10 Best Antivirus Software in 2025: Windows, Android, iOS, Mac
Short on time? Here’s the best password manager for most users:
- 🥇 1Password : Unbreakable security, a wide range of useful extras, and intuitive apps for all platforms and devices. It offers low-cost plans for individuals and families, is the only brand on the market that lets you add unlimited users to the family plan, and provides a risk-free 14-day free trial.
I tested a lot of password managers to find the absolute best for 2025. I wanted to find affordable options that achieve the highest level of security while being easy to use. Now, that may sound impossible, but it’s not!
Features like auto-fill, biometric logins, passkeys, and vault sharing make managing passwords easy and secure. The more of these a password manager includes, the higher it ranks for me.
That said, there are a lot of really bad password managers out there — ineffective, overly complicated, and way too expensive. However, the password managers on this list have top-notch security and provide many excellent features for a reasonable price.
In my opinion, 1Password strikes the perfect balance between security and usability — it has industry-standard and innovative security features, many valuable extras, easy-to-use apps for all devices and browsers, and low-cost plans for individual users and families.
Quick Summary of the Best Password Managers in 2025
🥇 1Password
Best overall antivirus in 2025 with excellent malware protection for all kinds of devices.
Most of our readers choose Norton
🥇 Bitdefender
Best for lightweight malware scanning (with heaps of additional features and tools).
🥇 TOTALAV
Best for ease of use (with beginner-friendly apps and tools for all major devices).
🥇 McAfee
Best for web protection (with parental controls and a great family plan).
🥇 Intego
Best for protecting your Mac + comes with a great optimization toolset.
Numbers 6-10 of 2025's top antiviruses.
🥇1. 1Password — Best Overall Password Manager (Feature-Rich, Intuitive & Affordable)
1Password is my favorite password manager in 2025 — it’s highly secure, feature-rich, and intuitive. It protects user data with unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, which is the same type of encryption that banks and militaries use, and it has a zero-knowledge policy, which means not even 1Password employees have access to any of your data. More importantly, it doesn’t rely solely on your master password to encrypt/decrypt passwords: it generates a secret key during account creation that never leaves your device.
There’s also two-factor authentication (2FA), which uses authenticator apps or USB keys to add security to your account. Plus, there are biometric logins on all the major platforms — allowing you to use facial recognition or fingerprint scans to access your vault on known devices.
1Password is great for secure credentials sharing: you can create multiple vaults and share access for one vault while ensuring you don’t accidentally share sensitive items in another vault.
1Password also lets you share individual logins with anyone — even if they don’t use 1Password. Psst! (Password Secure Sharing Tool) generates links you can email to whoever you choose to share the details of a login, and you can set the amount of time before the link expires. This can be anything from an hour to a month or even after 1 person has viewed the link. It’s a handy feature for sharing things like your Netflix account details with guests who might not use 1Password.
1Password includes a lot of other security features:
- Watchtower. Scans the dark web and public databases for breaches, audits your vault for security, and generates strong passwords.
- Travel Mode. Hides sensitive passwords from the vault so intrusive border checks can’t access private data.
- Privacy cards. Provides virtual payment cards for masking your debit card number when making online purchases (available to US users only).
- Masked email. Disguises your real email address behind a unique alternative email. This feature is delivered in partnership with Fastmail, and you need a Fastmail account to use it.
Its standard and advanced tools performed exceptionally well in all my tests — I had no problems generating new passwords, saving logins, auto-filling credentials, setting up Travel Mode, and syncing 1Password with third-party authenticator apps. I also found it very easy to analyze my password vault for weak or compromised passwords using the Watchtower feature, and I could quickly update any that needed attention. Additionally, Watchtower monitors your credit cards for expiration dates.
1Password supports passkeys, too. Passkeys are a convenient and safe alternative to traditional passwords. You won’t need to remember a username or password, and your login information won’t be stored on a physical server. All you need is a PIN or biometric data to log in. What’s excellent about 1Password is that it enables you to use passkeys to log into your vault. Not many password managers (even those supporting passkeys) offer this option.
1Password also has a really good Families plan — one subscription comes with 5 members, and you can invite as many new members as you want for a really small fee. This is much better than the competition — even top competitors like Dashlane have a limit on how many users can share one subscription. Plus, 1Password’s intuitive vault-sharing functions make it super easy to share passwords with family members while keeping personal accounts private.
