Finding password manager apps for macOS is not an easy job.
After all, not every software is compatible with the platform designed only for Apple products.
The case with password manager apps is a bit different, though.
Most of them have a dedicated Mac app but finding the right one is the real job.
An ideal online Password Manager for Mac should be compact in security and encrypt your data using the latest 256-bit AES system.
In addition to this, features like automatic login, autofill, form capture, and an auto password generator are also imperative. Because you don’t want to go through the pain of pasting username and passwords every time you log in to an account.
And at last, I also expect the tool to spot weak passwords and store and sync data like card information, notes, online identities, online accounts, and more.
Now, unfortunately, not every password manager I tested had all these qualities. That’s why I have handpicked the most elite programs and talk about their goods and bads in the following section.
So let’s take a look at the Best Password Managers for Mac, and review the pros and cons for each of them.
1. LastPass
LastPass Best All-Around
- Simple and easy user interface
- Form capture
- Multifactor authentication
- Strong password generator
- Compatible with all devices and browsers
- Audit report
- Easy sharing with other users
- Slow customer service
- Outdated user interface
LastPass is the most complete online password manager for Mac users according to my test.
The software is user-friendly and can be used even by a novice. All credit goes to its dead-simple interface.
The navigation bar is on the left-hand side containing all the functions, and there’s a ‘+’ icon on the bottom of the screen to store your credentials. The app can store passwords, cards, insurance, government IDs, notes, and whatnot.
A couple of clicks and your data is saved. It’s that easy!
Everything you store in the secure vault is encrypted by the industry-standard 256-bit AES system. On top of that, LastPass also applies PBKDF2 SHA-256 to ensure no one can decode your data.
Users are given the option to set two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to the secure vault.
In addition to this, LastPass enables you to run occasional security scans to spot weak and duplicate passwords. A security report and overall score indicate how secure your password database is.
And the best part is, you can replace the weak passwords and duplicate passwords right within the software using the in-built password generator.
The program has browser extensions, too, for almost all the major browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.
These browser extensions are critical in helping you auto-login to different web accounts. Besides this, it can autofill web-forms and payment details with 100% precision.
I’ve been using LastPass for almost a year but never faced any issues auto-filling forms for e-commerce checkout pages or online accounts.
What’s more?
LastPass is an excellent option for businesses and enterprises, too. Business members are allowed to create shared folders for their teams and are free to add as many users as they want.
The sharing feature is pretty secure and doesn’t reveal the actual credentials to any shared user.
Another awesome thing about LastPass is its diverse device compatibility. There is a dedicated app for almost every platform, like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. And you can sync all your data across your iPhone and Mac desktop devices.
You can either opt for their free plan that comes with a few limitations or go for their premium account (most recommended).
Earlier the price was $2/month, but now it’s $3/month when you commit for an entire year.
Read more in my detailed review of LastPass here.
2. Dashlane
Dashlane Best Premium Security
- Simple, Intuitive Interface
- Industry-Standard Security Protocol
- Strong Password Generator
- Multiple Forms of Secure Data
- Compatible with All Devices
- Extensive Password Audits
- Increased Privacy with a Dedicated VPN
- A Little Expensive
- A Little Expensive
- Inconsistent Browser Form Autofill
Dashlane is the best alternative to LastPass and is the second-best tool in this list for and iPhone and Mac cross-platform password manager.
Just like its closest competitor, LastPass, Dashlane, too, is remarkably easy to use. In fact, the user interface is one of the cleanest and most beautiful among all the programs on this list.
Most part of the UI is plain white space with a simple navigation bar on the left and an ‘Add New’ button on the top.
To store passwords, card details, or notes, just hit that ‘Add New’ button and fill in the details. That’s it!
All these credentials are encrypted using the standard 256-bit AES encryption system.
And thanks to the secure sharing feature, you’re allowed to exchange account credentials & notes with fellow users and family members. That too, without revealing anything.
Dashlane also renders you the power to revoke access for any user at any point of time or appoint someone to access your account in case of an emergency.
That being said, what separates this software from other contenders in this list is its audit report and dedicated VPN.
Just like LastPass, Dashlane also analyzes your secure data and helps you spot the weak and compromised passwords. The audit report it returns is the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen.
