RoboForm Password Manager—A Detailed Review
Strong passwords are key to protecting your online accounts. However, 75% of people globally don't adhere to good password practices, with 14% reusing weak passwords across multiple accounts[1].
Password managers promote good password hygiene by generating and securely storing unique passwords for each account. In this guide, we'll explore the RoboForm password manager to showcase how it can help you manage your passwords efficiently and securely.
The guide will also introduce a complementary security tool to protect financial information during online transactions—virtual cards.
Disclaimer: The information in this guide is accurate as of September 2024. For the most up-to-date information, visit the official RoboForm website.
RoboForm Password Manager Review—Everything To Know
We'll examine RoboForm across four essential categories:
- Security measures
- Password management features
- Device compatibility and customer support
- Plans and pricing
Security Measures
RoboForm utilizes the industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption with PBKDF2 and SHA256 algorithms to protect passwords and other information it stores against cyber attacks[2]. It operates on a zero-knowledge architecture—all encryption and decryption occur locally on the user's device[2]. Since the user is the only person with the master password, not even RoboForm can see the contents of users' vaults.
RoboForm offers additional security measures, such as:
- Multi-factor authentication[2]—Users can secure their account further by enabling two-factor authentication with a time-based one-time password (TOTP) or a one-time password (OTP) via SMS or email.
- Independently audited[2]—RoboForm has undergone an audit by Secfault Security to ensure its security measures are up-to-date and effective.
- Auto-logout[3]—RoboForm automatically logs out users after a specified period of inactivity.
Password Management Features
RoboForm offers Identities[4], a feature that groups personal information like credit card numbers, addresses, and phone numbers, allowing RoboForm to securely autofill online forms with those details. The password manager also has a built-in password generator[5] that creates strong, unique passwords for each site based on user preferences such as length and character types.
Other features include:
- Security Center[6]—Evaluates password strength and notifies users if their credentials are weak, reused, or compromised in a data breach
- Secure sharing[7]—Enables sharing of passwords and notes with trusted recipients
- Password importing[8]—Imports existing login credentials from other password managers, browsers, or a CSV file for easy migration to RoboForm
- Emergency access[9]—Designates a trusted person to securely receive access to the account after a specified time in case of an emergency
- Passkeys storage[10]—Stores passkeys in the RoboForm vault, allowing users to use them on every device where RoboForm is installed
- Authenticator[11]—Generates TOTP codes for sites that require 2FA, eliminating the need for a separate authenticator tool
- Batch Login[12]—Enables logging into multiple accounts simultaneously, opening each in a separate tab
- Safenote[13]—Saves important and sensitive information like credit card PINs, software licenses, and Wi-Fi passwords in an encrypted vault
Device Compatibility and Customer Support
Users with multiple devices can access their credentials and other information stored in their vault, with RoboForm being available on different browsers and operating systems[14]:
RoboForm provides customer support across different channels, including[15]:
- A searchable help center with articles, tutorials, and FAQs
- A manual with detailed instructions on setting up, using, and troubleshooting RoboForm
- Support ticketing system for specific issues and inquiries
- Live assistance via chat and phone (available Mon–Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time U.S.)
Plans and Pricing
RoboForm offers a free plan[16] that supports unlimited password storage on a single device, using RoboForm for 2FA, cloud backup, and compromised password monitoring[16]. Premium users, who pay $2.49 per month billed annually, get access to all features. The Family plan allows for five premium accounts at $3.98 per month billed annually.
RoboForm also offers a Business plan for teams and businesses that provides features such as single sign-on (SSO) integration, role-based access, and automated provisioning. This plan starts at $3.33 per user/month, billed annually[17]. Enterprise users can opt for RoboForm's Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
Want To Shop Around Some More?
While RoboForm offers a comprehensive and secure password management solution, other alternatives might fit your needs better. If you're still not sure you want to subscribe to RoboForm, consider the following alternatives:
- Norton Password Manager—This password manager is available for free and offers features such as passwordless vault access and a Safety Dashboard for spotting weak, reused, and old passwords.
- Bitwarden—An open-source password manager with a self-hosting option, Bitwarden supports vault unlock with biometrics, two-factor authentication, and secure password sharing.
- Dashlane—With a built-in Hotspot Shield VPN for premium users, Dashlane offers dark web monitoring for compromised personal information and a digital wallet feature to store credit card information safely.
- 1Password—This is a user-friendly password manager with a Travel Mode feature that temporarily removes sensitive data from users' devices. 1Password also offers a Secret Key that increases the complexity of encryption keys, and its Watchtower feature alerts users of possible exposure in case of data breaches.