1Password’s individual, family, and business plans offer lots of great features for less than most competing brands. There’s no free plan, but 1Password starts at INR270 / month, and you can test it with a 14-day free trial to decide if it’s right for you.
Bottom Line:
1Password is a secure and intuitive password manager with an easy-to-use interface and many useful features. It includes more security extras than most competitors, such as hidden vaults, virtual payment cards, and more. 1Password also has affordable individual and family plans — offering unlimited user additions for a nominal fee. 1Password comes with a 14-day free trial for all of its plans.
🥈2. Dashlane — Best Additional Security Features
Dashlane is highly secure, easy to use, and includes many features that other brands don’t. During my tests, Dashlane performed exceptionally well in all areas — its web-based app, browser extensions, and mobile apps all worked as intended. I had no problems generating passwords, syncing data across all of my devices, and auto-filling basic and advanced web forms.
Dashlane also comes with:
- VPN (with unlimited data).
- Dark web monitoring.
- Password sharing.
- Password strength auditing.
- Passkey support.
- Account recovery.
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Secure file storage (1 GB).
Dashlane’s features are useful, intuitive, and work as promised. I especially like Dashlane’s password strength auditing feature — it audits your entire password vault and alerts you if any passwords are weak, reused, or compromised. If Dashlane flags some of your passwords, you can use its password generator to change them to extra-strong, unhackable ones.
Dashlane is the only password manager on this list that comes with a VPN (virtual private network) — and it’s secure, fast, and compatible with popular streaming sites.
While any password manager’s auto-fill feature doubles as phishing protection, Dashlane alerts you if you visit a fake site resembling Dashlane. On the premium plans, it’ll also warn you if you’re copy-pasting info from Dashlane onto a website not associated with that login. This is a great extra layer helping to prevent human error.
Dashlane has a free plan that lets you store 25 passwords on 1 device. This won’t be enough for most people, so I suggest considering its affordable Premium and Friends & Family plans. Dashlane Premium is a bit pricier than some competitors, but it has more features (including a VPN with unlimited data) and functionality than most password managers. Dashlane’s paid plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Bottom Line:
Dashlane is secure, easy to use, and has many excellent features — like password security auditing, password sharing, dark web monitoring, 2FA, and more. It’s also one of the only password managers out there with a VPN (and it’s a pretty good VPN). Dashlane Free includes a free trial of the Premium plan, and all Dashlane purchases come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee
🥉3. RoboForm — Best-Value Password Manager (With Excellent Auto-Filling Capabilities)
RoboForm has the best form-filling capabilities of any password manager I tested. While top competitors like 1Password and Dashlane fill out advanced web forms for you, RoboForm can auto-fill some of the most complex web forms in just one click. This is super convenient, and it stopped me from worrying about entering typos on important forms — especially when the form obfuscated what I was typing in.
With RoboForm, you can create multiple “Identities” for web forms with 7 pre-built categories of information, including passport, credit card, and vehicle info (you can also make your own template). During my tests, I could quickly fill out all types of web forms — from basic ones like social media logins to advanced ones like online accounting forms — with zero errors or missed fields!
RoboForm also comes with:
- Multiple 2FA options.
- Password security auditing.
- Data breach monitoring.
- Passkey support.
- Secure password and note sharing.
- Local-only storage option.
- Secure bookmark storage.
- Emergency access.
- Cloud backup.
RoboForm is very easy to use. In my tests, I could easily share logins with other users, grant emergency access to trusted contacts, and check my password vault for weak, repeated, or otherwise compromised passwords. RoboForm also integrated well with 2FA apps like Google Authenticator, and I had no trouble using biometric logins to access my RoboForm account.
RoboForm is among the few password managers that save application logins, too. This handy feature allows you to save and auto-fill credentials for your Windows applications, like Spotify or Zoom.
RoboForm also provides a password-sharing feature, which I found very secure and user-friendly in my tests. That said, it falls short on permission options for individual items. When you share an individual item, the recipient can only view it — there’s no option to let them edit or share it further.
