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One of the best ways to protect your online security is to use a password manager, and if you’re a Mac user, then the best you can choose is LastPass, which nudges ahead of the competition. However, NordPass is excellent value for money with the provider’s Premium plan costing just $2.39 per month for 1-year plans and $1.79 per month for 2-year plans and the 6-user Family plan just $5.99 per month. Even better, this spring, NordPass is offering their Premium plan for $1.39 per month + 3 extra months and their Family plan for $2.79 per month.
Small businesses can also benefit from a commercial password manager, and the top options for those operating on Macs are LastPass Teams (thanks to features including password sharing and auditing, emergency access, and 1 GB of encrypted storage) and 1Password Teams, which comes with vault auditing, account recovery, and hidden vaults for traveling.
As a fan of Apple products, you’re likely to be aware of the tech company’s own password manager software, iCloud Keychain. However, due to this service’s limited functionality across other platforms and devices – as well as a few other notable flaws – picking up an outside password manager could make all the difference when it comes to protecting your privacy online.
| Local Storage Option | Two-Factor Authentication | Failsafe Function | Password Generator Function A password manager can create secure, complex passwords for you. You won't need to remember them yourself. | Help Instructions | Email Support | Live Chat Support | Phone Support | Price | Business Plan? | Business Price Cheapest available business plan | Click to Try | ||
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| FEATURED  | TOP PICK  |  |  |  | |||||||||
| NordPass | LastPass | Dashlane | Sticky Password | ||||||||||
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| $1.69/month | $2.40/month | $8 per user/month | $19.99 per year | ||||||||||
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| $19.95/10 users | $2.51 user/month | $3.20/user/month | $60/user | $29.99/user/year | |||||||||
| Try 1Password | Try NordPass | Try LastPass | Try Dashlane | Sticky Password |
Not an iOS user? Read our breakdown of the best password managers for Android devices here.
Best Mac Password Manager to Choose
Protecting your online privacy is no easy task. There are plenty of malicious phishing scams, hackers, and other digital entities poised to steal your personal information from every corner of the internet. Luckily, these impressive password managers are equipped to secure your data from any would-be thief. And we know, because we tested them.
Each of the password managers below have been tested and rated based on a wide range of criteria, including ease of setup, performance, value, and the kinds of features available. Based on these standards, these Mac password managers are considered the best:
- LastPass – pound for pound the best password manager available, particularly for Mac
- 1Password – affordable and functional password manager with a nice range of features
- Dashlane – a robust, feature-rich password manager that’s notably more expensive than other options
- NordPass – a strong, cross-platform option with affordable pricing
- Sticky Password – a great customizable option with password strength checker
Through our thorough research, we’ve found that LastPass is the Mac’s best password manager, mostly due to its ease of use, sleek design, and affordable price tag.
Between the countless security breaches in the news and the prevailing concern about protecting your personal information online, having a weak password at this point is as embarrassing as it is unwise. Password managers not only prevent this all-too-common practice, but keep all your valuable credentials in a secure location, preventing you from enduring a stolen identity or other digital crises.
For a closer look at how these password managers stack up against each other, read on to learn more about price points, features, and our specific reviews.
Should You Use iCloud KeyChain or a Password Manager?
If you’re an iPhone or Mac user, you’re probably used to simply relying on the services and platforms provided by Apple. However, while Apple’s password manager, iCloud Keychain, is certainly good enough to get the job done, there are a few caveats that might make the service less than ideal for your online security needs.
For one, iCloud Keychain works exclusively on Apple devices. Yes, iPads, iPhones, and Macs will all be set up to keep track of your many passwords. However, if you have to use a PC for work, or simply decide to switch from iOS to Android at some point in the future, you’re going to be out of luck.
Granted, iCloud Keychain is now available on Chrome through an extension, so it can be used outside of Safari. But the limited features mean that you won’t be able to separate your business logins from your personal ones, or benefit from granular security options.
On the whole, iCloud Keychain may be enough for the personal needs of a casual Mac user. Everyone else should keep reading.
LastPass Review
LastPass wasn’t always our top pick, but it has kept adding functionality and growing its reputation for a great support team over the last few years. It has always offered a strong, secure platform, and now LastPass boasts the interface to match 1Password and the features to surpass Dashlane. If you’re looking to keep your personal information safe and secure no matter where you log in, LastPass is the best password manager out there.
