Recommended Password Managers

Start with the encryption model: you want end-to-end (zero-knowledge) encryption so your data is scrambled on your device with a key only you hold and the company never sees your passwords in the clear. Next decide between cloud-synced convenience (Bitwarden, Proton Pass, 1Password) and fully local storage you control yourself (the KeePass family or a self-hosted tool like Psono). Prefer open-source apps whose code anyone can inspect and look for a recent independent security audit rather than taking marketing claims at face value. Finally, check that the tool supports strong two-factor authentication on the vault itself, covers the devices you actually use, and comes from a company in a jurisdiction you're comfortable with.

Here are some things to look for.

• End-to-end encryption. Your vault should be encrypted on your device so the provider can never read your passwords, even if their servers are breached.
• Open source. Publicly auditable code means the encryption claims can be independently verified rather than taken on faith.
• Independent security audit. A recent third-party audit (from a firm like Cure53) shows the app has been stress-tested by outside experts.
• Cloud vs. local storage. Cloud sync is convenient across devices; a local or self-hosted database keeps everything under your own control.
• Strong two-factor authentication. Protecting the vault with 2FA or a hardware key stops a stolen master password from being enough to get in.
• Platform coverage and jurisdiction. Make sure it runs on all your devices and check what country's laws the company operates under.