One of my favorite things about RoboForm is the secure bookmark storage, which allows users to save and sync bookmarks from a desktop browser onto any device with RoboForm installed. This feature worked perfectly in my tests, enabling me to access all my favorite sites on all my devices instantly.
RoboForm is one of the best-value password managers. RoboForm Free has form filling, password strength auditing, 2FA, cloud backup for 1 device, and secure bookmark storage (a unique RoboForm feature). RoboForm Premium is where you get syncing across unlimited devices and cloud backup for multiple devices. RoboForm Family is the same but adds licenses for up to 5 users.
All plans are significantly cheaper than most other password managers — RoboForm Premium is just INR90 / month, whereas Family costs only INR140 / month, making RoboForm one of the top choices for users on a budget. RoboForm backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Bottom Line:
RoboForm is a great password manager with the best form filler out there. It also comes with top-notch security extras like 2FA, password strength auditing, secure bookmarks storage, secure cloud storage, emergency access, and more. RoboForm’s free plan comes with a 30-day free trial of RoboForm’s Premium plan, which is cheaper than most competitors. All RoboForm purchases have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. NordPass — Most Intuitive Password Manager (With the Best User Interface)
NordPass is an easy-to-use password manager, and while it doesn’t include as many extra features as competitors like or, it provides excellent password protection in an intuitive interface. This makes it one of the top choices for beginners and non-technical users in 2025.
NordPass uses XChaCha20 encryption. Like 256-bit AES, this encryption has never been cracked, but XChaCha20 likely has the advantage of being more future-proof. It also has a zero-knowledge policy, biometric login on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, and many multi-factor authentication (MFA) options.
NordPass includes quite a few extra features, too:
- Passkey support.
- Password health checker.
- Password sharing.
- Dark web monitoring.
- Email masking.
- Emergency access.
- 3 GB of secure file storage.
NordPass comes from the cybersecurity team behind NordVPN (one of our top VPNs in 2025). I had no trouble importing my passwords, generating new ones, or saving new logins through NordPass’s excellent browser extensions during my tests.
NordPass makes sharing passwords really easy, too. All you have to do is enter the email addresses of the people you want to share your passwords with, choose how much access you want to give them, and click Share. It’s not as in-depth as 1Password’s password sharing (which lets you share entire password vaults), but it’s still really good.
I also like how NordPass gives premium users 3 GB of secure file storage. There are no limitations on what file types you can upload with NordPass (providing the individual files don’t exceed 50 MB).
It also comes at a low price, with plans starting from INR120 / month. There is a free version, but you can only be signed in on 1 device at a time, which is a bit of a hassle. Upgrading to NordPass Premium gets you simultaneous coverage on unlimited devices and unlimited password sharing, and upgrading to NordPass Family comes with the same features, but it adds licenses for up to 6 users.
Bottom Line:
NordPass has a streamlined, intuitive interface, making it a good choice for users looking for a simple and easy-to-use password manager. It uses one of the strongest encryption methods on the market and has zero-knowledge protocols and decent MFA options. NordPass makes generating and saving new passwords and sharing logins with other users simple. You can try out NordPass with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Keeper — Most Secure Password Manager
Keeper is an intuitive password manager with a very high level of security — 256-bit AES encryption, a zero-knowledge policy, passkey support, and a wide variety of MFA options, including compatibility with 2FA apps like Google Authenticator and advanced options like face and fingerprint logins on both desktop and mobile devices.
In addition to being very secure, Keeper is extremely easy to use. It reliably auto-saved and auto-filled my credentials, and I also found it incredibly simple to share logins with other users as well as set up specific sharing permissions. The One-Time Share feature is easy to use as well, and it offers a secure way to share a login with a friend or family member who doesn’t use Keeper. You simply select the record you want to share and set the expiry time you want, and then a link is generated that you can send to the recipient.
Keeper also lets you store a wide variety of other information in your vault. It has 20 templates to input details like your driver’s license, birth certificate, health insurance, memberships, software licenses, and more.
The additional features Keeper offers include:
- Secure messaging (KeeperChat).
- Passkey support.
- Encrypted cloud storage (10 GB on the family plan).
- Password security auditing.
- Dark web monitoring (paid add-on).
