We put Yandex password manager to the test for plan value, compatibility, features, and security. See why The Password Manager rated Yandex 4.1/5.
By: Gunnar KallstromHead of information systems and cybersecurity research
Updated July 14, 2023
Yandex: A Quick Overview
Bottom line: Yandex’s integrated password manager is a great, intuitive, and well-designed option — as long as you’re willing to change which browser you use on all of your devices. This, plus an odd penchant for displaying pages in Russian first, may steer you away from what is otherwise a great service.
Who should choose Yandex? Those willing to use the Yandex browser for password management.
Yandex’s Editor Rating
Overall: (4.1)
After testing Yandex’s features, I've given Yandex 4.1/5 stars. This rating is earned due to its superb ease of use, great features, and security options all for free. There are hiccups along the way, but if you’re willing to change browsers, Yandex may be right up your alley.
If you are willing to switch browsers for a seamless password management solution
Promotion
None needed
What Are the Pros and Cons of Yandex?
While I found using Yandex and its integrated password manager a pleasant experience, it wasn’t without a few challenges. A few notable pros and cons of Yandex include:
Pros
Easy to set up: I was surprised by how simple it was to install and set up Yandex. It automatically detects what system you’re using and gives you the appropriate download link for your device. Also, it imports all of your saved information from your previous browser.
No fuss form filling: I never had a problem with Yandex recognizing and correctly filling in forms.
A ton of features at no cost: There are so many free features in Yandex’s password manager typically reserved for paid services (such as 2FA, multiple device usage, and security alerts).
Cons
Language issues: As a company based in Russia, it’s not unusual that Russian would be the default language option. But even when you change all of your settings to English, it still defaults to showing you the Russian version of every webpage you visit.
Available only through the Yandex browser: To try Yandex, you must install and use a whole new web browser. If that’s not something you’re open to, Yandex isn’t the password manager for you.
Who Should Choose Yandex?
Step1.Individuals: Those who are open to downloading and learning to use a new web browser.
Step2.Families: Yandex is one of the only completely free password managers I’ve tested that allows family password sharing.
Yandex Plans and Pricing
Overall: (5.0)
Yandex and most of its associated services are completely free, including its browser and integrated password manager.
While there is a subscription-based Yandex Plus which is linked to you through your profile, this media streaming service has nothing to do with the baseline functionality of the browser or password manager.
Yandex Browser
Price
Free
Best for
Yandex browser users
Free trial
Always free
Platform compatibility
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Autofill capability
Yes
Guest accounts
No
Number of passwords
Unlimited
Password sharing
Yes
2FA
Yes
Account recovery
Yes
Support types
Live chat, reporting through the browser
Encryption
AES-256-GCM algorithm
Reporting capabilities
Yes
Single sign-on (SSO)
Yes
Yandex Platform Compatibility
Overall: (3.0)
The Yandex browser where you can access the Yandex password manager is available for most major platforms on which you might browse the web, including:
Step1.Windows
Step2.macOS
Step3.Linux
Step4.Android
Step5.iOS
When navigating to Yandex’s download page, it will automatically identify your operating system and give you a download link to the relevant version. Yandex clearly wants to make it as easy as possible to use its browser — it even includes a QR code link to the mobile version you can scan with your phone.
But bottom line, this password manager is tied to the Yandex browser. If you want to use Yandex’s password manager, you must use its browser. That’s fairly limiting for many password manager users.
Yandex UX
Overall: (4.0)
The process of navigating Yandex is mostly smooth, yet a few bumps early in the process might deter you.
There are many things to love about how Yandex smoothly guides the user into a web browsing experience. However, one big elephant in the room is that Yandex, by default, will display all pages in Russian.
It will ask if you would like to translate the page into English and give you the option to translate (even images) by default. This is likely jarring for those who usually select their language during installation.
Additionally, you’ll see obvious text pop-in as the browser translates pages on the fly — which is impressive. Still, I kept wondering why it was happening when my default display language was set to English.
However, once I got past this, I found Yandex refreshingly simple to set up and use. Accounts and passwords were automatically imported from my default browser. New accounts and passwords were automatically saved — it even detected when an account was being set up and suggested a strong password.
Yandex Form Filling
Overall: (5.0)
The easiest form filler I’ve used yet, Yandex earns top marks for field identification and intuitive form filling.
For a lot of password managers, form filling can feel like something of an afterthought. Frequently buggy and less consistent than you’d want, it often feels like the developers only include it as a bullet point because it’s become a standard offering for password managers. I’m pleased that Yandex’s form filling was snappy, smart, and intuitive.
