The Best Free Password Managers for Small Businesses
How password managers like Dashlane and LastPass can make cybersecurity easy for your business.
Managing passwords for all the various business tools we use can be a headache.
I know many of us feel like we don’t have the mental bandwidth to make up one more password and actually remember it. The end result?
❌ Easy-to-guess passwords
❌ Reusing the same login over and over
❌ Sharing passwords with team members and collaborators through email or spreadsheets
I know, I know…small business owners don’t have a lot of time or money to throw around trying to solve these issues. That’s how we arrived at these shortcuts in the first place. I have good news: There is a straightforward and even free way to ensure that your passwords are strong, and to share them with other members of your team.
Free Password Managers I Recommend
I would like to introduce you to two services that offer free password management software to simplify your life and keep your data secure:
1️⃣ Dashlane Free Plan
- Store up to 25 passwords on one device
- Share passwords securely with others using Dashlane
2️⃣ LastPass Free Plan
- Store unlimited passwords on one type of device (desktop or mobile)
- Share passwords securely with others using LastPass
Must-Have Features for Secure Password Sharing and Storage
🔌 Web Browser Password Extension
I consider this the secret sauce of effective password managers: an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari that allows you to auto-populate your saved passwords on the websites you visit. This makes it a breeze to navigate around the web quickly and safely.
🔑 Password Generator
Guess what? You don’t have to think up new passwords anymore. Dashlane or LastPass can do that work for you with their password generator tool. You can even make adjustments to how long the password should be, special characters that should be included/excluded, etc. Your password manager will generate a unique, strong password for each new login you create and then save it for future use.
If your business grows to a point that you need a paid plan, both LastPass and Dashlane offer reasonable monthly rates for more robust plans that allow you to create teams in the password manager, or group login credentials into folders that can be shared with specific people or groups. However, most small businesses will not need that level of service.
Let me know if you have questions about keeping your passwords safe online!
Warmly,
Nikki Shaheed
Heart-centered web design for small businesses & nonprofits