ZDNET’s key takeaways
- NordPass<!–> offers unlimited password storage and basic functionality for free. Two-year paid plans with premium features can cost up to $81 for individuals and $144 for families, though Nord frequently has significant discounts on annual subscriptions, often for over half off that listed price.
- NordPass has a user-friendly interface that is consistent across platforms and premium features like data breach monitoring, email masking, and emergency access.
- With NordPass’s free tier, you can log into only one device at a time, so frequent switching can feel clunky.
When choosing a password manager, you are likely considering the ease of accessing your data and the level of trust that it’s secure when not in use, and NordPass–> fits the bill for both. As the password management tool from Nord, the firm behind NordVPN, NordPass offers the basics for free and a premium experience with added features for those who purchase an individual or family subscription.
Also: The best password managers: Expert tested
NordPass has a free tier and two paid plans. A free account allows you to store unlimited passwords across unlimited devices, though you can only be logged into one at a time. To access premium features like password health and data breach monitoring, email masking, secure sharing, and emergency access, you’ll need to upgrade to NordPass Premium (discounted at the time of this writing to $1.29 per month for one user when signing up for a two-year plan) or NordPass Family ($2.79 per month for up to six accounts for the first two years). Keep in mind that pricing for password managers changes frequently.
NordPass is accessible across all major platforms, with a web vault, apps for MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, and browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Opera.
Installation and setup process
To use NordPass, you’ll first need to create a free Nord Account — a single sign-on for all of Nord’s services — with your email address and a strong password. This can be done through one of NordPass’s apps or on the Nord Account website. When you use your global login to sign in to NordPass, you’ll be prompted to create a master password for your vault. Be sure to memorize or store these passwords somewhere safe, as you’ll need both to access NordPass.
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NordPass does have an account recovery option in case you lose your master password. To generate a recovery code for future use, go to Settings in either the mobile app or on the web, select Reset Recovery Code, and enter your master password. You can then download your codes as a PDF to save for future use.
Next, install any applicable browser extensions to use autofill on your device. NordPass’s browser extension used to be dependent upon the desktop app, but there is now a standalone extension for Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave, Firefox, Safari, and Chromium-based browsers.
You can also download the desktop app for macOS, Windows, or Linux – while not strictly necessary for using NordPass, it does include an offline mode, which allows you to view and copy vault items without an internet connection. Otherwise, most settings and functions, including importing data from other password managers or via CSV, are available via the web vault. Finally, download the NordPass app on your mobile device so you can access your credentials on the go. Note that if you are on the free tier, logging in on mobile will immediately log you out on other devices (and vice versa).
While I found the NordPass interface to be consistent across platforms and the vault to be easy to set up and navigate, Nord has comprehensive support pages in its help center.
Also: The best free password managers: Expert tested
NordPass basics
NordPass makes it easy to create, save, and autofill credentials across different devices and browsers, which is the most essential function you can expect of your password manager. NordPass allows you to store logins, passkeys, credit cards, and identities as well as secure notes, and it suggests and smoothly saves new credentials, including generated passwords. Changes to your vault sync quickly across platforms.
Those on the free plan have to log back in when switching devices — this can get tedious, as you have to enter both passwords (and Nord will try to upsell you every time). Biometric unlock, which takes the place of your vault master password, does ease this a bit and is also a convenience factor for paid users. NordPass supports biometrics for apps on iOS, MacOS, and Android, as well as for extensions on Windows and MacOS.
NordPass uses XChaCha20 encryption and completed an independent security audit in 2020. Your data is protected behind your Nord password, your master password, and optional multi-factor authentication (applied to your global Nord account), which can be set up using an authenticator app, a physical security key, or a built-in passkey. NordPass also supports passkeys for websites that currently offer this functionality.
Unique features (and how well they work)
As the password management offering from a company focused on digital security and privacy, NordPass has a handful of helpful features devoted to both for paid subscribers. First is email masking, which creates an alias for new accounts or registrations in place of your real address. This allows you to filter out messages to your primary inbox by turning forwarding on and off, and it reduces the risk of your email address landing in a data breach. Masked emails can be generated in your vault or through autofill.
Another premium feature is the data breach scanner, which monitors email addresses and credit cards and alerts you if any have been exposed. You can enter as many emails as you’d like and up to 50 credit cards – if NordPass detects your data has been leaked, you’ll see a notification with more information and recommended steps to resolve. NordPass also generates password health reports, which show weak, reused, and old passwords.
NordPass has a legacy feature on paid plans called Emergency Access, through which you can grant another NordPass user access to your vault without sharing your master password (for estate planning purposes, for example). Once added, the contact can request access to your data, which will be granted automatically if you don’t respond within seven days. Note that your emergency contact must have a NordPass account (free or paid). Secure item sharing is also available for premium subscribers – while you can set permission levels, you cannot add expiration dates, and the recipient must actively accept or decline the item.
Finally, a small but useful feature in NordPass is optical scan recognition (OCR), which allows you to upload credit cards and secure notes to your vault by scanning an image with your phone camera. NordPass then converts the scan to editable text so you don’t need to type. Though my iPhone was only able to process a scan into a secure note but not a credit card entry, this is still a promising shortcut for quickly adding data.
ZDNET’s buying advice
NordPass is easy to orient to if you are newer to password management, and it’s a good value if you can grab an annual subscription at a discount. Free NordPass users get more flexibility with unlimited items across unlimited devices than with many other no-cost password managers, making it a great choice as long as you aren’t switching devices frequently — the login process can get tedious otherwise.
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