Not only you get an overall secure password health score, but Dashlane also scans the dark web to see if your email or any of your unique passwords have ever been compromised.
If yes, it spits them out and asks you to replace weak passwords with strong passwords using their automatic password generator. This password generator is handy while filling sign up forms, too.
Now, the second thing that gives the software a slight edge over other options is the in-house VPN that no other software offers.
This unique facility is available only to the premium members to ensure safety while working on public servers.
Though it’s not as fast as the paid options available on the market, it still does a decent job hiding your browser IP address and opening blocked websites.
Talking about its device compatibility; Dashlane is available on every platform, be it Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, or Linux.
You can also find browser extension for your favorite browsers like Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox, and more.
I would recommend adding these browser extensions so that you can make use of the autofill feature. However, the function is sometimes buggy.
During my test, it refused to autofill my login details a couple of times. Another blemish on its wall is the absence of multi-factor authentication.
That’s why it falls a little short when compared to the LastPass secure password manager.
Finally, when it comes to pricing, the best deal I could find is the ‘Premium’ account that costs $3.33/month when billed annually.
Plus, Dashlane covers all its plan by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read more in my detailed review of Dashlane here.
3. 1Password
1Password
Monthly
- Secure Login Mechanism
- Wide Variety of Browser Extensions
- Seamless Form Capture Feature
- Comprehensive Password Audit
- Multiple Templates for Secure Information
- Helpful Customer Support
- Poor User Experience
- Login Issues with Your ‘Secret Key’
1Password is quite popular among users and offers the same set of features as LastPass and Dashlane.
The software can store unique passwords, credit card details, notes, and addresses. However, the user interface is a bit tricky, and it might be difficult for you to find your way at the beginning.
Just like all the other programs in this list, 1Password, too, uses the 256-bit AES encryption to encrypt your information. But it adds an extra layer of security by automatically generating a ‘Secret Key’ for every new sign up.
This ‘Secret Key’ (besides the master password) is unique to every user, and you’re required to enter it while signing in to your account. Add a two-factor authentication, and it becomes impossible for anyone to break into your vault.
However, this same ‘Secret Key’ can become a severe headache if you don’t write it somewhere while signing up for the software. Because without it, you can never unlock your vault.
1Password also features a security audit function to spot weak and duplicate passwords. The performance of this secure password checker is decent, but the report it returns is not as thorough as what you see in Dashlane or LastPass.
But 1Password makes up for this by its spot on autofill and form capture feature. Doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to login to your social media accounts or filling the payment details, it never misses even a single detail.
The password generator is also fully automatic and suggests strong passwords whenever you sign up to a site or app.
That being said, you must add the browser extension to avail both these functions. They’re available only for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Device compatibility is also not an issue with 1Password because it’s available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and even Linux.
What’s more?
If you opt for their ‘business’ or ‘family’ premium plan, you can securely exchange credentials with other users. In fact, ‘Business’ users can add multi-factor authentication, which is not available with other membership options.
While the Family and Business plans are a bit expensive, starting at $4.99/month and $3.99/month per user respectively, the cheapest is their ‘Personal’ plan that costs just $2.99/month when billed annually.
You can read more in my detailed review of 1Password here.
4. Keeper Password Manager
Keeper Password Manager
Monthly
- Military-Grade Encryption for Usernames and Passwords
- Easy-to-Navigate UI with Password Generator and Security Audit
- Easy Password Sharing with Keeper Chat
- Export Your Login Credentials in Seconds
- Available Across Desktops, Mobile Apps, and Web Browsers
- No Free Plans
- Slow Customer Support
- Account Access Issues
Keeper Password Manager or Keeper Security is a cloud-based tool that can store unique passwords, card details, and notes.
Thanks to the clean and straightforward user interface of the software, working on it is a child’s play. Just a couple of clicks and your details are stored.
Your data is secured using two different encryption system – 256-bit AES and PBKDF2 – because Keeper, in its own words, is fanatic about data security.
Once your credentials are saved, it’s just a matter of a single click to auto-login to your accounts or fill in the payment details.
However, the form capture function is not quite responsive, and so is the password generator. Though it works well within the software.
Keeper also boasts the security audit feature, but like 1Password, the report is not very comprehensive. All it can do is spot weak and duplicate passwords.
