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Best password managers: Reviews of the top products
We are terrible at passwords. We still suck at creating them (two of the most-used passwords remain “123456” and “password”), we share them way too freely, and we forget them all the time. Indeed, the very thing that can ensure our online security has become our biggest obstacle to it. This is what makes a good password manager essential.
A password manager relieves the burden of thinking up and memorizing unique, complex logins—the hallmark of a secure password. It allows you to safely share those logins with others when necessary. And because these tools encrypt your login info in a virtual vault—either locally or in the cloud—and lock it down with a single master password, they protect the passwords themselves. If you're looking to fortify your security game, a password manager does that. Yes, web browsers are starting to offer password management features, but they're not good enough.
Mind you, password managers vary widely in capabilities and cost; we compared several of the most popular. All support Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS, as well as the major browsers. And all will let you sync your data across multiple devices, though you may have pay extra for that privilege.
Here are our top picks, followed by tips on what to look for when shopping for a password manager. Once you've found the right password manager for your needs, head over to our guide on mastering your password manager.
1. LastPass – Best overall password manager
LastPass ticks all the boxes on our password manager wish list. It makes it a breeze to create unique, complex passwords; capture and manage login credentials; sync them across multiple devices; and share them with others you trust. Its password auditing and updating features help you identify and eliminate weak or duplicate passwords with just a mouse click or two. LP also stores credit card numbers and other personal data to autofill web forms when you're making a purchase, signing up for a service, or paying a bill.
LastPass supports a range of multi-factor authentication options for protecting your vault, including app-based authenticators like Symantec VIP and Google Authenticator, hardware tokens like YubiKey, and fingerprint readers.
2. Dashlane – Best overall runner-up
Dashlane is the strongest contender for LastPass's crown. It has a beautiful interface, is easy to use, and is stocked with features to help you strengthen your online security. Chief among these is a stellar security dashboard that grades your passwords and suggests actions for boosting your score and your protection. Dashlane is free for a single device, but if you want syncing across multiple devices you'll need a paid plan: the $60-per-year Premium plan or the $90-per-year Family plan that covers six accounts. These prices are at the higher end, high quality of the program notwithstanding. That's why Dashlane is our runner-up.
3. Keeper – Most security-minded
It's a consumer's market when it comes to password managers. While we have our clear favorites above, Keeper is a very strong contender in its own right. It takes security issues just a notch above. For instance, it eschews an automatic password update feature as it would require even temporary access to your credentials. It's a solid choice in all respects as well.
4. LogMeOnce
While most password managers require a master password to access your password vault, LogMeOnce relieves you of having to remember even that. It uniquely offers the option of a PIN, biometric, or photo login to access your vault.
5. Password Boss
Password Boss is a perfectly decent password manager. It hits all the basic features you'd expect—easy creation and storage of credentials for your various accounts. It lacks a couple of the extras that our top picks offer, however, like automatic password updates and a web interface. That drops it down a tier.
6. NordPass
With so many strong options to choose from, a password manager needs to fill some pretty big shoes to stand out. Alas, NordPass, while being a fine password manager, and certainly capable of getting the job done, still can't match the dollar-for-dollar value of it's most polished peers.
What to look for in a password manager
At their most basic, password managers capture your username and password—usually via a browser plugin—when you log in to a website, and then automatically fill in your credentials when you return to that site. They store all your passwords in an encrypted database, often referred to as a “vault,” which you protect with a single master password.
Of course, most password managers do much more than this and many extend protection beyond your login credentials to other types of personal data. We narrowed it down to a few essential features that we looked for and you should too:
- Password generation: You've been reminded ad nauseam that the strongest passwords are long, random strings of characters, and that you should use a different one for each site you access. That's a tall order. This is what makes password generation—the ability to create complex passwords out of letters, numbers, and special characters—an indispensable feature of any good password manager. The best password managers will also be able to analyze your existing passwords for weaknesses and upgrade them with a click.
- Autofill and auto-login: Most password managers can autofill your login credentials whenever you visit a site and even log you in automatically. Thus, the master password is the only one you ever have to enter. This is controversial, though, as browser autofill has long been a security concern, so the best managers will also let you toggle off this feature if you feel the risk outweighs the convenience.
- Secure sharing: Sometimes you need to share a password with a family member or coworker. A password manager should let you do so without compromising your security.
- Two-factor authentication: To an enterprising cybercriminal, your password manager's master password is as hackable as any other password. Increasingly, password managers support multi-factor authentication—using a second method such as a PIN, a fingerprint, or another “trusted device” for additional verification—to mitigate this risk. Choose one that does.
