LastPass password manager review
Our Verdict
LastPass is withal the best password manager in terms of features and user experience, but information technology no longer stands out equally much amid similarly priced competitors.
For
- Consistent, simple design
- Full-featured, piece of cake-to-use browser extensions
- Great two-gene authentication options on all tiers
Against
- Fewer unique or standout features than before
- Support articles are difficult to follow
Tom'due south Guide Verdict
LastPass is still the best password manager in terms of features and user feel, merely it no longer stands out equally much among similarly priced competitors.
Pros
- +
Consistent, uncomplicated blueprint
- +
Full-featured, easy-to-use browser extensions
- +
Great two-gene authentication options on all tiers
Cons
- -
Fewer unique or standout features than before
- -
Support articles are hard to follow
LastPass: Specs
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
Free version: Yes (one device type — either desktop or mobile)
2FA: Yep
Browser extensions: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Border
Form filling: Yes
Biometric login: Face ID, Bear on ID on iOS & macOS, Pixel Face Unlock, fingerprint readers on Android & Windows
PIN lawmaking: Yes
Killer feature: Background nighttime spider web monitoring & electronic mail notifications
LastPass has always been — and still is — a top pick for password management, with a solid, easy-to-use design and all the features y'all could want in a premium program.
Notwithstanding, other password managers have narrowed the gap with LastPass, especially since LastPass killed off its more unique features, tripled its prices and restricted its free tier to one device blazon. Keeper and 1Password at present cost roughly the same every bit LastPass and accept like features, and Bitwarden's free plan comes with the unlimited syncing that LastPass'due south complimentary tier one time had.
Withal, LastPass' simple and consistent interface, potent feature set and inexpensive Family plan contribute to this password manager's value, making it outset among equals when information technology comes to the best password managers.
Read on for the rest of our LastPass review.
LastPass: Costs and what's covered
LastPass has three plans: Free, Premium (private) and Family. At $36 per yr for an individual, the premium personal tier is in line with other similarly featured password managers, while the $48-per-year family plan (up to six users) is cheaper than those of many competitors.
For many years, LastPass' free tier was a steal, with almost of the basic features you'd want in a password managing director, including unlimited syncing beyond all your devices. However, the company in early 2021 limited syncing to a single device type: Users on the gratuitous plan can access their vaults on mobile or on desktop, but not both.
With other password managers on the market offering unlimited free syncing (Bitwarden and Myki, for case), LastPass may no longer be the top free choice.
That said, LastPass Free users all the same get to take an unlimited number of passwords, ane-to-one sharing, secure notes, limited multi-factor authentication and the LastPass Authenticator app.
An upgrade to LastPass Premium ($36 annually) unlocks unlimited device syncing, ane-to-many sharing, advanced MFA, 1GB of file storage, emergency access, 1-to-1 support and a host of security-monitoring features. LastPass does offering a 30-twenty-four hour period free trial so yous can test out the premium features.
The LastPass Family plan ($48 annually) has nonetheless features as Premium with unlimited shared folders for up to half dozen users.
To run the LastPass browser extensions, you must have Windows 8.one and later on or i of the nearly recent ii versions of macOS, Linux or Chrome Os. There are browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera, desktop apps for Windows and macOS, and mobile apps for iOS (13.0 or later) and Android (5 or afterwards).
For LastPass testing, I used a 2020 MacBook Air running macOS 10.15.7 Catalina and an iPhone XR with browser testing on Google Chrome.
LastPass: Setup
To gear up LastPass, start by creating an account on LastPass.com with your e-mail address and a potent (and memorable) master password. You can also enter a password hint, although this step may be unnecessary and possibly risky since there's also an account recovery option.
Adjacent, y'all'll be prompted to install the browser extension, though you can access your web vault without doing so. In that location are basic extensions for major browsers, equally well as universal installers for Windows and Linux, which will add full-featured "binary component" extensions to all of your browsers at one time. Mac users can catch this via the "full version" Chrome extension.
These "binary" extensions, which will share your login state across browsers and automatically log you lot in, among other things, may exist helpful if you utilise multiple browsers on your machine.
Once you're logged into your web vault, you tin can add together individual items or import them from a very long list of other password managers by uploading an exported file or basic CSV. The import tool can be found under Advanced Options at the lesser of the menu bar.
LastPass has a wide range of congenital-in item types for passwords and payments besides every bit health-insurance plans, Wi-Fi credentials and instant-messenger accounts, plus completely customizable templates.
On mobile, download the LastPass app and log in with your e-mail address and master password. On iOS, you'll be asked to enable Confront ID correct abroad (or Face Unlock on a Google Pixel ) for easier access to your app, or you can plow on biometrics later (Settings > Security) if they're supported on your device. My vault synced automatically between the web and my mobile app.
There are besides desktop apps available for both Mac and Windows. You can go the former from LastPass' download page, while the latter is available in the Microsoft shop. Both are basically app versions of the spider web vault.
