There aren’t many bigger names in online storage than Dropbox, but fewer people know about its Dropbox Passwords product.

It’s been a free offering as part of the wider Dropbox suite since 2021, and it promises to deliver an effective password manager that’s easy to use – ideal for anyone who wants to beef up their security without the tech-heavy language and features you may have to wade through elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords: Plans and pricing

Dropbox Passwords is free and a part of the wider Dropbox ecosystem – it’s included in the basic tier. With that product a single user gets 2GB of secure storage, the option to connect three devices and the ability to store fifty passwords. Beyond cloud storage and password storage, you get instant syncing, thirty days of file recovery and sharable links. For people who need basic password management and cloud storage, it’s compelling, although other free options like Bitwarden allow unlimited password storage across unlimited devices – albeit without cloud storage.

If you’re willing to pay, though, you get unlimited password storage and unlimited devices in every product tier. The Plus product costs $9.99 / £9 / AUD$15 per month if you pay annually, and it gives a single user 2TB of cloud storage, improved multi-factor authentication and loads of storage and sharing features. The family plan costs $16.99 / £16 / AUD$25 and enables those features for up to six users.

You’ve got more options if you want to use Dropbox in a business environment. The Professional tier delivers 3TB of storage alongside better sharing options. The Standard business product costs $15 / £15 / AUD$24 per user per month. It delivers 5TB of space and a six-month file recovery period. Unlimited space is available in the Advanced tier, which costs $24 / £22 / AUD$35 per user per month and also deploys better security. Enterprise pricing is available on request.

Dropbox Passwords: Setup

It’s easy to get started with Dropbox Passwords, even for people without much techy knowledge. Sign up for a free Dropbox Basics account and verify your email address and you’ll be right into the browser extension.

The setup process is designed to make password storage as seamless as possible. The app gives users a list of common apps, like Google, Facebook and Amazon, that can be added quickly and easily – so you can start saving passwords immediately. If you want to add your own, a separate window allows you to log your username, password and any notes, and Dropbox Passwords also supports payment cards.

Existing passwords can also be imported from Chrome and Firefox and directly from CSV files that have been exported from other password managers. You can also use Dropbox to create your own password export as a CSV.

Once you’ve saved a password, you can copy the credentials or simply use a link to open the site with the details already filled in. It’s very straightforward. This system works similarly on Dropbox Password’s iOS and Android apps. You’re also invited to create a passphrase to unlock your Passwords app, like the master passwords deployed elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords: Interface and performance

More of the features included in Dropbox Passwords are tailored to ease of use. Select a password in the app and a separate window shows you its details and strength rating – but also highlights if it’s been involved in any breaches.

The app’s Security Dashboard is straightforward: one window gives you a big warning if your data has been compromised, and a second window delivers alerts for weak or re-used passwords. You can also choose whether you monitor all of your email addresses or just a selection.

You can share passwords with other people – simply enter their email address and they’ll be invited to log in to their own Dropbox Passwords account. Editing an entry is similarly simple: type in the correct details and click save.

The interface is well-designed, too. It’s spacious, with large buttons, and it’s sensibly designed – the main screen delivers a simple list of passwords, and the Security Dashboard uses two straightforward windows. The settings menu is easy to use, with common options split into four categories and a slick graphic that illustrates how close you are to your storage and device limits. You’re not confronted with overwhelming technical data, so people without loads of tech knowledge won’t be intimidated.

All of this makes Dropbox Passwords great for anyone who isn’t overly familiar with tech, or people who don’t need to store loads of passwords using a complex bit of software.

However, this simplicity means that Dropbox Passwords misses out on some features. You can add passwords or payment cards on this app, but most others include more categories and templates for saving a wider range of data – and some others also allow you to store more information in each listing, including documents and images, and let users add custom fields.

There’s more platform support elsewhere, too. Dropbox Passwords works on Windows and macOS and it’s got iOS and Android apps – and its browser extension functions in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. But look elsewhere and you’ll find extensions for a broader range of browsers and apps with Linux support.

Advanced features are absent, too. More import options are commonplace elsewhere, and some free tools even include unlimited cloud storage and optional self-hosting. Dropbox’s password generator allows you to customize the length of your password and opt to use symbols and numbers, but elsewhere you’ll find generators with more versatility, like the option to make passwords pronounceable.

Dropbox Passwords: Security

Dropbox Passwords might lack high-end functionality, but there’s no quibbling with its security credentials. As with the rest of the Dropbox ecosystem, Passwords are protected with 256-bit AES encryption – a rock-solid industry standard.

SSL and TLS is deployed to protect data when it moves between Dropbox apps and the company’s servers, and the app can lock itself after a period of inactivity. Alongside using your passphrase to sign in, Dropbox Passwords can be unlocked with facial or fingerprint recognition and two-factor authentication. Dropbox is also a zero-knowledge provider, meaning no one at the company can access your data.

This is another area where you’ll certainly find more ability elsewhere, especially if you want high-end security options for organizations.

Dropbox Passwords: Support

Because Dropbox Passwords is included in every Dropbox product, the support on offer varies depending on which tier you’re using.

If you use the free Dropbox Basics product you can access live chat and an email form, and Dropbox also offers a Help Centre with a good selection of articles. There’s a forum, too.

Buy the Plus, Family or Professional plans and you get broadly similar options, although your emails are given priority. But if you upgrade to the Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plans, you get phone support too.

Dropbox Passwords: The competition

If you’d like a free password manager without the cloud storage component then you’d be better off with Bitwarden. It’s our current free favorite, and for good reason – it includes unlimited password storage and optional self-hosting, so it’s instantly a more versatile option than Dropbox.

If you want to upgrade to the paid plans then Dropbox looks more compelling, but we’d still recommend people look towards Dashlane or LastPass for pure password management. Both include broader ranges of password-specific features and both are cheaper than a Dropbox package, albeit without Dropbox’s enviable sharing and cloud storage capabilities.

Dropbox Passwords: Final verdict

Indeed, that’s the crux of the situation for Dropbox. As a free password manager, Dropbox is acceptable, especially if you don’t need advanced features. Combine the free product’s decent password management with 2GB of cloud storage and its robust security protocols and you’ve got a good option for anyone who needs fuss-free storage and password management.

Its paid products are better thanks to a market-leading range of cloud storage and sharing features, and all include Dropbox Passwords – although the price does quickly become steep when compared to pure password management software.

If you want a free password manager, then Dropbox Passwords gets the job done. But only spend cash on the paid tiers if you also want its cloud storage features.

We've listed the best password recovery software.

There aren’t many bigger names in online storage than Dropbox, but fewer people know about its Dropbox Passwords product.

It’s been a free offering as part of the wider Dropbox suite since 2021, and it promises to deliver an effective password manager that’s easy to use – ideal for anyone who wants to beef up their security without the tech-heavy language and features you may have to wade through elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords: Plans and pricing

Dropbox Passwords is free and a part of the wider Dropbox ecosystem – it’s included in the basic tier. With that product a single user gets 2GB of secure storage, the option to connect three devices and the ability to store fifty passwords. Beyond cloud storage and password storage, you get instant syncing, thirty days of file recovery and sharable links. For people who need basic password management and cloud storage, it’s compelling, although other free options like Bitwarden allow unlimited password storage across unlimited devices – albeit without cloud storage.

If you’re willing to pay, though, you get unlimited password storage and unlimited devices in every product tier. The Plus product costs $9.99 / £9 / AUD$15 per month if you pay annually, and it gives a single user 2TB of cloud storage, improved multi-factor authentication and loads of storage and sharing features. The family plan costs $16.99 / £16 / AUD$25 and enables those features for up to six users.

You’ve got more options if you want to use Dropbox in a business environment. The Professional tier delivers 3TB of storage alongside better sharing options. The Standard business product costs $15 / £15 / AUD$24 per user per month. It delivers 5TB of space and a six-month file recovery period. Unlimited space is available in the Advanced tier, which costs $24 / £22 / AUD$35 per user per month and also deploys better security. Enterprise pricing is available on request.

Dropbox Passwords: Setup

It’s easy to get started with Dropbox Passwords, even for people without much techy knowledge. Sign up for a free Dropbox Basics account and verify your email address and you’ll be right into the browser extension.

The setup process is designed to make password storage as seamless as possible. The app gives users a list of common apps, like Google, Facebook and Amazon, that can be added quickly and easily – so you can start saving passwords immediately. If you want to add your own, a separate window allows you to log your username, password and any notes, and Dropbox Passwords also supports payment cards.

Existing passwords can also be imported from Chrome and Firefox and directly from CSV files that have been exported from other password managers. You can also use Dropbox to create your own password export as a CSV.

Once you’ve saved a password, you can copy the credentials or simply use a link to open the site with the details already filled in. It’s very straightforward. This system works similarly on Dropbox Password’s iOS and Android apps. You’re also invited to create a passphrase to unlock your Passwords app, like the master passwords deployed elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords: Interface and performance

More of the features included in Dropbox Passwords are tailored to ease of use. Select a password in the app and a separate window shows you its details and strength rating – but also highlights if it’s been involved in any breaches.

The app’s Security Dashboard is straightforward: one window gives you a big warning if your data has been compromised, and a second window delivers alerts for weak or re-used passwords. You can also choose whether you monitor all of your email addresses or just a selection.

You can share passwords with other people – simply enter their email address and they’ll be invited to log in to their own Dropbox Passwords account. Editing an entry is similarly simple: type in the correct details and click save.

The interface is well-designed, too. It’s spacious, with large buttons, and it’s sensibly designed – the main screen delivers a simple list of passwords, and the Security Dashboard uses two straightforward windows. The settings menu is easy to use, with common options split into four categories and a slick graphic that illustrates how close you are to your storage and device limits. You’re not confronted with overwhelming technical data, so people without loads of tech knowledge won’t be intimidated.

All of this makes Dropbox Passwords great for anyone who isn’t overly familiar with tech, or people who don’t need to store loads of passwords using a complex bit of software.

However, this simplicity means that Dropbox Passwords misses out on some features. You can add passwords or payment cards on this app, but most others include more categories and templates for saving a wider range of data – and some others also allow you to store more information in each listing, including documents and images, and let users add custom fields.

There’s more platform support elsewhere, too. Dropbox Passwords works on Windows and macOS and it’s got iOS and Android apps – and its browser extension functions in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. But look elsewhere and you’ll find extensions for a broader range of browsers and apps with Linux support.

Advanced features are absent, too. More import options are commonplace elsewhere, and some free tools even include unlimited cloud storage and optional self-hosting. Dropbox’s password generator allows you to customize the length of your password and opt to use symbols and numbers, but elsewhere you’ll find generators with more versatility, like the option to make passwords pronounceable.

Dropbox Passwords: Security

Dropbox Passwords might lack high-end functionality, but there’s no quibbling with its security credentials. As with the rest of the Dropbox ecosystem, Passwords are protected with 256-bit AES encryption – a rock-solid industry standard.

