10 Best Password Managers for Mac in 2023

Yes, very safe.

Password managers implement some of the most advanced security technology to ensure that user passwords are safe and protected on their servers.

All the password managers on this list have:

• Strong encryption. Most third-party password managers like Dashlane use 256-bit AES encryption or better. This is a virtually unbreakable level of encryption.
• Zero-knowledge protocols. This strong encryption is done “end-to-end”, so there’s never anyone, not even the password manager company, who can see your un-encrypted passwords.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA). If your passwords got into the hands of a hacker, they still wouldn’t be able to access your account unless they also had more proof that they were you.
• Password auditing. Some programs like RoboForm help you identify which passwords are strong, which ones are weak, and which ones have been used more than once. Dashlane even lets you change many of them with one click!

No, it’s really not. While most browsers now include some kind of built-in password storage tool which can remember and auto-fill your passwords, password managers from Chrome and Firefox just aren’t as secure or as useful as the best third-party password managers.

Browser-based password managers have:

• Low encryption
• No cross-browser sync
• No password auditing
• Sub-standard functionality

In short, they’re not fulfilling the two main purposes of a password manager:

1. Be more convenient
2. Be safer

The best password managers like Dashlane and NordPass are infinitely better than any browser’s built-in password manager.

NordPass is my favorite free password manager.

It includes:

• Unlimited password storage
• Autosave and autofill
• Biometric logins
• Password generator
• Easy password importing

Two-factor authentication makes it so you can’t log into an account without another form of verification — it can be a one-time password, your fingerprint, or a written key on a USB stick.

There are two times where 2FA is good:

1. When you’re entering your Master Password into the password manager.
2. When you’re logging into 2FA-compatible websites.

A good password manager will give you the following 2FA options:

1. Temporary one-time password (TOTP) — these become invalid after one use.
2. Biometric login — proving your identity with a face scan or fingerprint (Dashlane and RoboForm are both compatible with biometric framework).
3. USB key — authentication is made by a written key on a USB stick from companies like YubiKey and Duo.

First of all, you should never, ever, forget your Master Password. Since password managers use zero-knowledge protocols to protect your data on their servers, they can’t recover your Master Password for you if you lose it.

This high security is great for user privacy, but mistakes do happen. Most password managers like Dashlane and RoboForm include an emergency access feature to help users get back into their accounts or let friends and family access your account if you’re unable to.