Joshua Frisby
Summary
Below is a quick snapshot of our review. If you want to dive straight into the
6 things you need to know before using NordPass, scroll down a bit further.
30,000+ users trust NordPass
3.6 out of 5 star rating based on 84+ customer reviews
6 Things You Need to Know Before You Use NordPass.
Click on the icons below to discover more about NordPass and read our expert opinion.
1) Security
NordPass uses an exciting new encryption technology called XChaCha20. XChaCha20 is a complex mathematical set of instructions that changes the data of an input into a different output, similar to how an Excel spreadsheet performs calculations. The input is your unencrypted data and the output is your encrypted data. This method of encryption is near impossible to crack and will keep your data safe.
XChaCha20 is fast becoming the encryption standard of choice in Silicon Valley, used by some of the largest tech companies, including Google.
Before releasing NordPass for public use, Cure53, a well-respected independent auditor, carried out an extensive pre-launch audit and pentest. The subsequent patches and fixes show that NordPass is serious about the privacy of their customers’ data.
Security Audits and Pentests
Before NordPass was launched, its security model was subjected to a stringent audit by a well-respected independent auditor, Cure53, to identify any possible security issues and to strengthen their security model.
The audit and pentest focused on four key areas:
- Cryptographic premise (encryption protocols used to transform passwords into secret codes)
- Source code of the desktop and mobile software
- Source code of the NordPass background application and its codebase
- API touchpoints
All identified weaknesses and possible security issues were rectified to eliminate threats to end-users, like you and me.
The pentest also led to the enhancement of existing features and the addition of new features such as password sharing. The auditors identified password sharing as an area that could open the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters the communications between two parties. To address this, NordPass introduced a feature called Trusted Contacts whereby users can manually share encryption keys to eliminate the possibility of attacks. This feature is unique to NordPass and sets the industry standard that other password managers should follow.
XChaCha20
Like all other password managers, NordPass uses encryption to protect your data against any unauthorized access. However, unlike its competition, who use AES-265 (a super-secure encryption protocol), NordPass uses an exciting new encryption technology called XChaCha20.
XChaCha20 can be described as a complex mathematical set of instructions that changes the data of an input into a different output, similar to how an Excel spreadsheet performs calculations.
The input is your unencrypted data and the output is your encrypted data.
This algorithm acts as a security shield to keep your data safe and breaking the code is near impossible.
XChaCha20 is used by some of the largest tech companies, including Google and Cloudflare, and has been employed by NordPass to protect and encrypt your vault and the data within it.
Zero-Knowledge Architecture
The NordPass security model is based on a zero-knowledge architecture. This ensures that NordPass will never see or store your unencrypted passwords and other sensitive information on their servers.
The zero-knowledge model architecture protects you against any possible data breaches. Even if NordPass’s servers were to be hacked, digital thieves would only be able to see encrypted data that has no value. Only you can decrypt your passwords and sensitive information using your master password.
Master Password
The master password acts as the key to your vault. It unlocks your vault and decrypts your stored data giving you access to add, edit, and organize your passwords. It is the only password you will ever need to remember again.
As with the zero-knowledge model, your master password is also only known yourself. When you create an account with NordPass you will be prompted to create a master password, and from this point onwards, it is encrypted at the local level (on the device you are using to access your vault) – at no time does NordPass have access to it.
It is very important to select a strong and unique password which you can easily remember because when you forget it NordPass can’t retrieve it for you. NordPass does provide guidelines on how to select a strong password and you can use their password generator if required.
As part of their security model, you receive a unique Recovery Code when you open a NordPass account. This code must be written down and stored safely because if it gets lost you won’t be able to open your vault if you lose your master password. If you lose your Recovery Code you need to reset your NordPass account but in the process, the contents of your encrypted vault will be erased.
2) Features
From a clean, easy-to-use interface, the storage of unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, and the capability to auto-save and fill login credentials with one click, NordPass offers all the password management features that you need to get started.
