Holding over a fifth of the global password management market^[1], LastPass is the most widely used password manager solution. However, the service has experienced security breaches in recent years^[2], raising concerns about the security measures it employs. While the company is committed to improving its systems, you might prefer exploring other solutions to get robust protection. 

If you're looking for a LastPass alternative, this article will present some choices, helping you pick the best fit for your password management needs. You'll also learn about virtual cards and how they help safeguard your bank account and debit card details.

Disclaimer: The information in this guide is valid as of August 2024. Please refer to password managers' official websites for current details about each product.

What To Look for in a Password Manager

Selecting the right password manager requires evaluating four key factors:

1. Security measures—End-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and zero-knowledge architecture are essential for protecting your passwords and password manager accounts.
2. Password and file management features—A password generator, autofill, and data breach monitoring enhance security and convenience.
3. Cross-platform compatibility—This feature ensures access to passwords on various browsers and device types, providing flexibility and convenience.
4. Pricing—The cost of each option should be considered, taking into account the features offered and whether the pricing aligns with your budget.

5 Alternatives to LastPass

Five prominent alternatives to LastPass are:

1. Dashlane
2. 1Password
3. Bitwarden
4. Keeper Password Manager
5. NordPass

1. Dashlane

Dashlane employs AES-256 encryption to protect passwords and personal data. The service also incorporates a built-in Hotspot Shield VPN (available on Premium and Family plans), which encrypts internet traffic for enhanced online privacy.

The company uses a zero-knowledge security model, meaning it does not store users' passwords on its servers and cannot access them. This approach minimizes the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Additional features offered by Dashlane include:

• Dark Web Monitoring—Scans the dark web for compromised personal information and alerts users if their data is detected
• Password Health—Analyzes and rates the strength of passwords, highlighting compromised, weak, or reused ones
• Secure Notes—Allows users to store sensitive information, such as software keys and home Wi-Fi passwords

The password manager is compatible with smartphones, tablets, computers, and e-readers (Android 10 or higher needed). It offers browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Chromium-based browsers.

For individual users, Dashlane offers a free plan, a Premium plan at $4.99/month, and a Friends & Family offering at $7.49/month.

2. 1Password

1Password uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption to safeguard user data. The company uses a zero-knowledge security model and offers a Secret Key, a feature that increases the complexity of encryption keys used to scramble data, boosting protection against brute force attacks on 1Password's servers.

Notable features of 1Password include:

• Travel Mode—Temporarily removes sensitive data from devices when traveling and restores it upon return
• Watchtower—Monitors passwords for vulnerabilities and provides actionable recommendations to boost password security
• Password sharing—Securely shares passwords and other items stored in 1Password with others, even if they don't have a 1Password account
• Secure file storage—Safely stores important files within the user's 1Password vault

1Password can be used on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. It has a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari.

A notable difference between LastPass and 1Password is that the former has a free plan while the latter does not, although it offers a free 14-day trial. 1Password pricing starts at $2.99/month (billed annually) for individual users, while the Families plan is available for $4.99/month (billed annually).

3. Bitwarden

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager known for its transparency and security. It uses AES-CBC 256-bit encryption combined with HMAC authentication to protect user data. The service also employs a zero-knowledge architecture to minimize the risk of breaches.

Beyond encrypting users' passwords, Bitwarden offers the following features:

• Self-hosting option—Allows users to run Bitwarden on their servers for greater control over security
• Bitwarden Send—Lets users transmit encrypted information, such as text snippets or files, directly to others, with options such as automatic deletion, optional passwords, and expiration dates
• Custom fields—Allows users to attach additional information to every type of item they store in the password manager

Bitwarden supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. It also provides extensions for multiple browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Safari, and Opera.

The manager offers a free plan with basic features, but users can upgrade to the Premium plan for less than $1/month ($10 annually), or the Families offering for $3.33/month ($40 annually).

4. Keeper

Keeper uses AES-256 encryption to safeguard user data, adding elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC) for single sign-on (SSO) or passwordless logins. Like other LastPass alternatives, it features a zero-knowledge security architecture.

The password manager also comes with Self-Destructing Records, a feature that allows users to set shared files to self-delete at the specified time or once the recipient has viewed it for five minutes, whichever comes first.