The secure messaging app is one of the things I love the most about Keeper. KeeperChat is an encrypted messenger that comes with a wide range of options for securely sending and receiving messages, including message retraction, self-destruction, and a private gallery for storing photos and videos. It’s also 100% free — you can download it from Keeper’s website, sign up for an account, and start using it straight away.
Keeper also comes with more cloud storage than other password managers — while top competitors like and include 1 GB cloud storage per person, Keeper has 10 GB of cloud storage on its family plan, with an option to upgrade to as much as 100 GB (no other password manager offers this much cloud storage).
Keeper Personal offers unlimited passwords across unlimited devices, password sharing, and multi-factor authentication for INR260 / month. Keeper Family adds up to 5 licenses and 10 GB of cloud storage for INR550 / month. Optional add-ons for both plans include dark web monitoring and up to 100 GB of cloud storage. There’s also a very limited free version — it doesn’t include most of Keeper’s features and can only be used on 1 mobile device with a maximum of 10 records.
Bottom Line:
Keeper is a high-security password manager offering all the protections you need to manage your passwords safely. It comes with a ton of cybersecurity features — strong encryption, password strength auditing, an encrypted messaging app, and more secure storage (10 GB – 100 GB) than any other competitor. You can test all of Keeper’s premium features with a 30-day free trial.
6. Total Password — Reliable Password Manager With Remote Logout
Total Password offers useful features, such as the Secure Me remote logout tool and vault auditing. Like most options on this list, it uses 256-bit AES encryption to secure your accounts and has a strict no-logs policy. However, it’s not as feature-rich as my top recommendations and (for example, it doesn’t offer password sharing or encrypted storage).
That said, Total Password has a straightforward and intuitive interface. Its auto-save and auto-fill functions work perfectly, and the customizable password generator is good, too.
The Secure Me tool is useful if you have a lost or stolen device or if you’ve accidentally left your device unlocked at another location. For example, I once forgot to log out of a public terminal at the airport. I could remotely log out of my Total Password account with Secure Me. You can also use it to log out of all websites you’re logged into and to delete your browsing history, which is pretty handy.
As an added bonus, Total Password also comes bundled with Total Adblock — a separate browser extension that effectively filters out ads across various platforms. Additionally, it protects your browsing data from third-party trackers.
Total Password can be bought as a standalone product at INR180 / month or as part of the INR4,310 / year. Personally, I’d choose the bundle since it offers more security — with an excellent antivirus, a secure VPN, good optimization tools, and more. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Bottom Line:
Total Password has a good range of essential features and a few unique additions, like the Total Adblock tool. The interface is intuitive, offering good security for your online data. Even though it may lack some of the extra features seen in competitors, it provides a solid password management solution at a reasonable price point. And if you opt for the TotalAV Total Security bundle, you’re getting quite a bit more value for your money
7. Sticky Password — Portable USB Version & Local Storage
Sticky Password is a basic but intuitive password manager. It comes with some pretty useful features — including local data storage and a portable USB version of the program (very few competitors offer these features). However, it doesn’t offer as many features as my top picks and .
You can choose where to store your data — in Sticky Password’s secure cloud or on your local network. It’s cool being able to store passwords, credit cards, and other personal information locally, but I like to keep mine in the cloud so I can access them anywhere.
Sticky Password’s USB password manager is excellent. It allows you to load a portable version of the password manager onto a USB flash drive, which you can use to access your passwords and other personal data on any Windows PC. Even if you lose the USB stick, your data remains safe because you’ll still need the master password to access your information.
Sticky Password is also very intuitive and easy to use. In my tests, I could easily share passwords with other users, and the auto-save and auto-fill functions worked just as intended. I also like how Sticky Password lets you save and auto-fill logins for specific Windows apps like Skype and Zoom. Besides, not many other premium password managers offer this function.
There’s also an interesting feature, Contactless Connect, which enables you to generate QR codes on desktop devices (you need to install the Sticky Password extension in a browser) and scan them with your phone to access your accounts. It’s convenient for logging into an account in public or on someone else’s PC.
The free version of Sticky Password includes unlimited passwords on 1 device, 2FA, secure notes storage, and the portable USB version. Upgrading to Sticky Password Premium adds unlimited devices, password sharing, and cloud or local storage for INR150 / month.
