In the not-too-distant analogue era, the vital passwords in our lives were limited to our card PINs, suitcase combination locks, or safe combinations. Nowadays, the passwords for our personal and work accounts are piling up. The sheer number of passwords is overwhelming. We tend to forget them, set weak passwords, or reuse them; and not having control over them poses a significant cybersecurity risk.
Problems required solutions, and technology provides them. This is where password managers come in. A password manager is a piece of software that enables users to store and manage their passwords securely. They are generally available as mobile and web applications, as well as browser extensions.
Seven European tools for managing passwords
Devices and search engines themselves perform the task of saving and autofilling passwords. However, if we want to increase our security and keep our passwords securely backed up, we can do so with the following tools. Most of them share the same functions, but the fees vary and some are geared towards business or personal use.
It is worth emphasising, although it may seem obvious that these applications require their own password. This is called a ‘master password’ and it is important to choose one that is both highly secure and easy to remember.
This list, proposed by the European Union, ensures that these services are provided by companies based in an EU member state, the European Economic Area (EEA), or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). In addition to the 27 EU member states, the EEA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EFTA comprises these countries, and also includes Switzerland.
Padloc
Padloc is an open-source password manager developed in Germany. It stores information in the cloud with end-to-end encryption. It allows you to store other confidential information such as bank card details, documents, secret notes, and license keys. You can also share them with other users if you wish.
Availability: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and add-ons for Google Chrome and Firefox.
Plans and pricing: both free and paid plans are available. The free plan allows you to store an unlimited number of passwords in the vault and on your devices.
What is open source? Open source is software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify and distribute.
Proton Pass
Proton Pass is an open-source password manager from Switzerland. It undergoes independent audits and features end-to-end encryption. It includes features such as generating secure passwords, auto-filling passwords across all devices, and storing secret notes. In addition, it provides users with an alias for their email address if they want to hide it from others.
Availability: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, a web application, and extensions for all major browsers.
Plans and pricing: there is a free plan and a paid plan. The free plan allows unlimited logins and devices. The paid plan has a built-in 2FA authenticator and offers Dark Web monitoring, among other advantages.
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager from Luxembourg. It is somewhat more advanced than the others, and is geared towards businesses. This password manager is hosted on servers powered by 100% renewable energy.
Availability: Windows, Android, iOS, and add-ons for Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Vivaldi, and Brave.
Plans and pricing: it offers a free plan (which allows unlimited users), a paid plan, and a custom plan option to meet specific needs.
pCloud Pass
pCloud Pass is a password manager from Switzerland. It stores encrypted passwords, allows you to share them between devices, and offers auto-fill functionality.
Availability: Linux, Windows, Android, iOS, and as an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Brave, and Microsoft Edge.
Plans and services: the free plan only offers services for a single device. There are two paid plans (annual), one of which is designed for families.
heylogin
heylogin is a password manager from Germany. It uses end-to-end encryption. This tools is for both personal use and work use, specially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Availability: Android, iOS, as an extension in Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge.
Plans and prices: the free plan is sufficient for personal users, while the paid plans are designed for businesses.
Password Depot
Password Depot is a password manager from Germany. In addition to the main features shared by all password managers, it allows users to choose where they want to store their sensitive information, for example, on their device, on a company server, or on a USB stick.
Availability: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS.
Plans and pricing: only paid plans are available, for personal and business use.
uniqkey
Uniqkey is a password manager from Denmark. It is focused on the business world and the needs of workers. It enables users to create, share and store passwords. In addition, an administrator can be assigned with full access.
Availability: Windows, MacOS, and extensions for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
Plans and pricing: only paid plans based on the needs of the company.
