Best Password Management Software Pricing 2026

A password manager securely stores and auto-fills passwords, credit cards, and sensitive notes using end-to-end encryption. It generates strong unique passwords for every account, eliminating password reuse—the #1 cause of account breaches. Leading options include 1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass, Dashlane, and Keeper.

Password managers range from free to $8 per user per month. Personal plans cost $2-$5/month billed annually. Family plans (5-6 users) cost $3-$7/month. Business plans range $3-$8/user/month with admin controls, SSO integration, and compliance features. Bitwarden offers the most competitive free tier with unlimited passwords on unlimited devices.

1Password ($3-$8/user/month) offers the best user experience with polished apps, Watchtower security alerts, and excellent family/team sharing. Bitwarden (free to $6/user/month) is the best value—it's open-source, offers a generous free tier, and costs less at every plan level. Choose 1Password for UX and business features; Bitwarden for budget and transparency.

LastPass suffered a major security breach in 2022 where encrypted vaults and customer data were stolen. While the encryption itself wasn't broken, the incident damaged trust significantly. LastPass has since improved security measures, but many security experts recommend alternatives like 1Password or Bitwarden that haven't experienced similar breaches.

Bitwarden's free tier is genuinely safe and full-featured—it's open-source, independently audited, and uses AES-256 encryption. Browser built-in password managers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) are also secure but lack cross-platform features. Avoid unknown free password managers, as some have been caught selling user data or having poor encryption.

Essential business features include: SSO integration (SAML/OIDC), SCIM provisioning for automated onboarding/offboarding, admin console with usage reporting, shared vaults with role-based access, breach monitoring, compliance reporting (SOC 2, GDPR), and directory integration (Active Directory, Okta, Azure AD). All top vendors offer these in business tiers.

Hidden costs include: annual billing requirements (monthly pricing is 20-40% higher), add-on modules for dark web monitoring ($1-$2/user/month), advanced reporting for compliance, premium support, SSO integration only in higher tiers, and minimum seat requirements for business plans (often 10+ users). Family plan sharing limits may also require upgrading.

Password managers complement SSO by securing the passwords SSO doesn't cover—personal accounts, legacy apps, and shared credentials. Business plans from 1Password, Dashlane, and Keeper integrate with SSO providers (Okta, Azure AD) so employees can unlock their vault using their company SSO credentials, combining convenience with security.

1Password Families ($5/month for 5 users) offers the best family experience with private vaults, shared vaults, and a family organizer role. Bitwarden Families ($3.33/month for 6 users) is the most affordable option. Dashlane ($5/month for 6 users after price drop) and LastPass Families ($4/month for 6 users) are also solid choices.

Password managers use zero-knowledge encryption—even the vendor can't see your passwords. The encrypted vault is protected by your master password. If your master password is strong and unique, the encryption is virtually unbreakable. The LastPass 2022 breach showed vaults can be stolen, but properly encrypted data remains secure as long as the master password is strong.