The best iCloud Keychain alternatives offer one thing that Apple has been reluctant to provide: cross-platform support.
You cannot use iCloud Keychain on other platforms such as Android and Windows because it’s part of iOS and not a separate app.
And Apple would never allow third-party access to the keychain database for security reasons. But you can import and export your iCloud Keychain passwords to other platforms, which is a good thing.
In addition to not getting locked inside Apple’s ecosystem, third-party password management tools give you more flexibility and allow you to choose how and where you store your passwords.
From saving your app passwords to offering an extra layer of protection of two-factor authentication, these password managers will make your life so much easier.
If you’re looking for a robust third-party password manager that offers features comparable in quality to Apple’s product, check out our list of the top alternatives to iCloud Keychain.
1. 1Password (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
1Password manager is our go-to recommendation for everyone who’s looking for a decent premium password manager. In fact, this is what I use in combination with iCloud Keychain on my iPhone SE.
It has a clean and simple interface with a ton of features, and it’s available on all major device platforms. 1Password has support for Apple Watch, so you can access all the information from your vaults without pulling out your iPhone.
Unfortunately, there’s not a free version. 1Password costs $3 per month for personal use. It comes with unlimited storage and multi-device sync. You can upgrade to a family plan for $5 per month, which you can cover a family of five.
2. Dashlane (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
Dashlane is another decent replacement for iCloud Keychain. It secures your passwords with strong and good security practices and provides extra features that 1Password doesn’t offer such as Dark Web Monitoring & alerts and VPN for Wi-Fi Protection.
In terms of price, Dashlane is pricier than 1Password. Dashlane Premium and Premium Plus will cost you $5 per month ($60 per year) and $10 per month ($120 per year), respectively.
The Premium Plus subscription goes beyond protecting your passwords. With it, you can monitor your credit, and get assistance, and insurance in the event your identity has been compromised.
There’s a free version with limited features for either plan so you can test it out for 30 days before committing. Dashlane is more than a password manager.
If all you want is a simple and efficient password manager, 1Password is your best choice. But if you want to completely lock out the bad guys from your digital life, get Dashlane.
3. Bitwarden (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browsers)
Bitwarden is a free solid end-to-end encrypted password manager that’s second to none. It’s simple and has a clean and minimal design and it has all the features of any well-established password management tool.
It’s open-source, which means the code is available for anyone to check and contribute. You can self-host Bitwarden on your own server, whether it’s macOS, Linus, or Windows. That way you can have total control of your password management setup.
Bitwarden offers individual, team, and organization plans. Personal use plans are completely free, and you can share them with up to 2 people.
You can upgrade to a family plan for $1 per month, billed annually, which you can share with 5 people. Bitwarden also offers premium subscriptions for business use such as teams and enterprises.
4. LastPass (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Browsers)
LastPass is our top recommendation for the best free password manager. And you may already be familiar with it since it’s the name that you often hear when people are recommending password management apps.
It’s worth noting that LastPass suffered a data breach in 2015. But the company said, “they have found no evidence that encrypted user vault data was taken, nor that LastPass user accounts were accessed.”
Unlike other free password manager plans that don’t offer multi-device sync, LastPass doesn’t put any limit on its free plans.
You can store your passwords and sync them across desktop and mobile devices and browsers. It also has a desktop app and Apple Watch support.
LastPass offers personal and Business plans. With the free plan, you get all the core features of a powerful password manager, there’s not much incentive to pay for their premium plans. Anyway, it costs $3 per month.
5. Keeper (Mac, Windows, Linux)
Last but not least, we have Keeper, the most expensive password manager on our list. Keeper has a beautiful interface that makes the user experience flawless.
It offers all the standard functionalities of a premium password management tool such as support for passwords, credit cards, and identities, 2FA, AutoFill, etc.
Keeper has a feature called “Keeper DNA”, which uses wearable devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to confirm your identity for accessing your Keeper Vault.
This eliminates the need to manually enter a code each time you log in, which is can be less convenient and secure.
The Personal subscription starts at $2.49 per month ($30 per year). You can jump to the max bundle plan for $4.99 per month ($60 per year), which includes end-to-end encryption KeeperChat Private Messenger, dark web monitoring, and unlimited password storage.
In addition to personal plans, Keeper offers family, business, and enterprise plans. You can sign up for a 30-day trial to see how you like it.
Choosing the Best Password Manager for iOS
There you have it. These were our top 5 iCloud Keychain alternatives.
When it comes to choosing a password manager for your iPhone, you’ll want to make sure your pick integrates well with Apple’s ecosystem and other Apple products such as the Apple Watch.
Without a doubt iCloud Keychain is a robust password manager, after all, it comes from Apple. Because it lacks so many features, iPhone users have compelling reasons to look for alternatives.
1Password is definitely the best password manager for iOS based on its features, security, affordability, and seamless integration with iOS. Give Dashlane a try, if you’re willing to pay more for features that you probably don’t care about in the first place.
Bitwarden and LastPass are great if you’re looking for budget-friendly alternatives, but you may miss out on features and security.
Keeper would be your last option if you care about all the bells and whistles like the “Keeper DNA” feature.
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