Choose a password manager by testing recovery and export

Define the task first

A password manager is a workflow for storing and using secrets, not just a password generator. Compare the exact product and plan, the devices you use and what happens if you lose a device or forget a credential. Security claims require evidence with a defined scope; this page does not rank products from an unperformed audit.

What to check

1. Test with fictional logins and verify the exact site where autofill is offered.
2. Understand the recovery model, emergency access and what the provider can and cannot recover.
3. Check device support, synchronization, sharing and any plan restrictions on official pages.
4. Export test records and inspect the format; protect or delete unencrypted exports appropriately.
5. Review independent audits in context, including date, version, scope and unresolved findings.

A test you can reproduce

Create two fictional records with similar site names and confirm autofill does not confuse them. Then export and re-import those test records in an isolated test vault. Do not experiment with your only copy of real credentials.

Examples and official starting points

• Bitwarden
• KeePass
• 1Password

These are examples to research, not ranked winners. Their presence does not establish a current free plan, account eligibility, platform support, or privacy guarantee. Follow the official provider's current terms. Source-checked directory pages separately identify the facts and dates actually checked.

How this guide was prepared

This is an original task-selection worksheet, not a hands-on product benchmark. We have not tested every named product, scored their performance, verified regional availability, or purchased subscriptions for this guide. The content-revision date is not a provider-verification date. The exercises specify checks readers can perform with synthetic data.

Found an error? Send a correction with this page's URL and an official reference.