LastPass has said information technology is no longer developing the stand up-alone Windows app, but that may modify at present that LastPass' owner has decided to spin the password manager off into its own company.
Note that I found LastPass' assist articles less straightforward and more than hard to navigate than competitors' support sites. If you're new to password management, this may be frustrating.
LastPass: Desktop
The principal fashion to use LastPass on the desktop is as a web vault and browser-extension combination. The online vault has a left-justified collapsible menu bar with a Home button for viewing all items, also as tabs for passwords, notes, addresses, payment cards and bank accounts.
As noted above, though, you can create a range of different item types too equally customized templates. To create a new record, tap the plus sign in the lower-right corner. If you hover over the icon, yous'll also see an option to create a new folder.
Farther down the main card bar are options to view your security dashboard, shared items, emergency admission, account settings and advanced options (import, export, account history, deleted items and i-time passwords).
The security dashboard shows you a password-health written report also as dark-web monitoring of email addresses found in your LastPass account. In one case you lot activate spider web monitoring, LastPass sets you up to receive an email alarm if any of your data is found in a data breach. This service is always scanning in the background and does not need to exist requested manually.
The sharing and emergency-admission screens show you whom you've granted access to your individual records besides every bit your unabridged vault. Fifty-fifty for individual users, the Sharing Eye oddly defaults to the shared-folder window, which is available merely with a family plan. Emergency access can be activated immediately or upwards to thirty days after a trusted contact has requested it without a response from you.
The business relationship settings are the clunkiest role of an otherwise straightforward (if somewhat outdated) interface. This is where you tin can update security preferences, enable multi-factor hallmark and view connected mobile devices.
The browser extension has well-nigh of the functionality of the web vault. You tin can view, edit and launch all of your items, add new records, generate and make full passwords and meet recently used credentials.
To autofill in your browser, tap the LastPass icon in the form field and select the correct login. When you need to change a password, LastPass volition pop up its password generator in the form field and then enquire if you lot want to add together the updated credential to LastPass, all seamlessly.
If you do download the desktop apps, you lot can access quick functions using the LastPass icon in your master taskbar. In the Windows app, y'all can likewise save and autofill passwords for other desktop apps.
LastPass: Mobile apps
Like the web and desktop interface, the LastPass mobile app is also uncomplicated. The main navigation at the bottom of the screen is for your main vault, your security tools and your business relationship settings. Under the vault tab, you tin can view all items or tap to open up specific record categories.
You can besides search for individual items or tap Add in the upper-right corner to create a new record using any of the same particular types bachelor on desktop. Plus, y'all tin add together attachments like photos, files and fifty-fifty sound recordings to a record.
In the security section, yous'll find the password generator, emergency access settings, your password-force report and the option to switch vaults (if you accept multiple identities set up).
Note that while at that place is an option to tap and view your security dashboard, the mobile app does not actually create that study and instead tells you lot to go to your web vault to view it.
Finally, the settings tab is where yous'll adjust security and login options, such equally enabling biometrics, auto logout and account recovery. At that place is a "Remember Master Password" setting, which when toggled on would autofill and log y'all into your vault, though even LastPass notes that this is not recommended.
To enable autofill, get to your phone settings and select LastPass equally your password manager. LastPass popped up automatically when I tapped the Passwords option higher up my keyboard in my browser and so I could select the correct credentials.
You tin as well launch sites straight from individual records or by borer on an item in your master vault, and LastPass will enquire if you lot desire to autofill with stored credentials. However, LastPass had a difficult fourth dimension detecting and filling credit-card fields in multiple mobile browsers.
LastPass: Security
LastPass operates using AES-256 encryption, which protects your data locally on your device and on the company's servers (and in between). LastPass does not have access to your master countersign or your vault content.
LastPass is also SOC ii Type 2 compliant according to the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), which means it can be trusted to securely handle consumer information, and the company undergoes regular security audits.
All LastPass plans include two-factor authentication options for vault access. Complimentary users can enable 2FA with apps like LastPass Authenticator, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Duo and more. Premium subscribers tin can also apply hardware keys like YubiKey likewise every bit fingerprint and smart-card readers.
Finally, LastPass offers account recovery if your master password is lost. The best option is to utilize a one-time countersign on a device you've previously used with LastPass. These are generated automatically and stored locally on any device on which you lot've logged into the extension or web vault and are used as part of the email verification to recover your business relationship.
Alternatively, you can recover your account via SMS or using a password hint previously set up, but neither of these processes are very secure. On mobile, you can toggle the option to use biometrics for account recovery, though anyone with a biometric profile on your device volition be able to access your vault.
LastPass countersign managing director review: Bottom line
LastPass is withal our top pick among password managers because information technology has a make clean and consistent design beyond platforms and all of the primal features you might need.
However, its competitors 1Password and Keeper are inching closer with like premium plans, and full-featured free options like Bitwarden may be amend choices for the budget-conscious. Nosotros would withal recommend LastPass Premium at its current cost ($36 annually), and information technology'southward an especially skilful value for families ($48 per year for up to six users).
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/lastpass
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