Other notable features users get from Keeper include:

• Biometric login—Allows users to log in with fingerprint and facial recognition for secure access using Windows Hello
• Secure file storage—Offers a secure repository for sensitive files
• BreachWatch—Monitors the dark web for compromised credentials and alerts users when their records are at risk

Keeper supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Chrome OS, Android, and iOS devices and offers browser extensions for Chrome, Brave, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

Pricing starts at $2.92 per month ($34.99 billed annually) for individual users, while the Family plan is available for $6.25 per month ($74.99 billed annually).

5. NordPass

NordPass uses a newer encryption protocol, XChaCha20, instead of the industry-standard AES-256, to protect user data. It implements a zero-knowledge security model to ensure that user data remains private and inaccessible to third parties, including the service provider.

Additional features of NordPass include:

• Password Health—Offers detailed analysis of weak, re-used, and old passwords
• Data Breach Scanner—Identifies if user information has been compromised in data breaches
• Password import and export—Facilitates easy transfer of passwords from other managers or browsers

NordPass is compatible with:

• Windows (10 and higher)
• macOS (11 and higher)
• Linux distributions supporting Snap
• Android (9.0 and above)
• iOS (15.0 and higher)
• Chromebooks (standalone browser extension only)

It also has extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Edge, and Safari.

The service offers a free basic version, with the Premium plan starting at $1.89/month and the Family plan at $2.79/month on a two-year subscription. 

Consider Additional Safeguards for Your Payment Card Details

Whether you choose one of the LastPass alternatives we mentioned or opt for a different one—Proton Pass, Norton Password Manager, or Microsoft Authenticator—you're likely to end up with a solution that's more than capable of protecting the sensitive information you store within it, including your payment card details. 

However, when you use your financial information to shop online, its security will also depend on how the merchant stores your sensitive details. If they suffer a data breach, your financial information might be compromised.

To mitigate this risk and enjoy broader protection, consider using additional security measures, such as virtual cards for online purchases. 

Virtual cards are random card numbers you can link to your bank account or debit card and use when transacting online, hiding your real financial information from thieves. For advanced security and control over spending, you should consider an independent virtual card provider like Privacy. 

Use Privacy Cards To Protect Your Financial Details.

Privacy is a trusted virtual card provider, serving more than 250,000 users. As a PCI-DSS-compliant company, it uses robust security measures comparable to those of banks to protect financial information. For example, it uses AES-256 encryption to protect user data, and it undergoes regular third-party audits to ensure its security measures remain up to the highest standards.

Additional safeguards include two-factor authentication (2FA), which adds another verification step beyond a password when signing into your Privacy account. It also offers real-time alerts for all virtual card activity, helping you spot unusual transaction attempts quickly.

Privacy Card Types and Features

With Privacy, you can generate three types of virtual cards:

Privacy also offers the following card controls:

• Spending limits—You can set the maximum amount a merchant can charge you. Any transaction that exceeds this limit will be automatically declined, protecting you from accidental overcharges or unexpected fees.
• Card pausing/closing—You can pause or close your virtual card, and Privacy will block further transactions. This feature can protect you from accidental charges, such as those that might happen while canceling a subscription service.

Additional Convenience Features

When you sign up for Privacy, you'll benefit from several features designed to streamline virtual card management:

• 1Password integration—Privacy allows you to manage your Privacy Cards directly within 1Password's browser extension, offering seamless access and organization of your virtual cards alongside your passwords.
• Privacy Browser Extension—You can use the browser extension, available for Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari for iOS, to autofill checkout fields with your virtual card details.
• Privacy App—You can leverage the mobile app, available for Android and iOS, to create and manage virtual cards on the go.
• Shared Cards—Privacy allows you to share your virtual cards with trusted friends and family while retaining full control over card settings. Your personal details aren't shared.

How To Join Privacy

To begin using Privacy Virtual Cards, follow four quick steps:

1. Register on the Privacy website
2. Provide your details to verify your identity
3. Link a funding source, such as your debit card or bank account
4. Request and generate your first virtual card
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Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose between the four plans Privacy offers. In the table below, you'll find information about each option:

Privacy Cards are available to U.S. residents over the age of 18 and with checking accounts at U.S. banks or credit unions.

References

^[1] Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1331322/password-management-market-share/, Sourced August 9, 2024

^[2] LastPass. https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/2023/03/security-incident-update-recommended-actions, Sourced August 9, 2024.

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