SSL and TLS is deployed to protect data when it moves between Dropbox apps and the company’s servers, and the app can lock itself after a period of inactivity. Alongside using your passphrase to sign in, Dropbox Passwords can be unlocked with facial or fingerprint recognition and two-factor authentication. Dropbox is also a zero-knowledge provider, meaning no one at the company can access your data.

This is another area where you’ll certainly find more ability elsewhere, especially if you want high-end security options for organizations.

Dropbox Passwords: Support

Because Dropbox Passwords is included in every Dropbox product, the support on offer varies depending on which tier you’re using.

If you use the free Dropbox Basics product you can access live chat and an email form, and Dropbox also offers a Help Centre with a good selection of articles. There’s a forum, too.

Buy the Plus, Family or Professional plans and you get broadly similar options, although your emails are given priority. But if you upgrade to the Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plans, you get phone support too.

Dropbox Passwords: The competition

If you’d like a free password manager without the cloud storage component then you’d be better off with Bitwarden. It’s our current free favorite, and for good reason – it includes unlimited password storage and optional self-hosting, so it’s instantly a more versatile option than Dropbox.

If you want to upgrade to the paid plans then Dropbox looks more compelling, but we’d still recommend people look towards Dashlane or LastPass for pure password management. Both include broader ranges of password-specific features and both are cheaper than a Dropbox package, albeit without Dropbox’s enviable sharing and cloud storage capabilities.

Dropbox Passwords: Final verdict

Indeed, that’s the crux of the situation for Dropbox. As a free password manager, Dropbox is acceptable, especially if you don’t need advanced features. Combine the free product’s decent password management with 2GB of cloud storage and its robust security protocols and you’ve got a good option for anyone who needs fuss-free storage and password management.

Its paid products are better thanks to a market-leading range of cloud storage and sharing features, and all include Dropbox Passwords – although the price does quickly become steep when compared to pure password management software.

If you want a free password manager, then Dropbox Passwords gets the job done. But only spend cash on the paid tiers if you also want its cloud storage features.

We've listed the best password recovery software.

For many, much of our day-to-day life is now handled online, including financial management, shopping, family connections, work collaboration, and more. While digital technology offers numerous advantages, it also poses multiple security risks that threaten users both financially and personally.

Today's cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics, deploying increasingly sophisticated attacks, including phishing scams, data breaches, and ransomware threats. These menacing strategies aim not only at financial theft but also often target our most sensitive data, leading to a cascade of complications that can significantly disrupt our lives.

This is where a dedicated identity theft protection service, like NordProtect, becomes invaluable. Acting as a real-time shield against potential threats, it provides proactive monitoring that continually watches over your personal information around the clock.

Picture receiving rapid alerts at the first hint of suspicious activity; this timely response can make all the difference in mitigating damage before it spirals out of control.

But it doesn't end there. Comprehensive recovery assistance provided by these services ensures that if the worst does happen, you're not navigating the aftermath alone. Specialists work with you to recover compromised accounts, restore your credit, and rebuild your digital identity, guiding you through each step with expertise and support.

NordProtect: Something new

Nord Security, the company behind the popular NordVPN, first introduced NordProtect in late 2023. At the time, it was only offered as part of NordVPN’s Prime plan in the U.S. In early 2025, however, the company expanded its availability, and NordProtect became available as a standalone product.

NordProtect: Plans and pricing

NordProtect offers three primary subscription levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The first is the basic plan and includes features like dark web monitoring, credit monitoring (TransUnion), VantageScore 3.0 credit score, credit freeze assistance, identity theft recovery ($1M), cyber extortion protection ($50K), online fraud coverage ($10K), cyber attack coverage ($10K), malware breach alerts, and criminal records monitoring.

The mid-priced Gold plan includes all the features of the Silver plan, plus the NordVPN service and Threat Protection Pro. The premium Platinum plan is the most comprehensive, offering all the features of Silver and Gold, along with NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, and a personal data removal service (Incogni).

You can purchase a subscription on a monthly, yearly, or two-year basis. There are discounts available on annual and two-year plans for the first year, and all plans come with a 30-day unconditional guarantee.

At the time of this writing, two-year subscriptions will save 63% off the regular price, with Silver costing $132 for the first 24 months, Gold at $204, and Platinum at $288. One-year packages are available with a 50% discount, priced at $90 for Silver, $126 for Gold, and $168 for Platinum. There’s no discount when paying for the NordProtect service on a monthly basis. For this, you’ll pay $15.49 for Silver, $21.49 for Gold, and $28.49 for Platinum.

Please note that prices for the year- and two-year plans revert to the regular price after the completion of the first term.

For this review, I opened a Platinum subscription.

NordProtect: Key features and offerings

NordProtect delivers a complete  suite of security  features that protect  personal information and enable  recovery from security  breaches with exact precision. The service delivers three core security components that monitor activity continuously and provide immediate alerts, together with financial protection, which form an integrated defense system for total identity security.

The NordProtect dark web monitoring service operates 24/7 to provide you with exceptional protection. The service  scans continuously through illegal online  marketplaces as well  as forums and  underground communities to detect  any leaked personal  data, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and  Social Security numbers.  You would receive immediate notifications when your information is compromised through this service, allowing you to react promptly and reduce potential security threats.

The credit monitoring service of NordProtect works in conjunction with TransUnion to provide you with financial protection features. This feature detects financial identity threats, including unauthorized account inquiries and new accounts opened using your personal information. The system provides detailed monthly reports on VantageScore 3.0 credit scores, as well as immediate alerts about potential fraudulent activities, helping you maintain continuous awareness of your financial situation.

The core strength of NordProtect is its outstanding identity theft recovery support system. When identity theft occurs, you are protected by up to $1 million in insurance coverage for such incidents. This coverage extends to eligible expenses, including legal fees, lost wages due to identity theft, and mental health counseling costs. The identity restoration process is supported by dedicated case managers who provide personalized assistance throughout your recovery journey. The service guides you in freezing your credit and helps you navigate the complex task of restoring your credit score.

The identity protection service NordProtect stands out because it includes both cyber extortion protection and online fraud coverage as exclusive features. The cyber extortion protection provides up to  $50,000 for expert assistance  and possible ransom  payments that occur when  cybercriminals threaten to reveal or erase  personal data.

NordProtect: Interface and in use

After extensive testing and hands-on experience with NordProtect, I found it to be remarkably user-friendly and intuitive. The primary access point is through a web-based dashboard within your Nord Account, which I appreciated for its centralized design. It allows for easy management and monitoring of various identity protection features, viewing alerts, and customizing settings—all without the need to download a separate application.

Being able to access NordProtect directly from a web browser significantly enhances its convenience. Additionally, I discovered that if you’re already a NordVPN Prime subscriber, you can seamlessly integrate these features into your existing Nord Account, which is a bonus.

During my testing across different devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, I was impressed by the broad compatibility. This flexibility ensures that I can manage my identity protection effortlessly, regardless of whether I'm using my desktop or mobile device. Overall, my thorough evaluation confirms that NordProtect offers a solid solution for identity management.

The main drawback of NordProtect’s interface design stems from the separate methods users need to access NordVPN and Incogni. The NordVPN service is available with both Gold and Platinum subscriptions, whereas Incogni is only accessible through the Platinum plan. These software  solutions operate independently and use different  access methods. For example, users need to download the NordVPN app on their devices to access the service. The back-and-forth process between these services might create confusion for some users.

For some,  using Incogni could complicate things further. Nord Threat Protection Pro, which is part of NordVPN, and Incogni operate as separate services from Nord Security. They provide distinct yet supportive solutions for online privacy and security. Nord Threat Protection Pro provides real-time  protection against immediate online  threats. The digital  shield protects your browsing experience  by blocking malware , phishing sites  , ads, and trackers  regardless of VPN  status. The system exists to prevent dangerous content from ever reaching your system.

Incogni specializes in proactive data removal from data broker databases. Through automated  contact with brokers,  Incogni removes your personal  data, including names  , addresses, phone numbers, and financial records. Incogni operates  as a system that  tracks your data while sending periodic  deletion requests to minimize  your digital presence and protect you  from spam, scams , and identity theft. 

The bottom line: Nord Threat Protection Pro stops new threats from entering, but Incogni removes existing data exposure, creating a comprehensive protection system when used together.

NordProtect: Support

Nord offers comprehensive customer support primarily through its robust online Help Center, which features extensive FAQs, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides covering various topics, including account management, billing, connectivity, and app usage. For more personalized assistance, customers can readily access 24/7 live chat support, which is recommended for urgent issues due to its typically quick response times.

Alternatively, for more complex inquiries or when immediate assistance isn't critical, customers can opt for email support, with responses usually provided within a few hours. These support channels are often accessible directly through Nord's websites and even within their applications, ensuring convenient access for users. While traditional phone support or call centers are not typically offered, Nord's combination of self-help resources and direct messaging options aims to provide thorough and accessible support for its diverse customer base.

NordProtect: The competition

In the competitive landscape of identity theft protection, NordProtect faces several established rivals.

Aura stands out as a strong competitor, often lauded for its comprehensive catch-all service, which provides extensive identity monitoring, including home and auto titles, financial accounts, and criminal records. Aura also frequently bundles additional cybersecurity perks, such as a VPN, password manager, and antivirus.

LifeLock by Norton is another major player, known for its strong identity theft insurance, often offering up to $3 million in coverage across personal expense reimbursements, stolen funds, and legal fees. While NordProtect focuses on TransUnion for credit monitoring, LifeLock offers three-bureau credit monitoring in its higher-tier plans, providing a broader view of credit activity.

Identity Guard is a direct competitor that offers in-depth monitoring and credit tracking, with its top-tier plans including three-bureau credit monitoring.

IDShield distinguishes itself by providing up to $3 million in identity theft insurance and assigning licensed private investigators to identity theft cases, as well as monitoring court and public records.

Lastly, IdentityForce offers a good balance of features, including a personal identity safety score and a customized action plan, and provides up to $2 million in identity theft insurance.

While NordProtect is a newer entrant backed by a strong cybersecurity reputation and often bundled with other Nord Security products, its competitors frequently offer more extensive multi-bureau credit monitoring and, in some cases, broader family plan options. credit monitoring and, in some cases, broader family plan options.

NordProtect: Final verdict

NordProtect, launched by Nord Security in late 2023, has evolved from being part of NordVPN’s Prime plan to a standalone identity theft protection service available since early 2025. It offers Silver, Gold, and Platinum subscription tiers, with monthly, yearly, and two-year payment options, as well as discounts for annual and biennial plans during the initial term. All plans are backed by a 30-day unconditional guarantee.

The service provides a comprehensive suite of security features, including 24/7 dark web monitoring, credit monitoring in partnership with TransUnion, and identity theft recovery support, which includes up to $1 million in insurance coverage. Notably, NordProtect also provides cyber extortion protection (up to $50,000) and online fraud coverage.