Similarly, I had some snags while signing in to my Keeper vault a few times during the test.
Now, having said that, what separates Keeper from all the other programs in this list is their secure sharing and in-built chat. No other software offers such facility.https://www.proprofs.com/c/project/manage-project-team/
Not only you can share your credentials with your friends and family but using the in-house chat, you can talk to them in real-time. That’s quite handy when you’re working on a group project.
What’s more?
The software is compatible with all the popular operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Plus, you can use it as a browser extension on Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
And finally, when it comes to pricing, Keeper is quite pocket-friendly. The paid version of the software is available for just $2.49/month when you commit for an entire year.
They also have separate plans for families, small and medium businesses, and even large enterprises.
If budget is not an issue for you, then I would recommend the ‘Maxbundle’ package that comes for $4.99/month. That surely is expensive, but you get lots of add on products including the built-in chat facility along with the Keeper password manager for that price point.
You can read more in my detailed review of Keeper here.
5. RoboForm
RoboForm
Monthly
- Simple and easy to use
- AES-256bit encryption
- Auto filling web forms
- Auto-fill and password storage
- Password sharing
- No restrictions on the type of device or operating system
- No multi-factor authentication
RoboForm is a cutting-edge software that gets you all the essential features of a top-notch tool like LastPass but at a cheaper rate.
I used this tool for a week on both iPhone and Mac and never had any issues with it.
Working on the software is as easy as ABC. You can store your data or navigate to all essential functions with just a couple of clicks.
The software can save a variety of information, including unique passwords, cards, notes, and online identities. To make sure hackers can’t access your details even in their wildest dreams, RoboForm uses 256-bit AES and PBKDF2 SHA-256 encryption system.
Paid users get the option to combine two-factor authentication with this encryption system to tackle intruders and brute force attacks.
In short, RoboForm vaults are one of the safest options out there.
Similarly, it does an excellent job auto-filling even the oddest browser forms like Passport renewal and driving license application forms.
However, the password generator is not quite impressive. You can use it to generate strong passwords within the software, but unlike LastPass or 1Password, it doesn’t pop-up automatically while filling sign-up forms.
I have the same feedback for its security audit function, too. Though it can point out weak, duplicate, and old passwords, it doesn’t scan the dark web to trace hidden threats as Dashlane does.
But that being said, the secure sharing feature of RoboForm is undoubtedly commendable. Unlike most of the advanced password managers, you are allowed to share your credentials to as many users as you want.
And fortunately, there are no strict rules regarding which device or operating system users should be having because RoboForm works well everywhere. There’s a standalone app for all four popular platforms – Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
You can also add their browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.
Now, when all is said and done, the only thing I missed in this software is the availability of multi-factor authentication. Otherwise, the program is complete in almost every sense.
The software has a free version and two different premium plan variants.
I would recommend going for the free version, first, to check the water. If you like what you get and ready to open your wallet, then bite the bullet and commit for an entire year. That way, you can get the best deal, and the software would cost only $1.99/month.
They have separate plans for families and businesses, too, and they start from $3.98/month (for 5 users) and $3.35/user/month, respectively.
Read more in my detailed review of RoboForm here.
6. LogmeOnce
LogmeOnce
- Minimalistic Approach
- Standard 256-bit AES with SHA 512
- Auto-fill feature
- Solid audit system
- Secure sharing of passwords
- Except for Linux, it is compatible with every operating system
- Inability to access the vault offline
LogmeOnce is the only software in this list that you can get for free without compromising with any feature.
Design-wise the software looks a bit outdated but has immense power under its hood. Plus, it’s also the quickest to set-up because unlike other tools, you are not required to install any desktop app.
Just add the browser extension, which is available for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, and you’re good to go.
Once you log in, you come across its user-interface that consist of mostly white space and a bunch of icons on the right-hand side of the screen.
Of course, it’s not the prettiest looking, but this minimalistic approach makes LogmeOnce one of the easiest to operate tools.
Moreover, the developers if the software has also paid great attention to the security of your data. Whatever you store in the vault is encrypted by AES 256-bit and SHA-512.
LogmeOnce adds an additional layer of security by allowing biometric authentication to log in or enabling two-factor and multi-factor authentication.
While two-factor authentication is included in the free version, you have to buy the premium membership to avail multi-factor authentication.
