So it took me about a decade, but I've finally reached the breaking point: I have too many usernames and passwords to remember. This came to a head today as I tried to log into a handful web sites to change some billing information and had to make multiple tries to get into half of them, even having to click on the dreaded "Forgot your password?" link once. Enough! There are dozens and dozens of programs out there designed just to solve this problem, but the trouble is figuring out which ones are crap and which ones are good. And that's where you come in, dear readers:What's the best password-management app for your money? Here are my criteria: Super easy to use, unobtrusive (keyboard access a big plus), works on Windows, works with Firefox, secure (duh), and fairly configurable. Also, as you know, I'm incredibly cheap, so free or very inexpensive are high on my list.
Can you help me out? Leave your recommendations in the comments below.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-04-2007 @ 12:50PM
FF said...
Firefox has a built-in password manager, which works fine for me. Maybe it lacks some feature that you need -- you mention "fairly configurable" -- not sure what that means to you.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:06PM
Birdie Holsclaw said...
I use eWallet by Ilium Software. They have a desktop version, plus a PDA version, which can be synchronized. Entry to the program is password protected, but I think individual password "cards" can also be protected.
I keep a copy on both my desktop and my laptop and synchronize those two with FolderShare. So my passwords are always with me, as well as husband's SS#, bank account #s, software registration #s, etc.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:21PM
aboutthisboy said...
I too am fed up of forgetting passwords. I have been trialling RoboForm2Go (the portable version) and it's pretty comprehensive, I just don't want to shell out $39 for it! Looking forward to seeing some other people's suggestions.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:21PM
john said...
I use PINs. It's easily made portable, and it uses the 448 bit Blowfish algorithm. I wouldn't trust anything else, and I've tried a handful, including those listed here. PINs comes out on top for ease of use, options, and encryption level.
Oh, yeah; it's FREE!
See here: http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/pins.html
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1-04-2007 @ 1:21PM
Dice1976 said...
The are 3 very useful programs that I use for remembering passwords.
The first is Freeware! it is called KeyPass http://keepass.info/
The second I use and have been using more and more is called Code Wallet Pro from http://www.developerone.com/codewalletpro/windowspc.htm
And finally, the one that hooks wonderfully into your browser is called RoboForm www.roboform.com
I have been using code wallet & roboform from a USB key and it is perfect- I never have to remember anything anymore, just the 1 main password needed to access my information. Hope this helps.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:22PM
Robin said...
KeePass is a very nice, user friendly program. It also boasts a security option requiring two means of authentication via a password, and a key that is on your USB flash drive.
http://keepass.info/
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1-04-2007 @ 1:23PM
Grégory Kieffer said...
Roboform is definitely the best password manager. No other manager does nearly as good as this one! It actually works as a kind of bookmark manager as well, as it shows you a list of your stored passwords. I actually filled the name and email of this form with roboform
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1-04-2007 @ 1:29PM
Nick said...
I've had really good luck with KeyPass... SF open source.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:30PM
Eagle117 said...
I second eWallet.
http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/ew/ewallet.htm
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1-04-2007 @ 1:34PM
Orhan Karsligil said...
Used to use Roboform, but it is not free even for personal use anymore. Tried many other options, but the ideal solution should remember passwords and form fields not only for browsers but also windows logins and applications, credit card information etc... Now trying Sticky Passwords (http://www.stickypassword.com/). Looks promising. It is not free but today you can get it for free from Giveawayoftheday website.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:44PM
James Hare said...
Well, Mac OS X has Keychain built in; however, it seems you want to be hobbled by Windows. I guess that's your choice.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:46PM
Andre Tremblay said...
I've been using Corral Password for more than 3 years now.
It is easy to use and FREE.
You can have different files for different users.
It supports encryption and automatic export (encrypted too) for backup.
You can create multiple groups but various reasons like Office Password and/or Personal Internet Password.
I even use it to track all my serial # for software like Microsoft and Games.
Also it is very light and again FREE.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:54PM
CbF87 said...
KeyPass is the best product I've seen. If you don't mind doing a little scripting with its own script language, it will auto-populate any field or fields for you. Very handy.
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1-04-2007 @ 1:57PM
Claus said...
A vote again for KeePass.
It can be easily ported to flash media (USB sticks) so you can take it with you anywhere.
If you do that and want one more layer of security--just in case that USB stick wanders off... consider wrapping it in a TrueCrypt http://www.truecrypt.org/ (freeware Win/Linux) encrypted partition on your USB stick.
KeePass encrypts its password database file and makes it very easy to categorize your passwords.
Very difficult to beat!
The Portable Freeware site has a number of others worth looking into as well: Password Managers - http://www.portablefreeware.com/?c=10&sc=7
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1-04-2007 @ 2:02PM
Vinny Carpenter said...
I'll add another recommendation for KeePass. Free and open-source with encryption (AES and Twofish). Works really well and the auto-key feature is awesome. Plus it's cross platform and works on Windows, Linux, OSX and Mobile devices. I use it on my PC and PocketPC phone.
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1-04-2007 @ 2:06PM
Ross said...
As James mentioned, Keychain is my primary password management tool. But I also use webPM (http://www.daniele.ch/downloads.html) to store info. It's painfully easy, and can generate passwords as well.
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1-04-2007 @ 2:16PM
Dan said...
I'll ad another recommendation for KeePass. There is a toolbar for IE which is supposed to automatically fill in the password forms, but it is currently broken.
That being said, I still prefer KeyPass to just about any password manager out there (RoboForm is the other one I really like)
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1-04-2007 @ 2:16PM
mouser said...
Keypass (free) got rave reviews on DonationCoder: http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=4061.0
I've alwyas loved RoboForm (not free but cheap):
http://www.roboform.com/
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1-04-2007 @ 2:18PM
Steve Goodwin said...
RoboForm - been using it for years. About $29. There is also RoboForm2Go which allows you to keep the lot on a USB stick and plug it into any PC - works a treat.
Does form filling as well as remembering passwords. It is regularly updated and well supported.
http://www.roboform.com/
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1-04-2007 @ 2:18PM
JohnV said...
Password Safe - free, open source, easy and strong
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