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You Need a Password Manager — Just Don’t Use LastPass
Thankfully, there are many good options to choose from
Popular password manager LastPass dropped an unwelcome surprise this week. In March, the company will restrict access to its services for users on its free tier, forcing them to either pay a regular subscription fee or limit password management features to mobile or desktop. Free users will no longer be able to use both without paying, and they will also lose access to customer support via email.
This is a hostile move that should make anyone using the software consider moving elsewhere before coughing up. What else will the company change to juice its subscription numbers?
Of course, password managers are worth paying for. They hold the keys to your digital life and help keep your information secure. Paying for software means investing in its continued development and support, which provides stability and should help avoid unexpected changes like the one affecting free users of LastPass right now.
The issue, then, isn’t so much that LastPass wants people to pay for its service — it’s that LastPass is demonstrating a willingness to mess around with your access to your most sensitive information in order to try upselling users who are already locked in. The company created a product that people have come to rely on and then suddenly changed the terms of its use. It’s not a good look for a company that helps you access your bank account, Facebook login, Gmail, and so on.
If you’re in the market for a new password manager, the good news is that there are many good choices.
For the past seven years, I’ve been a big fan of 1Password. The company’s software is available on practically every device, from Windows and macOS to iOS and Android, as well as a next-generation browser-based version for Chromebooks and other devices that will feel familiar to LastPass users.