Despite being the new kid on the block, NordPass brings two new password management features to the industry:
- Trusted Contacts – You can manually share encryption keys to eliminate the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters the communications between two parties. This strengthens the level of security when sharing passwords.
- OCR Scanning – Make your life simple by scanning your documents and turning them into text that can be saved in your vault, including credit cards for a more secure and efficient checkout process.
We would have liked to see NordVPN included in the NordPass plans since it is a widely known and very respected service. Fingers crossed for the future.
Password Vault
The password vault securely stores all of your passwords. Only you have the key (your master password) to encrypt and decrypt your passwords, ensuring that only you have rightful access to your vault.
Not only can you store login credentials (usernames and passwords), but also secure notes and credit card details to make shopping online more secure.
You can either add new credentials manually, import them from browsers, or upload a .csv file. NordPass can also automatically save new credentials when you log in to a website or complete a transaction with new details that you haven’t used before – more on that later.
With the combination of the zero-knowledge security model and super-secure encryption used by tech giants like Google, data stored in your vault is safe from hackers.
Auto-save & Fill For Seamless Access
Auto-save and fill aren’t unique to NordPass but they are two the most important features to get right. Here’s our take on how NordPass performs:
The auto-save function uses push notifications to prompt you to save your login credentials when you type them in on a new website. So far so good. The push notifications are a nice addition and make adding new passwords to your account a breeze. You are also prompted to update your stored credentials if you change a password. In addition to passwords, you can choose to save credit card and address information too.
Whenever you revisit a website that you have an account with, auto-fill will kick into action. One tap or click and your information is automatically populated meaning you no longer have the laborious task of typing into the boxes of online forms. This provides a seamless experience when logging into online accounts or when shopping online.
Not only is auto-fill a time saver but it is an enabler allowing you to use more complex passwords since you don’t have to remember or manually type them.
The NordPass auto-save and fill feature works on most of the popular browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Chromium, and Brave. Unfortunately, there is no browser extension for Safari at the moment. This means that if you use Safari you will not benefit from auto-save and fill. This is something to consider when deciding whether NordPass is right for you. However, we suggest that if you think NordPass is a good fit for your needs, but you use Safari, then you should switch browsers to Chrome until they release a compatible extension. Auto-save and fill also works on mobile.
Imports
NordPass makes it easy to import saved credentials into your vault directly from your browser and other password managers. Passwords can also be imported using a CSV file, the only requirement is that the CSV file must match the format that NordPass uses.
Importing passwords from browsers and other password managers is always a straightforward process taking a few clicks, but uploading a CSV can be tricky at times. Most password managers support CSV (comma separated values) files to store tabular data, making transitioning easy if you decide to export your data from one password manager and import it into NordPass. However, if you want to collect all the passwords you have jotted down on pieces of scrap paper and import them all at once, then preparing the CSV can, sometimes, be a bit of a headache.
So, we put NordPass’s CSV import to the test and the results are in:
You don’t need to be technically minded, an excel wizard, or an IT guru to import your passwords. Using the right format is simple. All it takes is a download of the pre-made CSV template from the NordPass website and you can fill in the necessary details, then import.
Autolock
Just like when you leave your phone unlocked or walk away from your laptop for a few minutes, both automatically lock. The same mechanism is used by NordPass.
You can select the period of time that you want to be signed in to your account before it locks. It works on both desktop and mobile and automatically logs you out whenever the set idle time expires but also when you switch off your computer, close the application, or when you lose internet connection.
Although auto-lock isn’t an advanced security protocol, it does add a layer of safety to your account and data. It’s better to have it than not since it protects you against the risk of accidentally leaving your vault open to unauthorized access.
Password & Username Generator
Password generators, we’ve all used one but to make it easy for you to employ unique, strong passwords for all of your accounts, the NordPass password generator integrates with online forms letting you create and fill new passwords with one click.
Whenever you create a new account, a unique password will be recommended by NordPass. The generator will create a password using symbols, numbers, and letters in upper and lower case to ensure a random and complex combination.
