The safest way to store passwords is inside a dedicated password manager with strong encryption — not in a spreadsheet, a notes app, or your browser’s built-in save-password prompt alone.
Use a unique password for every account
Reusing passwords means one breached site can expose your accounts everywhere else. A password manager generates and remembers a unique, random password per site so you never have to.
Pick a strong, memorable master password
Your master password is the one you actually need to remember — a long passphrase (four or five random words) is both stronger and easier to recall than a short, complex string.
Turn on multi-factor authentication
Add a second factor — an authenticator app, hardware key, or your manager’s built-in option — everywhere it’s offered, starting with your password manager account itself.
Choose a zero-knowledge provider
Zero-knowledge encryption means even the password manager company can’t read your vault. Every manager in our full rating meets this bar.
Where to start
If you’re choosing your first password manager, our best free password manager list is a good, no-cost starting point.