Users primarily access NordProtect through a web-based dashboard within their Nord Account, which is user-friendly and compatible across various devices and operating systems. While centralized access is convenient, a minor point of friction arises from the separate access methods required for bundled services, such as NordVPN (included in Gold and Platinum plans) and Incogni (exclusive to Platinum). Nord Threat Protection Pro, available with Gold and Platinum, complements Incogni (Platinum only) by preventing new threats and addressing existing data exposure.

NordProtect provides comprehensive customer support through an online Help Center, 24/7 live chat, and email. However, traditional phone support or call centers are not typically provided.

In the competitive identity theft protection market, NordProtect competes with established players, including Aura, LifeLock by Norton, Identity Guard, IDShield, and IdentityForce. While NordProtect leverages Nord Security's strong cybersecurity reputation, some competitors offer more extensive multi-bureau credit monitoring and a wider range of family plan options. Overall, NordProtect stands as a robust solution for identity management, offering strong protective and recovery capabilities.

Lots of password managers are free, and plenty more only unlock a good range of features if you pay loads of cash – but Sticky Password tries to bridge the gap.

Sticky Password is developed by Lamantine Software, a company that includes some of the original creators of AVG Antivirus.

This app attempts to deliver the best of both worlds by offering a free version with loads of features, including unlimited encryption and storage and biometric authentication – so it’s very capable for lots of people. The paid version is no less impressive, with cloud syncing, secure sharing and emergency access.

Then there’s Sticky Password for Teams, which is a comprehensive password management solution tailored for businesses. It offers all the security features as its consumer variant, alongside administrative controls to help streamline the use of passwords for a team of users.

We’re going to find out if Sticky Password can compete with the best password managers currently available.

Sticky Password: Key Features

Sticky Password offers essential features such as password sharing, password autofill, password generation, automatic syncing, and encrypted storage of credit cards and digital notes.

Sticky Password can generate long, complex password strings up to 99 characters long. You can customize the length and character types, and can combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to maximize protection.

The app can also help you save lots of time with its automatic form filling feature. You can use it to create and manage identities, and save everything from personal, email, and address details to credit card details, passport information, and more. Besides these, the app also lets you securely save any text with its Secure Memos feature.

Sticky Password also offers a suite of powerful features designed specifically for business. For instance, it allows admins to specify different permissions for different people. This makes it easy for businesses to streamline their password management and reduce points of weakness in the system.

The app also monitors the dark web and will alert you (and the concerned employee) if any of the managed credentials are found in known data thefts or leaks.

As a business product, Sticky Password for Teams has a centralized admin console. You can use it to add or remove users, delegate administrative rights, and more. As an admin you can even manage the entire team's licenses, including renewals and seat allocations, through this interface.

You can also grant, manage, and remove access to shared passwords with specific permissions for different people, to ensure your employees can collaborate securely. You can even earmark individuals who can access critical accounts in case of emergencies.

For this, the app allows you to set the conditions under which access will be granted. The emergency contact will be granted access after sending you a request that you can reject during the waiting period.

The paid version of the app ensures all your passwords, and other encrypted data is synchronized across all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. It offers multiple options for this purpose, which is one of its best features.

You can either choose to sync the data over the cloud, which is very convenient if you have employees on the go, or, you can choose to sync over the local Wi-Fi router. Local Wi-Fi sync means that devices on the same network can share encrypted passwords and credentials without this data ever leaving the premises. This is ideal for businesses operating in one primary location because you can share passwords among colleagues in total security.

Importantly though, Sticky Password gives you full control over the devices and the network your data is synced over.

A final security feature we haven’t seen before is Sticky Password’s use of Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX) to further secure the sensitive data stored on a device. So even if an employee’s computer is stolen, the thief will be unable to access Sticky Password data that is encrypted and stored deep within the device’s CPU chip. Note however that this requires you to have a 7th Gen, or newer processor.

Sticky Password: Security and compliance

Top-notch security protocols are essential for any password manager, and Sticky Password doesn’t disappoint. Sticky Password uses all the industry-standard encryption protocols, and also goes further, offering innovative security features that are perfect for businesses.

Not only does Sticky Password encrypt all data end-to-end with 256-bit AES encryption, but it does not store the master password or the encryption key. Without these, no one, not even Sticky Password, can unencrypt your business’s valuable passwords and data. Elsewhere you’ve got fingerprint scanning, and this software runs portably – so it can boot from USB sticks and memory cards.

To ensure security when transferring passwords, Sticky Password uses the concept of trusted devices. These are devices that have been specifically authorized to access and synchronize your encrypted password database.

Such devices are added to a whitelist on the admin console, after which they can perform synchronization operations. The first device you use with Sticky Password is automatically authorized during the initial setup. Additional devices require individual authorization, which is done by sending a one-time PIN.

For added security, you can also enable two‑factor authentication, which works in conjunction with the Google Authenticator app. Sticky Password can also be made to use biometric authentication. For this, you can verify your identity with a swipe of a finger on Android and iOS devices.

Sticky Password’s storage space and back-end system reside on secure Amazon AWS services (Amazon S3 and Amazon EC2), and according to its Privacy Policy, the app adheres to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards.

Sticky Password: Setup

Sticky Password has native apps for all the popular desktop, and mobile operating systems, including several releases of macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.

The platform is also compatible with over a dozen of the best web browsers, from popular ones like Google Chrome, Brave, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, to other more obscure options like Vivaldi, Comodo Dragon and Sidekick.

The apps themselves are easy to download and install. It’s necessary to make an account before logging in, but this simply requires an email and password. We also recommend installing the Sticky Password browser extensions.

While it doesn’t have native Linux apps, you can use it on the best Linux distros like Ubuntu, and Fedora, and even on Chromebooks, through the contactless connect feature. This feature also gives you access to your passwords on shared computers where you can’t install the Sticky Password app.

Using contactless contact involves scanning a QR code with the Sticky Password app on your mobile device. That said, accessing passwords through this feature, while being completely secure, requires a little running around, and isn’t as convenient as using a native app.

Sticky Password: Interface and performance

The Sticky Password desktop application has a pleasing layout and makes it easy for the user to find important information and control their account. The security dashboard is particularly useful for visualizing security weaknesses.

We were impressed with the speed of syncing. Using both a mobile and desktop device simultaneously resulted in a seamless experience. Once we had entered credential information on a desktop site, we could immediately log in password-free on a mobile device.

When setting up Sticky Password for Teams, the first person to activate the team license key on their device automatically becomes the team administrator. Once the admin is set up, you can invite other team members through the admins’ web interface.

Head to My team under the StickyAccount section to add and remove team members.

You can invite users via their email addresses. They’ll then receive instructions on how to install Sticky Password and join the team. Once added, you can also assign (and later revoke) admin rights to other team members.

If your colleges already have a StickyID, you can simply email them the team license key, which they can then plug into their account.

It’s a good idea to check your list of trusted devices from time to time. Head to Dashboard > Trusted devices to see the list of trusted devices, and remove the ones that are no longer in use. Removing a trusted device will also remove the local database and backups created by Sticky Password on this device.

The other tasks can be performed by the team members from their native Sticky Password desktop app. The first thing they should do is head to Menu > Import to import all their passwords in bulk. Sticky Password can import data from all the popular web browsers, as well as from the best password managers such as Bitwarden, BitDefender, KeePass, LastPass, RoboForm, and more.

They can then also navigate to the Web Accounts tab to manually store their usernames and passwords for online accounts and services. Then there’s the App Accounts section where your users can store credentials for any locally installed app, such as for Skype or a remote desktop connection.

Then there’s the Sharing Center where you can share passwords with other Sticky Password users, and manage their access and permission levels. As an admin, you can set individual permissions for each team member, and grant them either limited read-only rights, or full rights. The latter gives them the same rights as you, and they even have the authority to revoke your access as well.

Finally, head to Emergency Contacts under the Sharing Center section to add emergency contacts.

One of the most important sections of the Sticky Password app is the Security Dashboard. From here your users can monitor their password hygiene, and security posture. It helps identify and change weak, expired, reused passwords, and those that were exposed in a data breach.

Sticky Password: Plans and pricing

Sticky Password offers a single Premium plan for businesses, with access to a 30-day free trial first. It costs $29.99 user/year, making Sticky Password more affordable than most of its competitors.

Similarly, individuals also get a single Premium product, which costs $29.99 for a one-year license. However, if you’re sure that you want to stick with Sticky Password for the long haul, the lifetime license for individuals costs $79.99.

Individuals can also use Sticky Password for free, which is meant for users who need to store and access their passwords from a single device, since it doesn’t have any synchronization ability. Also, just like business users, individuals too can take the Premium version for a spin with a 30 day free trial.

Sticky Password: Support

The Sticky Password website has a help center, so most of the time, troubleshooting can be done online without needing to contact the Sticky Password team.

For more complicated issues, businesses have access to online support with an average wait time of fewer than 24 hours. We would like to have seen a more responsive support service, as the lack of phone support might deter some businesses from investing in Sticky Password.

Sticky Password: The competition

While Sticky Password provides an excellent core service, we think businesses might be better off considering a password management solution with greater administrator control over user settings and privacy.

Competitors such as NordPass, LastPass, and RoboForm all provide more advanced analytics that medium and large-sized businesses are likely to appreciate. Although these providers are more expensive, companies that value user management and centralized access control might prefer to consider one of them.

Also note that unlike many other business password managers, you can’t use Sticky Password for Teams to provision users by integrating with in-house or cloud directory servers like active directory, or Microsoft Entra ID.

Sticky Password: Final verdict

Sticky Password is a middle-of-the-pack password management solution. Although it may not be the best password manager available, it is still a highly secure platform with just enough features to please business users.

In particular, we think local WiFi sync and Intel SGX are innovative features that might convince businesses to rely on Sticky Password for their organization. However, the lack of advanced business features like Active Directory integration means the app will only work for small businesses, rather than large companies.

On the flipside, its limited feature set means Sticky Password is also more affordable than many of its competitors. Given the fact that it makes no compromises when it comes to security, Sticky Password manages to successfully position itself as one of the most secure password managers available for small businesses.

We've listed the best password recovery software.

The password manager market contains a huge variety of products, from basic individual products to enterprise-level utilities – and that’s where ManageEngine Password Manager Pro comes in.

This tool delivers the kind of features admins need with a business password manager, with rock-solid security, an incredible number of customization options and granular, in-depth options for managing your entire company’s identities and passwords.

It’s no wonder that it’s trusted by more than one million admins and users and has already been deployed by businesses like Walmart, VMWare and NASA. It’s also no wonder that this product is produced by Zoho, as that company has loads of experience producing enterprise software.

After you’ve discovered whether you should roll out ManageEngine Password Manager Pro to your business, head over to our verdict on the best password managers.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Key Features

Password Manager Pro aims to equip admins with enough features and functionality to help transform password management from a security liability into a structured, controlled process.

Being aimed at large enterprises, the platform claims to deliver a complete solution that can help you control, manage, monitor, and audit the entire life cycle of privileged access.

Like all its peers, it offers a centralized password vault where your users can store all their passwords in a secure, encrypted database. As an admin, you can create a hierarchical structure of folders within the vault to organize passwords based on departments, systems, apps, or any other logical grouping.