It is also important to note that they don’t save any of the generated passwords on their servers. They only save the encrypted version if you decide to use one.
Creating unique, strong passwords for each account that you have is essential to protect yourself from cyberattacks, especially since 81% of all data breaches are caused by compromised, weak, and reused passwords, and hackers strike every 39 seconds, equivalent to 2,244 times a day, and 819,060 times a year.
Although many of us are aware of the importance of strong passwords, usernames can often go overlooked. However, hackers often use scripts that try to guess usernames alongside passwords to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Since usernames are inherently easier to crack than passwords, mainly because they are simple and reused across multiple accounts, the NordPass username generator is extremely useful to protect yourself against potential hackers who could use your usernames to imitate online profiles.
A username forms part of your data and should be protected as not to reveal your identity and link you to other accounts. Creating randomly generated usernames can be likened to a secondary, hard-to-crack, password.
Password Strength Checker
To evaluate the strength of your passwords, NordPass employs a password checker that assesses the complexity of them and notifies you of any that are weak.
The password checker also scans your passwords against a database of breached ones and will flag any compromised passwords. Hackers often use brute-force attacks to expose weak passwords. They upload a database of the most popular passwords or passwords that have been previously leaked to a computer program that keeps entering the passwords until it successfully logs into an account. The risk of these types of attacks can be minimized when unique, strong, and randomly created passwords are used.
OCR Scanning
Optical Character Recognition, otherwise known as OCR Scanning, is a technology used to recognize text inside images, such as scanned documents and photos.
We all live busy lives and none of us have the time to manually enter a myriad details and if we do have the time it is a laborious task to complete. That’s why OCR scanning can be such a time saver and make your life simple by scanning your documents and turning them into text that can be saved in your vault.
NordPass is the first to utilize this technology in their password manager by allowing you to scan your bank cards and import your credentials into your vault. This makes online shopping incredibly easy since you no longer need to run around your home trying to find your wallet to enter your card details. Simply fill your details with a few clicks for a fast, efficient, and secure checkout.
OCR can also be used to scan other information into the Secure Notes section of your vault, including phone numbers, Wifi codes, license cards, and other documents. You can pretty much use it to import any text-based information.
Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication is a security measure whereby a unique physical attribute like a fingerprint, voice, or face is used to identify a person. This data can be scanned with a biometric device to grant a person access to content that is protected.
The benefit of protecting data with biometric authentication is that it removes the need to enter login information. You can log in to different websites as easily as you can open a smartphone.
NordPass offers it’s Android and iPhone users the option to replace your master password with your fingerprint for easy access to your secure vault. The biometric fingerprint reader is perfectly safe and works by detecting unique differences in the electrical conductivity of your finger’s surface. The fingerprint acts as your key to unlocking your vault.
Although we all appreciate the seamless experience that fingerprint scanning delivers, you need to be aware that biometric data is immutable. Data breaches exposed 4.1 billion records in the first half of 2019 and if your biometric data becomes compromised, your identity is at high risk. You can change your master password, you can’t change your fingerprint.
Biometric authentication is a nice-to-have feature but certainly not a need-to-have one.
Folders
All password managers have their own way to help you organize the contents of your vault, some allow you to create multiple vaults, others let you use tags and categories, and NordPass uses a folder system.
It is extremely easy to use. You can create multiple folders just as you would on your desktop to store digital files.
You can separate personal and work passwords, sort passwords according to different projects, and even have your social media login credentials in a separate folder, the possibilities are endless.
You can create, edit, and manage folders in both the mobile and desktop applications, as well as via your web vault which can be accessed through the browser extension. Newly created folders are empty and passwords can be added in bulk or separately. With the auto-save feature, passwords can be placed in different categories before they are saved making password management effortless.
Offline Accessibility
Being able to access your vault offline isn’t a key feature but it’s worth a small shout out.
In the event where you have no internet but urgently need to access a password or any other sensitive information stored in your vault, you can do so by using the offline functionality. Useful but by no means integral to password security.