In addition to this, the software also features some exciting new tools, including ‘Mugshot’, Photo login, and an Anti-theft solution.
For me, Mugshot is the most exciting because it helps you catch the person who makes a failed attempt to unlock your vault.
Similarly, the auto-fill and secure sharing functions were excellent in my test. You can share your unique passwords directly via email to another user, and it’s all up to you whether you want to reveal the credentials or not.
Next is the security audit feature of LogmeOnce, which, contrary to the UI, returns a beautifully graphical overview of your database.
But the problem, once again, is lack of depth. The system scans out only the weak and duplicate credentials and displays an overall score. It doesn’t dig deeper and checks the dark web.
Nevertheless, this small glitch cannot overshadow all the cool features the software offers. Not to forget how pocket-friendly it is.
The software is primarily free, and most of the features are included in the free version.
But if you want more like multi-factor authentication or Mugshot, then either upgrade to premium plan for just $1/month or buy one of the bundle packs that come for anywhere between $4-$7/month.
These bundle packs include some add on products that help you enhance your overall experience with the LogmeOnce password manager.
And whatever you buy is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if anything happens within the first 30-days of purchase, you can ask for a full refund.
You can read more in my detailed review of LogmeOnce here.
7. Bitwarden
Bitwarden
Annually
- Remarkably easy to use
- Browser extension automatically signals the number of accounts associated with a site
- Two-factor authentication
- Password sharing is easy
- Password audit
- Compatible across all devices
- Password generator not that responsive
Bitwarden is the cheapest among all the tools in this list. But being a low-cost software doesn’t make it a second fiddle to anyone.
In fact, Bitwarden is one of the most feature-rich tools and hardly has any setback. Also, it’s the only program in this list that is available on the web and even as a desktop app.
Regardless of what you prefer (web or app), the software is extremely easy to use.
The user-interface in both places is quite sleek and straightforward. And you will just breeze through all the functions.
To save a password, card details, online identity, or notes, just click their ‘Add Item’ button and fill in the details. That’s all you need.
Similarly, you can navigate to other functions and perform them with just a couple of clicks.
The security feature of Bitwarden is also up to the mark. They use 256-bit AES to encrypt your data and PBKDF2 SHA-256 to derive the security key.
On top of all this, individual users are given the option to enable two-factor authentication, and ‘Enterprises’ can add multi-factor authentication to protect the vault.
That’s enough protection to keep any unwanted element out of your vault.
In addition to this, I also liked the auto-fill and form capture feature of this tool. The browser extension is quick enough to suggest login credentials as soon as you open a site.
Similarly, the software is quite responsive on e-commerce checkout pages and sign up forms, too. However, the password generator is not automatic and doesn’t suggest strong passwords while filling sign-up forms.
What’s more?
Bitwarden can scan your database and spots weak, duplicate, and old passwords within seconds. And using the secure sharing feature, you can exchange credentials with other users, too.
The process is quite similar to Last Pass’ where you’re required to create an organization and invite users to join that organization.
And it doesn’t matter what device you own, Bitwarden works well everywhere. And you can also find an extension for your favorite browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.
At last, when it comes to pricing, Bitwarden is the least expensive in this list. You can buy the entire year’s membership for just $10. That’s even less than $1 a month.
They also have separate plans for enterprises that start from $5/month and covers five members of a team.
However, they don’t have any refund policy at this moment.
Read more in my detailed review of Bitwarden here.
Conclusion
Well, that was a tight race.
All seven programs in this list boast almost all the qualities I was looking for in an ideal cross-platform password manager for Mac.
However, LastPass and Dashlane have a slight edge over others due to their distinct set of features.
While LastPass checks all the boxes, Dashlane gets you a long list of benefits (minus multi-factor authentication) including a personal VPN that no other program offers.
And all this for the price of a cup of coffee. No one would mind paying that price for a feature-rich tool like LastPass or Dashlane.
However, if budget is a hurdle for you, then Bitwarden or RoboForm could be an apt replacement.
You can also go with LogmeOnce that offers most of the functions for free and charge a very nominal fee for its premium services.
Similarly, 1Password and Keeper also have their own specialties, but I would not buy them over the top two recommendations.
You should also consider being able to recover data for mac in case of unplanned data loss.