Sticky Password also offers the option to purchase a lifetime subscription, which is a good deal — but you can get at a similar price. If you’re interested, Sticky Password offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Bottom Line:
Sticky Password has all the essential password management features plus some unique extras, like local data storage and a portable version of the program. Sticky Password Free comes with a 30-day free trial of Sticky Password Premium, and all Sticky Password purchases have a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee (plus each premium purchase benefits Save the Manatee Club — a non-profit dedicated to manatee conservation!).
8. Avira Password Manager — Easy Setup & Intuitive Features
Avira Password Manager is very easy to set up and use, which makes it great for non-technical users. While there isn’t an Avira Password Manager desktop app, I like Avira’s clean-looking and intuitive browser extension. The iOS and Android apps are also very intuitive, with easy-to-navigate features.
Avira offers a decent set of features, including unlimited password storage, multi-device sync, auto-login, data breach alerts, password security auditing, biometric logins on mobile, a built-in 2FA authenticator, and 1 GB of secure file storage.
However, Avira lacks many important tools, like advanced 2FA options (it only includes SMS authentication), password sharing capabilities, and emergency access, which are all included with top competitors like. Not having password sharing is a real hassle, as is the lack of biometric login options on desktop.
Avira offers most of its password manager features for free, but to access password security auditing and data breach alerts, you need to upgrade to Avira Password Manager Pro, which costs INR240 / month. While the Pro plan is pretty affordable, it isn’t as well-rounded as top competitors like Dashlane. It also doesn’t add that many new features compared to the free version. That said, Avira Password Manager is a good choice for users who need an intuitive password manager that works exactly as promised.
You can also get Avira’s password manager as part of Avira Prime, one of the best and most affordable internet security suites in 2025. Avira Prime Includes an excellent malware scanner, web protection, a VPN, system optimization tools, and more. It covers up to 5 devices across all operating systems and costs only INR5,270 / year. Avira backs all purchases with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line
Avira Password Manager is intuitive and comes with a decent set of features, including data breach alerts and 1 GB of secure file storage. It isn’t as advanced as well-established competitors like 1Password and Dashlane — I’d like to see Avira add features like password sharing, emergency access, and more 2FA options — but it’s very easy to set up and use and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
9. Password Boss — Good Value With Customizable Emergency Access
Password Boss is a user-friendly password manager. It has an intuitive interface and well-designed, useful features — including secure password sharing, basic 2FA, password strength auditing, and cloud storage.
Password Boss doesn’t have many features that set it apart from top competitors such as, but it’s secure, easy to use, and has all essential password management functions, plus a few useful extras.
I really like Password Boss’s customizable emergency access function. It enables trusted contacts to access specific passwords in an emergency — this is something I haven’t seen offered by most other password managers.
Additionally, Password Boss offers a digital wallet for securely storing credit cards, bank details, and other personal details. It also has a really intuitive and well-designed password-sharing function, and I like how you can set shared passwords to “Password not visible”, so your recipient can use the password without seeing it, preventing them from accidentally exposing your data.
Password Boss’s premium plan costs INR220 / month — while this is cheaper than most competing brands, it does lack some of the functionality of its top competitors. There’s also a free plan, but it is limited to 1 device, and you can only share up to 5 passwords. Password Boss comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Password Boss is an intuitive password manager with some useful extras. It doesn’t have any unique features, but it has all the tools most users need to securely store passwords, including password sharing, password auditing, emergency access, and more. It’s a good choice for non-technical users, and you can try it out with a free 30-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
10. Bitwarden — Best Open-Source Option
Bitwarden is an affordable open-source password manager with excellent security features. It protects user data with industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a zero-knowledge policy, passkey integration, and a wide range of 2FA options, along with advanced extras like local hosting option, password security auditing, and email aliases.
Bitwarden also has a pretty good free plan — it allows unlimited password storage across unlimited devices and unlimited password sharing with 1 other user. Most top password managers limit you to only 1 device and don’t allow password sharing on their free plans.
While Bitwarden is easy to use, it’s less intuitive than other password managers. Its interface is less user-friendly than, and while auto-save and auto-fill worked well for passwords, auto-filling credit card details sometimes led to missed fields.
