NordPass is a proprietary password manager launched in 2019. It is meant to help its users to organise their passwords and secure notes,[1] keeping them in a single encrypted password vault.[2] This service comes in both free and premium versions, though the free version lacks much of the paid functionality like multi-device login.[3] NordPass was developed by the same cybersecurity team [4] that created NordVPN, a VPN service[5] provider.[6]
NordPass is a cross-platform application available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also offers browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Safari.[7]
Security features
- NordPass is built with the ChaCha20 encryption algorithm specifically the XChaCha variant.[8]
- NordPass has zero-knowledge architecture,[9] meaning that passwords are encrypted on the user's device and only then stored in the cloud. This way, NordPass cannot view, edit, or in any other way manage users’ passwords.[10]
- An encrypted vault acts as a digital safe where users can store login credentials, secure notes, and credit card details.[11]
- The Master Password serves as the key that unlocks the encrypted vault.[12] Master Password protects the user's passwords,[13] but it's up to the user to make it strong.[14]
- NordPass provides two-factor authentication (2FA).[15] It supports multiple authentication apps, including Google Authenticator, Duo, and Authy.
- In its latest release it includes FIDO U2F support. This means that it will now work with YubiKey and other third party security keys.[16] Though this protection is embedded at the service login instead of the app which is a weakness.
- NordPass provides a Secure Password Sharing Feature which allows for the secure sharing of passwords between NordPass users.[17]
- NordPass can scan data breaches for password leaks.[18]
- NordPass can identify weak, reused, or old passwords which it divides into Weak, Reused, and Old.[19]
An independent cybersecurity firm, Cure53, in February 2020 conducted an audit and confirmed the security of NordPass password manager.[20]
NordPass is based in Panama, which has no mandatory data retention laws and does not participate in the Five Eyes or Fourteen Eyes alliances.[21][22] This means that the company[23] isn't required by law to keep logs or share them with governments.[24]
Reception
When NordPass initially launched in 2019, it received mixed reviews, with some tech review sites pointing out the absence of certain features. PC Mag, for instance, mentioned that “it offers very few advanced features such as form-filling, folders, security monitoring, or 2FA key support”.[25]
As NordPass and its features have evolved over time, it has received positive recognition from both users and critics, as highlighted on influential tech websites such as Wired, Forbes, Business Insider, and TechRadar.[26][27][28][29]
In its 2023 review by Tech.co, NordPass was acknowledged as “functional, slickly designed password manager” with “neat extra features such as a Data Breach Scanner.” However, the review rating was lowered due to the NordPass app's limitations, such as the inability to change passwords for accounts within the app itself and the absence of certain features, like a failsafe switch.[30]
In January 2024, TechRadar named NordPass “the best free password manager of 2024”. The reviewers praised NordPass for its “stellar security features” and described the user experience as "a straightforward and very user-friendly process. At the same time, TechRadar reviewers expressed dissatisfaction that NordPass lacks team management settings in its free version.[31]
TechRadar also ranked NordPass Business as the second-best authenticator app of 2024,[32] stating that it is a great choice “for companies aiming to achieve a higher level of security.”
Awards and Rankings:
Various news websites and tech magazines have featured NordPass in their rankings of the top password managers on the market. These include TechLapse (1st place),[33] Earthweb (1st place),[34] Numerama (1st place),[35] Money (1st place),[36] and CBS News (3rd place).[37]
In 2024, G2, a widely recognized peer-to-peer review site,[38] recognized NordPass as a leader in its password manager quadrant report.[39] NordPass Business earns a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on dozens of customer reviews on G2.[40]
NordPass is the winner of several prestigious awards, including 'Easiest Set-Up Password Manager 2020' and 'One of the Best Password Managers 2020'.[41]
