Free Password Managers Compared

Free password managers differ in where they store a vault, which devices they support and how recovery works. Some provide account-based synchronization; others use a local encrypted file. These differences often matter more than the number of features in a free plan.

This comparison covers documented capabilities rather than hands-on product rankings. Passary is our own product, and its Windows download is an unsigned preview. The alternatives offer different approaches to storage and account management.

Free password managers and their storage models

A free plan does not necessarily mean account-free use, local storage or unlimited sharing. The table outlines five distinct arrangements. The linked provider pages describe the current limits of each plan.

Option	Storage/account model	Best starting use	Relevant limits
Bitwarden Free	Account with synchronized encrypted vault	Personal use across devices	Offline limits, paid features and sharing scope
Proton Pass Free	Proton account and synchronized vault	Personal logins across devices	Free versus paid sharing, history and attachment features
KeePassXC	Local KDBX file; no provider account required	Windows, macOS or Linux file ownership	Mobile client compatibility, backups and browser pairing
Google Password Manager	Device or Google Account, depending on setup	People using Chrome and supported Google workflows	Profile/account selection and recovery dependencies
Passary	Local vault; no Passary account required	Local web vault or Windows unsigned preview	Backup/restore, preview status and platform availability

Free password manager limits

Bitwarden’s free personal plan lists unlimited passwords and devices, with sharing limited to one other user. Integrated authenticator features and attachments belong to paid offerings. Proton’s free plan lists unlimited logins and devices and ten hide-my-email aliases; its feature table separates paid history, attachments and integrated 2FA.

KeePassXC is a free desktop application rather than a service tier. Backups, file transport and troubleshooting remain the user’s responsibility. Compatible mobile clients have their own features and pricing, independent of the desktop database format.

Bitwarden current plan table · Proton current plan table · KeePassXC user guide

Offline access in free password managers

A configured cloud client may allow access to a cached vault without supporting a fresh offline sign-in or offline editing. A local KDBX manager can open and edit a database without a provider connection when the file and required credentials are available.

Access on an existing device and recovery on a replacement device are different capabilities. A cached vault may help during a short connection outage but offer no recovery path after the device is lost.

Offline operating models · Bitwarden offline lock versus logout

Device support and free password manager recovery

Synchronized services can simplify multi-device access and sharing, while local managers offer control over file storage and transport. Browser storage has its own account, device and recovery dependencies. Suitability depends on the devices involved, who needs access and the available recovery path.

Supported devices and browsers
Sharing permissions and revocation options
Recovery after device loss or account lockout

Free managers without a provider account · Browser password storage risks

Migration between free password managers

Migration usually involves a temporary export and an import into a protected destination. CSV and unencrypted JSON remain readable outside the source vault. The original manager provides a fallback while imported entries and an independent destination backup are checked.

Password generation is a separate function from vault storage. A generator creates a new secret; a password manager stores it and associates it with the intended account.

Local password generator · Random passphrase generator · Google CSV migration · Bitwarden JSON migration