Bitwarden Premium comes with all of the features mentioned above for a single user and costs INR90 / month, while the Families plan is priced at INR300 / month and covers up to 6 users. The premium plans are covered with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager with advanced security features, including local hosting, passkey support, password security auditing, data breach monitoring, and a built-in 2FA authenticator. While Bitwarden is generally easy to use — with straightforward installation and simple password importing — its interface isn’t as intuitive or user-friendly as some top competitors. However, Bitwarden offers very affordable plans backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bonus. Norton Password Manager — Best Antivirus + Password Manager Combo
Norton Password Manager is a free password manager by Norton. It comes with industry-standard security, including unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, 2FA, biometric login on mobile, and extras like password vault auditing.
Norton Password Manager offers unlimited password storage on unlimited devices, which is rare in a free product ( is another good antivirus-bundled password manager that doesn’t have password or device limitations).
However, Norton Password Manager is missing many security features that come with brands such as— it doesn’t have password sharing (which can lead to risky practices) or a built-in authenticator. Plus, both Dashlane and 1Password come with unique extras, such as a VPN and Travel Mode, respectively.
(the cybersecurity suite Norton also develops) includes more features than almost any competitor. Priced at INR4,390 / year, Norton 360 Deluxe has perfect malware detection rates, extras like a VPN, parental controls, dark web monitoring, and intuitive apps for all major platforms.
Norton 360 is our so if you’re looking for a full-featured internet security suite alongside a good password manager, it doesn’t get better than Norton. If you already have a good antivirus installed, you can download Norton Password Manager’s browser extension and mobile app for free.
Bottom Line:
Norton Password Manager is a decent password manager that comes bundled with the best internet security suite on the market. It’s straightforward and secure but lacks features like password sharing. However, include all the internet security features you need to keep your device and data safe. Norton Password Manager is also available as a free download, and all Norton purchases are backed by a risk-free 60-day money-back guarantee.
How Do Password Managers Work?
Password managers simplify saving and using passwords while maintaining robust security. Here’s how it all works.
When you enter a password on a website or app, the password manager offers to save it. The password is immediately encrypted on your device using strong algorithms like before it’s stored. This encrypted data is then either kept locally on your device (for offline managers) or securely synced to encrypted servers (for cloud-based services).
When you revisit a site, the password manager detects login fields through HTML identifiers. To auto-fill your credentials, you first need to unlock your vault, typically using a master password or biometric verification. The manager then decrypts only the specific password needed, fills it directly into the verified fields, and promptly clears the decrypted data from memory.
Security is paramount in this process. Password managers employ end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your data remains encrypted during transmission and storage. Many (including ) use a meaning even the service providers can’t access your passwords. Your master password, the key to your vault, is never stored or transmitted.
Password management is not just about securely storing your credentials and using them to log into accounts. Modern password managers come with many other capabilities, such as password generation, secure password sharing, password auditing, emergency access/digital inheritance, and more.
Some password managers also provide extras such as hidden vaults, privacy cards, a virtual private network (VPN), or bookmark storage. has Travel Mode, which enables you to hide certain passwords when crossing borders, and virtual payment cards, which allow you to hide your actual card number when making purchases online. is the only brand on this list with a VPN, which encrypts your browsing traffic and keeps all of your online activities private, and is one of the rare password managers that lets you securely store and sync bookmarks.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I used to find the leading password management solutions in 2025. Here’s how I tested each product:
- I tested the security and encryption standards to ensure they use 256-bit AES encryption or similar, incorporate zero-knowledge protocols, and offer 2FA or MFA. Only the password managers that provided solid security measures, like and, were considered for this list.
- I assessed the ease of use across desktop and mobile apps, ensuring that the interfaces were intuitive and user-friendly. I also extensively tested auto-save and auto-fill functions and gave extra points to password managers that included passwordless and biometric logins (at least on mobile, but preferably on desktop as well), and convenient secure sharing.
- I looked into the additional features offered, separating genuinely useful tools from flashy extras. I sought features that add real value, such as masked emails, extensive dark web monitoring, and encrypted cloud storage. Unique functionalities, like 1Password’s Travel Mode and Dashlane’s VPN, were also assessed for their practical benefits.
- I tested customer support responsiveness and resource availability, contacting support teams and utilizing their help resources to gauge the quality and speed of assistance provided. Effective support channels and informative resources were crucial criteria.
