“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”
Hellen Keller
This will be our inaugural address of the importance of using a password management app/software. If there is one thing that drives any and all IT professionals crazy is the “password” problem. When I say crazy, I need you to go a little deeper and think Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde if you will. When we are asked to help with a problem and we have to spend X amount of time getting the password it’s already too much. A basic sense of security should explain how important a password is, right? If it is important then why would a person use one that anyone that knows them could figure out? Birthdays, lucky numbers, favorite phrase, I mean it’s impressive that you think these things are all unique. Passwords need a little more thought. Remember passwords give access to our future and the current financial situation. Who would you trust with that?
So before things get heated, lets explain what PM “password management” software is. Password management software is software you download on your phone, tablet, or computer. This software stores your passwords so you don’t need to remember them. Log in once with a ‘master’ password and it will generate and remember your passwords for all your online accounts. You WILL need to remember that one master password (or passphrase) which means you only need to memorize one thing. Use the “one password to rule them all” more efficiently so to speak.
PM apps are great because you can use secure passwords of 12, 18, or 20+ characters long. You already know longer passwords are more secure. The more variables involved in the password the better and PM apps give you the ability to add several. They also give you the ability to save, auto fill, track the history of and more of your passwords. Just think of them as your password vault that not even they have access to.
So in no particular order the Best Password Management Apps to use in 2023 are:
- Dashlane
- Bitwarden
- Password Boss
- KeePassXC
- Last Pass
We here at SofTouch Systems don’t believe in one way being the “only” or “best” way. So we will just highlight one or two things that makes each one special or different from others. As with most things, it boils down to which one checks all the marks you and your business needs. You can’t go wrong with any of the afore mentioned applications. Not having one is far worse than having one that doesn’t do EVERYTHING you want.
Dashlane is one of the more recognizable names in the PM software industry and for good reason. To stay in business in the tech industry for this long says something about your client base and product. According to Crunchbase New York USA based Dashlane has between 251 and 500 employees with more than 210mil funding. With nearly 3 million visits and 77 thousand downloads per month, it’s safe to say they are an industry leader. The company boasts services such as dark web monitoring, wifi VPN, password generation, personal storage. On their paid individual accounts they offer free friends and family. They offer on-demand phone support for business accounts.
If you haven’t heard of BitWarden then keep reading because this app is loaded and best part, it’s open source! By CRUNCHBASE’s count the California based company has between 101 and 250 employees and 100mil in funding. In the last 30 days they have seen close to 4mil visits and 170 thousand downloads. For most of their client base, the fact they are open source is it’s biggest appeal. They also offer unlimited devices and free sharing for 2 users across all plans. They are worth a look. As a bonus, they offer free trials, even for business accounts.
Our next entry is a small company but don’t doubt the size of the company. We all know that size doesn’t mean the same when it comes to technology. You ultimately want to pay for an unbreakable code and for that all you need is well written code. Enter Password Boss, CRUNCHBASE has them at a modest 11 and 50 employees and not enough funding to post. They opened in 2014 and have built their product to be used along side a businesses suite of products. Their product is open source so it is easy to integrate but it is also available to individual usage. They boast a remote control tool integration, multi-devices access with mobile synchronization, centralized management portal and dashboard.
Our next entry is a relatively ancient to the scene and another that boasts open source programming. But unlike most it also has offline access and is seamlessly cross-platform and is based in Metzingen Germany. KeePassXC is one of the smaller companies on the list but only in terms of personnel. Their size doesn’t stop them from being super integrated. No matter the OS or browser you use, they have an extension. Also for those that know open source products will find KeePassXC works on all their platforms. Another feature is that the app will work with all of your platforms concurrently.
Our next entry in the Password Management applications is one of the biggest in the industry. Based out of Boston Massachusetts, LastPass, is one that we have tested. (we are not being paid for this review.) As per CRUNCHBASE, Last Pass has between 1001 and 5000 employees and they are a publicly traded company. Founded in 2003, aka 3am Labs, aka Logmein, is the giant in the PM industry. Last Pass is super easy to use, very user friendly and they have apps for all of your devices. They have won every award you can win, they deserve a lot of praise.
So if you’ve made it to the end of our list you’ll notice that we like them all. It’s much like ice cream one may be best for you but that’s just from your view right? The truth is, they are all so good at what they do. The important take away from this article is that there is no excuse for losing a password. There is no reason your business, organization, or group should ever spend any time on passwords. The sheer cost alone for searching for, unlocking, resetting, or anything having to do with a password is astronomical. Don’t spend company funds on internal liabilities created by you or your employees. Instead create a culture of progressive thought and preventive planning to minimize your security costs.