Accessing your accounts is just as easy with LastPass as with the other password managers. Once you’re logged in, all you have to do is visit a site with which you have an account, and LastPass will either auto-fill them for you or make them available to enter yourself.
In addition, the service also provides users with a password generator tool that can create strong, unique passwords to ensure a high level of security. Just click the “Auto-Change Password” button in your vault, and you’ll have a brand new password ready to go.
Connection issues have caused the occasional lost password, which is never ideal in any situation, but these instances have been few and far between. LastPass’ customer support team is responsive, ensuring newbies won’t fend for themselves when they get stuck.
LastPass Pricing
As far as price goes, LastPass is pretty fair, with the Teams business plan starting at $4 per user per month or $48 per user per year, capped at 50 users. The premium business plan, called “Business,” costs $6 per user per month or $72 per user per year, and includes more features and unlimited users.
Personal plans come in at at a mere $36 per year for individuals (after a 30-day free trial) and $48 per year for a six-account group plan. You’ll also be able to utilize the free version for as long as you like to get a feel for it, and it’s pretty robust if you’re looking to save a bit of money.
Pros
- Free tier available
- Makes it super easy to securely log into your accounts from a web browser
- Detects when you’re using the same password on multiple sites.
- Available on all major browsers, iOS and Android
Cons
- Connection issues, though rare, can make password changes maddening.
- Password changing feature is very manual the first time round.
- Established: 2008
- Dedicated app
- PC/Mac compatible
- Individual and family plans
- Emergency Access feature
- Free version available
1Password Review
1Password offers a rock solid platform that’s easy to use, a stellar support team that can answer and solve all your technical woes, and a price that won’t make your skin crawl. 1Password just works well enough to make you excited about online security.
Using a stored password is a lot easier than people realize. All you have to do is navigate to a desired site’s login page on your Mac, click the icon or extension, and you’ll immediately be directed to your account through the most secure means you can find. Seriously, that’s it!
In addition to this incredible ease of use, 1Password allows you to keep more than your passwords safe: With multiple vaults and identity options, you can store and encrypt passport, driver’s license, and social security numbers, turning your Mac into a secured vault of valuable information.
1Password works well, and looks good too. The stylishly simple design is far from an eyesore, and you’ll be able to navigate through the many different features without giving yourself a headache.
1Password Pricing
Unfortunately, 1Password is one of the few password managers on the list that doesn’t come with an ongoing free version, but it does offer a 30-day free trial to get you started. Business plans and their features include shared storage and admin settings. The starter business plan, Teams, operates with unique pricing: A flat $19.95 per-month fee for up to ten users. The other plan, Business, costs $7.99 per user per month.
The personal plans cost $36 per year for individuals, with a five-person “Family” option for $60 per year. All plans are billed annually.
Pros
- 30 day Free Trial
- Even better than LastPass in our tests
- Local storage makes saving changed passwords more reliable
- Large number of secure note templates for storing sensitive information
- Very well-designed app
Cons
- No automated password changing feature
- Desktop app seems superfluous
- No camera integration on mobile
- Established: 2006
- Dedicated app
- PC/Mac compatible
- Individual and family plans
- Breach alert feature
- Generates passwords
Dashlane Review
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty password manager that can do it all, Dashlane is your best bet. For one, this robust password manager brings a massive catalog of features to the table, including unlimited password sharing and emergency contacts. Dashlane also helps users generate strong passwords, guaranteeing your account will be secure.
While all these additional features are nice, they do come at a price, and it’s a high one. Dashlane is the most expensive password manager out there, and by some margin, as it costs nearly twice as much as the other options. However, if you’re serious about online security for your Mac and believe these added features will help, Dashlane is definitely worth looking into.
Like 1Password, Dashlane’s functionality is quite intuitive. Just open up a site’s login page, and you’ll see the Dashlane icon available in the field window. Click the button, and voila – you have secure access to your account.
Dashlane Pricing
As far as those high prices are concerned, Dashlane’s business pricing plans will run you $60 per user per year, billed annually (or $96 per user per year if you opt for the plan with single sign-on support).