- Proton Pass—Offering a generous forever-free plan, Proton Password Manager supports passkeys to protect against phishing attacks, hide-my-email aliases that generate unique email addresses for online forms, and Proton Sentinel, which is a feature that leverages robust AI systems and human analysis to increase account security.
Is RoboForm a Good Password Manager?
Password managers like RoboForm use strict security measures to protect the information you store in them. However, they cannot protect that data after you've shared it with someone, like with an online merchant. In that case, your payment card details' security depends on the merchant's safeguards—if they fail to protect against cyber attacks, your card details can be compromised.
If you want to bolster the protection of your payment cards, consider using virtual cards for your online purchases instead. In case of a data breach at the merchant's servers, your financial information would remain secure, protecting you against card fraud.
For advanced security and card control options, choose an independent virtual card provider like Privacy.
Leverage Privacy Cards for Safer Online Payments
Privacy is a BBB-accredited and PCI-DSS-compliant virtual card provider that helps you safeguard your financial data when shopping online. After connecting a bank account or debit card to Privacy, you can generate virtual cards for online transactions. Each Privacy Card comes with a unique number, expiration date, and security code, and you can use it the same way you use your regular card.
Privacy employs stringent security protocols to secure your account. It employs AES-256-bit encryption to protect data in transit and storage, two-factor authentication for account access, and hashed passwords using PBKDF2 with 100,000 iterations.
Other security measures Privacy has in place include:
- Regular third-party security audits to ensure compliance with industry standards
- Firewalled servers to protect user data
- Fraud investigation of disputed transactions with chargeback support if merited
- Real-time notifications to monitor card activity
Privacy Virtual Cards—Types and Features
Privacy lets you create three types of virtual cards:
To give you greater control over your spending, Privacy allows you to pause or close your cards and set spending limits without affecting the underlying funding source. Privacy will block further billing on a paused or closed card and decline charges that exceed the set limits, safeguarding you against hidden fees and unannounced price increases.
Convenience Features
Privacy offers additional convenience features for easier virtual card use and management, including:
- 1Password integration—You can connect Privacy to 1Password, which allows you to use and manage your virtual cards and passwords within the password manager's browser extension.
- Privacy App—Whether you use an Android or iOS device, the mobile app lets you create new cards, monitor transactions, and pause or close your cards on the go.
- Privacy Browser Extension—The browser extension, available for Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari, Safari for iOS, and Chrome, allows you to generate new cards and autofill details at checkout.
- Shared Cards—This feature enables you to securely share your virtual cards with friends and family, giving them access to your budget without revealing any sensitive financial data. You can combine this feature with the Category Card and use it to provide your children with monthly allowances within specific categories.
- Card Notes—Privacy allows you to attach notes to your virtual cards, such as purchase reminders or merchant requirements, to organize and track your transactions.
Getting Started With Privacy
To join over 250,000 Privacy users in the U.S., complete these four steps:
- Visit the Privacy website and create an account
- Complete the KYC process to verify your identity
- Link your debit card or bank account to fund your Privacy account
- Request and generate your first virtual card
Privacy offers four monthly plans:
References
[1]Keeper. https://www.keepersecurity.com/blog/2023/06/28/keeper-launches-new-global-password-report/, sourced September 12, 2024
[2]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/security, sourced September 12, 2024
[3]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002512592-Policies, sourced September 12, 2024
[4]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/manual#identities, sourced September 12, 2024
[5]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/manual#passwordGenerator, sourced September 12, 2024
[6]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/360060772192-Compromised-passwords-in-Security-Center, sourced September 12, 2024
[7]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004844868-Individual-item-Sharing, sourced September 12, 2024
[8]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005861708-How-to-add-passwords-to-RoboForm, sourced September 12, 2024
[9]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/manual#emergencyAccess, sourced September 12, 2024
[10]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/18625573502477-How-to-store-passkeys-in-RoboForm, sourced September 12, 2024
[11]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/4416928099213-How-to-use-RoboForm-as-a-2FA-authenticator-for-other-sites-and-apps, sourced September 12, 2024
[12]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/16512470874125-How-to-log-in-to-multiple-sites-with-one-click-Batch-Login, sourced September 12, 2024
[13]RoboForm. https://help.roboform.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005854388-Creating-a-Safenote, sourced September 12, 2024
[14]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/download, sourced September 12, 2024
[15]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/support, sourced September 12, 2024
[16]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/pricing-personal, sourced September 12, 2024
[17]RoboForm. https://www.roboform.com/pricing-business, sourced September 12, 2024