Secure Sharing & Trusted Contacts
Password sharing can be risky business, if not done properly. It’s easy to share passwords via text, email, and even in spreadsheets but all of these methods are unsecure. Being able to plug all the unsecure holes in your security shield will make you far less susceptible to being targeted by hackers. How can you do this? Secure sharing.
Secure sharing ensures that your data remains encrypted when it is shared with other users. The encrypted data is safely shared with other users and placed directly into their encrypted vaults. The user will receive a notification via email and will be asked to accept the shared data, whereafter, the information will be displayed in their Shared Items box. This ensures that only those authorized will be able to see and use the shared data.
Now, while secure sharing is a standard feature of all password managers, NordPass has stepped up to the mark and pushed industry standards to a whole new level.
During a pentest, security auditors identified password sharing as an area that could open users up to the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks. To address this, NordPass introduced a feature called Trusted Contacts.
Trusted Contacts lets you manually share encryption keys with others to eliminate the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks.
Backups & Syncs
Backup refers to the process where data is copied and stored to a secondary location, which can be a device or a server.
NordPass backs up all of your information and syncs it to the cloud. You can think of these backups like a safety net to fall back on if you accidentally delete all your passwords and other sensitive information, and best of all, because of the zero-knowledge model, your data is encrypted locally meaning it is never seen or known by anyone but you. The cloud only stores encrypted data.
Having your data securely backed up is great, but being able to sync it across all your authorized devices is where the benefit lies. Enter sync.
Sync refers to the process where all your stored data is synchronized between all the devices that you use. Sync automatically updates the credentials stored in your vault across all authorized devices so no matter which device you are using, your data is always readily available.
Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
NordPass provides 2-factor authentication as an optional security feature. We highly recommend taking advantage of it since it creates an extra layer of security that requires two pieces of data to confirm the identity of the person trying to access your account.
Signing in to your account requires two things:
- Something you know (your email address and master password)
- Something you have (your phone)
When logging in to NordPass you are asked to enter your account email address. You then receive a 6-digit code via email which you enter when prompted. After this code has been submitted, a unique verification code will be generated by the authenticator app on your phone (you need to download Google Authenticator for this to work). This verification code can then be used alongside your master password to gain access to your vault.
Even if hackers managed to get your email address, they would still need your phone to get the unique verification code generated by the authenticator app to get past 2FA. In the event where they were able to pass 2FA, they would still need your master password.
3) Ease of Use
Simple, straightforward, and intuitive.
You don’t need to be technically minded, a computer wizard, or an IT guru to use NordPass. It is easy to set-up.
Whether you need to manage your passwords on the go via your mobile or at your desk on your laptop, NordPass has got you covered.
You can either import passwords from your browser, other password managers, or manually enter them. Entering passwords is effortless and organizing them is even easier. You can create multiple folders just as you would on your desktop to store digital files.
You can also use the auto-save function where NordPass will save your credentials when you create new online accounts.
Once you’ve added your passwords, let NordPass do all the hard work for you. You no longer need to remember any of your login credentials. NordPass will enter them for you, making logging in effortless.
Operating System and Browser Applications
The NordPass desktop application works on Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. Whereas the web vault is accessible via the browser extension for use with the most popular browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Chromium, and Brave. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support Safari, which is somewhat limiting. However, this can be easily resolved by switching browsers – we recommend Chrome.
NordPass is also available as an app on iOS and Android operating systems.
Overall, NordPass is easy to set-up. Anybody with limited technical knowledge can do it. On the NordPass website, you can select and download the operating system and browser extensions of your choice. But before you dive straight in, we recommend taking a look through the NordPass Help Centre, where you will find step-by-step guides on how to get started.
If you want to use the Free version you can begin the download process right away but it’s important to note that if you want to opt for a premium plan you must first create our account. Here’s how:
- Click on the Get NordPass button.
- Select your plan.
- Enter your details.