The platform also enables you to define granular access controls to control who can access specific passwords, and whether users can only view the password, or even change it. They can also set time-based access restrictions, and even force approvals for password access.

Similarly, you can also restrict access based on IP addresses or IP ranges. Admins can also assign ownership of specific password records to other authorized users, allowing for decentralized management, which is especially useful in larger organizations.

Password Manager Pro can store more than just passwords, which makes it pitch itself essentially as a centralized, encrypted repository for business-critical data. You can, for instance, use it to securely house all kinds of documents, images, and files, as well as Windows service accounts, digital signatures, SSL certificates, SSH keys, and more.

The platform also offers password lifecycle management features. You can use it to create and enforce organization-wide password policies. It enables you to specify complexity requirements (minimum length, character types), word usage (password should not contain dictionary words, or login name), password aging (how often passwords must be changed), and password history (preventing reuse of recent passwords).

You can also manually reset passwords for any account in the vault, and also enforce mandatory password resets for users. Passwords can be changed any time on demand, or automatically at periodic intervals. You can also configure passwords to be automatically reset after every usage.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro also offers several disaster recovery options, including live and scheduled database backups. You can restore the backed up data to the Password Manager Pro database using the provided recovery scripts.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Integrations and Compatibility

As an enterprise solution, Password Manager Pro integrates with your existing Active Directory (AD) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) installations. This allows your users to log in to Password Manager Pro using their existing AD or LDAP credentials, eliminating the need for separate logins.

Moreover, when a password is reset in Password Manager Pro, it can automatically update the password in the corresponding AD or LDAP account. Similarly, when users are added or removed in AD or LDAP, Password Manager Pro automatically updates its database to reflect these changes.

Password Manager Pro can also integrate with third-party Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. It also integrates with IT Service Management (ITSM) tools like ServiceNow and Jira to automate password retrieval and management within incident and problem management workflows.

The platform also has plugins for several popular continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platforms including Jenkins, Ansible, Chef, and Puppet. Thanks to these plugins you can securely inject secrets into your CI/CD pipelines, instead of hardcoding credentials in scripts.

The platform also provides three APIs to enable all kinds of enterprise apps to securely retrieve passwords from ManageEngine Password Manager Pro.

The platform also has a remote login feature that your users can use to securely access remote machines directly from the Password Manager Pro web interface, without needing to manually enter passwords. This comes in handy especially for establishing one-click connections to RDP, SSH, and telnet sessions.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Security and Compliance

Unsurprisingly, ManageEngine Password Manager Pro has faultless security credentials. This software uses dual 256-bit AES encryption, first at application level, and then at database level.

You can also set it up to run in the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliant mode where all encryption is done through FIPS 140-2-certified systems and libraries.

Password Manager Pro also supports smart card authentication. You can further compliment this by various two-factor authentication (2FA) provisions to provide an extra layer of security. The platform supports PhoneFactor, Google Authenticator, Duo Security, YubiKey, and several more 2FA mechanisms.

Password Manager Pro can also be configured to detect and send alerts when it detects passwords that violate your organization's IT policy, or have expired. Alerts can also be generated when users request access to specific passwords or resources.

When it comes to auditing, the platform gives you as admins access to detailed audit logs that track all activities performed within Password Manager Pro. This covers events like password access, modifications, policy changes, user logins, and administrative actions.

All events are reported together with timestamps and user details. These logs will help with security analysis, incident investigation, and compliance reporting. Password Manager Pro also lets you grab compliance reports for PCI-DSS, NERC-CIP, and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.

To ensure that none of its logs can be tampered, in addition to restricting access, the platform ensures they are encrypted with AES-256 encryption.

The platform can also record videos of sessions initiated through Password Manager Pro for RDP, SSH, telnet, and remote database connections. The videos include everything the users see on their screen, along with all the actions they perform during the sessions.

These videos help organizations meet audit requirements, and help comply with regulations like PCI-DSS, FISMA, and HIPAA.

Remember though that recording sessions can be resource-intensive in terms of storage space. Also, depending on the number of concurrent recordings, and the resources of the Password Manager Pro server, there might be a slight performance impact on user sessions.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Setup

Unlike many of its peers, Password Manager Pro is a self-hosted, on-premises password management solution. You can set it up on top of a Windows or a Linux machine, as it offers 64-bit installers for both platforms.

Before installing it, make sure the machine has at least a Dual Core or Core 2 Duo processor, with no less than 4GB of RAM. The product itself needs about 200 MB of disk space, and recommends earmarking 10GB at the minimum for the database.

The disk space requirements vary on usage, and you’ll need a lot more if you’ll be recording sessions regularly.

Besides this, you’ll also need an external mail server that Password Manager Pro can use to send emails and notifications to users. It can work with both your own in-house SMTP server, or a publicly available one.

Once that’s done, you can access ManageEngine’s settings through a web portal. At this point you’re going to get lost unless you’re an IT admin or someone with plenty of technology experience. This is a powerful tool, but that means you will be confronted with lots of different menus.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Interface and performance

By default, Password Manager Pro has five predefined roles that come with a specific set of permissions. Administrators can set up, configure, and manage the platform, while Privileged Administrators can additionally configure privacy and security controls.

Then there are Password Administrators who can perform resource and password-related operations, while Password Auditors can also access all audit reports. Finally, there are Password Users who can view (and optionally modify) only those passwords that are shared with them by the Administrators and Password Administrators.

You’ll most likely login as an admin, which gives you extensive control over the platform. You can, for instance, perform bulk actions on password records, which helps save significant time and effort when managing a large number of passwords.

Indeed, the ManageEngine interface is not one for beginners. Its Dashboard has options for configuring mail servers, adding users and managing your company’s data, and the Dashboard also provides a quick overview of your password conflicts and violations – and how users across your whole network are managing passwords.

Go beyond the Dashboard, and in sub-menus, you’ll find in-depth areas for managing resources, groups, connections, certificates and SSH keys.

There’s lots going on here and you’ll have to know plenty about system administration to find your way around, but the interface is straightforward and unfussy – so it’ll fit right into your workflow.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Plans and pricing

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is a complex, technical product designed for medium business, large companies and huge enterprises, so its pricing structure is necessarily complex – and it’s not exactly a cheap bit of software.

As we’ve said before, Password Manager Pro has five predefined roles, and the licensing restricts the number of administrators as a whole. That said, there is no restriction on the number of Password Users and Password Auditors.

The Standard edition starts at $595 / £550 / AUD$ 900 for a year-long license for two administrators, and prices rise if you add admins. The Premium software starts at $1,395 / £1,250 / AUD$ 2,000 for a five-admin, one-year deal, and the Enterprise edition costs $3,995 / £3,800 / AUD$6,000 for a ten-user package. It’s also possible to buy perpetual licenses, although prices obviously rise further.

The Standard Edition has all the basic features to store your passwords and selectively share them among users. The Premium Edition adds more enterprise-class password management features such as remote password resets, session recording, IP restrictions, privacy settings, and more. To access every feature though you’ll need the top of the line Enterprise Edition.

Importantly though, you get support for adding unlimited resources and for managing an unlimited number of users, with each plan.

It’s also possible to add SSL/TLS certificate discovery, CSR, public CA integration and several other extra features to your package with the Key Manager Plus add-on. And while this is all very complex, ManageEngine’s enterprise-level feature set does mean that you’re able to contact the company for a customized quote too.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Support

You get plenty of support options if you fork out the cash for ManageEngine Password Manager Pro, with toll-free phone support, email forms, direct email addresses and active user forums all available. Suffice to say that you will be able to get help if you need it, no matter the time.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: The competition

ManageEngine has plenty of strong competitors in the enterprise and big business password management space. Parent company Zoho has its own Vault password management system, and it’s worth exploring that product if you’d like a password management product that can be integrated with wider CRM, workplace and finance products.

Beyond Zoho and ManageEngine, we’d also recommend N-Able Passportal, which deploys a top range of impressive, high-end features for enterprise-level password management. It’s a great standalone product, although N-Able doesn’t have the same broad packages you’ll get with Zoho or ManageEngine.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Final verdict

We’ll say this right away: ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is not the tool to buy if you want small business password management or a family product. It’s a high-end tool for enterprises and large businesses, and both its price and feature set reflect that status.

If you’ve got the budget and you need a high-end password management tool, though, there’s not much better than this. It’s just as good as its rivals, and you only need to consider which product has the features and integrations that your organization needs.

We've listed the best password recovery software.

Our series on identity theft protection apps will evaluate the features, pricing options, competition, and also the overall value of using each app. However, these are not full hands-on reviews since evaluating identity theft protection apps is almost impossible. It would require several months of testing, purposefully hacking accounts to see if the protection app works, handing over personally identifiable information, performing multiple credit checks, and risking exposure of the reviewer’s personally identifiable information.

There is finally an identity theft prevention program that is worth your time and money among the multitude of options available. This is particularly noteworthy since MyFico is the consumer arm of the company that created the FICO credit score, which has been an industry standard for more than 25 years.

MyFico places a strong emphasis on your credit score and credit reporting, offering a wide range of educational content as well as detailed information about your credit situation. The mobile app presents this information in a vibrant and easy-to-understand manner, boasting a more polished appearance than most of the applications we've tried. Although this product is typically priced higher than others, it meets all the criteria for a high-quality offering.

First and foremost, the user interface (UI) is simple and easy to navigate. This is crucial because a clumsy and unappealing UI can make any program difficult to use. Quickly finding the features you need can help you protect yourself against criminals or hackers attempting to steal your personally identifiable information, which makes identity theft protection essential. MyFico's colorful display of credit scores includes pop-up alerts that notify you of potential risks.

Like many other products, the app offers $1 million in identity theft protection, although some of the more basic competitors provide similar coverage. Additionally, a credit score simulator is available, allowing you to see how various actions, such as taking out a new auto loan, may affect your credit score. The organization behind MyFico is well-known and reputable. Overall, this is an effective and intelligent product for monitoring your online presence.

MyFico: Plans and pricing

MyFICO offers a range of plans to help consumers monitor their credit and identity, with pricing structured across different tiers. The Free Plan provides basic coverage, including a FICO Score 8 based on Equifax data, monthly Equifax credit reports, and 24/7 credit monitoring.

For more comprehensive coverage, MyFICO has three paid subscription tiers that automatically renew each month:

Advanced Plan: Priced at $29.95 per month, this plan offers three-bureau coverage (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) with credit reports and FICO Score updates every three months. It includes comprehensive credit monitoring, FICO Score monitoring with alerts, and identity monitoring. Additionally, it provides $1 million in identity theft insurance and 24/7 identity restoration. Features like the FICO Score Simulator and "How Lenders View You" analysis are also included.

Premier Plan: This top-tier plan costs $39.95 per month and offers the most frequent updates, providing three-bureau credit reports and FICO Scores (including versions for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards) on a monthly basis. Similar to the Advanced Plan, it includes proactive credit report monitoring and alerts, identity monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, and 24/7 identity restoration. All paid plans feature FICO Score 8 and may include additional versions of the FICO Score.

