In Summary
LastPass is set to introduce a new restriction to its free subscription plan that will limit access to the LastPass on the free subscription tier to only one kind of device. The change will take effect starting March 16 and will require you to choose a default device category that you plan to use LastPass in prospect. Moving forward, there are two options. You can either upgrade to LastPass premium or move to some other password management service. In case you plan to move to another free service, here are the best free LastPass alternatives you can switch to right away.
Talking about the former change, LastPass will need its users on the Free plan to pick a device category between mobile devices (Android (phone and tablet), iPhone, iPad, and smartwatch) and computers (Linux, macOS, and Windows). And depending on what category they select, they will get access to multiple devices of the same type moving forward. For instance, if you choose “mobile devices,” you can access your LastPass account on any mobile device. But you wouldn’t be able to access it on a computer — like you used to do earlier. To make things a bit more relaxed, though, LastPass says it will offer three opportunities to its users to switch their active device type preference. Although LastPass will continue to provide its services for free, the lack of cross-platform support will be a big turn-off for a significant chunk of its users. If you are a Free LastPass user, you now have two options. You can upgrade to their Premium plan before March 16 to continue using the service across multiple devices. Or, you can switch to some other free password manager. In case you are leaning towards the second option, you may find a host of different free password managers out there, which can make choosing one a tedious task. So, to make the selection process simpler and help you find the right password manager, we have curated a list of some of the best free password managers as alternatives to Lastpass down below. All of the listed password managers provide cross-platform functionality, which is what drew you into selecting a new password manager in the first place, along with all the essential sets of features and functionalities that you need in a good password manager.
What is a Password Manager, and why do you need one?
A password manager is a utility available in the form of a native app, web app, or browser extension that lets you better manage your passwords. Using password managers is one of the best internet practices to follow to ensure the security of all your online accounts across different apps and services. In simple words, password managers make it easier for you to keep a tab on all the passwords for dozens of accounts you have by requiring you to remember just one single password — a master password. A master password is what grants you access to the vault that holds login credentials (username/email and password) for all your stored accounts. Besides storing and managing your passwords, some password managers also allow you to generate strong passwords with a lot of character complexities in them. Having complexities in your passwords makes them way more difficult to crack than the passwords most users usually use for their accounts. [Check out our detailed post on password managers to learn more.]
Free Password Managers
When it comes to finding a password manager, you have both free and paid options. Although the general notion around free services is that they aren’t as effective and secure as their paid counterparts, that is not always the case. With regards to password managers, you have a whole lot of free password managers out there that offer a well-rounded experience in terms of both the functionality and the security aspect. However, that said, not every single one of these password managers qualifies as an alternative to LastPass simply because most of them allow you to use the app on only one device at a time. And even though there are some services that offer multiple device support, you can be logged in to them on only one device at a time. Related Read: How to Delete LastPass Account and Move to a New Password Manager
Best Free LastPass Alternatives
Taking into account the aforementioned factors, here are the best free password manager alternatives to LastPass.
1. KeePass: best password manager for power users
KeePass is hands-down the most secure password manager out there. It is completely free and open-source, which, coupled with the enhanced security standards, makes it a popular choice among power users. Adding to that proposition is the ability to host your password database on your own cloud — something that makes it far more secure than having your passwords stored on someone else’s servers. If you are looking for ultimate privacy and security, KeePass is the safest bet. However, if you are not very comfortable tinkering your way to make things work your way, you are better off checking out some of the other password managers below. Now, since the password manager is essentially an open-source project, there have been several forks (unofficial apps) for it over the years. These forks can come in handy if you are struggling to get KeePass up and running on your machine. KeePass was initially meant to be used on the Windows operating system, and to date, it is far easier to get it running on Windows than it is on macOS and Linux. If you are a Mac user, you might need to download and install a few dependencies before you can run KeePass on your system. But thanks to all the different forks, you can install one and get started right away. We recommend KeePasXC as the preferred client of choice for computers and Strongbox, KeePassium, and KeePas2Android for the mobile side of things. Talking about features, KeePass is essentially an offline password manager that stores all your passwords in a 256-bit AES-encrypted database on your device. But if you want to get cross-platform functionality, it does allow you to sync the database