- Protection for other personal data: Because of how frequently we use them online, credit card and bank account numbers, our addresses, and other personal data can be securely stored in many password managers and automatically filled into web forms when we're shopping or registering an account.
No online security measure is 100 percent foolproof, though, as we were reminded when LastPass, one of the most reputable password managers, recently scrambled to fix a pair of vulnerabilities that could have compromised users' passwords and their computers. And just last month, OneLogin was victim of a breach that compromised customer data, including the ability to decrypt data.
Still, most security experts agree that password managers are still the safest way for people to manage their myriad logins, and we agree that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Just choose your password manager carefully after researching all the options starting with the guide. We also have a guide to the best free password managers.
Editor's note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, our reviews are subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the services.
HP Chromebook x2 11 review: A premium 2-in-1 at a reasonable price
At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Gorgeous 2K touchscreen
- Solid performance
- Excellent battery life
- Robust design
Cons
- Trackpad is too sensitive at times
- Light on ports
Our Verdict
With its all-day battery life and lightweight form factor, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy today.
Price When Reviewed
$599
Best Prices Today
I'm not the biggest fan of folio-style laptops. The additional attachments are cumbersome and the keyboards are notoriously small and cramped. However, the HP Chromebook x2 11 da0023dx took me by surprise and I mean that in the best way possible. With its solid performance, superb display, and beautiful brushed aluminum finish, this mid-range Chromebook has a lot to offer. Not only is the keyboard pleasantly clicky and suitable for long typing sessions, but the kickstand also keeps the tablet nice and stable. The price isn't half bad, either. I did have a few minor nitpicks, though.
The trackpad, though over-sized, is too sensitive at times. There's not a lot of separation between the trackpad and palmrests, so it's easy to fire off a few misclicks. The port selection is a bit limited, too. There's only two USB Type-C, which is sort of meh. It's not a major deal, really, as it's nothing an adapter can't fix. That said, if you can live with these drawbacks and you're in the market for an affordable and portable 2-in-1 Chromebook, look no further than the x2 11. Read on to learn more.
This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best laptops. Go there for information on competing products and how we tested them.
HP Chromebook x2 11 Specs
The HP Chromebook x2 11 comes equipped with a Snapdragon 7c CPU, Adreno 618 graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. The 11-inch display has a 1440p resolution, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and is touch-enabled. For ports, it's just two USB Type-C. This model retails for $599 but is currently on sale for $399 at Best Buy, which is a real steal. It's a good price for a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM (most Chromebooks come with only 4GB) and a 2K touchscreen.
- CPU: Snapdragon 7c
- GPU: Adreno 618
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 64GB eMMC
- Battery: 32 Wh
- Display: 11-inch 1440p touchscreen
- Weight: 2.57 lbs
- Ports: 2x USB Type-C
- Operating System: ChromeOS
Design and build quality
When it comes to Chromebooks, cheap and plastic designs may spring to mind. After all, they're meant to be inexpensive machines. But that's simply not the case with the HP Chromebook x2 11. The tablet itself feels great in hand. The aluminum chassis is rugged and the display is protected by Gorilla Glass. You can tell it's a well-made product, that's for sure. With the tablet itself, I've got no complaints. As for the detachable keyboard, I had one minor nitpick.
The keyboard has some bend to it, which I didn't love. I prefer keyboards with little to no flex. That said, it's perfectly usable for the everyday person. After taking some time to get accustomed to it (I'm used to typing on a mechanical keyboard), I found it suitable for long typing sessions. The keys are on the smaller side, but I didn't mind, as I have smaller hands. The keyboard itself also attaches to the tablet portion of the Chromebook via magnets and that connection felt both strong and secure.
As for aesthetics, the HP Chromebook x2 11 looks like a premium product. The silver finish is subtle, sophisticated, and doesn't draw much attention to itself. Personally, that's the kind of aesthetic I go for in laptops. It's clean. The detachable keyboard and kickstand are a nice deep blue color. When it's all closed up, the 2-in-1 resembles an e-reader tucked away inside of a swanky cover.
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
Keyboard, trackpad, and kickstand
I'm accustomed to typing on a full-sized mechanical keyboard, so the HP Chromebook x2 11's detachable keyboard took some getting used to. That said, it's suitable for long typing sessions. Once I became more familiar with the keyboard, I was able to comfortably write this review. The detachable keyboard is marketed as full-sized, but the keys are much smaller than you'd expect. Some folks may find the keyboard to be too cramped uncomfortable, but it was fine for me, as I have smaller hands.