Please keep in mind that all subscriptions automatically renew and are non-refundable

MyFico: Interface

MyFico truly stands out in the realm of identity theft prevention software, especially when compared to many other programs that often resemble outdated tax software from a decade ago. One of its most notable features is its vibrant, user-friendly credit score indicator, combined with a sleek, modern design that makes the mobile app particularly appealing to users.

The app boasts an intuitive layout, allowing users to easily navigate and access key features. Checking your credit score is a swift and straightforward process, while delving into potential credit issues or assessing identity theft notifications is just as seamless. This accessibility is vital in a landscape where timely intervention can make a significant difference.

One of the app’s standout components is its credit score simulator. Unlike traditional calculators that offer limited insights, MyFico's simulator operates more like an interactive wizard. It allows users to explore various financial scenarios—like purchasing a home or a car—illustrating how these decisions might affect their credit score. This foresight equips users with the knowledge they need to make informed financial choices, ensuring they can assess whether it’s wise to move forward with significant purchases.

While MyFico comes with a higher price tag than some of its competitors, the simplicity and effectiveness of its interface can be well worth the investment. If this user-friendly design helps you tackle potential identity theft issues or prevent future credit complications, the cost becomes a minor consideration compared to the peace of mind it offers.

In contrast, other identity theft protection apps, although they may offer impressive features, often fall short in usability. Their cumbersome and outdated interfaces can make it challenging for users to locate and utilize these tools effectively. MyFico’s sleek design and robust functionality set it apart, making it a superior choice for anyone serious about safeguarding their identity and maintaining their credit health.

MyFico: Features

MyFICO offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to empower you with knowledge and protection over your credit and identity. With MyFICO, you receive FICO Scores and credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This is essential because 90% of top lenders rely on FICO Scores. By reviewing your reports from all three bureaus, you can identify discrepancies and errors that may be negatively impacting your scores.

Additionally, MyFICO provides credit monitoring and alerts, continuously tracking significant changes such as new accounts or inquiries. This allows you to quickly detect potential identity theft or fraudulent activity and take immediate action if necessary. You will also benefit from FICO Score monitoring and a history graph, which visually displays your score's progression over time, helping you understand how your financial decisions impact it.

One particularly helpful tool is the FICO Score Simulator, which enables you to explore "what if" scenarios, such as how paying down debt or applying for a new loan could affect your score. This feature empowers you to make informed financial choices before taking action.

Beyond credit monitoring, MyFICO offers identity monitoring by scanning the dark web and public records for your personal information. If your information is compromised, you will receive alerts. In the unfortunate event of identity theft, you are protected by identity restoration services and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. This coverage includes 24/7 access to specialists who can assist you in recovery and provide financial protection for related expenses.

Finally, MyFICO provides valuable credit education and customer support to help you understand the complexities of credit and offer assistance whenever needed. Together, these features give you a complete picture of your financial health, proactive protection, and the tools to confidently manage your credit and identity.

MyFico: Support

Users who are facing problems can get assistance from the MyFico support team. A direct toll-free number is provided, along with what appears to be an email address but, upon selecting it, directs the user to a support portal. The business is open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM and on Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM PST. There are no choices for faxing or chat.

Additionally, there are articles categorized by subjects such as "Why did my FICO Score change?" and professional credit education. A discussion board, ebooks, or video content are not current options.

MyFico: The competition

While MyFICO is the official consumer division of FICO and offers direct access to the widely used FICO Scores, several strong competitors provide comprehensive credit monitoring services, often with different focuses.

One of the most prominent competitors is Credit Karma, which stands out for offering free credit monitoring services. Unlike MyFICO, which primarily provides FICO Scores, Credit Karma uses the VantageScore® model (generated from TransUnion and Equifax data). Credit Karma also includes features like credit-building tools, financial management resources, and personalized offers for credit cards and loans, making it a popular choice for those looking for free and expansive credit oversight, though it's worth noting they share user data for marketing purposes.

Another significant player is Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. Experian offers its own free credit monitoring service, providing access to your Experian credit report and FICO® Score. They also have a unique feature called Experian Boost, which allows users to potentially increase their FICO Score by including on-time payments for utilities, phone bills, and streaming services. While MyFICO also offers FICO scores, Experian's direct connection to one of the bureaus and its Boost feature offer a distinct advantage for some consumers.

Beyond these, other services like CreditWise by Capital One (free, offering TransUnion VantageScore and credit report monitoring), SmartCredit (offering three-bureau reports and scores with credit-building tools), Aura, Identity Guard, and LifeLock provide various levels of credit monitoring and identity theft protection. These often bundle credit monitoring with more robust identity theft insurance, fraud alerts, and even digital security features, catering to users who prioritize comprehensive protection beyond just credit score tracking. The key distinction often lies in the specific credit scoring model used (FICO vs. VantageScore), the number of credit bureaus monitored, and the inclusion of additional services like identity theft protection or financial management tools.

MyFico: Final verdict

We have a strong appreciation for the user-friendly interface and the extensive range of features provided by the MyFico service. One of the standout advantages of this platform is the reassurance it offers; you won't have to worry about navigating the murky waters of obscure identity theft companies. MyFico is backed by a well-established brand known for its credibility and trustworthiness, which is a significant advantage in the realm of financial protection.

An effective starting point for monitoring your financial health is by checking your FICO score, as it serves as a crucial indicator of your creditworthiness. Keeping an eye on this score allows you to make informed decisions regarding your credit history and potential discrepancies that may arise.

Additionally, we appreciate that even the most basic plan includes identity theft insurance, providing peace of mind in the unfortunate event of fraud. This proactive approach to identity theft protection is a considerable benefit for individuals looking for comprehensive security. Moreover, if you ever find yourself needing assistance, MyFICO's customer support is available around the clock, ensuring that help is always at hand whenever you may need it.

While we consider the MyFico solution to be robust and reliable, it is worth noting that we believe services like Norton LifeLock and IdentityForce edge it out, as they deliver a wider range of features at a more competitive price point. These alternatives provide enhanced options that cater to varying needs and budgets, making them worthy contenders in the landscape of identity protection.

We've also highlighted the best identity theft protection

Our series on identity theft protection apps will evaluate the features, pricing options, competition, and also the overall value of using each app. However, these are not full hands-on reviews since evaluating identity theft protection apps is almost impossible. It would require several months of testing, purposefully hacking accounts to see if the protection app works, handing over personally identifiable information, performing multiple credit checks, and risking exposure of the reviewer’s personally identifiable information.

There is finally an identity theft prevention program that is worth your time and money among the multitude of options available. This is particularly noteworthy since MyFico is the consumer arm of the company that created the FICO credit score, which has been an industry standard for more than 25 years.

MyFico places a strong emphasis on your credit score and credit reporting, offering a wide range of educational content as well as detailed information about your credit situation. The mobile app presents this information in a vibrant and easy-to-understand manner, boasting a more polished appearance than most of the applications we've tried. Although this product is typically priced higher than others, it meets all the criteria for a high-quality offering.

First and foremost, the user interface (UI) is simple and easy to navigate. This is crucial because a clumsy and unappealing UI can make any program difficult to use. Quickly finding the features you need can help you protect yourself against criminals or hackers attempting to steal your personally identifiable information, which makes identity theft protection essential. MyFico's colorful display of credit scores includes pop-up alerts that notify you of potential risks.

Like many other products, the app offers $1 million in identity theft protection, although some of the more basic competitors provide similar coverage. Additionally, a credit score simulator is available, allowing you to see how various actions, such as taking out a new auto loan, may affect your credit score. The organization behind MyFico is well-known and reputable. Overall, this is an effective and intelligent product for monitoring your online presence.

MyFico: Plans and pricing

MyFICO offers a range of plans to help consumers monitor their credit and identity, with pricing structured across different tiers. The Free Plan provides basic coverage, including a FICO Score 8 based on Equifax data, monthly Equifax credit reports, and 24/7 credit monitoring.

For more comprehensive coverage, MyFICO has three paid subscription tiers that automatically renew each month:

Advanced Plan: Priced at $29.95 per month, this plan offers three-bureau coverage (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) with credit reports and FICO Score updates every three months. It includes comprehensive credit monitoring, FICO Score monitoring with alerts, and identity monitoring. Additionally, it provides $1 million in identity theft insurance and 24/7 identity restoration. Features like the FICO Score Simulator and "How Lenders View You" analysis are also included.

Premier Plan: This top-tier plan costs $39.95 per month and offers the most frequent updates, providing three-bureau credit reports and FICO Scores (including versions for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards) on a monthly basis. Similar to the Advanced Plan, it includes proactive credit report monitoring and alerts, identity monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, and 24/7 identity restoration. All paid plans feature FICO Score 8 and may include additional versions of the FICO Score.

Please keep in mind that all subscriptions automatically renew and are non-refundable

MyFico: Interface

MyFico truly stands out in the realm of identity theft prevention software, especially when compared to many other programs that often resemble outdated tax software from a decade ago. One of its most notable features is its vibrant, user-friendly credit score indicator, combined with a sleek, modern design that makes the mobile app particularly appealing to users.

The app boasts an intuitive layout, allowing users to easily navigate and access key features. Checking your credit score is a swift and straightforward process, while delving into potential credit issues or assessing identity theft notifications is just as seamless. This accessibility is vital in a landscape where timely intervention can make a significant difference.

One of the app’s standout components is its credit score simulator. Unlike traditional calculators that offer limited insights, MyFico's simulator operates more like an interactive wizard. It allows users to explore various financial scenarios—like purchasing a home or a car—illustrating how these decisions might affect their credit score. This foresight equips users with the knowledge they need to make informed financial choices, ensuring they can assess whether it’s wise to move forward with significant purchases.

While MyFico comes with a higher price tag than some of its competitors, the simplicity and effectiveness of its interface can be well worth the investment. If this user-friendly design helps you tackle potential identity theft issues or prevent future credit complications, the cost becomes a minor consideration compared to the peace of mind it offers.

In contrast, other identity theft protection apps, although they may offer impressive features, often fall short in usability. Their cumbersome and outdated interfaces can make it challenging for users to locate and utilize these tools effectively. MyFico’s sleek design and robust functionality set it apart, making it a superior choice for anyone serious about safeguarding their identity and maintaining their credit health.

MyFico: Features

MyFICO offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to empower you with knowledge and protection over your credit and identity. With MyFICO, you receive FICO Scores and credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This is essential because 90% of top lenders rely on FICO Scores. By reviewing your reports from all three bureaus, you can identify discrepancies and errors that may be negatively impacting your scores.

Additionally, MyFICO provides credit monitoring and alerts, continuously tracking significant changes such as new accounts or inquiries. This allows you to quickly detect potential identity theft or fraudulent activity and take immediate action if necessary. You will also benefit from FICO Score monitoring and a history graph, which visually displays your score's progression over time, helping you understand how your financial decisions impact it.

