What Makes a Password Manager Browser Extension Good?

When we test password manager browser extensions, we always examine the following aspects:

Smooth Credential Capture and Replay

When you log in to a website, the password manager asks if you want it to save your username and password. When you return to that site, the password manager asks if you would like it to fill in those credentials. We test each browser extension to ensure the process is quick and seamless.

Complex Password Generation

When you create a new account or update a password, you'll need a new one ready to go. Ideally, the password manager's browser extension will do it for you. In testing, we note whether or not the generator creates strong and unique passwords by default. Passwords that are a least 20 characters long and include all the major character types: uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols are the safest bets.

User Interface

No one wants another large, obstructive browser window on their screen while they browse. That's why we comment on the extension's appearance and whether the user interface was easy to use in our password manager reviews.

How Does a Password Manager Browser Extension Work?

Whenever you create a new account or update a password, a password manager creates strong and unique passwords and stores them in a vault accessible via app, browser extension, or website. When logging in to an existing account, the app can save your username and password so that when you come back to the site, the credentials fill in automatically. The apps are easy to use and take the guesswork and headaches out of remembering a dozen different passwords.

(Credit: Enpass/PCMag)

If you have multiple logins for the same website, the password manager browser extension lists all the options to select the right one and log in. Many browser apps can detect when you change your password on the website and ask you to update the entry stored in your password vault.

What About Passkeys for Browsers?

Passkeys eliminate the need for an email address and password combination. Many of the password managers we've tested let you create passkeys and store them in your vault.

Passkeys are the hot new technology within the cybersecurity industry, and it's too soon to tell whether they're making a significant difference in the wider cybercrime landscape. That said, researchers have told PCMag that widespread passkey adoption could make it harder for criminals to steal users' credentials and accounts since passkeys can't be stolen by hacking into a company's system.

That doesn't mean passkeys are an end-all, be-all solution. Shutting down cybercriminals has long been a game of digital whack-a-mole. So, it's not surprising that criminals have already figured out ways to get around passkeys using cookie-hijacking schemes.

(Credit: LogMeOnce/NordPass/Proton Pass/PCMag)

Should You Use Your Browser's Password Manager?

If you don't want to spend any money on new software today, we suggest trying out Google's free password manager. It's baked into the Chrome browser and the Android operating system, so you can access your passwords via your browser or mobile devices. You can use it on iOS, too, by enabling it within Chrome's browser app. We've written about how to use it, so check out our guide to using Google Password Manager.

Once you've gotten familiar with the basics of how a password manager works, you may want to switch to a password manager with a few more bells and whistles. There are capable, totally free password management options that work on other popular browsers, desktops, and mobile devices. LogMeOnce, NordPass, and Proton Pass all offer browser extensions for Google Chrome and free tiers of management in addition to affordable paid plans.