Best free password manager for UK small businesses

With 49% of UK businesses experiencing a cyber-attack once a month or more, keeping your accounts and passwords secure can be a challenge. 

The most secure passwords are difficult to remember, so using the right password manager can keep your accounts locked up tight. With so many services to choose from, how do you know which one is the best?

We’ve done the hard work for you, so here are the best free password managers for small UK businesses:

• LastPass Free.
• Google Password Manager.
• iCloud Keychain.
• NordPass Free.

We’ve whittled down the best free password managers down to these four. You’ll find their pros and cons below, so you can decide which is the best fit for your business.

LastPass has a couple of versions to choose from (free, premium, and families). While none of them are particularly expensive (up to £3.40 a month), the free version will probably best suit your needs.

It’s super easy to add passwords to your LastPass account. Just navigate to the passwords section and click the red plus. Filling out the section also lets you decide if you want to automatically login or autofill your password.

One of LastPass’ best features is its compatibility. It doesn’t matter what brand of devices you own, because they can all use LastPass. 

While LastPass does have an extensive FAQ section, it can be difficult to get in touch with actual people if you need some extra help. The level of assistance you get depends on the package you buy, so the free version has the slowest support.

On the whole, LastPass is a well-known password manager and one of the best you can get. 

Pros:

• Free version includes 30 days of Premium.
• You can use LastPass on all your devices.
• Secure one-to-one password sharing. 
• Store and encrypt any written notes.
• Mobile app works as an authenticator. 

Cons:

• Customer support isn’t the best.

If you use an Android phone or the Google Chrome browser, you can automatically save your password to your Google Account. Google then stores this in its free password manager.

Any device you use has instant access to your saved passwords once you log in to your Google Account. 

Your passwords can even be auto-filled into a website just by visiting the webpage. Simply click on the box where you enter your login details, and you should be prompted to select an account. 

If you need to double-check a password, you can visit the Password Manager. This lets you see exactly which password is connected to which account. 

The biggest downside is that if you’re not logged in or using an incompatible device, you can’t use the various features.

Pros:

• All features available for free.
• Suggests strong passwords for new accounts.
• Added security to prevent password theft.
• Alerts you when a password has been compromised. 
• Can also save credit and debit card numbers.

Cons:

• The service is limited to web browser use on computer.
• No secure way to share passwords.

If you typically use Apple products, you’ll already have access to the iCloud Keychain. It’s available for free on all Apple devices, and you only need to enable iCloud to get access. 

Keychain doesn’t just save your passwords; it can also suggest new ones. 

When signing up for a new account, you may notice a drop-down prompt for an auto-generated, secure password. If this doesn’t appear, you can also click the key icon and select “Suggest New Password”. 

One of the best features of Keychain is that your passwords are instantly accessible across your Apple devices. If you create an account on your iMac, and then try to log in on your iPhone, the password will be right there.

Unfortunately, where Keychain really falls down is their compatibility. Since the only devices that can use Keychain are Apple devices, owning a range of devices limits the functionality. 

For example, if you own an iPhone and a Windows computer, your computer wouldn’t have access to your saved passwords. 

If your business exclusively uses Apple products, then running Keychain across all your devices is a good idea. If you don’t want to be limited to Apple though, then you might be better off using a different password manager service. 

Pros:

• You can securely AirDrop your passwords to nearby Apple users.
• Can autofill your details on websites.
• Doesn’t require a downloaded app.
• Easy to save new passwords.
• All your passwords are accessible on all Apple devices.

Cons:

• Only works on Apple devices.
• You can’t use alternative browsers (Safari only).
• No alert if a password has been compromised.

NordPass offers several different packages to choose from, ranging from free to £6.39 per user per month. As a small business owner, you probably won’t need any of the additional features in the paid plans.

NordPass lets you use their app across all your devices, regardless of brand. This means you don’t have to worry about compatibility or future upgrades limiting access to your password manager. 

The two-factor authentication (TFA) is essential for keeping your account protected. Since the manager holds all your passwords, the last thing you want is for someone to gain access to it.

Enabling the TFA connects a specific device to your account, so every log-in has to be manually confirmed. You can further increase the security by using biometric scanning. Your fingerprint or face can then be used in place of a password. 

NordPass occasionally run promotions on their premium package. If you do upgrade, then try to get it during one of these promotions. You can get premium for as little as £1.09 a month. 

Pros:

• You can manually import and export existing passwords.
• Autofill can save and insert your personal details.
• Multi-factor authentication helps keep your account secure.
• All your information syncs across multiple devices.
• Stores passwords, notes, and payment information securely.

Cons:

• Only use one device at a time. 
• Can’t create shared folders. 

Interested in other tools your business can use? We have a few choices for you.

If a significant portion of your business is online, you might need to plan online meetings. Using the right video conferencing tool can make sure that your meetings are crystal clear, and recorded for future reference.

To find the best tool for you, read our guide: Best free video conferencing tool for a small business. 

Customer service may not come easily to you, so you may want to use tech to make things easier. Certain customer service tools can limit the stress of dealing with complaints, and give you more free time to run your business. 

For more information, read: Customer service tools for a small business.

But if you want more control over your business’ finances, then we recommend the Countingup app. 

Countingup is the two-in-one business current account and accounting software that simplifies your business expenses. You can even manage your finances straight from your phone.
Download the app for free.