One particularly helpful tool is the FICO Score Simulator, which enables you to explore "what if" scenarios, such as how paying down debt or applying for a new loan could affect your score. This feature empowers you to make informed financial choices before taking action.

Beyond credit monitoring, MyFICO offers identity monitoring by scanning the dark web and public records for your personal information. If your information is compromised, you will receive alerts. In the unfortunate event of identity theft, you are protected by identity restoration services and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. This coverage includes 24/7 access to specialists who can assist you in recovery and provide financial protection for related expenses.

Finally, MyFICO provides valuable credit education and customer support to help you understand the complexities of credit and offer assistance whenever needed. Together, these features give you a complete picture of your financial health, proactive protection, and the tools to confidently manage your credit and identity.

MyFico: Support

Users who are facing problems can get assistance from the MyFico support team. A direct toll-free number is provided, along with what appears to be an email address but, upon selecting it, directs the user to a support portal. The business is open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM and on Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM PST. There are no choices for faxing or chat.

Additionally, there are articles categorized by subjects such as "Why did my FICO Score change?" and professional credit education. A discussion board, ebooks, or video content are not current options.

MyFico: The competition

While MyFICO is the official consumer division of FICO and offers direct access to the widely used FICO Scores, several strong competitors provide comprehensive credit monitoring services, often with different focuses.

One of the most prominent competitors is Credit Karma, which stands out for offering free credit monitoring services. Unlike MyFICO, which primarily provides FICO Scores, Credit Karma uses the VantageScore® model (generated from TransUnion and Equifax data). Credit Karma also includes features like credit-building tools, financial management resources, and personalized offers for credit cards and loans, making it a popular choice for those looking for free and expansive credit oversight, though it's worth noting they share user data for marketing purposes.

Another significant player is Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. Experian offers its own free credit monitoring service, providing access to your Experian credit report and FICO® Score. They also have a unique feature called Experian Boost, which allows users to potentially increase their FICO Score by including on-time payments for utilities, phone bills, and streaming services. While MyFICO also offers FICO scores, Experian's direct connection to one of the bureaus and its Boost feature offer a distinct advantage for some consumers.

Beyond these, other services like CreditWise by Capital One (free, offering TransUnion VantageScore and credit report monitoring), SmartCredit (offering three-bureau reports and scores with credit-building tools), Aura, Identity Guard, and LifeLock provide various levels of credit monitoring and identity theft protection. These often bundle credit monitoring with more robust identity theft insurance, fraud alerts, and even digital security features, catering to users who prioritize comprehensive protection beyond just credit score tracking. The key distinction often lies in the specific credit scoring model used (FICO vs. VantageScore), the number of credit bureaus monitored, and the inclusion of additional services like identity theft protection or financial management tools.

MyFico: Final verdict

We have a strong appreciation for the user-friendly interface and the extensive range of features provided by the MyFico service. One of the standout advantages of this platform is the reassurance it offers; you won't have to worry about navigating the murky waters of obscure identity theft companies. MyFico is backed by a well-established brand known for its credibility and trustworthiness, which is a significant advantage in the realm of financial protection.

An effective starting point for monitoring your financial health is by checking your FICO score, as it serves as a crucial indicator of your creditworthiness. Keeping an eye on this score allows you to make informed decisions regarding your credit history and potential discrepancies that may arise.

Additionally, we appreciate that even the most basic plan includes identity theft insurance, providing peace of mind in the unfortunate event of fraud. This proactive approach to identity theft protection is a considerable benefit for individuals looking for comprehensive security. Moreover, if you ever find yourself needing assistance, MyFICO's customer support is available around the clock, ensuring that help is always at hand whenever you may need it.

While we consider the MyFico solution to be robust and reliable, it is worth noting that we believe services like Norton LifeLock and IdentityForce edge it out, as they deliver a wider range of features at a more competitive price point. These alternatives provide enhanced options that cater to varying needs and budgets, making them worthy contenders in the landscape of identity protection.

We've also highlighted the best identity theft protection

Our series on identity theft protection apps will evaluate the features, pricing options, competition, and also the overall value of using each app. However, these are not full hands-on reviews since evaluating identity theft protection apps is almost impossible. It would require several months of testing, purposefully hacking accounts to see if the protection app works, handing over personally identifiable information, performing multiple credit checks, and risking exposure of the reviewer’s personally identifiable information.

It happens suddenly, catching you off guard like a thief in the night. Picture this chilling scenario: you stroll into the local bank, casually swiping your card at the ATM to deposit a check, and your heart sinks as the screen flashes an error — your account is inaccessible. An anxious pit forms in your stomach as you pull out your phone and scroll through your Twitter feed. To your horror, you see that someone has hijacked your account, spewing links to malicious sites to your unsuspecting followers. Panic sets in as you realize the magnitude of the situation.

Determined to regain control, you rush to your bank, where you find a comfortable chair in the office of your banker, hoping for answers. But instead, she delivers the crushing news: your loan application has been denied because your credit score is in shambles. The sense of violation and confusion is overwhelming; where do you even begin to untangle the mess of identity theft?

Identity theft is one of those unfortunate realities of modern life, an experience that makes your stomach drop and anxiety soar. However, there is a silver lining amidst this dark cloud: a reliable name in the insurance industry — yes, that Allstate with the comforting “Good Hands” ads — offers a comprehensive identity theft protection app that shines with remarkably unique features.

Allstate Identity Protection stands out with its proactive approach, providing you with real-time alerts for social media monitoring. If your account is hacked, you receive an immediate notification, enabling you to act swiftly before a small breach becomes a full-blown crisis. With a safety net of up to $500,000 in insurance protection, you can navigate the murky waters of identity theft with a bit of peace of mind (though some competitors offer up to $1 million).

But what sets Allstate apart is its coverage of not just your credit cards or checking accounts, but also your student loans and retirement accounts. This all-encompassing protection shows that they understand the multifaceted nature of modern finances. While it may not boast the most powerful features compared to other identity theft solutions, the value for the price makes it an enticing option. In fact, you'd find it a worthy investment even at a higher monthly fee, granting you the confidence to reclaim your identity and restore your peace of mind. In a world where cyber threats loom large, having Allstate by your side is like having a trusted guardian, ready to protect what matters most: your good name.

Allstate Identity Protection: Plans and pricing

Allstate Identity Protection, which is offered and serviced by InfoArmor, Inc.—a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation—provides a comprehensive suite of identity protection plans designed to safeguard your personal information and assist in the recovery process in the event of identity theft. With an understanding that each individual and family has unique needs, Allstate Identity Protection offers both individual and family plans available across several tiers, each tailored with distinct features and pricing to cater to a variety of requirements.

Among the options available, the Essentials Plan is an excellent starting point for individuals and families looking to secure their identities. Typically priced at about $9.99 per month for individuals and $18.99 per month for families, this plan features essential identity monitoring services along with financial fraud protection. Customers benefit from one-bureau credit monitoring and access to 24/7 full-service remediation support, ensuring help is always available when needed. Additionally, the plan includes lost wallet assistance and significant reimbursement coverage, offering up to $1 million in identity theft expense reimbursement and up to $50,000 in stolen funds reimbursement.

For those seeking enhanced protection, the Premier Plan offers a step up with a monthly cost of around $17.99 for individuals and $34.99 for families. This tier builds upon the Essentials Plan by adding features such as financial account transaction monitoring and social media monitoring, which are crucial in today’s digital landscape. Furthermore, users benefit from stolen tax refund advances and increased coverage for stolen funds reimbursement, which can go up to $500,000, giving families added peace of mind.

The most robust option available is the Blue Plan, usually priced around $19 per month for individuals and $36 per month for families. This comprehensive plan includes family digital safety tools and a cybersecurity toolkit featuring antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN). Additional benefits include robocall and ad blockers, three-bureau credit monitoring with credit lock/freeze assistance, and an amplified stolen funds reimbursement of up to $1 million, as well as up to $1 million coverage for stolen 401(k) funds. Such extensive features make the Blue Plan an exemplary choice for those who demand maximum protection.

All plans share common features designed to provide proactive monitoring and support. Customers receive dedicated 24/7 remediation specialists who can assist with identity theft issues, along with identity theft expense reimbursement and privacy management tools to help individuals maintain control over their personal information.

It's important to keep in mind that discounts may be available for Sam's Club members, and potential price increases may occur after the first year of service. Additionally, these identity protection plans are often offered as employer benefits, making it convenient for employees to access these essential services.

For the most current and accurate information regarding features and pricing, it is always recommended to visit the official Allstate Identity Protection website, where you can find detailed descriptions of each plan and make an informed decision that best suits your identity protection needs.

Allstate Identity Protection: Interface

We hope you have a strong appreciation for the color blue, as Allstate Identity Protection prominently features a deep, calming shade of blue on both their website and mobile app. This color choice not only enhances brand recognition but also conveys a sense of trustworthiness and security, which is crucial in the realm of identity protection.

The interface adopts a no-frills approach, reminiscent of TurboTax, prioritizing straightforward navigation over elaborate design. Users will find essential categories such as credit monitoring, Dark Web monitoring, and alerts for financial transactions clearly laid out, making it easy to access the most important features.

The mobile app places a significant emphasis on alerts, actively engaging users with questions about potentially suspicious transactions. This proactive stance is beneficial, but it could be improved. For those unfamiliar with identity protection, the app might benefit from more guided experiences. In contrast, we believe that incorporating wizards and status indicators, similar to those offered by Norton LifeLock, would provide a smoother experience. Such features can help users navigate the complexities of identity protection with ease, offering step-by-step guidance and a clearer understanding of their security status, particularly for beginners.

Overall, while Allstate Identity Protection has a solid foundation, enhancing the user experience with more intuitive design elements and interactive tutorials could make it an even more valuable tool for safeguarding personal identity.

Allstate Identity Protection: Features

The comprehensive identity protection platform, Allstate Identity Protection, provides a carefully designed suite of tools for safeguarding families and individuals against evolving identity theft and cybercrime threats. The sophisticated nature of modern fraud techniques makes having a trustworthy identity protection service essential for everyone.

The key benefit of this feature includes Identity Monitoring, which thoroughly examines multiple sources across the dark web along with public databases for your Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and financial account information. Through this proactive system, you receive instant alerts when your sensitive information appears anywhere without authorization. Your swift action, enabled by this system, becomes crucial to stop fraud attempts from becoming serious security threats.

The security framework of Allstate Identity Protection includes Financial Transaction Monitoring and Credit Monitoring, which provide constant oversight of bank accounts, credit cards, and credit reports through its higher-tier plans that cover all three major credit bureaus. Such monitoring features enable you to detect quickly any suspicious transactions or unauthorized account openings that indicate potential financial fraud. Through its careful approach, you can easily track your financial condition.

The restoration process for identity theft victims receives full support from Allstate Identity Protection through its Full-Service Identity Restoration service. If identity theft strikes you the company provides a dedicated Privacy Advocate to oversee the complete restoration process. The process involves working with creditors to freeze your credit and resolve any fraudulent accounts that have been opened. The expert management of identity theft recovery processes through the dedicated Privacy Advocate helps you avoid excessive emotional strain while simplifying the recovery process.