- NordPass will send you a welcoming email with an activation link that you must click on.
- Clicking on the link opens a page for you to set your account password. This is not your master password.
- Your account is now created and NordPass will prompt you to download the NordPass application, browser extensions, and mobile apps.
How to Set Up and Use it on Desktop
The NordPass password manager is available as a Windows, Mac, or Linux application. After creating your NordPass account, installing the desktop application is straightforward. To show you just how simple it is we have documented the process below:
- Select and download the application for the operating system of your choice.
- Once the file is installed, you can open it and login with the email address you registered with.
- NordPass will send you a 6-digit code via email. You need to enter this when prompted.
- Create a strong master password that will be used to open your vault. Unfortunately, you cannot test the strength of your password from within the installer so make sure you use the password strength checker.
- Next, you will receive a Recovery Code that you need to safely store. If you forget your master password the code can be used to reset your master password. Without it, you won’t be able to unlock your vault.
- Add the NordPass extension to your browsers. This will give you access to your vault from the web (as opposed to a local, desktop version) and enable auto-save and fill.
- NordPass is now ready to use on desktop devices.
From here onwards it is a simple case of either importing saved passwords from your browser or other password managers or manually entering them.
You can also use the auto-save function where NordPass will save your credentials when you create and log into new online accounts.
Once you’ve added your passwords, let NordPass do all the hard work for you. You no longer need to remember any of your login credentials. NordPass will enter them for you, making logging in effortless.
With the clean and easy-to-use interface, you’ll be on your way to effective password management in no time.
How to Set Up and Use it on Mobile
The NordPass app is available for either iOS or Android smartphones and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play just like you would with any other app. Before you download the app make sure you have set up your vault on desktop first. From our experience, the transition from desktop to mobile is much easier than the other way around (mainly because importing passwords is far easier on desktop).
To show you just how easy it is to get started, see the steps below:
- Download the NordPass app.
- Open the app and log in using your email and master password.
- Once logged in, NordPass automatically syncs all your data meaning that the secure vault on your mobile has all the same credentials as those stored in your desktop application and web vault.
- Set NordPass as your primary password manager and enable auto-fill.
- NordPass is now ready to use on your mobile.
A nice touch from NordPass is the ability to use either your fingerprint ID or Face ID as your master password to open your vault for easy access.
As with the desktop and web vault versions, the clean interface extends to the mobile app making your passwords and other sensitive credentials easily accessible on-the-go.
4) Support
Help and support is a crucial factor of any password manager. It can make or break the experience that you have. So, we put NordPass to the test and here’s what we found:
- The customer support team behind the screen of live chat had answers to all of our questions. They were quick to respond, helpful, and polite.
- Email support is available 24/7 and the team responds within a day. However, we suggest using live chat for an even quicker response.
- The Help Center provides a myriad of useful and easy to follow step-by-step guides. Although we like the use of screenshots to give context to the guides, we would have liked to see some video tutorials too.
Getting in touch:
Live Chat
We love live chat and that is why we rate it as one of the most important support functions of any password manager that we test.
NordPass passed our live chat tests with flying colors. The team on the other side of the screen had answers to all of our questions and we strongly recommend using it if you want answers quickly.
If the support team behind live chat is unable to help, they will direct you to the appropriate team who can give you the support you need. For example, I inquired about Business pricing and the response I was given from Kelly, the customer service representative, was: ‘Unfortunately, I do not have any information about NordPass for business. I can create a ticket for you and the NordPass business team will contact you’.
Email Support
Like most password managers, NordPass offers support through email.
Email support is available 24/7 and the customer services team responds to queries within a day.
Although the response time of email support is fast, we recommend using live chat to troubleshoot or ask any general questions before getting in touch via email.
While NordPass is active on Twitter, the channel is used for broadcasting product updates and industry news. The team behind the Twitter account does respond to tweets but if you want troubleshooting help, live chat and email is your best bet.
