We all love the word free but sometimes free is not always better. This article will take a look at the difference between a free password keeper and a paid password manager. By the end of the read, you should be able to easily see the pros and cons of both sides and make the right decision for you.
Pros of a Free Password Keeper
Obviously, the biggest benefit of a free password keeper is the price. Nada, nothing, zilch, zero. This is very helpful. It is not easy to make ends meet these days. Anywhere you can get a little extra financial love is great, but sometimes you have to weight the options.
Free password keepers still allow you to store passwords to usually just one device. If you have a favorite device that you use all the time, (like your phone that never leaves your side or you panic), than this will help you to keep your passwords saved with that chosen device.
Free password keepers also usually help you to create strong passwords for your accounts. This is extremely important since the strength of your passwords will determine the likelihood of your being hacked in your accounts. The password generator on free password keepers is a great tool since many people don’t really know what determines if a password is strong or weak.
Cons of a Free Password Keeper
Even though you don’t have to pay for use of a free password keeper, it does have pretty significant drawbacks.
For example, the fact that you can only use it on one device makes it severely limited. Who only uses one device nowadays? You need to be able to sync your passwords and personal info through all of your devices. Free password keepers only allow you to use it on one with no syncing to other devices available.
Also, free password keepers usually have a limit to the number of passwords that it will remember. Most free password keepers cap out at 50 accounts. Considering that most people have double or triple that amount, this is another way that a free password keeper fails to meet expectations.
Free password keepers also don’t offer the ability to share your information with trusted individuals whether they are family, friends, or coworkers in a secure manner. They also usually have very basic interfaces and they lack the ability to backup your files.
Pros of a Paid Password Keeper
Unlike free password keepers, paid versions are going to deliver on their promises. They are in the business of making money, therefore they want to make their paid subscription holders happy.
Paid password keepers shame free password keepers in many ways. First of all, you have an unlimited number of passwords that you can keep in the paid version. This takes care of every account you have, giving you peace of mind. On top of that, they offer backup and secure password sharing to anyone you choose who also has their password manager app.
Paid password managers also allow you to sync your password manager account and all the information you have stored in the vault to all your devices. This means you can use the app on your phone, laptop, tablet, and more.
Cons of a Paid Password Keeper
The only con of the paid membership to a password manager is that you will have to shell out some money to take advantage of their benefits. However, are you aware of how affordable paid subscriptions to password managers are?
Most password managers offer their services to you for under $5 a month. The longer you sign up, the cheaper your price will be. Don’t be fooled into thinking that free is always better, because it’s not, and free password keepers are a good example of this.