- I analyzed the pricing and value offered, comparing the cost of services against the features provided. Affordability, free trials, and money-back guarantees influenced the final assessment.
How to Select the Best Password Manager for Your Operating System in 2025
Picking the best password manager for your operating system is easy. Just follow these steps:
- First, consider what you need: Your password manager should be compatible with all devices you use and include extensions for your go-to browser(s). All or most of its features should be available across platforms. For example, provides excellent support across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and ChromeOS and is compatible with major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
- Assess user experience: A good password manager will offer intuitive navigation, easy access to its features, and help prevent common mistakes people make with password management. has exceptionally user-friendly apps across all platforms.
- Look for tight security: It may be tempting to overlook security because of ease of use, but it’s not a good idea, especially with modern password managers like 1Password, which are both easy to use and exceptionally secure.
- Review pricing, free trials, and money-back guarantees: Check both the introductory and renewal prices. Compare plans and consider bundling your password manager with an antivirus. Check if free trials and money-back guarantees are available — they allow you to try their services risk-free. For example, Dashlane offers a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
- Review customer support: Consider the availability and quality of customer support, which is crucial for troubleshooting and assistance. This is particularly important if you’re getting a password manager for an entire family or for seniors.
1Password is the best overall password manager across all operating systems. Along with having a wide variety of excellent security features and useful password management tools, 1Password offers user-friendly and intuitive apps for Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, and ChromeOS, as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, and Brave. Keeping this in mind, you may want to take a look at each of our curated lists of the best password managers for different operating systems and devices below:
Best password managers for Windows. Our top pick for Windows 10 and 11 is 1Password, known for its full set of features and robust security.
Best password managers for Mac. Password manager apps for Mac usually come with most of the same features as those for Windows, so there aren’t too many differences in our rankings. Our top choices for macOS are 1Password and Dashlane.
Best password managers for Android. Some Android password manager apps come with fewer features and aren’t as intuitive as Windows or Mac apps. However, there are still many Android apps that are secure, feature-rich, and very easy to use. We recommend 1Password and Dashlane as the top Android password managers.
Best password managers for iOS. On iOS, 1Password is our favorite, especially for how well it integrates with iOS’s biometric systems and its sleek design.
2.Choose a plan that suits your needs. Review all of the plans your antivirus provider offers to find the best one for you. Don’t forget to look for a money-back guarantee (Norton, for example, offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on all of its plans).
3.Set up your account. Once you’ve chosen and purchased a subscription, it’s time to register with the antivirus provider. Provide your details and click Create Account.
4.Perform an initial full system scan. Download and install your antivirus software, then run a full system scan to check for any existing threats on your device. This may take some time, but it’s crucial.
5.Schedule regular scans. Besides real-time protection (turned on by default in Norton), schedule regular full system scans to search for any malware that might have slipped through.
6.Use additional security features. Explore and utilize additional features, such as a firewall, web protection, anti-phishing, and parental controls. Norton, for example, has an excellent free browser extension, Norton Safe Search, which you can install to enhance your online security.
7.Stay informed about new features. Periodically review your antivirus software’s documentation or news updates to learn about new features or settings that can improve protection. Norton’s official website, for example, features a dedicated product & service announcement blog, where you can read all about the latest updates to its antivirus program.
Following these steps will help you maximize the effectiveness of your antivirus software, keeping your digital environment secure against a wide range of cyber threats.
Built-In vs. Third-Party Antiviruses — Which Is Better?
A reliable third-party antivirus is always a better option. The built-in protections of Mac and Windows operating systems cannot match the comprehensive security offered by a premium antivirus. While the basic free protections these systems provide are a good start, they don’t offer sufficient defense against advanced threats in 2025.
On Windows
If you’re a Windows user, you’ll have Windows Security on your computer (formerly known as Windows Defender). While it’s a decent free antivirus, it scores consistently lower for malware detection than top standalone brands like Norton and Bitdefender. It also lacks performance optimization tools, a password manager, a dark web monitor, and more.
Windows Defender will usually turn itself off when you install a third-party antivirus. It can do so modularly, so the default firewall will stay on if it detects that your antivirus doesn’t have one. Some premium products like Malwarebytes are even designed to be used in tandem with Windows Defender.
