Nowadays, a piece of paper and a pen are no longer enough to keep track of one's passwords. We have numerous accounts for which we have to remember not only passwords, but also email addresses, user names or security questions. To simplify things, we often use the same easy-to-remember password for all our accounts. Yet we actually know that this makes it easy for hackers to gain access to our private accounts and data.
It becomes particularly precarious when it comes to sensitive data such as online banking. Actually, we would need a unique, random password for each account to ensure optimal security. But since we can't remember them, we fall back on the same old password over and over again. The top 3 most used passwords according to mobiflip.de: "123456", "password" and "12345678".
Those who do not want to rely on this can resort to a password manager. In addition to the internal password managers from iOS or Google, there are various apps that can make password management a lot easier. These offer the possibility to store and manage all of one's passwords and login data securely on the smartphone. In addition, they often offer additional functions that can help increase online security, such as password generators that create and store random passwords that are difficult to attack. The only thing you then have to remember is the master password with which you unlock the app.
I tried out seven password manager apps to help you keep your sensitive data safe. I paid particular attention to the functionality, design and clarity of each app. What they all have in common is that they use at least 256-bit AES encryption to protect the data. This is considered standard encryption and offers a high level of security.
SecureSafe
SecureSafe is a simple, but therefore also very clear app. In addition to the password safe, SecureSafe also offers a file safe in which you can store photos and other files. With the mail-in function, you can easily mail them into your SecureSafe account. With the SecureSafe Cloud, you always have access to your passwords on all your devices. If you don't want to leave your sensitive data to the cloud, you can also use the password app locally and offline on one device. With SecureSafe you get 50 passwords up to 10MB for free. From €1.20 per month, you can upgrade to a password safe for unlimited passwords and more storage space.
PasswordBox
The PasswordBox password manager scores with an attractive and user-friendly design. In addition to the password safe, the app offers its own browser 1-tap login function, a wallet for ID cards and the like, and a legacy locker to bequeath sensitive data to a trusted person in an emergency. Since PasswordBox was acquired by Intel last year, the app will unfortunately only be available until the end of the year. After that, the app will be replaced by Intel Security's True Key. Until then, 25 passwords are free, the premium version costs about 10.50€.
Password manager SafeInCloud
SafeinCloud's password manager is not as intuitive to use as some of its competitors. In addition, some standard features such as the password generator or website icons are not available in the free version. On the other hand, the premium version costs only €4.99, which is comparatively cheap.
Lastpass
My clear favourite is Lastpass. Passwords that were saved in the browser can be imported directly, so that you don't have to re-enter the passwords for your favourite sites. The app also offers the possibility to take part in a security challenge to check how secure your passwords are. In addition, it explains how to increase security in order to be optimally protected against attacks. Lastpass is free for one device (incl. free web app). If you want to have access on more than one device, you have to pay 11.99€ per year.
Dashlane
Another very convincing password manager is Dashlane. Dashlane scores above all with its design and user-friendliness. Particularly convincing is the Security Dashboard, which, similar to Lastpass, checks the security of passwords and gives tips on how to improve them. With the Password Changer, you can automatically change old or insecure passwords directly from the app. Also useful is the wallet, where you can store personal data, payments and IDs. Dashlane is free for one device, the premium version is available for 39.99€ a year.
1Password
For me, 1Password is not as intuitive as its competitors and cannot keep up as well in terms of design. Instead, it offers a unique service: the Watchtower function, which provides website vulnerability info to check objects in the vault. This tells you directly if the security of a website has been compromised and you should change your password. No login is required here, a sync is done via a cloud service of your choice. For the average user, the free version is fully sufficient. Pro features are available for €9.99; if you want to sync across all devices including desktop apps, you have to pay a hefty €64.99.
Enpass
Enpass scores points especially in terms of design. The app is extremely clear and very easy to use. You can also securely store other important information (licences, driving licence, finances) here. You don't need to log in; the sync takes place via a cloud service of your choice. Alternatively, you can use the app locally and offline. You can try Premium for a fortnight, after that you are limited to 20 passwords. For €9.99, you get a lifetime licence for one device.
For me, Lastpass was the most convincing password manager. Intuitive and easy to use, plus a clear design. For now, the free version for one device is enough for me, but an upgrade could be worthwhile. With it, you always have your passwords and login data at hand without having to sacrifice security.
Have you had any other experiences?
