5 Best Password Manager Apps for Mac With Pros and Cons
A password manager is the first thing we advise the majority to invest in. Both Apple and Google offer a default password manager to keep track of login details. However, the market is filled with third-party password managers that deliver more features at a fraction of a price. If you are planning to download one for Mac, read along to find the five best password manager apps for Apple’s desktop OS.
Best Password Manager Apps for Mac
Let’s start the list with Apple’s default solution called iCloud Keychain.
1. iCloud Keychain
iCloud Keychain keeps your private information in sync across all the Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Whenever you log in using the Safari browser on Mac or iPhone, Keychain automatically creates an entry for you in the background. iCloud keeps all the data in sync. It’s free but works only on Apple devices.
Pros
- Works in the background
- Free to use
- Preinstalled by default on all Apple devices
- Excellent choice for those invested in the Apple ecosystem
- Supports multiple vaults on Mac
Cons
- Limited to Apple devices only, not platform-agnosotic
- Lack of features such as WatchTower or Dark Web monitoring
- No extension for browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge
Price: Free
2. 1Password
1Password is one of the most popular password managers for Mac. It’s the preferred choice for Apple employees as well. 1Password is available everywhere including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and has extension support for Safari, Firefox, and all the Chromium browsers out there.
The list of features includes auto-generated passwords, login categories, multiple vaults, WatchTower to notify about compromised passwords, and more. As for Mac-specific functions, one can unlock the 1Password app with Touch ID or set up Apple Watch to detect authentication on the go.
Pros
- Cross-platform availability
- Touch ID and Apple Watch support for a seamless authentication
- The ability to choose Google Drive or Dropbox as backup
- Multiple vaults support
Cons
- Mac app can use some redesign to sync with other UI changes on macOS Big Sur
Price
The pricing starts at $2.99 per month.
3. Dashlane
Dashlane is another well-known password manager for Mac. It’s the most modern-looking password manager with a translucent effect. Dashlane easily beats the competition with Password Health and Identity Dashboard functions.
The system spots weak and repeated passwords and the dark web monitoring keeps track of your exposed email IDs and passwords on the dark web. If it finds any, Dashlane will advise users to change the password on the go.
Pros
- Excellent UI
- Dark web monitoring built-in
- Paid plans come with a VPN
Cons
- Expensive compared to rivals
Price: The paid plans start at $3.33 per month.
Get Dashlane for Mac
4. Bitwardern
Don’t want to pay a monthly subscription fee for a password manager and want to enjoy the same benefits as 1Password or Dashlane? Look no further and get Bitwaren for Mac. It’s an open-source password manager for Mac and Windows. Don’t get confused by the open-source project though. Bitwarden is feature-rich and the paid version is cheaper than rivals.
All your data is secure with Bitwarden’s end-to-end 256-bit encryption. The UI feels dated though and the feature list misses out on Apple Watch integration and WatchTower to find exposed passwords.
Pros
- Open-source project
- Available on all major platforms
- Free to download and use
- Can self-host Bitwarden on your server
- Encrypted file attachments
- Bitwarden Authenticator (TOTP)
- Two-step login with YubiKey, U2F, Duo
Cons
- Outdated UI
- No multiple vault support
- No Apple Watch integration
Price: The pro plan start at $10 per year.
5. LastPass
LastPass had been our go-to recommendation in the past. However, in recent times, the company has been in news for all the wrong reasons. It recently pulled cross-platform sync in the free plan and previously, LastPass suffered a security breach as well.
As for features, LastPass supports Touch ID, password audit, auto-generated strong passwords, secure notes, and more. Plus, it’s universally available on other platforms as well.
Pros
- Available on all platforms
- Rich features on offer
- Multifactor authentication support
- Touch ID support
Cons
- No option to store data on third-party cloud storage services
- Sketchy history with securing user data
- The free plan is extremely limited
Price: The personal plan starts at $3 per month.
Get LastPass for Mac
Wrapping Up: Best Password Managers for Mac
In 2021, it’s more important than ever to secure your online identity with a strong password. Invest in a password manager on Mac, change weak and repeated passwords, and you are easily safe from most hackers out there. Those looking for a free solution should check out Bitwarden. If you want more functions and a better macOS integration, narrow your selection to 1Password or Dashlane.
