1password Vs. Nordpass: Which Password Manager Is Best?

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1Password vs NordPass VPN
1Password and NordVPN/ZDNET

A password head is an basal instrumentality for generating, securely storing, and accessing credentials and different delicate individual information crossed your devices, whether you request to log into your slope aliases capable retired your accusation during online checkout. The best password guidance tools connected nan marketplace do this seamlessly, but they person a scope of features to meet varying personification needs astatine different value points. 

In our head-to-head comparison of 2 of our favourite password managers, 1Password and NordPass, nan erstwhile has nan champion personification acquisition for some individuals and families, while nan second is simply a coagulated prime for privacy- and security-minded users (as good arsenic those who want password guidance astatine nary cost). Here's a breakdown of 2 of nan apical password managers to thief you determine which 1 is champion for you. 

Also: The champion free password managers: Expert tested

Specifications


1Password

NordPass

Key features

Vault wellness reports, Travel Mode, outer credential sharing

Emergency access, email masking, information breach scans

Free version

14-day trial

Yes 

Compatibility

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, Opera

Security features

AES-256 encryption, Secret Key, 2FA

xChaCha20 encryption, MFA, multi-layer login

Biometric unlock

Face ID and Touch ID (iOS, macOS); fingerprint, face, and iris unlock (Android); Windows Hello; Linux strategy authentication

Face ID and Touch ID (iOS, macOS); fingerprint, face, and iris unlock (Android); Windows Hello

Unlimited syncing

Passkey support

Multi-factor authentication

Price

$35.88 per twelvemonth for a azygous user; $59.88 per twelvemonth for a family of up to five

$23.88 per twelvemonth for a azygous user, $44.28 per twelvemonth for a family of up to six (prices whitethorn summation aft first year)

You should take 1Password if…

1Password Watchtower feature

The 1Password Watchtower feature

Screenshot by Emily Long/ZDNET

1. You want a top-notch personification experience

1Password consistently ranks among our favourite password managers acknowledgment to its fantabulous personification acquisition crossed platforms. The vault is intuitive and easy to navigate, and 1Password has onboarding tutorials and broad support pages to thief you done nan setup process. (NordPass is besides a bully prime for those learning a password head for nan first time.) I particularly for illustration 1Password for user-friendly features, specified arsenic an extended template room for items for illustration aesculapian records and rewards programs, 1GB of unafraid storage, and integrated links to update anemic and reused passwords. 

Review: 1Password: A premium password head good worthy nan money

2. You want premium features astatine a predictable cost

1Password is competitively priced astatine a complaint that has remained accordant for respective years, which intends you get an excellent, fully-featured password head pinch nary astonishment charges. 1Password costs astir $36 annually for a azygous personification and $60 annually for a family scheme pinch 5 seats. On nan surface, that's much than NordPass, which runs predominant deals and astatine nan clip of penning charges $24 per twelvemonth for an individual and $44 per twelvemonth for a family of up to six. But your scheme pinch NordPass could summation importantly aft nan promotional period, while 1Password's pricing is arsenic listed.  

3. You request a family account

1Password is my apical proposal for families and households looking to stock a password guidance subscription. It's a spot pricier per personification than immoderate competitors, but it offers immoderate unsocial features, including shared vaults, unafraid point sharing pinch anyone extracurricular of 1Password, and nan expertise to assistance impermanent vault entree to guests needing credentials for illustration Wi-Fi and streaming work logins aliases smart fastener codes. Each personification connected nan scheme receives their ain premium account. NordPass is besides a coagulated prime for families, but location are immoderate limitations connected information sharing.

You should take NordPass if…

NordPass free password manager

NordPass offers a free password guidance tier

Screenshot by Emily Long/ZDNET

1. You want a free password manager

NordPass is among the champion free password managers pinch unlimited password retention crossed platforms and devices. Users connected nan free tier get each nan password guidance essentials, including autosave, autofill, password generation, and passkey support. The main limitation is that you tin beryllium logged successful connected only 1 instrumentality astatine a time, which tin beryllium inconvenient if you often usage your telephone and machine together. 1Password doesn't person a afloat free plan, though you tin effort it retired for 14 days earlier committing to a paid subscription. 

Review: NordPass: One of nan champion password managers for beginners pinch a free tier

2. You want other privateness and information features

While each of nan password managers I urge -- including 1Password -- person beardown encryption and basal features for illustration vault wellness reports, NordPass has other devices for protecting your privateness and vault security. Paid users get real-time information breach alerts for email addresses and in installments cards, arsenic good arsenic unlimited email masking built in. (1Password integrates pinch Fastmail for an further fee.) Plus, NordPass is conscionable 1 work nether nan Nord Security umbrella: you tin besides subscribe to NordVPN -- which we highly recommend -- and/or NordLocker (encrypted unreality storage) nether your world Nord account.

The last verdict

Both 1Password and NordPass consistently rank among our favourite password managers crossed categories, operating systems, and devices, truthful you can't spell incorrect pinch either. 1Password has a flimsy separator connected personification experience, while NordPass has built-in and add-on privateness and information devices and a afloat free scheme (the only limitation is really galore devices tin beryllium logged into your vault astatine once). We'd prime 1Password complete NordPass for nan elasticity of its family scheme and accordant year-over-year pricing, but NordPass is simply a worthy competitor for anyone who is caller to password guidance aliases who wants a no-cost option. 

Alternatives to consider

If neither 1Password nor NordPass fits your needs, I besides urge nan pursuing password managers:

bitwarden-password-manager-logo
Proton Pass password manager
Keeper password manager
More