If you're still letting Microsoft Edge or Chrome remember your passwords, it's time for an upgrade. Browser-based password storage is convenient, but it locks you into one ecosystem, offers weak recovery options, and provides no real protection if someone gets physical access to your unlocked machine. A dedicated password manager is the single best security upgrade a Windows user can make — and the good news is that the best options integrate directly with Windows Hello, letting you unlock your vault with a fingerprint or face scan.
We tested the leading password managers on Windows 11, evaluating them on native app quality, Windows Hello support, passkey compatibility, and zero-knowledge security architecture. Here are the ones actually worth buying.
Why Trust a Dedicated Password Manager on Windows
Windows Hello biometric support is the killer feature here. The top password managers let you unlock your entire vault with your face, fingerprint, or PIN — no master password entry required on your own device. That means you can use strong, unique 20-character passwords everywhere without the friction of typing them in.1
Every pick on this list uses zero-knowledge encryption: your vault data is encrypted and decrypted locally on your device. The provider never sees your master password or your stored credentials. On Windows, these apps also support passkeys — the emerging passwordless standard that's built into Windows 11.
Best Password Manager for Windows
| Product | Open Source | Storage | Free Tier | Windows Hello |
|---|
| Bitwarden | ✅ Yes | Cloud | Full-featured | ✅ Yes |
| 1Password | ❌ No | Cloud | No free tier | ✅ Yes |
| Dashlane | ❌ No | Cloud | 50 passwords | ✅ Yes (browser) |
| Enpass |
1. Bitwarden — Best Overall
Bitwarden is the password manager that keeps winning because it refuses to compromise. It's fully open source, independently audited, and offers a free tier that doesn't cap the number of passwords or devices. On Windows, the desktop app is a first-class citizen with full Windows Hello biometric unlock support.1
The free plan includes unlimited password storage, unlimited devices, two-factor authentication (TOTP) via the authenticator app, and secure note storage. The premium tier ($10/year) adds 1GB of encrypted file storage, advanced 2FA options, and emergency access. For families, the $40/year plan covers six users with unlimited sharing.
Bitwarden's Windows app feels native — it sits in the system tray, auto-fills in desktop browsers and apps, and unlocks instantly with Windows Hello. The browser extensions for Edge, Chrome, and Firefox are equally polished. If you install only one thing, make it this.
Specs:
- Open Source: Yes — fully auditable codebase
- Cloud Sync: Bitwarden's encrypted cloud (self-host option available)
- Pricing: Free (unlimited), Premium $10/yr, Families $40/yr
2. 1Password — Best Premium
1Password is the most polished password manager money can buy, and its Windows app is arguably the best in class. The desktop app is a native Windows application (not a web wrapper) with smooth Windows Hello integration, a beautifully organized vault interface, and the unique Travel Mode — a feature that lets you remove sensitive vaults from your devices before crossing borders and restore them with one click after.1
1Password uses a "Secret Key" architecture: your vault is encrypted with both your master password and a 128-bit secret key generated on your device. This means even if 1Password's servers were breached, your data remains encrypted. The trade-off is that there's no free tier — individual plans start at $2.99/month, and family plans (up to five users) are $4.99/month.
Passkey support is excellent — 1Password stores and auto-fills passkeys across Windows and other platforms. The browser extension is fast and reliable, and the Watchtower feature proactively alerts you to weak, reused, or compromised passwords.
Specs:
- Open Source: No (proprietary, but regularly audited)
- Cloud Sync: 1Password's encrypted cloud
- Pricing: Individuals $2.99/mo, Families $4.99/mo (no free tier)
3. Dashlane — Best Feature Set
Dashlane packs more features into a single subscription than any competitor. In addition to password management, you get a built-in VPN (powered by Hotspot Shield), dark web monitoring, identity theft alerts, and phishing alerts. It's a comprehensive security suite disguised as a password manager.1
The catch: Dashlane doesn't have a dedicated Windows desktop app. It operates through browser extensions and a web app. That said, the browser extension is exceptionally well-designed, supports Windows Hello for biometric unlock, and handles auto-fill reliably across Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.
The free tier is limited to 50 passwords and one device. The Advanced plan ($4.99/month) removes device limits and adds unlimited passwords. The Premium plan ($7.49/month) adds the VPN and dark web monitoring. For the feature-complete experience, it's the priciest option here — but you're getting a lot beyond just password storage.
Specs:
- Open Source: No
- Cloud Sync: Dashlane's encrypted cloud
- Pricing: Free (50 passwords), Advanced $4.99/mo, Premium $7.49/mo
4. Enpass — Best for Privacy & Self-Sync
Enpass takes a fundamentally different approach: instead of storing your vault on the provider's servers, Enpass stores everything locally on your device. You choose where to sync — OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, or a local network folder. This means Enpass has zero access to your data at any point, and there's no cloud subscription required.1
The Windows desktop app is native and supports Windows Hello for unlock. Enpass also handles passkeys, supports multiple vaults, and includes a built-in password generator with customizable rules. The free tier is limited to 25 items and one vault per device, which is enough to test the waters. The full desktop app is a one-time purchase of $11.99/year (or a lifetime license for $99.99).
This is the right pick if you're privacy-maximalist, if you already have cloud storage you trust, or if you want to avoid another monthly subscription. The trade-off is less polish than Bitwarden or 1Password, and the manual sync setup requires a bit more technical comfort.
Specs:
- Open Source: No
- Cloud Sync: Your choice (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, or local)
- Pricing: Free (25 items), Premium $11.99/yr or $99.99 lifetime
Which One Should You Pick?
- Go with Bitwarden if you want the best all-around value — it's free, open source, and has a native Windows app with Windows Hello. There's no reason not to start here.
- Go with 1Password if you're willing to pay for the most polished experience and want Travel Mode for border-crossing security.
- Go with Dashlane if you want an all-in-one security suite with a VPN and dark web monitoring built in.
- Go with Enpass if you want total control over your data and prefer syncing through your own cloud storage without a monthly fee.
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