LastPass vs Keeper: Which Password Manager Reigns Supreme?
Be honest – how many of your online accounts use the same password? Or maybe you use a few variations of the same password to make it easier to remember them all. While that may be convenient, it also makes you extremely vulnerable. If just one account gets hacked, cyber criminals can easily access the rest.
That‘s why using a password manager is one of the smartest things you can do to protect yourself online. A good password manager will generate strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and securely store them. When you need to log in, the password manager automatically fills in your credentials.
Two of the most popular password managers are LastPass and Keeper. They‘re both highly rated and offer a robust set of features. So which one is the best? To help you decide, I thoroughly tested and compared them. Here‘s how they stack up.
How LastPass Works
LastPass is one of the most well-known password managers available. It safely stores all your passwords in an encrypted online vault that you can access from any device. Your vault is protected with a master password that only you know. Even the LastPass employees can‘t see your data.
One of the standout features of LastPass is its free tier of service, which is very generous compared to other password managers. With a free LastPass account, you can sync all your passwords across an unlimited number of devices. Most other password managers, including Keeper, limit free users to only one device.
LastPass has plugins for every major web browser that allow it to automatically capture your login credentials when you sign into an online account. Then the next time you visit that site, LastPass can auto-fill your username and password. There are also LastPass mobile apps for iOS and Android.
A premium LastPass subscription adds some additional features like emergency access, priority tech support, and 1GB of encrypted file storage. Families can use LastPass Families to share passwords. For businesses, there are team and enterprise plans with extra admin controls.
Overall, LastPass strikes a great balance between ease of use, security, and affordability. It‘s a fantastic choice for individuals who want a reliable password manager with multi-device sync.
How Keeper Works
Keeper is another top-rated password manager that takes security very seriously. Like LastPass, it uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your password vault. One difference is that Keeper exclusively uses a zero-knowledge security architecture. Your data is encrypted and decrypted locally on your device, so Keeper‘s servers never have access to your info, even if they were hacked.
To access your Keeper vault, you set a master password as well as a security question and answer. Your security question can be used to reset your master password if you ever forget it. Just be careful to pick a question that would be hard for others to guess.
When you sign up for Keeper, you start with a free 30-day trial. After that, you‘ll need to subscribe to a paid plan to continue using it. The Keeper Password Manager plan ($29.99/year) is the most basic option. For additional features like secure file storage, dark web monitoring, and a private messenger, you‘ll pay more.
Keeper offers apps for a wider variety of device platforms compared to LastPass. In addition to Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, there are also Keeper apps for Linux, Kindle, and Windows Phone. Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and IE.
If you‘re someone who is extra cautious about security, Keeper may give you more peace of mind with its stringent zero-knowledge model. And if you use some less common devices, Keeper likely has an app for you.
Key Features Compared
Now let‘s dive into the details of how LastPass and Keeper compare on key password management features:
Supported Platforms
Both LastPass and Keeper work on all the major operating systems and web browsers. The key differences are:
– LastPass supports more browsers including Opera and Maxthon.
– Keeper supports more mobile device types including Kindle, Windows Phone and Blackberry.
Filling in Passwords
Once you store your login credentials in LastPass or Keeper, both can automatically fill them in when you visit your online accounts. This works similarly in both apps.
However, LastPass provides some additional customization options. For example, you can require that your master password be re-entered before filling passwords on certain sites for extra security. You can also choose whether to autofill the login immediately or wait for you to click the field.
Generating New Passwords
Instead of trying to dream up a complex password yourself, both LastPass and Keeper can generate strong, random passwords for you. Both let you customize the length and characters used. LastPass also has an option to generate passwords that are pronounceable and easier to say out loud or remember.
Security
LastPass and Keeper both use the same state-of-the-art encryption methods to protect your data. However, Keeper‘s zero-knowledge model provides an extra layer of protection since your vault data is never sent to their servers, even in encrypted form.
Two-factor authentication, which requires a second form of verification beyond your master password, is available in both apps. Keeper supports more 2FA options out-of-the-box, while some LastPass users need to upgrade to Premium to use certain methods.
If someone tries to break into your vault by guessing your master password, Keeper has a self-destruct feature. After five failed attempts, it will delete all your passwords and data. LastPass does not appear to have an equivalent setting.
Password Sharing
LastPass and Keeper both allow you to securely share individual passwords with other users of the app. Recipients can use the shared login without knowing the actual password. Both apps also let you share entire folders of passwords if you upgrade to a paid plan.
Web Form Filling
Besides passwords, LastPass and Keeper can store other commonly typed information like your name, address and credit cards. When you encounter a web form asking for this info, the apps can fill it in automatically.
LastPass provides a more streamlined form filling experience. When it recognizes a form, an icon appears in the field. Click it and a menu appears with your saved identities. Keeper requires you to right-click to bring up a separate menu, which is less intuitive.
Storing Other Data
Your LastPass or Keeper vault can be used to store much more than just passwords. You can keep secure notes, file attachments, and structured data like IDs and banking info.
LastPass is more flexible for this purpose. Even free users get 50MB of encrypted file storage and a wide variety of pre-defined data types. Keeper limits you to attaching files and images to password entries unless you pay for the Secure File Storage add-on.
Security Auditing
Over time, your password manager can become cluttered with old, weak and duplicate passwords. Both LastPass and Keeper will scan your vault and flag these security issues for you. LastPass also has an automatic password changer that can replace passwords with stronger ones on supported sites with one click.
For an extra layer of security, Keeper‘s BreachWatch service scans the dark web and alerts you if your private data is ever found in a breach. However, you have to pay an extra $19.99 per year for this feature. LastPass includes basic dark web monitoring with all its plans.
Pricing & Value
LastPass has a very functional free tier that lets you sync unlimited passwords on unlimited devices. You can stick with the free plan indefinitely. Keeper requires a subscription after a 30-day trial.
Here‘s how the paid plans compare:
- LastPass Premium: $3/month ($36/year)
- LastPass Family: $4/month ($48/year) for up to 6 users
- Keeper Unlimited: $2.91/month ($34.99/year) for a single user
- Keeper Family: $6.24/month ($74.99/year) for up to 5 users
While Keeper‘s base price is slightly cheaper, the gap disappears when adding extra services like file storage, secure messaging, and dark web monitoring. That can quickly bring your total to $80+/year. LastPass plans include all features for one price.
Bottom Line
After putting them through their paces, I have to give the edge to LastPass as the best overall password manager for most users. The free tier is unbeatable, with multi-device sync and no limits on passwords stored. Even the Premium and Family plans are an excellent value, with all features included.
LastPass also beats Keeper in a few key areas: more flexible password filling and form filling options, the ability to store a wider variety of data types in your vault, and automatic password changing. Last but not least, it‘s hard to top LastPass‘ user-friendly design, which makes managing your passwords a breeze.
However, Keeper is no slouch and has some advantages of its own. If you prioritize security above all else, Keeper‘s zero-knowledge architecture and self-destruct mode may ease your mind. It also supports some less common devices and browsers that LastPass doesn‘t. And while Keeper charges extra for dark web monitoring, the service is arguably more comprehensive than what LastPass offers.
Ultimately, you can‘t go wrong with either of these password managers. They‘re both much more secure than reusing the same password everywhere! Take advantage of the free trials offered by LastPass and Keeper to test them for yourself. For most people, I believe LastPass will be the winner.
Do you use a password manager? What has your experience been with LastPass, Keeper, or another app? Let me know in the comments!
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