It offered to save addresses and information organically as you fill in forms. But it was also easy to edit and set up different addresses and identities which would all show up in a pop-down menu when I clicked on a form field.
Yandex Security
Overall: (4.3)
Data encryption is available, but not enabled by default. However, a whole host of free options are available.
Password and log-in data can be encrypted when stored in your account, though this is not enabled by default. To set up encryption, I had to access my browser settings and set up a master password which would be used to unlock my data.
Yandex uses the industry standard for encryption — 256-bit AES. While your information is stored on Yandex’s servers, when encryption is enabled it can only be decrypted by the master password which you set up on your device. This password is not sent to Yandex, which could not decrypt the data even if it wanted to.
It only loses points for questions regarding what Yandex does with your browsing data, which will be collected as you use Yandex.
Yandex Two-Factor Authentication
Overall: (3.5)
2FA is available through a separate authenticator app, Yandex.Key.
You can protect your account and all of its contents using Yandex’s authenticator app, Yandex.Key, but it is limited by the security of the device that you install it on.
For example, if you use facial recognition to unlock your phone, this authenticator’s ability to keep your account safe is only as secure as your phone’s ability to accurately recognize your face or fingerprint.
When signing up for a Yandex account, I provided a one-time password which was texted to my phone. This proved it has the capacity to use this as at least one other 2FA option, but doesn’t.
Recent Improvements to Yandex
While the browser is constantly being updated and improved upon, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the password manager will be. Recent improvements to Yandex include:
Step1.Tab groups
Step2.Customized design of new tabs
Step3.Video translation and voiceover (Russian voiceover only)
Step4.Web app windows
Step5.Built in screen shot function
Step6.Password exporter
Step7.Tracker blocking
Compare Yandex Alternatives
Yandex is a strong contender for password management, but competitors including Dashlane, Keeper, RoboForm, LastPass, and NordPass could be a better fit. We looked closely at each password manager, spent time using the services, and researched each for hours. Our research provides objective information about each company so you can find the one that will be best for you.
See how Yandex compares to other top-tier password managers the PasswordManager.com team recommends:
Password manager
Details
Best features
Yandex
Overall rating: (4.1)
Starting price: Free
Platform compatibility: Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS, Windows
Consider NordPass if: You want the same packages for your family and business.
Starting price: $2.49 per month
Platform compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and popular browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, and Safari
Security: XChaCha20 encryption algorithm and a zero-knowledge policy
Secure data sharing solution
Safe sharing of login details
Real-time breach monitoring
Data breach scanner
FAQs About Yandex
What are the cons to Yandex?
While I found using and navigating Yandex easy and intuitive, it is visually different from most other web browsing experiences that I’ve tried. It may have a slight learning curve for some. Also, I could never have my pages load in English natively, leading to most pages loading in Russian first and then quickly auto-translating into English. This may be jarring and annoying for some people.
Can Yandex be trusted?
There are reasons to be wary of Yandex and its trustworthiness. Some of Yandex’s mobile apps were recently discovered collecting data from other installed apps and sending it to Russian servers.
While there is no concrete evidence as to what Yandex is doing with that data, some are concerned it might be sent to the Russian government. This doesn’t impact your use of the browser, per se, but it may be enough to give you pause when choosing whether or not to trust Yandex with your passwords.
Is Yandex better than Chrome?
Having recently reviewed Chrome’s built-in password manager, I can say with all conviction that Yandex’s offering is much more user-friendly and navigable than Chrome’s. If I had to pick between the two based on password management alone, I’d pick Yandex every time.
Where does Yandex store my passwords?
Passwords are stored on Yandex’s servers so that you can use them across multiple devices. Once you set up encryption, that information can only be unlocked through the use of a master key which is only known by you.
What Is Yandex the Company?
Yandex LLC is a Russian multinational technology company providing internet-related products and services, including a search engine, information services, e-commerce, transportation, maps and navigation, mobile applications, and online advertising. It is the fifth largest search engine worldwide after Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and Baidu.
Our rating process involves a thorough and detailed study of the various features stacked against the competition. Through direct testing, I looked at the multiple facets and features provided by Yandex compared to other significant industry players to ensure an accurate rating. I’ve also applied my experience using Yandex to provide your perspective.
I downloaded Yandex to test:
Value compared against paid services: 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.
Kallstrom is a Cyber Team Lead for a DOD contracting company in Huntsville, Alabama, and has also 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 Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) courses, including Security+, 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).