The financial security of Allstate customers is strengthened through Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement, which offers coverage exceeding $1 million based on plan selection and Stolen Funds Reimbursement benefits. These essential features protect your out-of-pocket expenses from identity theft incidents by covering legal fees and lost wages during the resolution process and financial losses from stolen funds. Such extensive financial protection ensures you will recover better from identity theft incidents.

The digital environment requires cybersecurity tools, which higher-tier plans provide as essential features that include Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), password managers, antivirus protection, and browsing safety tools. The security resources operate to defend your devices and online actions from malware attacks, phishing attempts, and data breaches, which helps decrease the chances of your information being stolen.

The Family Digital Safety features of Allstate provide web filtering, screen time management, and location tracking tools for family protection. The features prove most beneficial to parents who want to build safer digital spaces for their kids. Parents can use the system to detect cyberbullying and block inappropriate content while having better control over their children's digital activities. Many plans include Senior Family Coverage, which provides specialized support through an Elder Fraud Center because older adults face higher scam vulnerability.

Through Allstate Digital Footprint, you gain the power to see where your personal data exists across the web and how different companies use this information. The available transparency allows you to handle your privacy settings effectively, which enables you to regain control over your online presence while reducing data exploitation risks.

Allstate Identity Protection provides users with multi-layered security through its combination of monitoring and cybersecurity tools, along with expert restoration services and complete financial reimbursement to protect against identity and cyber threats in the modern world. Through Allstate, you gain peace of mind because your personal information now holds greater value than ever.

Allstate Identity Protection: The competition

Allstate Identity Protection operates within a highly competitive landscape, characterized by several strong contenders vying for market share through the provision of robust identity theft protection and comprehensive cybersecurity services. Among the most notable competitors is LifeLock, a subsidiary of NortonLifeLock. LifeLock is well-regarded for its extensive monitoring capabilities, which span across major credit bureaus, the dark web, and various personal data sources. It boasts high insurance coverage limits for stolen funds, often making it a preferred choice for consumers seeking peace of mind. Additionally, LifeLock offers expert restoration services to assist users in rectifying identity theft issues. However, potential customers should consider the pricing structure, which can become steep following introductory offers, making it essential for users to evaluate the long-term cost against the benefits provided.

Another significant player in the identity protection arena is Aura. Aura has carved out a niche for itself with a holistic, all-in-one approach to security. In addition to identity and credit monitoring, it frequently includes features such as a virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and antivirus software, delivering comprehensive protection for digital assets. A standout feature of Aura is its family plans, which can accommodate multiple adults and offer unlimited coverage for children at competitive prices, providing significant value compared to some rivals. Aura also features substantial identity theft insurance, enhancing its appeal for families and individuals alike.

IdentityForce, a company under TransUnion, is another formidable competitor, especially recognized for its advanced fraud monitoring capabilities and dedicated attention to social media risk. Their services encompass exhaustive credit monitoring across all major bureaus, along with comprehensive restoration services that help clients restore their identities. IdentityForce also places a strong emphasis on alerts and proactive measures to minimize risks, making it a wise choice for consumers who lead an increasingly digital lifestyle.

IDShield, often associated with LegalShield, distinguishes itself by offering unlimited consultations with identity theft experts and focusing on legal support in the event of identity theft. This service is particularly appealing for individuals seeking legal guidance and resolution options should their identity be compromised. IDShield is praised for its transparent pricing model and a strong emphasis on social media scanning, ensuring that clients receive vigilant protection across various digital platforms.

Other noteworthy contenders include Experian IdentityWorks. Leveraging its status as a major credit bureau, Experian provides robust credit monitoring features, giving users an added layer of assurance regarding their credit health. Identity Guard utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to deliver enhanced monitoring and alerts, hoping to proactively safeguard users against burgeoning identity theft threats.

In addition, less prominent but still viable options like ID Watchdog Premium cater to those affected by pre-existing identity theft issues, providing specialized assistance in remediation. Zander Insurance is highlighted for its affordability, providing essential identity protection services without breaking the bank.

Allstate Identity Protection: Final verdict

If your primary objective is to find the best identity theft protection app available, regardless of price, then Allstate Identity Protection may not be your top contender. However, when you consider the overall value it provides—especially with added features like social media monitoring and Dark Web oversight, along with comprehensive identity theft insurance—Allstate Identity Protection presents a compelling option.

While it might not eclipse the capabilities of industry leaders like Norton LifeLock or IdentityForce in terms of sheer strength and breadth of features, it still offers a well-rounded package that can effectively safeguard your personal information. Its focus on monitoring social media platforms allows for timely notifications in case of any suspicious activity, while its Dark Web monitoring can alert you to any potential threats lurking online. This holistic approach to identity protection is indeed noteworthy.

Moreover, Allstate Identity Protection includes identity theft insurance coverage, which adds an extra layer of security and peace of mind for users. Even if you ultimately opt for one of the more robust services, trying out Allstate Identity Protection could provide valuable insights into whether you need this type of coverage and what specific features matter most to you.

In summary, while Allstate Identity Protection may not have the power or extensive capabilities of some of its competitors, it remains an attractive option, particularly given its feature set at this price point. It’s a practical choice for individuals who value proactive monitoring and comprehensive support without breaking the bank.

We've also highlighted the best identity theft protection

Technology is moving at an increasingly fast pace, requiring more and more data and bandwidth as it does. This means that keeping track of everything that is going on can be challenging, especially if you’re looking to track how much data you’re using and what external threats could have access to your network. Luckily for Windows users, Microsoft has been doing a good job, including its Windows Firewall in its operating system. Windows Firewall is by no means perfect, but it’s more than enough for the average user. However, if you belong to another group of users or are looking to “advance,” then additional firewall tools may be required to give you the granular control and overview of your network.

Enter GlassWire, an application that, among other things, offers better manageability for the Windows Firewall. Some users may argue that a VPN could be an equally suitable solution; however, a VPN mostly protects your privacy and anonymity when you’re online, whereas a firewall takes things a step further. Namely, with a firewall, you can determine which programs should be allowed to access your network and devices. GlassWire does this remarkably well, nevertheless, users who do not have a lot of networking experience may be confused by all of the graphs and data offered by GlassWire.

Downloading and installing the app is as easy as it can be, and as soon as you launch it, the graphing starts. Your network traffic is analyzed and recorded, showing you the last five minutes of activity (for new users). Once you’ve been using the app for some time (day, week), you will get more data and “markers” on your graphs. These markers represent an individual event (i.e., first connection of an app), and they’re clickable so you can glean more information from the events. Graph spikes are also clickable, and unusual activity is also recorded. While all of this is great, if you’re an average user, it can, and does, feel simply overwhelming.

Features

While internet usage tracking represents the bread and butter of GlassWire, it can do much more. It offers an extra layer of security thanks to its in-depth analysis of each application on your computer, as well as which apps are accessing the internet and how they’re doing this. For each new event, you will get a discrete notification that contains enough information for you to make an educated step towards resolving an issue. Under the GlassWire Protect tab, you can see all of the apps on your PC as well as details such as Version, GW Score, Traffic in/out, Hosts, and download and upload speeds. Here you will also find the Firewall toggle button that lets you turn on or off the firewall functionality, which comes from Windows Firewall. GlassWire interacts with Windows Firewall for program control and reporting, which is a different approach compared to competing solutions such as ZoneAlarm, etc.

If you want to put an app onto a block list, simply click on the flame icon, or if you want, you can block all network traffic for the app if you do not wish to block the app itself. This way, you can quickly block all connections until you end the mode. If you like granular control over your network access, you can turn on the “ask to connect” mode, where you will be asked to confirm each time a program attempts to access the network. Note, if you have some apps that have already connected to the internet, this mode will not affect them. If some apps you’re using trigger a “this might be malware” alarm, GlassWire gives you the option of submitting the file to VirusTotal. VirusTotal checks the file against dozens of antivirus engines and reports how many of them recognize the file as malware. This is a handy feature, however, you will need to provide your VirusTotal API key to GlassWire (you can find the specific location to enter your API key under the settings menu). Another note, VirusTotal can present you with some false positives, so we would not rely solely on the analysis provided by them.

A short digression, the fact that VirusTotal is used, we would appreciate it if the apps would automatically show a malware score based on what VirusTotal has in its database, but that is not the case; you need to submit files to get some feedback.

If you want to configure what GlassWire monitors, you can do so in the settings under the security tab. You have 15 settings that you can tweak; in the free plan, only four are “unlocked”. By default, most of the settings are on, and GlassWire will notify you when a new device joins the network, or when a program connects for the first time, or even when a remote session starts. Speaking of remote sessions, GlassWire allows you to have a remote connection, even on the free plan (only one, though). If you move onto the paid plan, you will get an unlimited number of remote connections, but also access to something called the Wi-Fi evil twin detection. Hackers use deceitful wireless connections to gain access to devices through Wi-Fi, which means that these malicious actors can use any internet-connected PC/smartphone to create an evil twin Wi-Fi that looks legitimate. The goal is for you to connect using this evil twin and to siphon all of your data. GlassWire protects you by notifying you of any Wi-Fi password loss, the same name Wi-Fi’s or any new hardware.

If you’re a Mac user or an iOS user, you’re out of luck with GlassWire as it is not available for Apple’s ecosystem. On the positive side, you can get it on Android, using Google’s Play Store. On Android, the app looks and feels the same as the one on Windows and has all of the powerful features available on its desktop counterpart. It’s similarly easy to set up, but just like the desktop version, if you want to make additional tweaks, you will have to go for the paid version.

Pricing

You can get GlassWire completely free, with a lot of powerful features, and for most, this should be enough. However, if you’re looking for additional features, you can opt for a paid plan that starts at $2.99 for one license. While the free plan covers basic monitoring like real-time traffic, anomaly detection, and new device alerts, Premium significantly expands the toolset. It unlocks unlimited bandwidth history, full access to historical alerts, and advanced threat detection features like ARP spoofing detection, system file monitoring, and proxy settings alerts. Users can also customize and automate firewall behavior with features like unlimited app blocking, lockdown mode, and firewall profiles. For privacy-focused users, Premium offers DNS server monitoring and unlimited remote device connections. It also includes exportable usage data, an interactive network map, and dedicated customer support. Finally, the icing on the cake is the fact that the premium version also unlocks theme selection, offering roughly 13 additional themes. While the price is not that steep, the usability of the premium features comes down to the professionals who require all of the additional bells and whistles.

Protection

It’s worth noting that GlassWire is not an antivirus replacement, but a companion tool that adds a crucial layer of network-level visibility and early threat detection. The usability and blocking rate depend on your settings and how you utilize the app. There have not been any independent laboratory tests of the application, but since it uses the Windows Firewall API, its performance and effectiveness could be generally assessed within the context of the overall Windows security infrastructure, rather than through isolated testing. We tend to recommend Windows Firewall as the go-to firewall solution for most users, believing that it’s more than enough to protect you online, so take that for what it's worth.

