The best free password manager will not be so free and easy next month.
Earlier today (February 16th) we learned that LastPass will add significant restrictions to its LastPass Free service, which for the past few years has provided everything most people ever need from a password manager.
As of March 16, LastPass Free users will no longer be able to sync their passwords, credit card numbers, notes, addresses and bank account information on all their devices.
Instead, they will be limited to syncing within a class of devices: desktops and laptops, Windows tablets and the browsers used on them, or mobile devices such as smartphones, Android tablets and iPads and smart watches.
This is a setback to the LastPass policy before November 2016, when the password manager also restricted to the one type of devices for free users. Many other well-known paid password managers – Dashlane, 1Password, Keeper – prevent their free versions from being synced across any device at all.
So if you are a LastPass user who syncs between multiple desktops and laptops as well as a few smartphones, your LastPass universe will suddenly become much smaller unless you upgrade to its paid service of $ 36 per year. A LastPass Families plan that can be shared among six users is $ 48 per year.
A few scenarios
Here’s how LastPass explained the changes in a blog post today.
“Sarah is a free user with computers as her active device type. She can use LastPass on her laptop, desk and her father’s laptop (anyone’s computer!), But she can not use LastPass on her phone, tablet or smartwatch. upgrade to LastPass Premium, which has unlimited access to the device type.
Steve is a free user with mobile devices as his active device type. He can use LastPass on his iPhone, Android work phone, tablet and smart watch, but he cannot use LastPass on his computer or laptop unless he upgrades to LastPass Premium, which has unlimited access to device type. ‘
The first type of device you sign up for after March 15 is the type of device you are restricted to, though you can switch up to device category up to three times. However, you will currently not lose anything in your “safe” with passwords and other items.
Free users will also no longer be able to request technical support by email after May 17th. Instead, they will be referred to forums and frequently asked questions.
Making more people pay makes financial sense …
To be honest, there was not much reason to upgrade from LastPass Free to LastPass Premium. You do need to use physical security keys for two-factor authentication, to share items with multiple people, to use 1 GB of encrypted file storage, and to monitor someone’s “dark web” for your information, but most people do not need that functions.
We also get the LastPass owner LogMeIn to make money. LogMeIn made this clear when LastPass’s paid annual rates rose from $ 12 to $ 24 and eventually to $ 36 in less than three years. But with the first rate hike, LogMeIn also released free unlimited syncing on all devices.
… but you do have options
If you are a LastPass Free user, you have some options for next month.
You can continue to use the LastPass free service. If you want to be smart, you can register two free accounts on different email accounts, but with the same content to cover both types of devices. Just remember to make the same password changes on both accounts at the same time.
You can upgrade to LastPass’ paid service. Thirty-six dollars a year is not a large amount of money. Currently, LastPass offers a $ 27 introductory price for free users who want to upgrade.
You can switch to password managers that offer unlimited syncing for free. Bitwarden is the new heat on the block, though the free level does not support two-factor authentication apps like LastPass Free. The free level of Zoho Vault supports support programs.
You can switch to the completely free KeePass. Like an old amulet, KeePass is very old and very powerful. But syncing your KeepPass vault on multiple devices requires a lot of add-ons and cludges. Unless you want to overcome the daunting technical challenges, it’s best to get something that you can just drive away from the dealer party.
You can use password managers of the web browser. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all have built-in password managers, and Macs have keychains. But they restrict you to one browser or one manufacturer’s devices, and the browser’s password manager is the first place where a lot of malware appears to steal information.
You can switch to another paid password manager. Dashlane has many features, but it starts at $ 60 a year. Keeper is cheaper than LastPass Premium at $ 35 per year and has excellent security. Mac users swear by 1Password, but it’s also $ 36 a year.
There are still paid bargains. RoboForm is only $ 24 a year, and Tom’s Guide readers get a 30% discount. We have not yet reviewed the above Bitwarden, but the premium plan has many of the same features as LastPass Premium, but still costs only $ 10 per year.