Help Resources:
Help Center
Often the best way to troubleshoot is to self-serve. This can be easier said than done but in the case of NordPass, their Help Center provides a myriad of useful, easy to follow, and comprehensive guides.
Whether you’re looking for guidance on getting started, general info about NordPass, troubleshooting, or billing, the Help Center has got you covered.
We particularly like the use of step-by-step guides and accompanying screenshots that give important context to each step. However, we would have liked to see some video tutorials since we tend to find these easier to follow.
5) Pricing
Choosing the right plan is all about making sure you have access to all the features you need to ensure good value for money. After taking a deep dive into NordPass’s pricing we recommend opting for the Premium plan.
Although the Free plan lets you save and auto-fill unlimited passwords, it has 2 major limitations:
- You can’t use secure sharing – Password sharing can be risky business, if not done properly. It’s easy to share passwords via text, email, and even in spreadsheets but all of these methods are unsecure. Being able to plug all the unsecure holes in your security shield will make you far less susceptible to being targeted by hackers. How can you do this? Secure sharing.
- You can’t use Trusted Contacts – Trusted Contacts adds an additional layer of security to password sharing by letting you manually share encryption keys with others to eliminate the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters the communications between two parties.
The Premium plan gives you access to both of the above. It costs $4.99 per user per month if choose the monthly subscription but you can get 50% discount if you opt for the 2-year plan ($2.49).
Free
The majority of password managers offer a free version but often they have major limitations.
For example, some put a limit on the number of passwords you can store (e.g. Dashlane Free – 50 password limit), others limit the auto-fill functionality (e.g. Keeper Free – only let you auto-fill on mobile devices), and a handful don’t facilitate the synchronization of data across devices (e.g. RoboForm Free – cap the number of devices you can use). NordPass Free, on the other hand, lets you save and auto-fill unlimited passwords, meaning that you don’t have to remember any of your passwords again. You can also save credit card information and secure notes in your vault. NordPass also syncs your data across all of your devices making it easy to access your passwords, credit card credentials, and notes stored in your secure vault.
One slightly confusing aspect of the Free plan is the limitation of only being able to use the password manager on one active device at any given time. Does this mean you can only use NordPass on one device? What about using it on multiple devices? We got in touch with NordPass to get the low down. They informed us that you can use NordPass on an unlimited number of devices (good news) but it can only be used on one active device at a time. If you log into another device, you will be logged out of the device currently in use.
Whilst this isn’t an ideal setup it does mean you can stay protected online across all of your devices.
However, as with any Free plan, there are some downsides.
We’ve mentioned the one active device limitation but you also can’t use secure sharing or Trusted Contacts. Sharing passwords via unsecured methods opens you up to vulnerabilities that digital thieves can target and exploit, putting your data at a high risk of becoming compromised. Hackers strike every 39 seconds meaning you need to make sure your data is protected at all times. As a result, plugging all the holes in your security shield is crucial to stay safe online. We, therefore, recommend opting for the Premium plan to ensure complete protection
Student Discount
Although there isn’t a separate plan for students, NordPass does offer students a 10% discount when they subscribe to the 2-year Premium plan.
Premium
NordPass Premium offers all the benefits of the Free plan but with the addition of three advanced password protection features that make password management a breeze.
First up is the ability to use NordPass on 6 active devices simultaneously. Whilst this feature, in our opinion, is somewhat redundant for individual users we can see it being beneficial for families. Here is why:
Individual users tend to use devices in isolation. For example, you may have access to a desktop, tablet, and phone but it’s unlikely that you are going to spend a lot of time simultaneously browsing the web on each. Because web browsing is often done whilst using devices in isolation, the need to be signed in to NordPass on multiple devices at the same time doesn’t deliver a benefit.
However, if, for example, you are away from your desktop device and you need to use your phone to access your secure vault, you can have two active sessions. You can access your passwords on your phone right away without being logged out of the desktop application. Still, in this scenario, we don’t see huge benefits here.
