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Apple will challenge LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane, and NordPass with the launch of its own password manager. The standalone application — called simply "Passwords" — will be bundled with the next round of operating system updates, which are coming to Apple devices worldwide this autumn.
How does this new free-to-use option from Apple stack-up against the competition? Are the teams behind award-winning password managers, like 1Password, and NordPass, concerned about the new competition?
And does the fact that Apple is launching its own password manager confirm everyone should be using one?
Passwords will bring together all of the functionality offered with iCloud Keychain and expand upon it with the ability to store two-factor authentication codes, URLs, encrypted notes, and Passkeys
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Passwords might be a new application set to launch in the coming months, but this isn't the first time Apple has offered to manage your passwords for its users. Millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac users stored their passwords in iCloud Keychain for some time — allowing them to log into websites and apps with a Face ID facial recognition or Touch ID fingerprint scan.
iCloud Keychain can suggest secure, unique passwords whenever you create a new login, with everything encrypted and stored in Apple's servers, so there's no need to remember the random jumble of letters, numbers, and symbols. When it comes time to log in, Apple will automatically fill-in all of the details.
Outside of Apple's own devices, iCloud Keychain is available for Google Chrome, but that's it. Apple has not made the service available across all operating systems, like Android, making it tough for those who regularly use non-Apple devices to wholly commit to this solution.
That's something third-party solutions, like the award-winning 1Password, LastPass, and NordPass offer.
With a single subscription, users can download an application on any of their devices and access an encrypted vault of their passwords. These services offer native applications for dozens of platforms, from iPhone to Android, Mac to Windows, Linux to the most popular web browsers, and many more.
Once you've unlocked this vault, you're able to log in to every website or app with a single click.
1Password, LastPass, NordPass, and others will fill in your username and password automatically from the vault. Many of these solutions support biometric authentication, so you can verify your identity with a fingerprint scanner, another device like an Apple Watch, or with a facial scan system like Windows Hello.
You're not tied to a single operating system, so buying an Android or iPhone device next time you upgrade won't cause you a headache with exporting passwords.
Many of these applications also offer the ability to monitor the Dark Web for data breaches that include your login credentials, the ability to store encrypted photos, social security numbers and passports, suggestions for a more secure connection if one of the websites supports improved technology, to name just a few.
1Password will generate unique passwords for every account, encrypt and store them for you and autofill webpages and apps when you need to log in. However, it can also be used to keep secure notes, Wi-Fi passwords, social security and passport numbers
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A number of these password managers also double up as a way to write and lock secure notes too.
1Password, NordPass, and LastPass have all updated their software to support Passkeys — the next-generation system designed to replace passwords altogether that's already been adopted by WhatsApp and Elon Musk's X social media.
So, how does Apple's incoming Passwords app stack up?
Pretty well, as it turns out.
During a jam-packed developer conference earlier this month, Apple announced a UK release date for the Apple Vision Pro, Apple Intelligence to rival ChatGPT, suggested it had plans to integrate Google Gemini into a future iPhone update, and unveiled its all-new Passwords app.
iCloud Keychain will be replaced with Passwords, which is a standalone app that lives outside of the Settings menu on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It will store usernames, passwords, two-factor authentication codes, URLs, encrypted notes, and Passkeys.
Passwords will be able to generate unique passwords for every login.
If you're part of an iCloud Family, then you'll be able to share secure login details with family members.
So far, there's little to separate Passwords from its closest competition. Those with a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC will be able to access everything in the vault via the iCloud for Windows app.
Apple Passwords will sync across all of your devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, and even Windows PCs via iCloud for Windows
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The biggest advantage that Passwords has over the likes of 1Password, LastPass, and NordPass is that Apple won't charge anything for this feature. Passwords will be bundled as part of the next free operating system updates later this year and, as long as you're not short of iCloud storage, then it won't cost you a penny.
Questioned by The Verge on whether the Passwords app from Apple represents a threat, Dashlane chief product officer Donald Hasson said: "What users appreciate most about Dashlane is that it seamlessly works across any platform, any device, any time.
"The vast majority of our users have Dashlane on multiple platforms. Having options, especially when it comes to where and how you save your credentials, is key."
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"Apple’s track record with cross-platform support, such as the limited functionality of iCloud for Windows and conflicts with Google over SMS standards, raises concerns about the usability of their Passwords app across different platforms," added Product Lead Son Nguyen, who works at rival application Proton Pass.
Passwords will be available as a free application with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, visionOS 2.0, and macOS Sequoia in the coming months. Apple has included support to import encrypted vaults from rival services.
