vulnerable to common hacking strategies.

If any websites or apps you use are breached, the difference between a strong password and a weak one is a matter of time. Once a bad actor gets one of your passwords, there’s a good chance they’ll also see if it works on other sites.

Even if your one password is extremely resistant to hacking attempts, no single password can offer as much protection as a set of unique passwords. Adding variations, such as numbers or special characters to the end of your usual password, won’t do much to protect your accounts.

By generating, storing, and syncing passwords, password managers remove the need for people to memorize each of their passwords. This makes account access both more secure and more convenient for the user.

Now, you’re ready to look for the right password manager to fit your lifestyle. With free and low-cost plans from many providers, you don’t have to spend much or any money to stay on top of your passwords. Check out our list of the best free password managers for more information.

• Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice: Password Checklist
• Freedom of the Press Foundation: Choosing a Password Manager
• National Cybersecurity Alliance: Password Managers
• Verified.org: 7 Reasons You Should Be Using a Password Manager Right Now