Using a password manager has become almost inevitable in an era where we rely on dozens, if not hundreds, of online accounts for both personal and business needs. With a password manager, you can easily generate secure passwords or passkeys, autofill login credentials and credit card details when needed, and more.
For those in the Apple ecosystem, the default choice is obviously Apple Passwords, which became a standalone app with the release of iOS 18. I recently wrote an article about my experience with the Apple Passwords App – feel free to check it out.
Despite being free and offering most of the essential features of a modern password manager, many iPhone and Mac users still prefer third-party options over Apple’s solution. So why would someone choose a paid service when a free, comparable alternative exists?
In this article, I’ll answer that question. By the end, you’ll know whether Apple Passwords is good enough for you or if you should consider third-party alternatives like 1Password or Dashlane.
Overview of Apple Passwords
For those who may not know, Apple has been offering a password management solution for several years across all its major platforms, including iOS, macOS, and iPadOS.
However, before June 2024, Apple’s password manager was hidden in the Settings app, making it a bit more cumbersome to use. With the introduction of the standalone Apple Passwords app, it is now much more accessible and convenient to use.
Key Features in Apple Passwords
These are some of the major capabilities of Apple Passwords:
- Password and Passkey Autofill: Automatically fills in your saved passwords and passkeys when logging into websites and apps, reducing the need to remember and input them manually.
- Password Sharing: Enables secure sharing of passwords with friends and family, useful for shared accounts like streaming services.
- Password Generation: Creates strong, unique passwords for new accounts, helping improve security and prevent the risk of weak passwords.
- Password Alerts: Notifies you if any of your saved passwords are weak, reused, or have been compromised in a data breach.
- Password Encryption: Protects stored passwords with strong encryption, ensuring only you can access them.
- Passkeys: A more secure alternative to passwords that allows you to log in using biometrics (Face ID or Touch ID) without needing a traditional password. Passkeys can be managed and shared across Apple devices with the same iCloud account. Check out my article about passkeys to learn more about how they work.
- Digital Legacy: This feature lets you designate a trusted contact who can access your passwords and account information in case of your passing.
What Apple Passwords Lacks: Features You’ll Find in Third-Party Alternatives
Despite being a capable password manager, Apple Passwords still lacks a couple of features and capabilities that third-party alternatives like 1Password, NordPass, Proton, and Dashlane have been offering for years. Let’s explore some of these features:
Limited Password Generation Options
Apple Passwords can generate strong passwords, but customization is limited. Unlike third-party managers, it does not allow users to set specific requirements such as the length of the password or the inclusion and exclusion of certain character types like symbols, numbers, or uppercase letters.
Limited Storage for Sensitive Information
Apple Passwords focuses only on storing passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and credit card details. It’s even frustrating that you can’t view credit card information in the Passwords app, even though they are stored there.
In contrast, third-party password managers offer secure storage for a wide range of sensitive information, including identity documents (passports, driver’s licenses), banking details, crypto wallet recovery phrases, medical records, and even software licenses.
More Secure and Flexible Password Sharing
While Apple allows password sharing with trusted contacts, third-party password managers provide more control and security. Many offer features like one-time, end-to-end encrypted links that allow users to securely share login credentials and other sensitive information without revealing them in plaintext.
Some even allow temporary access, meaning a shared password link can automatically expire after a set period. Additionally, users can share entire vaults with family members or teams while restricting access to certain credentials.
Multi-Platform Support Beyond Apple Devices
Apple Passwords is primarily designed for Apple users, with limited support for non-Apple platforms. In contrast, third-party password managers work seamlessly across macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and even browser extensions like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
This cross-platform support makes them ideal for people who use different operating systems or need to access their passwords from multiple devices.
Secure Vaults for Different Users
Most third-party password managers allow users to create multiple secure vaults, which helps in better organization and access control. For example, users can keep work and personal passwords separate or create shared vaults for family members while keeping other vaults private.
Some services even allow different permission levels, so a user can share login credentials with a colleague without allowing them to edit or delete the entry.
Basic Categorization Compared to Advanced Tagging
Apple Passwords primarily organizes credentials based on the website or app they belong to, but third-party password managers offer more advanced categorization features.
Many third-party password managers allow users to tag passwords based on their type, such as financial, social media, or work-related accounts. Some even offer custom folders and search filters that make it easier to find and manage large collections of credentials.
No Direct Breach Alerts
Apple Passwords does check for weak or reused passwords through iCloud Keychain, but it does not provide real-time breach alerts.
Most mainstream third-party password managers offer dark web monitoring, which continuously scans for compromised credentials and notifies users if their passwords appear in a data breach. Some even generate security reports that assess the overall strength of a user’s stored passwords.
Key Takeaway
If you’re someone who primarily uses Apple products and plans to continue doing so for many years, Apple Passwords is a solid option. It includes most of the essential security features that many users care about, and best of all, it’s free.
However, for those who use devices across multiple ecosystems, Apple Passwords may not be the best choice. Advanced users who need granular control over password generation, the ability to store various types of sensitive documents, or the option to securely share links with sensitive information should consider a third-party solution that offers these features.
Third-party password managers, like Proton, also offer free versions with basic password management features that meet the needs of most users. Almost every password manager also offers trial versions for their paid plan, so you can try them out to determine if the additional features are worth the cost compared to a free option like Apple Passwords.