Certain applications and operating systems offer built-in password managers. For instance, Apple users can rely on iCloud Keychain, Google users have Google Password Manager, and Microsoft users can use Edge’s Credential Manager. Some apps, like Dropbox, had their own password management tools, although Dropbox has recently discontinued this feature.

Using an independent password manager has its benefits. It allows usage across various operating systems and browsers, and they typically provide additional services. These managers not only store and autofill passwords but also create secure ones, save important information like credit cards and contact details, allow sharing with others, and notify you if a password has been compromised in a data breach.

So, if you’d rather use an independent password manager, here are a few that are currently available.

Bitwarden is a popular open-source password manager known for its comprehensive features, such as saving unlimited credentials, cross-device syncing, and password generation, with most services offered for free. It supports storing various data like credit cards and identity details, as well as secure file sharing through encryption. It’s a solid option for free daily password management.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: A $10 annual Premium account provides an integrated authenticator, file attachment capabilities, and security reports. The $40 annual Family account extends sharing capabilities to five users, allows password sharing and unlimited collection storage.

Dashlane, similar to Bitwarden, supports password creation and safe storage of credit card details, personal notes, and IDs. It also includes secure sharing, alerts for phishing attempts, and a VPN. It offers a free version, limited to 25 passwords, making the 30-day free trial the best option to explore its full potential, considering most people have more than 25 passwords.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: The Premium plan (which is actually the basic plan for personal use) costs $59.88 a year, while the Friends & Family plan offers password management for up to 10 people for $89.88 a year.

1Password includes secure places to save documents, notes, and IDs; it flags data breaches and weak passwords; and lets you safely share items with others. There are also some interesting new features, such as the ability to add a location to items so that they will appear in a Nearby tab, making them easier to find. It has a 14-day free trial.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: The Individual plan costs $3.99 a month or $35.88 a year. The Family plan, which lets you include up to five family members, is $6.95 a month or $59.88 a year.

LogMeOnce’s website talks about “Passwordless Password Management,” which it accomplishes using a system of QR codes. Its free Premium version provides unlimited passwords and use on unlimited devices, along with autofill, sync, password generation, 1MB of encrypted file storage, and two-factor authentication using email or Google Authenticator. You can also save up to three notes and three credit cards. LogMeOnce uses ads to fund its free version, so that could be a setback depending on your tolerance for advertising.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: The Professional version adds 1GB of encrypted file storage, emergency access, additional authentication methods, and more for $2.50 a month. The Ultimate plan, $3.25 a month, adds 10GB of storage, unlimited note storage, password sharing, and a customizable dashboard, among other features. And for $4.99 a month, the Family plan lets six family members use LogMeOnce.

The free version of NordPass includes unlimited passwords and multifactor authentication. Most other features — cross-platform compatibility, the ability to protect documents and file attachments, checking password health, data breach alerts, the ability to mask your email address, and secure sharing, among others — are only available with the paid Premium account, which you can try with a 30-day trial.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: The Premium version of NordPass costs $1.99 a month or $23.88 for the first year and $35.88 after that. The Family plan, which gives you six Premium user accounts, costs $3.69 a month or $44.28 for the first year and $71.88 after that.

Like several of the other apps mentioned here, Keeper has a free version, but one that won’t suit most people for long. In this case, you are limited to one mobile device, ten passwords or passkeys, and two-factor authentication. However, a 30-day free trial gives you unlimited password storage across devices, password sharing, and identity and payment storage, along with biometric logins and customer support.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: Keeper Unlimited (aptly named) costs $39.99 a year; Keeper Family, which includes five private data vaults and 10GB file storage, costs $84.99 a year.

LastPass has had a lot of setbacks over the last few years, including a couple of serious breaches in 2022. Since then, it has worked to improve its service and its reputation.

There’s a free version that includes a password vault, access on a single device type (in other words, only computer or mobile), a password generator, and a service that monitors the internet for security breaches, which is not often included with free versions, among other features. A Premium version lets you use it with more than one device type. You can check it out with a 30-day free trial.

You can find information on its security strategies here.

Other pricing: the Premium version costs $36 a year; the Family version, which includes six accounts, costs $48 a year.