We conduct much of our digital lives on our phones, from online shopping and social media posting to bill paying and work emailing — which requires continuous access to a long list of passwords. The easiest (and most secure) way to keep track of logins, credit card information, and other sensitive data is with a password manager that integrates seamlessly on mobile, and there are a number of password management apps that work well for iPhone users.
Also: The best password managers: Expert tested
What is the best iPhone password manager right now?
At ZDNET, we’ve tested a wide range of password managers on iOS to find the ones that securely store your data and make it easily accessible in apps and browsers when you need it. Our pick for the best password manager for iPhone overall is Bitwarden (plus, it’s free). Bitwarden allows you to create, save, and fill credentials on the go, with additional features like biometric unlock and encrypted sharing from your mobile device. Read on for the rest of our picks for the best password managers for your iPhone right now.
The best iPhone password manager of 2024
Bitwarden
Best password manager for iPhone overall
Bitwarden is our top choice for free password management thanks to unlimited vault syncing on unlimited devices and useful features like encrypted text sharing, and it’s also a worthy pick specifically for iPhone users looking for a no-cost password manager. Saving and auto-filling credentials works smoothly across mobile apps and browsers like Safari and Chrome, biometric unlock via Face ID streamlines vault access, and a built-in username/password generator simplifies creating new logins on mobile. You can also securely share text via Bitwarden Send right from your phone.
Review: Bitwarden: Our favorite free password manager with low-cost premium features, too
If you upgrade to Bitwarden’s paid plan for $10 per year, you get premium features like emergency access, more robust security monitoring, an integrated authenticator for time-based one-time (TOTP) passwords, file sharing, and priority customer support. Note that not all features are accessible on mobile — you can’t view vault health reports or import passwords in the iOS app, for example — so you’ll still need to utilize Bitwarden’s web app. Bitwarden is also compatible with most operating systems and browsers, so you can access your data wherever you want.
Bitwarden is highly secure with AES-256 encryption and open-source code, which allows anyone to review and report security issues for the company to patch. The company also undergoes independent security audits. Passkey support is available on iOS.
Bitwarden is a solid choice for both free and paid password management on iPhone.
Bitwarden features for iPhone: Autofill and autosave | Secure note storage | Username and password generator | Encrypted sharing via Bitwarden Send | Passkey support | Biometric unlock | Integrated authenticator
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1Password
Best iPhone password manager for user experience
1Password is a premium password manager that has long been a top choice for iOS users, and we can recommend it for both its features and the overall user experience. You can try it out for free for 14 days, after which you’ll have to transition to a paid plan ($2.99 per month for a single user or $4.99 per month for a family with up to five users with annual billing). Creating, saving, and filling credentials works smoothly across iOS apps and browsers with biometric unlock, and the 1Password app includes most of the platform’s highlight features: encrypted credential sharing with anyone (not just 1Password users), secure storage, and a long list of template types ranging from web logins to passports to wireless router credentials.
Review: 1Password: A premium password manager well worth the money
The iOS app also includes Watchtower, 1Password’s security reporting tool, so you can see vault items that may be compromised or in need of updates from your iPhone. One thing that’s missing is a tab for the password generator — you have to go through creating a new item or editing an existing one to access this feature. As with other password managers, there are also some settings and features available only via web or desktop, including enabling Travel Mode (which hides your vault) and changing your master password.
1Password uses AES-256 encryption and undergoes independent security audits, and it protects your data behind both a master password and a Security Key. Your premium subscription also gets you customer support via email, forum, and social media.
If you’re looking for a top-notch user experience and don’t mind paying for password management, 1Password is an excellent option.
1Password features for iPhone: Autofill and autosave | Secure storage | Secure sharing | Biometric unlock | Passkey support | Extensive selection of templates | Watchtower security reporting | 24/7 customer support
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NordPass
Best iPhone password manager for mobile features
NordPass is the password manager from trusted cybersecurity firm Nord Security, which keeps your data safe behind strong XChaCha20 encryption. The service’s free tier comes with all the basics, including autosave and autofill across mobile browsers and apps, a built-in password generator for creating new credentials, and the convenience of biometric unlocking via FaceID. If you upgrade to a premium plan (starting at $1.59 per month for one user), you get extra features like password health and data breach monitoring, secure file storage, encrypted sharing, email masking, and emergency access.
Note that if you are on a free account, you can only be logged into one device at a time, but this doesn’t limit how many devices you can have overall. If you use NordPass primarily on your iPhone, you’ll simply need to log back into your vault when you switch to or from your computer. The iOS app is easy to navigate and contains most features, including vault security reports and the ability to share saved credentials with other NordPass users. Emergency access is one of the few functions not currently available on iOS, but it can be set up via web or desktop.
