The best password managers, according to hackers
21 password managers recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedBitwarden278 people recommend it
- Built to last1Passwordowners report a median of 15 years
- Least regretEnpass11 recommend, 0 criticize
- Free and lovedKeePassXC131 people recommend it
All password managers
- BitwardenAn open-source, cross-platform password manager with a capable free tier, self-hosting and passkey sync; recent price hikes and an ownership change worry longtime users.278recommend
- 1PasswordA long-trusted password manager praised for secret-key encryption, passkey and SSH key support and family sharing; critics dislike price hikes, Electron rewrites, glitchy autofill and its enterprise focus.238recommend
- KeePassXCA free, open-source, local-file password manager that stores passwords, TOTP seeds and exportable passkeys without tying you to a cloud provider; critics cite rough UI, flaky browser autofill and AI-assisted development.131recommend
- VaultwardenA lightweight, easy-to-deploy self-hosted server for Bitwarden clients that lets you own your vault data, though it depends on Bitwarden's clients and self-hosting something this critical carries risk.112recommend
- KeePassRecommended as a free, long-lived password manager that stores everything in one encrypted local file you control and sync however you like, though syncing and browser autofill can be rough.100recommend
- Apple PasswordsFree, built-in password manager with easy biometric autofill; critics cite a barebones feature set and Apple device lock-in.79recommend
- iCloud KeychainRecommended as a built-in, end-to-end encrypted password and passkey store that syncs across Apple devices. Main caveat: it works best only within the Apple ecosystem.48recommend
- pass password managerSimple, stable command-line password manager storing gpg-encrypted files in git, so syncing and backup are easy. Common caveat: weak phone and Windows support.41recommend
- Proton PassPeople recommend it for end-to-end encryption, easy sharing, passkey handling and built-in email aliases. Common caveat: the apps are weaker than the backend.39recommend
- KeePassDXFree, open-source Android password manager that works with KeePassXC databases and passkeys; some report slow cached-copy decisions on bad networks.24recommend
- LastPassPeople recommend it as a cross-platform password manager that syncs well and has rarely failed day to day, though critics point to repeated data breaches and weak security practices.20recommend
- Google Password ManagerBuilt into Chrome and Android, it syncs passwords and passkeys across devices with little effort. Critics distrust Google's account lockouts and lack of passkey export.18recommend
- Bramble password managerLocal-first password manager that keeps data on-disk rather than a third-party cloud, with built-in sync. Critics worry about data loss and the lack of an iOS release.12recommend
- EnpassRecommended for fast password filling, local encrypted storage, and working on nearly every platform, including iOS, with no hype or subscription lock-in required.11recommend
- KeePass2AndroidFree Android app for KeePass databases, used with Syncthing or WebDAV to sync files across devices and paired with KeePassXC on desktop.10recommend
- StrongboxRecommended for native Apple password management with passkey support and standard KeePass vaults. One critic objects to the maker's telemetry in acquired apps.9recommend
- PassboltPassword manager people recommend for sharing single secrets and its feature set. Caveat: no individual hosted plans; cloud plans need at least 10 users.9recommend
- KeePassiumPeople recommend it as a free, open-source KeePass-compatible app that works well and fits the KeePass ecosystem. The most common caveat is a less polished user experience.7recommend
- gopassFree command-line password manager built on pass, recommended as a modern iteration that syncs secrets through git and supports age encryption.6recommend
- Firefox Password ManagerFree password manager built into Firefox, with quick logins and easy import of saved passwords. Critics say it only autofills inside Firefox, not in apps, other browsers or iOS.5recommend
- KeyguardPeople recommend Keyguard as a faster, lighter alternative client for Bitwarden and Vaultwarden servers, including on Android. The most common caveat is that it is source available under full copyright rather than open source.5recommend