Ease of use

GlassWire is generally pleasing to the eye, and we enjoyed using it. The icons and settings are well laid out and logical; however, if you’re newer to the world of networking and security, all of the colors, graphs, and information can be overwhelming. An additional positive remark we would like to make here is the notifications. Most firewalls tend to bombard you with notifications, alerts, bells, and various sounds; not GlassWire, they’ve managed to implement a discreet system of notifications which we enjoyed very much. If you’re one of those people who simply have to have a notification presented to them at each activity, GlassWire somewhat allows this if you go for the ask to connect mode.

Final verdict

As far as third-party firewall apps go, GlassWire offers a unique approach and a unique experience by relying on the Windows Firewall API. It’s easy to install and get working out of the box, but interpreting all of the data requires some “advanced” computer knowledge that is not common among PC users. If you’re an average user who has never even fired up Windows Firewall settings, then keep enjoying your browsing experience and skip over any additional firewall tools. GlassWire is not for you!

On the other hand, if you’re a competitive gamer looking to squeeze the last iota of performance from your network, analyzing your networking with a tool like GlassWire makes a lot of sense. We also see security professionals benefiting from such a tool, especially under the paid plan, since it offers a granular approach to tweaking your network and devices on it. We’re sure others can benefit from the app, but paying for more licenses certainly has to have a business value behind it.

All in all, GlassWire is a great addition to Windows Firewall. The fact that you have a free forever version gives you a great opportunity to test it out or even use it fully without the need to make a purchase. The developers behind the app are active across various developer forums, giving us confidence that user feedback is appreciated and updates are going to keep coming.

• Check out our rundown of best firewall software

ZoneAlarm is one of the cybersecurity pioneers, offering its firewall protection not just to businesses but also to consumers back in the 1990s, when consumer firewall wasn’t really a thing. What’s more, it instituted the concept of hardening a device’s firewall against direct attacks, today featuring an inbound intrusion detection system and the ability to control outbound connections by apps.

In 2004, ZoneAlarm, which was developed by Zone Labs, was acquired by Check Point Software Technologies, a major software and combined hardware provider for network, endpoint, mobile, cloud, and data security, as well as security management.

Over the years, ZoneAlarm has changed and adapted its offering (as well as its interface) to be more in line with the times. Nowadays, ZoneAlarm offers three main tiers of its antivirus product, courtesy of Check Point’s powerful cybersecurity platform.

These include ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus, ZoneAlarm Pro Antivirus + Firewall, and ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen, all of which offer different levels of protection and features. The company offers other standalone products, such as ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware.

As it happens, the free version comes equipped with the usual antivirus and anti-spyware function, an advanced firewall (monitoring apps, stopping new and so far unknown attacks), and a two-way firewall (making your PC invisible to hackers) application control, anti-bot, and 24/7 online support - for one PC.

That said, real-time cloud security, anti-phishing, threat extraction, safe browsing, and threat emulation for up to five PCs is reserved for the paid upper tier, Pro Antivirus + Firewall, whereas the top-of-the-line Extreme Security NextGen throws in content filtering, anti-keylogger, anti-ransomware, and mobile security, while supporting up to 50 PCs at the same time.

The ZoneAlarm Pro for one device costs $24.95 for the first year, renewing at $39.95. If you need coverage for three PCs, you can get it at $32.95 per year initially, renewing at $49.95. A five-device service starts at $35.95, renewing at $54.95, 10 devices are covered by a $64.95 payment renewing at $99.95, while the coverage for as many as 50 PCs would cost you just $259.95 for the year one, renewing at $259.95. Do note that Pro Antivirus only supports Windows PC devices, making it a bit of a limited option.

Meanwhile, ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen charges $34.95 for one device during the initial year, increasing it to $59.95 for each subsequent 12-month period of use. For three devices, it charges $42.95 (renewing at $64.95), five devices would cost you $44.95 for the first year ($69.95 for each subsequent year), while 10 devices would set you back by $89.95 during the first year (renewing at $139.95).

You may also get coverage for 25 devices, with this plan at $189.95 initially, after which you’ll pay $289.95 per year, while coverage for 50 devices comes with a price tag of $357.95 for the first year, renewing at $549.95. Extreme Security supports Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

It is also important to note that both carry certain discounts if you take a 2-year subscription. For instance, protecting five devices for the duration of two years will cost you only $61.95 for the first year, which would otherwise cost you $90.90 if you took it on a year-by-year basis. In other words, you’re getting an impressive 68.17% discount.

For the Extreme Security package, the discounts are very similar. In this case, a 2-year subscription package covering five devices goes for $72.95, which is a 63.51% reduction compared to the $114.9 you would pay if you signed up for the package to renew each year.

Finally, both Pro and Extreme Security NextGen have a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you enough time to test the service out before making the final decision.

However, the free trial doesn’t give all that much and actually doesn’t differ in any way from the free tier, considering you need to activate it to access more than just its firewall and antivirus features. A pity, as someone might be attracted to actually buying the platform if they had the opportunity to check it out in more depth for free.

Setup

Downloading ZoneAlarm Free takes an unusual amount of time. At first, the downloader told us we would have to wait for two hours, changing the time to anywhere between 20 minutes and 20 hours, making our system very sluggish while it was doing this.

As it turns out, we waited for about 30 minutes, which is a lot longer than any other antivirus we had installed before. Still, installing the platform went a lot faster than this (although not nearly as fast compared to the competition).

Features

ZoneAlarm has gotten its name thanks to its method of controlling program access - by dividing all network connections into so-called ‘zones.’ Hence there are several such zones in ZoneAlarm’s vocabulary: the ‘trusted zone’ which typically includes the user’s local area network and can share resources like files and printers.

Then, there’s the ‘public zone’ that includes everything outside the trusted zone, and in which the user can grant permissions to apps before they try connecting to the Internet (such as before the initial launch) or ZoneAlarm will ask the user to grant these permissions.

Finally, the ‘blocked zone’ is where all the devices, networks, and/or apps that you decided you don’t trust with making traffic to or from end up. The firewall is on by default as soon as you install your ZoneAlarm software, and you don’t need to do anything unless you really want to change the default configuration or temporarily turn off the firewall for any reason.

Having said that, ZoneAlarm’s firewall currently allows access to every program by default, without letting you know when it finds something suspicious. If you want to modify an app’s permissions, you’ll have to go manually digging for it in the Application Control and change the settings yourself for each of the programs.

Open your ZoneAlarm app, and you’ll see a sleek green-white window that provides you with your protection status, a ‘Scan’ button, the time and date of the next automatic scan, as well as four icons - Firewall, Antivirus, Web Secure, and Hacking Protection.

The Firewall itself opens a set of features, including managing the rules for your ‘zones’ or networks (public or trusted), setting up the public and trusted zone sensitivity, as well as observing the previous firewall events, with a button to add a new entry (IP address, IP range, or subnet) as a zone rule. Its above-mentioned ‘Application Permissions’ section lists all the apps on your device and allows you to set the default action to ‘Allow Connection,’ ‘Block Connection,’ or ‘Terminate Process.’ Finally, you can turn on/off the anti-bot service.

Next is the Antivirus section, where you can view the quarantine, add exceptions, start a full scan, scan a particular folder, or schedule a critical (quick scan to identify threats) or full scan (deep scan of the entire system), on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

The Web Secure dashboard features Anti-Phishing, Safe Downloads, and Content Filtering options, whereas the Hacking Protection area contains Anti-Ransomware, Advanced File Protection, and Anti-Keylogger capabilities (none of which is accessible with the free version).

Previously, the ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus offered an entire year of simple identity protection by its partner Identity Guard, with a feature known as Identity Lock to prevent anyone from stealing your sensitive personal data from your device. However, these now seem to be gone.

On top of that, it seems to have also dropped the free Chrome extension, which was a phishing-oriented version of its Web Secure for free users to protect their credentials against phishing attempts and malicious document downloads.

Protection

Once ZoneAlarm is up and running, its protection begins, automatically updating the virus definitions and running occasional scans, which you’ll only find out from the notifications triggered by these events. Starting a full scan takes about 50 minutes, which is a bit long, but we’ve seen longer.

That said, it doesn’t get any faster with the subsequent scans, which also took about 52 minutes. This means that ZoneAlarm doesn’t use its first full scan to optimize for future procedures, as opposed to some of its competitors.

Upon testing with a recommended malware testing file, ZoneAlarm sprang into action immediately, recognizing the threat and moving it to the quarantine, letting us know what happened with a full-sized popup message that doesn’t go away until you dismiss it. You can reveal further details about the file and click again to access the list of all quarantined files.

The Web Secure mechanism is nothing to write home about, only working in Chrome, and not at all successful against malware-hosting websites - blocking only phishing sites. In other words, ZoneAlarm has no efficient ways to protect us from accessing a dangerous site, something that even the built-in Microsoft Defender can do without much effort.

Meanwhile, the personal firewall that comes equipped with even the free version might be a bit unnecessary, but it’s a nice addition considering it doesn’t cost a thing. ZoneAlarm also has its firewall available as a standalone, free product.

SE Labs hasn’t tested ZoneAlarm since Q4 2019, when it scored 85% in total accuracy rating, 87% in protection rating, 100% in legitimate accuracy rating (how well it tuned its detection engine to classify legitimate applications and URLs), a protection score of 97 points, and receiving a high AAA award.

Similarly, AV-Test did its last test of ZoneAlarm in December 2019, when it tested the paid Pro Antivirus + Firewall product, giving it a 6/6 for protection, a 6/6 for usability, and 4.5/6 for performance, as it underperformed in area of installing frequently used applications.

The same testing firm also analyzed the business version of ZoneAlarm, called Check Point, which lends its virus-defending platform to consumer products, for the period of July - August 2024, awarding it a 6/6 in all three observed areas - protection, performance, and usability, albeit also noting a slightly poorer performance in terms of installation of frequently-used applications.

A bit more recently, MRG-Effitas analyzed ZoneAlarm Mobile Security in Q2 2023, observing 82.30% accuracy in overall non-PUA (‘potentially unwanted applications’) detection, 100% accuracy in PUA detection, 86.76% in detecting trojans, 81.13% in accurately identifying spyware, but missing 100% simulator samples.

Meanwhile, the most recent test comes from AV-Comparatives, which tested ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen as a non-dedicated fake-shop detecting solution in its Q4 2024 Fake Shops Detection Test, in which its detection rates in November were between 21% and 30%, with no false positives.

Final verdict

ZoneAlarm used to have a stellar reputation as the security industry’s pioneer looking out for the consumer back when no one really cared and business data safety was the primary concern. However, it has since degraded and today lags behind its competitors, many of which have much more advanced, faster, and richer platforms in terms of their antivirus and anti-malware capabilities, speed and performance, built-in features, extras, and configuration options. This is perhaps best illustrated by the lack of interest demonstrated by the leading antivirus testing labs, which haven’t been actively reporting on ZoneAlarm’s performance for years. Other than that, it’s a solid firewall solution for the price and ease of use.

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