Getting started with NordPass requires a universal Nord Account login, after which you’ll set up the master password for your vault, so you’ll need to keep track of both. NordPass offers customer support via email and a comprehensive online help center.
NordPass features for iPhone: Autofill and autosave | Secure note storage | Encrypted sharing | Password generator | Passkey support | Biometric unlock | Password health and data breach reporting | 24/7 customer support
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Dashlane
Best iPhone password manager for security features
Dashlane is a premium password manager that does all of the basics and much more: In addition to smoothly auto-filling credentials across mobile apps and browsers, your subscription includes security features like dark web monitoring for up to five email addresses, detailed password health reports, real-time phishing alerts, and an account with VPN provider Hotspot Shield.
Dashlane does have a free tier, but it’s limited to 25 passwords on a single device and only a few basic features — if you want to access more credentials anywhere but your iPhone, you’ll need a premium subscription. At $4.99 per month for a single user, Dashlane’s paid plan is pricier than most of its competitors, but the value is high if you expect to use all of the extras. The Dashlane iOS app is fully featured with a password generator, two-factor authenticator, biometric unlock, and all of the security features listed above, meaning you can make (nearly) complete use of your account from your iPhone.
Like the other password managers we recommend, Dashlane uses strong encryption, and it recently published its mobile code for public review. If you want a comprehensive approach to digital security all in one place, Dashlane is worthy of consideration.
Dashlane features for iPhone: Autofill and autosave | Secure sharing | Secure storage | Password generator | Biometric unlock | Passkey support | Password health reports | Dark web monitoring | VPN subscription | Real-time phishing alerts | Built-in authenticator | Master password reset with FaceID
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Bitwarden is our pick for the best free password manager for iPhone, while 1Password offers the best overall user experience on iOS. However, there are several other password managers worth a look with unique features like email masking and dark web monitoring.
|
Best iPhone password manager |
Autofill across apps and browsers |
Biometric unlock |
Free tier? |
Open source? |
Key features |
|
Bitwarden |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Bitwarden Send |
|
1Password |
✓ |
✓ |
x |
x |
Watchtower vault security reports, credential sharing |
|
NordPass |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
x |
Email masking, username generator |
|
Dashlane |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ (very limited) |
✓ |
Dark web monitoring, VPN |
To help you make a decision on the best iPhone password manager, consider the following:
|
Choose this password manager for iPhone… |
If you want… |
|
Bitwarden |
An all-around secure password manager with a solid free tier (and affordable premium plan). |
|
1Password |
A highly secure premium password manager with a top-notch user experience. |
|
NordPass |
An easy-to-navigate password manager with a fully featured mobile app. |
|
Dashlane |
A premium password manager with security features like dark web monitoring and a VPN subscription. |
When selecting a password manager for your iPhone, compare the following features:
- Security: Any password manager worth considering has strong encryption and a zero-knowledge approach so only you can access your data on your device. Some also have open-source code for public scrutiny and/or submit to independent audits.
- Mobile app experience: All of the iOS apps we tested are relatively easy to navigate, but some password managers reserve more advanced features for their desktop or web apps, limiting what you can access on the go.
- Premium features: Every password manager we recommend for iPhone can autofill your credentials on mobile browsers and apps, but you may also consider what other features are available on iOS, such as security monitoring or VPN service.
- Cost: You can get excellent password management for your iPhone for free, but a premium service or subscription tier may come with additional features or expanded compatibility or syncing.
To select the best password managers for iPhone, we identified secure services compatible with iOS and compared costs and features as listed above. We then did hands-on testing for ease of use on an iPhone 15 Pro running iOS 17.
iPhone password manager FAQs
Every password manager we recommend uses strong encryption to prevent anyone but you from accessing your data. We also consider whether password managers are open source (like Bitwarden) to allow for rigorous scrutiny and whether they undergo regular independent security audits.
Apple has long offered basic password management across its devices via iCloud Keychain but recently launched Passwords, a standalone app available on iOS 18. Apple’s Passwords has features that are more similar to third-party password managers.
Password managers will do the basics, like auto-filling credentials, in mobile apps on iPhone. Some features, such as password generation and saving, can be clunkier on mobile compared to desktop.
All of the password managers we recommend are multi-platform and will sync across other devices, like your computer, but there may be limitations depending on your subscription — for example, NordPass’s free tier allows you to be logged in on only one device at a time. At the time of writing, Apple’s own Passwords app is only available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
If none of the password managers listed here fit the bill, there are other options to consider for your iPhone:
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