Free password managers: what the free plans include
A free password manager can be enough for one person, and in two cases for two or three people who share a few logins. The free plans differ far more than their marketing suggests: some allow unlimited devices, others a single device or a single type of device, and Dashlane and 1Password currently offer no free plan at all.
Which free password manager is good enough?
For one person, a free plan from Bitwarden or Proton Pass, or the password manager built into your phone or browser, is usually enough. For a small team, no free plan replaces a paid one, but two of them let you share a few logins with one or two people. This page compares the free plans checked on each provider’s site on November 10, 2026, as part of our guide to storing your logins safely. Bitwarden’s own plan comparison is a useful model of what to look for: devices, sharing, and which features are reserved for paying users.
Free plans change. A provider that offers one today may drop it, as Dashlane did in 2025, so it is worth choosing a manager that lets you export your data.
The free plans side by side
| Provider | Free plan | Devices | Sharing | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden | Yes | Unlimited | A free organization for two users and two collections | Vault health reports other than the breach report are paid |
| Proton Pass | Yes | Unlimited | Up to two shared vaults, three people each, including you | Built-in two-factor codes limited to three items; no dark web monitoring |
| LastPass | Yes | One type of device: computer or mobile | One password with one person at a time | Switching device type is the main constraint |
| NordPass | Yes | One active session on one device | None; you can only view items others share with you | No breach scanner or password health |
| Keeper | Yes | One mobile device | None | 10 records, no sync, no browser extension |
| Dashlane | No; ended September 16, 2025 | — | — | Former free users can only export their data |
| 1Password | No; 14-day free trial | — | — | Paid plans only |
Sources: each provider’s pricing page or help center, checked on November 10, 2026. The password managers built into Google Chrome and Apple devices are free and not included here; they are compared with dedicated apps on a separate page.
Bitwarden and Proton Pass: free and genuinely usable
Both allow unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, both store passkeys, and both publish their source code. Bitwarden’s free plan includes its Send feature for sharing text securely, and its data breach report is free for everyone. Its free organization lets you share with exactly one other person, which suits a freelancer and an accountant, or two business partners.
Proton Pass goes a little further on sharing: two shared vaults, each with up to three people. It also includes 10 email aliases, which hide your real address when you sign up for services. Its free plan limits the built-in two-factor codes to three items.
Neither free plan gives an administrator any control: there is no way to recover a colleague’s account or enforce a policy. That is the line between a free plan and a team plan.
LastPass, NordPass, and Keeper: free, but narrow
These three free plans work as an introduction rather than as a long-term tool. LastPass Free restricts you to one type of device, so a vault used on your laptop is not available on your phone. NordPass Free allows one active session at a time. Keeper Free is the most limited: one mobile device and 10 records, with no browser extension.
Dashlane and 1Password: no free plan
Dashlane announced in August 2025 that its free plan would end on September 16, 2025; according to its announcement, former free users can only export their data. 1Password has never offered a free plan; it offers a 14-day trial without a credit card.
How to choose a free plan
- One person, one ecosystem: the password manager built into Chrome or your Apple devices may be all you need.
- One person, several ecosystems: Bitwarden Free or Proton Pass Free.
- Two or three people sharing a few logins: Bitwarden’s free organization (two people) or Proton Pass shared vaults (three people per vault).
- A team that needs control: a paid business plan.
Whatever you choose, turn on a second factor for the password manager account and keep its recovery code offline.
When it is time to compare paid plans
If the free plans do not fit, the next step is to compare the paid apps on sharing, administration, and audits. We put the main password managers head to head on the criteria that matter to small teams.
What a team plan will cost you
The price per user varies more than fourfold between providers. Our page on the per-user price of team plans lists the prices we found, with the date and currency.