A few years ago, I learned why having a good password manager is so important, especially since I had a heart-stopping moment when I forgot the password to my main email account.
You know that feeling, right?
When you’re sitting there, trying every possible combination you can think of, and nothing’s working?
Yes, that was me.
That experience got me thinking about why I wasn’t using a password manager.
As it turns out, while 1Password is a great option I found, I’ve also discovered there are some really interesting alternatives out there that are still great for 2026.
Let me share what I found so you don’t have to deal with that kind of panic.
1. NordPass
NordPass comes from the same company behind the well-known NordVPN. They decided to jump into the password game back in 2019, and they’re actually doing a pretty decent job.
I’ve been testing it out for the past couple of weeks, and there is some stuff I really like about it, and I can say it’s one of the best password managers you can get for both personal and business.
Key Features:
- They use the XChaCha20 encryption algorithm
- Autosave and autofill your passwords automatically
- It works on pretty much everything: your phone, laptop, whatever
- Easily use passkeys for passwordless logins
- Password Import makes it easy to switch from another manager
- Password History feature lets you track and restore previous passwords
- Can share passwords securely (super helpful for family Netflix accounts!)
Pricing: It’s pretty reasonable at $1.29 per month if you pay annually, and they’ve got a free version too, but only with features like autosave and autofill, just enough to manage your day-to-day passwords.
Best of all, you can try NordPass Premium free for 30 days without a credit card.
2. Bitwarden
Bitwarden is another great password manager, first released in 2016. It’s like, imagine if Linux were a password manager. It’s open-source, which means a bunch of tech people can check the code, which apparently is a good thing for security.
The best part? It’s free. Yes, properly free. And, there’s a premium version, but the free version is actually quite usable. I recommend this for most of my friends asking for a password manager because, well, it’s free.
Keu Features:
- Uses zero-knowledge encryption technology and AES-CBC 256-bit encryption
- Works everywhere across all your devices and browsers
- Built-in authenticator app generates and stores two-factor authentication tokens
- Share passwords and attachments
- Securely store passkeys and personal notes
- Community-driven, so constantly reviewed by developers worldwide
Pricing: You can get loads of great features with the free version, and if you want Premium, it’s only about $10 a year. For a family, it’s just $40 a year for 6 people.
3. Keeper
Keeper is like that friend who’s maybe a bit too into security, but in a good way. Beyond securely storing and managing passwords, they do a lot more to keep all your important data.
You can safely store things like images, passports, even home deeds, and other sensitive information. They also have a cool chat feature called KeeperChat that lets you send private messages that can disappear after being read.
Key Features:
- Uses zero-trust and zero-knowledge encryption
- Manage your passkeys from any device
- Access your digital vault securely from any device
- Communicate securely with KeeperChat
- Share passwords and secure notes securely
- Receive alerts if your personal information is found on the dark web
Pricing: It’s $3.33 per month (annual billing), and you also have add-ons to get additional features. There’s also a free plan limited to one mobile device. Though I should mention that it’s still good for personal use, it is a great option for business.
4. Dashlane
Dashlane is kind of like the luxury car of password managers. It’s an all-in-one security tool with extra privacy features, including a VPN, which I didn’t even know I needed in a password manager.
However, it is still a good addition if you’re using Dashlane for your family, because it has almost everything to manage members of a Friends and Family plan easily, and they don’t need to live in the same household.
Key Features:
- Super slick interface and Zero-knowledge AES-256-bit encryption
- Store and autofill passwords across all your devices and browsers
- Built-in VPN (nice bonus!) for extra security
- Watches the dark web for your info and alerts you of breaches
- Securely share passwords, 2FA tokens, and keep notes
Pricing: There is a free plan where you can manage up to 25 passwords on 1 device, at $4.99 per month (annual billing) for unlimited passwords, passkeys, and devices, it’s on the pricier side, but if you were going to pay for a VPN, it could be worth it. There are also plans for businesses.
5. LastPass
LastPass is like that restaurant that’s been in your neighborhood forever. Everyone knows it, lots of people use it, and it generally gets the job done. Though you may have already heard, they’ve had some security hiccups that made headlines.
Back in August 2022, they had a security issue where some user information got exposed, while LastPass said passwords were safe because of their zero-knowledge architecture, and even with this bump in the road, lots of people still use LastPass today.
Key Features:
- Zero-knowledge encryption for maximum security
- Easily generate and store strong passwords
- Dark web monitoring and alerts
- One-to-one sharing with trusted users
- Digital wallet for secure payment info storage
- Grant one-time access to your vault to another LastPass user in an emergency
Pricing: $3 per month (annually) for premium. The free version is actually pretty good too, though not as generous as it used to be, and there are also plans for families and businesses.
Final Thoughts
You know what’s funny? When I started writing about 1Password alternatives, I thought I’d have a clear “winner” to recommend.
But here’s what I’ve learned: it really comes down to what matters most to you.
If you’re on a budget: Go with Bitwarden. It’s free, it’s solid, and it gets the job done.
If you’re okay with spending a bit more for extra features, Dashlane, LastPass, or Keeper are your best bets.
If you just want something simple and reliable, NordPass is probably your speed.
And if you’re thinking of switching from one password manager to another, make sure to contact them before you take your first step, as it’s not difficult, but it’s always a good idea.
Whatever you choose, make sure to use two-factor authentication and keep your master password safe.
Taking those extra 60 seconds to do that is way better than the awful feeling of having someone break into your accounts!
