Apple's new Passwords app handles the basics, but power users, privacy enthusiasts, and multi-device households need more. We tested the top password managers on Mac, iPhone, and iPad to find the best fit for every Apple user.
Apple finally shipped its own Passwords app with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It's clean, free, and perfectly fine for someone who just needs their logins to sync between their iPhone and MacBook. But if you manage shared family logins, need to store secure notes and documents, or want to access your vault on Windows or Android too, the native app runs out of road fast.1
That's where dedicated password managers come in. They've been doing this longer, they support more platforms, and they pack features Apple's app won't touch — like passkey management, breach monitoring, and encrypted file attachments. Here are the best password managers for the Apple ecosystem right now.
1Password has been the gold standard on Mac and iOS for years, and its 2024 redesign only strengthens that position. The apps feel native on every Apple device — TouchID and FaceID unlock work seamlessly, and the new Quick Access bar on Mac is genuinely faster than digging through Settings for a saved password.1
It supports passkeys, travel mode (which wipes sensitive vaults at border crossings), and shared family vaults that actually work. The Watchtower security dashboard monitors for compromised passwords and data breaches automatically.
The trade-off: it's subscription-only and doesn't have a meaningful free tier beyond a 14-day trial.
Bitwarden is the answer when you want a serious password manager without a monthly bill. Its free tier is genuinely usable — unlimited devices, unlimited passwords, and support for passkeys and TOTP two-factor codes. The open-source codebase means security researchers can audit everything, and Bitwarden publishes regular third-party penetration tests.
The macOS and iOS apps aren't as polished as 1Password's, but they're reliable and cover every feature most people need. If you live in a mixed household (iPhone + Windows PC, or Mac + Android), Bitwarden's cross-platform support is the best in class.
Dashlane packs more into one subscription than any competitor: a password manager, a built-in VPN (powered by Hotspot Shield), dark web monitoring, and phishing alerts. The Mac and iOS apps are slick and fast, with a particularly good inline autofill experience in Safari.
The catch is price — Dashlane is the most expensive option here, and the free tier limits you to a single device. If you want an all-in-one security suite and don't mind paying for it, Dashlane delivers. If you just need password management, 1Password or Bitwarden give you more for less.
Enpass takes a different approach: instead of storing your vault on its own servers, it saves everything locally and syncs via the cloud service you already use — iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. For Apple users who want to keep their passwords inside iCloud and avoid another subscription, this is the cleanest setup.
The apps support TouchID, FaceID, and Apple Watch unlock. The free tier is generous (unlimited passwords on up to 25 devices, synced via your own cloud), though some advanced features like the desktop app require a one-time purchase.
The downside: no built-in breach monitoring or passkey support yet, and the interface feels a generation behind 1Password and Dashlane.
| Feature | 1Password | Bitwarden | Dashlane | Enpass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Subscription | Free / cheap sub | Premium sub | One-time / free |
| Platforms | Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux | Everything | Mac, iOS, Windows, Android | Mac, iOS, Windows, Android |
| TouchID / FaceID | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iCloud Sync | No (1Password cloud) | No (Bitwarden cloud) | No (Dashlane cloud) | Yes (iCloud) |
| Passkeys | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Breach Monitoring | Watchtower | Yes (premium) | Dark web monitoring | No |
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