On macOS
Macs have a few built-in security features, including web protection, anti-theft tools, app review tools, and an app scanner. These are useful, but on their own, they’re not enough to keep you safe. Your Mac could still be vulnerable to advanced ransomware, spyware, adware, and other threats.
For enhanced protection on Mac, consider using a premium Mac-specific antivirus such as Intego. It provides impeccable malware detection, effective Mac cleanup tools, parental controls, and numerous other features. In addition to installing Intego or another macOS antivirus, you should follow our tips for keeping your Mac secure.
What Security Threats Can an Antivirus Protect You Against?
A quality antivirus provides strong protection against most security threats. Here are the most common ones:
- Viruses. A type of malware that can self-replicate and make unauthorized changes to your computer.
- Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs). PUPs are software that can modify your browser settings and fill your screen with ads. Browser hijackers and other PUPS aren’t necessarily malicious or illegal, but they tend to be annoying and invasive.
- Adware. If you’re seeing an uptick in ads, adware could be the cause. Adware is a type of malware that drowns you in advertisements. They can interfere with your device even when you’re not connected to the internet, causing frustration and collecting data.
- Spyware. In the best scenario, a spyware infection could lead to eerily targeted ads. But often, the situation is much worse, with keyloggers stealing passwords and total surveillance tools like Pegasus watching your every move.
- Trojans. Arguably the most dangerous type of malware, trojans are viruses that initially appear to be normal programs. But after certain conditions are met, they act maliciously, replicating themselves across your network, stealing data, and damaging devices.
- Worms. Worms are viruses that automatically spread, infecting everything they can. Unlike trojans, they cause damage immediately. This could involve corrupting files, operating systems, or spamming annoying messages.
- Ransomware. A type of malware that encrypts files to hold for ransom — ransomware will display a message with instructions about what you need to do to regain control of your device. Tools like Cl0p and ransomware gangs like Akira target tens of millions of users each year. The best defense is an antivirus with ransomware remediation (such as Bitdefender) that will halt the encryption process, as there’s no guarantee that cybercriminals will relinquish control even if they’ve been paid.
- Rootkits. Rootkits are a particularly dangerous type of malware that can seize administrator privileges and otherwise make critical changes to computers.
- Browser exploits. A good antivirus (like the ones on this list) will automatically detect suspicious activity in your browser, preventing hackers from using vulnerabilities to change your browser’s settings or perform other malicious actions. This includes threats that leverage JavaScript injections like SocGholish.
- Phishing attempts. Phishing is a method that criminals use to steal personal information and take over accounts. Antiviruses are built to detect web-based phishing attempts, usually through databases of malicious websites.
In essence, antiviruses guard against all key online threats, and the top ones are incredibly successful in fulfilling this role. However, it’s crucial to remember that nothing is flawless – even when equipped with the best antivirus, you must still exercise caution online.
Why We Still Recommend Kaspersky
In essence, antiviruses guard against all key online threats, and the top ones are incredibly successful in fulfilling this role. However, it’s crucial to remember that nKaspersky has found itself at the center of controversy due to its ties to Russia. The tensions culminated when, in July 2024, the Biden administration banned the sale of Kaspersky Lab’s antivirus software in the United States. The ban prohibits new sales, software updates, and licensing of Kaspersky products after 29 September 2024.
These developments have left many of our readers wondering about the safety and reliability of Kaspersky’s products, prompting a closer examination of the company’s history, product offerings, and the potential risks associated with using its software.
We maintain that, at this point, there is no evidence to suggest Kaspersky is unsafe. In 2017, Kaspersky started its Global Transparency Initiative — it moved its data storage centers to Switzerland, opened Transparency Centers in Switzerland, Spain, Canada, Brazil, and Malaysia where its source code and software updates are continually assessed, and passed the Service Organization Control for Service Organizations (SOC 2) Type 1 audit.
What’s more, Kaspersky has exposed many cases of cyber espionage, including those perpetrated by both Russia and the US, and its researchers are among the most well-respected in the industry.
Given all this, we have no reason to think Kaspersky is a threat to users. But if you’re worried about Kaspersky putting your online security at risk or are shopping for a replacement, there are a few great alternatives to choose from, including Norton or Bitdefender.othing is flawless – even when equipped with the best antivirus, you must still exercise caution online.