Personal plans can be billed monthly, starting with the Essentials plan at $3.99 per month (that’s $47.88 per year), the Premium plan at $6.49 per month, and the Family plan at $8.99 for six users per month. Pick the option to be billed annually, though, and the prices drop again, with the Essentials available for just $2.99 per month, which is $35.88 per year. Essentials supports just two devices and doesn’t offer file storage or a VPN, however.
There is also a free tier that users can take advantage of — it can be used on only one device, and is without cloud backup.
Pros
- Dashlane can automatically change multiple passwords at once
- Easy-to-understand security assessment of your password quality
- Auto-saves online receipts
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) included
Cons
- The free tier doesn’t backup your database to the cloud
- Very expensive compared to competitors such as 1Password and LastPass
- Established: 2012
- Dedicated app
- PC/Mac compatible
- Built-in VPN
- Stores file attachments
- Theft protection insurance on Premium Plus plan
NordPass
NordPass isn’t the best password manager we’ve tested but it certainly doesn’t look out-of-place in this company.
It lacks some high-end features, such as a failsafe function, but it remains a solid choice that will certainly help keep you and your data safe when using your Mac.
NordPass is available as a MacOS application and can also be accessed as a Chrome extension if you like to use Google’s browser. Plus, it has an iOS app.
NordPass Pricing
However, where NordPass really shines is in its pricing plans. Business plans start at a trim $3.59 per user per month, with support for up to 250 users. A custom-priced Enterprise plan is also available for business use, offering Microsoft Azure as a single sign-on option as well as a dedicated account manager and a face-to-face onboarding service.
NordPass is one of the few good password managers that offers an entirely free plan. That’s right, you get access to a password manager that can store an unlimited number of credentials as well as credit card information and secure notes.
However, you can’t be logged in on multiple devices using the free personal plan. If you want that, you’ll need to pay just $2.39 per month for one year of the premium plan or $1.79 per month for two years.
Currently, NordPass is offering the 2-year Premium plan for $1.39 per month + 3 extra months and the 2-year Family plan for $2.79 per month.
Want to know more? Check out our full NordPass review here
Pros
- Offers a completely free version
- Easy to understand UI
- Neat extra features such as a data breach scanner
- Slick setup
Cons
- Can't change passwords for accounts in the NordPass app
- Lacks some features such as a failsafe switch
- Established: 2019
- Dedicated app
- PC/Mac compatible
- Individual and family plans
- Breach alert feature
- Generates passwords
Sticky Password Review
Sticky Password is certainly not the best password manager on our list. But if you’re looking for an inexpensive password manager that keeps your personal information secure without relying on your memory, you may have found what you’re looking for.
You won’t be treated to a lot of fancy features, but you’ll have access to a security dashboard that will keep track of your accounts, as well as your password strength.
The true benefit of Sticky Password is the customizability. You’ll have complete control over a number of settings, like where auto-syncs go to (the cloud or Dropbox, to name a few options).
Sticky Password Pricing
Sticky Password does offer a free option that supports only one device, while its premium individual package will cost you a mere $30 per year. This price is the same for personal use as well as business, and there’s no much difference between the two.
Uniquely, Sticky Password also offers a one-time lifetime payment option of $120, which will keep your Mac, and any other device your may wish to connect, secure for as long as you need.
Pros:
- Very well priced for small businesses
- The automatic login features are fantastic
- Wide browser support, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
Cons
- Illogical saved bookmarks feature
- Desktop app design is outdated and can be sluggish
- Established: 2002
- Dedicated app
- PC/Mac compatible
- Securely share logins
- Support for 16 browsers
- Military grade encryption
Verdict: What is the best password manager for Mac?
Our research shows that LastPass is the best password manager for Mac users, thanks to its plentiful added functionality and secure platform. Between the seamless auto-fill features to the handy password generator tool, you can truly keep yourself safe online.
To be fair though, 1Password and Dashlane are both decidedly great options if you don’t like LastPass for some reason. 1Passwords boasts an incredibly easy to use platform, while Dashlane offers one of the most robust options.
If you’re intereted in getting a password manager for yourself, check out our comparison form for even more information,
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