On the other hand, it is beneficial if you want to share your account with your family members who may well use multiple devices at the same time and need simultaneous access to the password manager.
Nevertheless, having the ability to simultaneously access your vault on six devices vs one is better to have than not to.
The second benefit is secure sharing. Secure sharing ensures that your data remains encrypted when it is shared with other users. The encrypted data is safely shared with other users and placed directly into their encrypted vaults. The user will receive a notification via email and will be asked to accept the shared data, whereafter, the information will be displayed in their Shared Items box. This ensures that only those authorized will be able to see and use the shared data.
The third and final benefit is Trusted Contacts. Trusted Contacts takes password sharing to a whole new level by letting you manually share encryption keys with others to eliminate the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters the communications between two parties.
The Premium plan costs $4.99 per user per month but discounts are on offer for 1 and 2-year plans. You can opt for one of the following:
All subscription packages are paid upfront. For example, if you opted for the 2-Year Premium plan, you would be charged $59.76 upfront every 2-years.
One final consideration we would like to share with you is the comparison of Dashlane Premium. Dashlane Premium costs $4.99 per user per month and delivers all the benefits of NordPass but also has a built-in VPN making it feature-rich compared to NordPass Premium.
Ironically, you would expect NordPass to include its VPN since NordVPN is a widely known and very respected service. Fingers crossed for the future.
Business
NordPass Business offers all the benefits and features of the NordPass Premium plan.
Employees will benefit from auto-save and auto-fill, encryption, and password sharing, whilst business users also get a dedicated account manager and 24/7 customer support. Using NordPass can also help businesses to become closer to being GDPR-compliant by keeping passwords safe and protecting work accounts and customers’ data. Similarly, if you work with healthcare information you will be one step closer to your HIPAA compliance.
Pricing is dependent on business needs.
Despite the benefits of the Business plan, at the time of writing this review, we believe there are stronger business password manager plans that give more granular control. For smaller businesses, we recommend Dashlane Business, for medium-sized businesses, 1Password Business, and enterprises, LastPass Enterprise.
6) Alternatives
NordPass vs Dashlane vs LastPass – Who’s Better?
Dashlane wins if you are looking for a comprehensive online security solution.
Although NordPass’s customer support can be commended, Dashlane provides all the support channels of NordPass including live chat, email, Twitter, and a help center, plus a 24/7 chatbot (useful for when live chat is not available e.g. at the weekends), Q&A webinars, and video tutorials.
Ironically, Dashlane Premium delivers all the features of NordPass Premium but also has a built-in VPN to protect you when using unsecured public WiFi services. The VPN alone makes it feature-rich compared to NordPass. If NordPass included NordVPN, the outcome may have been different.
LastPass and NordPass share many of the same features but NordPass comes out as top dog.
One major difference between both of these cybersecurity heavyweights is that LastPass uses a chatbot, manned by a robot with pre-created responses, whereas NordPass employs live chat with a real customer service representative who can help with any question.
Dashlane
We rank Dashlane as the best value for money password manager. Here’s why:
Firstly, Dashlane is the only password manager to have a U.S. patented zero-knowledge security model that uses AES-256 encryption (the same level of encryption used by banks and the military) to protect the data stored in your secure vault.
Secondly, the level of support is superior to NordPass. Dashlane provides support via all the channels that NordPass does (live chat, email, Twitter, and a help center), plus a 24/7 chatbot (useful for when live chat is not available e.g. at the weekends), Q&A webinars, and video tutorials.
Thirdly, Dashlane delivers all the features of NordPass but also has a built-in VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect you when you need to use unsecured public WiFi services. The VPN alone makes it feature-rich compared to NordPass.
And finally, Dashlane Premium costs the same as NordPass Premium ($4.99 per user per month), meaning you get greater value for your money.
LastPass
LastPass and NordPass share many of the same features but NordPass takes the crown.
There aren’t many differences in the features between both password managers. They both let you store unlimited passwords, auto-fill online forms with login credentials, and sync your stored data across all your devices, as well as much more. However, one major difference between both of these cybersecurity heavyweights is the level of support offered.
