By: Alex McOmiePassword manager reviewer
Editor: Owen DubielIT security and VPN expert
According to the website, SplashID relies on a combination of 128-bit Rijndael and 256-bit AES encryption. 256-bit AES is the standard encryption method used by most password managers, so you can be sure that SplashID is taking basic measures to protect your information.
SplashID also provides other security features that go beyond what we’ve seen from some other password managers. First, you can protect your account with two-factor authentication (2FA), which requires you to approve new login attempts. The advantage of 2FA is that even if someone cracks your SplashID password, they won’t be able to get into the account without your approval.
Unfortunately, SplashID’s 2FA support is limited to email and short message service (SMS). These channels are relatively insecure, and the messages can be spoofed relatively easily, so many other password managers have moved to more reliable 2FA methods. Secure password managers generally support 2FA through dedicated authenticator apps. Some go even further with other factors, such as security keys, offline codes, or biometrics.
SplashID also gives users the option to store information offline. While you obviously won’t be able to sync that information between devices automatically, offline storage minimizes your exposure since your passwords are only available on your physical device. As long as your license is still valid, you can run SplashID entirely offline.
SplashID is available on most major devices and operating systems. You can download a desktop app on Windows or macOS, plus a mobile app for Android and iOS. However, the mobile version has received relatively mixed reviews, with an average score of 3.8 out of 5 on Android and 3.4 on iOS.
If you want to use SplashID through your browser, you can download the extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Unfortunately, there’s currently no listed support for other popular browsers, such as Safari or Opera.
To get started with SplashID, start by visiting its website and clicking on the “Register” button in the top-right corner. From there, you’ll need to fill out some basic information to create your new account.
By default, SplashID checks a box confirming that you want it to “install sample records.” All this does is add in fake entries to mimic the appearance of real passwords. There doesn’t appear to be much of a benefit to this feature, so it’s unclear why it would make it the default option.
The visual design is similar to what we’ve seen from other password managers, with a menu on the left and entries displayed on the right. The interface is a little basic, but it makes SplashID relatively transparent and easy to use. You can add records manually from the main page or import existing records through a vID or comma-separated values (CSV) file.
Password sharing is available with all paid SplashID subscriptions. You can share passwords with other people regardless of whether they’re also using the SplashID platform.
When sharing with other SplashID users, the password shows up directly in their account. This helps minimize the risk that someone can crack the password, especially compared to less secure channels like SMS and email.
Meanwhile, people who don’t use SplashID receive passwords through a self-destructing link. According to the SplashID website, the link is available for 24 hours after sending.
One downside of SplashID is that it doesn’t offer the same password-sharing functionality of the top password managers. For example, many password managers allow users to configure custom self-destruct timers, lock shared entries behind passwords, or set a limit on the number of times a password can be accessed. Some even enable the account owner to set whether the recipient can see the password or only use it through autofill.
When you have any trouble with SplashID, your first move should be to check the Help Center. When we visited, the Help Center already had a total of 114 articles, with more being published regularly in early 2022. These articles include basic how-to guides, product update details, and other information about the application.
If you aren’t able to resolve your issue through the Help Center, you also have the option to contact SplashID directly. You can submit a support ticket through the website, even if you haven’t created an account. Its office is located in California, so you should be able to get a quick response during Pacific time business hours.
While SplashID offers “priority support” for paid users, it isn’t particularly clear about what that means. The only note is on the signup page, which states that “We will get back to you within 24 hours.” There doesn’t appear to be any phone or live chat service, so you may still be limited to email and support tickets.
Like most other password managers, SplashID offers a free tier with a limited range of features. Free users can save an unlimited number of passwords, but they can only access their accounts on a single device. Furthermore, they’re unable to back up their passwords or share information with other users.
At $2.99 per month ― or $2.50 per month paid annually ― the Pro subscription comes with all of the free tools plus cloud syncing, automated backups, password sharing, priority support, and more. Given the restrictions of the free plan, Pro is a much better option for users who want a fully featured password manager.
You can also get volume discounts for Pro plans if you want licenses for five or more users. For example, five-license sets come with a 10% discount of $2.25 per month, per user. That discount continues to grow for larger groups, up to 30% off for teams of 100 and 50% off for teams of 1,000.
If you’re ready to commit to SplashID, it offers a lifetime license that gives you unlimited access to the application. Lifetime licenses are available for a one-time payment of $99.95. That works out to less than $1 per month after 10 years, and less than 42 cents per month after 20 years. Naturally, this is the best deal long-term — remember that you’ll spend more than $99.95 after just four years with a regular subscription.
While SplashID doesn’t provide a free trial, the website states that all of its products are backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. Don’t forget to get your refund before the end of the trial period if you decide that you’re no longer interested in the software.
| Functionality | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Setting Up the Vault | Add logins, account numbers, credit cards, and other information manually. You can also import files through a vID or CSV file |
| Logging Into Accounts | Autofill appears to be only supported for Internet Explorer |
| Creating Passwords | Custom password generator with length, character types, and other settings |
| Changing Passwords | No password change tool |
| Sharing Logins | Supports password sharing with other users, but only provides limited functionality |
| Recovering Account | Please note that there’s no way to recover a SplashID account if you forget the master password |
| Advanced Security Features | 2FA through email and SMS |
SplashID has received decent reviews, but unfortunately, we also found negative feedback. Whether you look at the mobile apps or desktop clients, SplashID has an average score of between 3 and 4 out of 5. Many different users report experiencing technical issues as well as having trouble getting help from the customer support team. For example, one Android reviewer said that SplashID would regularly crash, fail to sync passwords, and have trouble displaying their custom icons.
SplashID is a password manager with support for desktop and mobile devices. It’s available through Windows and macOS desktop apps, iOS and Android mobile apps, and browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
SplashID supports both online and offline storage. If you keep your passwords saved on a local device, you’ll have to work out your own backups. However, SplashID automatically backs up passwords for premium accounts, so you don’t have to worry about this if you’re a Pro subscriber. By default, SplashID allows users to restore their five most recent backups.
To delete SplashID, simply remove the application from your desktop or mobile device. If you want to end a paid subscription, you can cancel through the same platform that you used to subscribe originally. For example, users who signed up through iCloud can cancel through their iCloud account.
The SplashID Help Center contains more than 100 articles explaining how to use the application.
If you’re still having trouble, you can submit a support ticket through the SplashID website. Paid users get priority support over free members, but service seems to be limited to email and support tickets.