The over-sized trackpad is nice and smooth. However, I had one major caveat. It's difficult to use the trackpad if the laptop itself isn't on a flat surface. When I was typing to a friend on Discord while lounging in bed, I accidentally triggered the trackpad a couple of times. It's very sensitive to pressure, so if you're a heavy-handed typist, you may need to be aware of how much weight you're putting on or near the trackpad. It's a little annoying, sure, but not necessarily a deal-breaker. It just limits where you can comfortably use the trackpad, as it's easy to fire off a few false clicks.
The rear plate, which transforms into a kickstand, is the final attachment. It sticks to the back of the tablet via magnets. When I placed the rectangular plate onto the tablet, it connected cleanly. I was actually impressed with how strong the connection was, as it took some effort to remove it. The kickstand is also plenty rigid and successfully keeps the tablet upright and stable. I should note that the kickstand's hinge is exceptionally strong and tight. Again, it took some effort on my end to pop open and that's a good thing.
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
Pen
The wireless USI pen is a cool little device. It comes in the box, which is nice because there's no additional cost. It's a magnetic pen that self charges when you stick it to the right side of the tablet. The pen is both responsive and fluid, which is great for note taking or doodling. There are two interchangeable pen tips as well, one being much narrower than the other. I've no qualms with it.
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
Display
The 11-inch IPS 1440p display is just plain lovely. The 3:2 aspect ratio makes it easy to get productivity work done and the 400 nits of brightness is wild, especially for a Chromebook. In other words, it's bright enough to be seen in an outdoor environment. I'm currently re-watching the first season of Sailor Moon via Amazon Prime Video and although it's an older show from the 90s, the colors really do pop. Reading comics in tablet mode is a real joy, too. As for the touchscreen, it's pretty responsive. Scrolling, swiping, and tapping are both easy and fluid.
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
Ports
The port selection isn't all that impressive, unfortunately. This is likely due to the tablet's slim profile. There isn't much room to include USB-A ports, HDMI out, and so on. The only ports you'll find are on the left side of the tablet. It's just two USB 3.0 Type C ports. Again, not a lot of ports. However, this isn't unexpected, as this is a lightweight device that's meant to be portable. If you need additional ports, you can always pick up an adapter. We've got recommendations for the best USB-C hubs and dongles if you need them.
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
Portability
The HP Chromebook x2 is designed with portability in mind, making it a great option for those who travel often. The tablet and accessories weigh about two and a half pounds. But when you remove the detachable keyboard and kickstand, the tablet itself weighs a little over a pound. That's light enough to hold with one hand, which makes marking up documents or reading the news a heck of a lot easier. I found myself frequently ditching the accessories to use the tablet on its own. I liked being able to hunker down in bed and use the tablet for reading.
Performance
The HP Chromebook x2 11 delivers good performance. The Snapdragon 7c is better than the MediaTek processors you'll find in many low cost Chromebooks, but it can't compete against something like an Intel i3 (obviously). That said, it's fast enough for general use like surfing the web, writing papers, and so on. I was able to open up various applications and even play a few lightweight games like Final Fantasy V and Fallout Shelter with no problems. Even when I was scrolling through a busy article on Buzzfeed (gifs and images galore), there was no noticeable lag. This Chromebook is also packing 8GB of RAM (most come with 4GB), which helps with processing speed and web browser performance.
Here are a few benchmark results:
- CrXPRT 2 performance score: 51, 52
- Speedometer 2.0: 44.8, 44.4
- Basemark Web 3.0: 254.66, 321.82
- Kraken Javascript 1.1: 1996.2ms, 2018.8ms
- Jetstream: 54.79, 62.44
Battery life
The real star of the show is the 32Wh battery. I used CrXPRT 2's battery test, which loops video, music, and productivity tasks until the laptop dies. When I ran the test overnight, the 2-in-1 breathed its last breath at the 11 hour mark. That's more than a full workday. That figure also lines up with what HP claims, too. In terms of real world use, I squeezed about ten hours out of it on a single charge. That's better than the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5, which lasted a little over eight hours.
Conclusion
So, should you get the HP Chromebook x2 11? Yes, especially if you're looking for a premium 2-in-1 at an affordable price point. The 2-in-1 factor makes it really versatile and convenient, as you can use it like a traditional laptop or ditch the accessories and bam, you've got a handheld device. Performance isn't too shabby, either. It's plenty fast for day-to-day tasks like browsing the web, writing papers, and so on. Plus, thanks to the low-power processor, you can expect the battery to last all day.
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