Where LastPass uses a chatbot, manned by a robot with pre-created responses, NordPass employs live chat with a real customer service representative sat on the opposite side of the screen. We rate live chat as one of the most important support functions of any password manager that we test. The team on the other side of the screen had answers to all of our questions and responded very quickly.
Despite not having live chat, LastPass does provide video tutorials that are easy to follow and are often much easier to digest than reading a step-by-step guide. However, this is down to personal preference. NordPass does not provide video tutorials.
NordPass Premium costs slightly more than LastPass Premium ($4.99 vs $3.00 per user per month) but remember, you can always opt to sign up for a longer subscription plan with NordPass to take advantage of a discount rate. Opting for the 1-Year plan will bring the cost down to $2.99, and the 2-Year plan to $2.49 per user per month.
FAQs
Security
Yes.
NordPass uses a combination of encryption, a zero-knowledge architecture, two-factor authentication, and a master password to keep your data secure.
In particular, NordPass uses an exciting new encryption technology called XChaCha20. XChaCha20 is a complex mathematical set of instructions that changes the data of an input into a different output, similar to how an Excel spreadsheet performs calculations. The input is your unencrypted data and the output is your encrypted data. This method of encryption acts as a high-security lock to keep your data safe and breaking the code is near impossible.
XChaCha20 is used by some of the largest tech companies, including Google and Cloudflare, and has been employed by NordPass to protect and encrypt your vault and the data within it.
Additionally, the extensive pre-launch audit and pentest of the password manager by a third-party auditing company, and the subsequent patches and fixes shows that NordPass is serious about the safety of the data of their customers.
Pricing Plans
Yes, if you opt for the Free plan.
However, as with any Free plan, there are some limitations.
You will be able to use NordPass on an unlimited number of devices, store unlimited passwords, and auto-fill online forms with your credentials for a seamless browsing experience. However, you can’t use secure sharing or Trusted Contacts. Sharing passwords via unsecured methods opens you up to vulnerabilities that digital thieves can target and exploit, putting your data at a high risk of becoming compromised. Hackers strike every 39 seconds meaning you need to make sure your data is protected at all times. As a result, plugging all the holes in your security shield is crucial to stay safe online. We, therefore, recommend opting for the Premium plan to ensure complete protection.
There are three main differences:
1. One vs Six Active Devices
You can access NordPass on an unlimited number of devices but it can only be used on one active device at a time with the Free plan. If you are logged into your account on one device, but you then log into another device, you will be logged out of the device currently in use.
With the Premium plan, you can have up to six active devices. For example, you are away from your desktop device and you need to use your phone to access your secure vault, you can have two active sessions. You can access your passwords on your phone right away without being logged out of the desktop application. This is particularly beneficial if you want to share your account with your family members who may well use multiple devices at the same time and need simultaneous access to the password manager.
2. Secure Sharing
Secure sharing ensures that your data remains encrypted when it is shared with other users. The encrypted data is safely shared with other users and placed directly into their encrypted vaults. The user will receive a notification via email and will be asked to accept the shared data, whereafter, the information will be displayed in their Shared Items box. This ensures that only those authorized will be able to see and use the shared data.
3. Trusted Contacts
Trusted Contacts adds a layer of security to password sharing by letting you manually share encryption keys with others to eliminate the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters the communications between two parties.
General
NordPass is a password manager which was created by the cybersecurity giant NordVPN.
It allows you to store an unlimited number of passwords in a securely encrypted vault and auto-fills your login credentials for a seamless browsing experience.
NordPass uses a zero-knowledge security model meaning they never see or store your unencrypted passwords and other sensitive information on their servers.
No.
NordPass and NordVPN are separate services meaning you need to sign up to both.
NordPass has a clean, easy-to-use interface, an industry-leading security model, and offers all the password management features that you need to get started. They are still a relatively new password manager and have some way to go to be considered the best password manager.