across all your devices using services like Dropbox and Drive. Passwords you add to the platform are stored in encrypted containers. These containers can only be accessed by you using your password. If you yearn for more security, you can further use a key file or a two-factor authentication mechanism to ensure your database is protected. Similar to other password managers, KeePass also offers a built-in password generator. However, what separates its offering from the rest is the high degree of control it lends its users, which lets them decide what characters go into their password and even gives them the ability to pick the password generation algorithm. Last but certainly not least, the password manager features support for plugins that you can install to extend the scope of functionality even further and get more out of KeePass. And, in case you don’t find an extension for your need, you can create one yourself. Supported Platforms: Android and iOS | Linux, macOS, and Windows, | Browser Extension | Web Get KeePass | KeePassX | KeePassXC
2. Bitwarden: best LastPass alternative with self-hosting functionality
Bitwarden is another free and open-source password manager in the same vein as KeePass. Being open-source, what you get with the service is open-source transparency — with a global community of developers working to improve the experience and bring new features. Alongside its open-source nature, Bitwarden also offers some compelling propositions, such as strong end-to-end (AES-256 bit) encryption, cross-platform accessibility, and third-party security audits, which make it one of the best free password managers. While access to cross-platform functionality already makes Bitwarden a promising alternative to LastPass, the service also offers a few other features that give it an edge over most password managers. One such feature is the ability to either host your password database on the cloud or create your own server and put your passwords on it. The latter works perfectly fine for those who do not wish to keep their passwords on someone else’s servers. As for other features, the password manager gets you a secure password generator, two-factor authentication (2FA), detailed event logs, and integration into different systems and APIs. Supported Platforms: Android and iOS | Linux, macOS, Windows | Web | Browser Extension Get Bitwarden
3. Zoho Vault: best free password manager to use
Zoho Vault is yet another free password manager with an impressive set of features. It is relatively easier to set up and use than the two options listed earlier. But despite offering ease of use, Zoho Vault does not compromise on requisite features such as multi-factor authentication and strong AES 256-bit encryption, which are rudimentary in a password manager. Similarly, the platform also has a built-in password generator that, while offering a quick way to generate passwords, also ensures you do not lose out on anything coming from LastPass. Talking of features that make you feel at home with Zoho Vault, the password manager gives you the ability to attach files and documents into a secure vault — something you get with LastPass. Moreover, it also provides integration with other apps. However, the selection of supported apps is limited to Zoho offerings only with the free plan. What’s more, you get cross-platform support: to access your passwords on multiple devices; autofill functionality: to fill passwords into websites with a single click; and password-assessment report: to view weak passwords in your vault and check the vault’s health and perform necessary actions to secure it. Supported Platforms: Android and iOS | Web | Browser Extension Get Zoho Vault
4. LogMeOnce: best free password manager with extensive feature set
LogMeOnce is probably the most feature-rich password manager on the list. It features a whole variety of functionalities, including those for how you authenticate yourself on the app. What this means is that rather than using the master password — like most other password manager apps — LogMeOnce gives you a few different ways to authenticate yourself and login into your vault. These options include photo login, face ID, fingerprint, and PIN code. However, if you prefer sticking to the conventional way, you can also use a traditional password as your master password. Moving right along, apart from quick and easy access, LogMeOnce lets you save unlimited passwords, sync passwords with unlimited devices, and enable 2FA to add an extra layer of security. Adding to these further is the usual set of functionalities such as a built-in password generator, password autofill, secure wallet and notes, and a password scorecard. While all these offerings are pretty impressive, there’s a caveat. You see, to offer such an extensive range of features and functionalities for free, LogMeOnce serves ads in its free plan to generate revenue. Although some people are fine with ads in the UI, if your tolerance threshold for ads is significantly low and you don’t like being pestered by advertisements, you should consider the other three LastPass alternatives listed above. Supported Platforms: Android and iOS | Web | Browser Extension Get LogMeOnce Those are our picks for the best free alternatives to LastPass that you can switch to right away. Of the four apps on the list, Zoho Vault and LogMeOnce offer a lot of features and functionalities from LastPass, so you wouldn’t miss out on much when you switch over. In addition, the straightforward installation process and ease of use offered by both password managers further make them an ideal choice for those who want a hassle-free experience. However, having said that, if you need more control over your passwords and don’t mind going the extra mile in favor of security, Bitwarden and KeePass — in increasing order of protection — are safer bets. TIP: When switching password managers, make sure you change the passwords for all your accounts.
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