What Password Manager Lab is and how we test
Our methodology for reviewing and comparing password managers: what we test, what we don't accept, and how to read our coverage.
Password Manager Lab publishes independent reviews, head-to-head comparisons, and setup guides for password managers and credential security tools.
What we cover
- Manager reviews — 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, Keeper, NordPass, and the broader field
- Comparisons — browser-saved passwords vs. dedicated vaults; free tiers vs. paid; cloud sync vs. local-only
- Setup guides — step-by-step walkthroughs for first-time setup, family sharing, and team plans
- Security fundamentals — passkeys, TOTP, hardware keys, breach alerts, and how credential stuffing works
How we evaluate
Every manager review scores the same seven dimensions:
- Encryption model — where keys are derived, whether zero-knowledge is actually zero-knowledge, and what the audit record looks like
- Cross-platform reach — iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, browser extensions
- Auto-fill reliability — tested on a fixed set of login pages including financial sites, government portals, and poorly-built forms
- Sharing and recovery — emergency access, family plan usability, what happens when you lose your device
- 2FA integration — built-in TOTP, hardware key support, whether the vault itself requires MFA at login
- Breach monitoring — Pwned Passwords / Have I Been Pwned integration, scope, accuracy
- Price and business model — what the free tier actually includes, whether the pricing is stable, and what we know about the company’s ownership
What we don’t do
We don’t accept payment for coverage. Affiliate links exist on this site (disclosed on every post that uses them), but they don’t determine what we write or how we rate. A manager that pays more in commissions does not get a higher score.
We don’t review products we can’t install and test ourselves. That excludes enterprise-only tools with no trial access. If a review has restrictions, they’re stated.
We don’t pretend audit reports are a substitute for independent testing. We read them. We also test.
Who writes here
Pseudonymous editorial team. Tips and corrections welcome via editor@passmgrlab.com.
Related
1Password review 2026: best-in-class auto-fill, subscription-only pricing
A full 1Password review: Secret Key architecture, Watchtower, Travel Mode, family and team plans, and why it has no free tier.
Bitwarden review 2026: the best free password manager, with caveats
A full Bitwarden review covering its zero-knowledge encryption, open-source codebase, free vs. premium tiers, and where it falls short.
Bitwarden setup guide: from zero to secure vault in 30 minutes
A complete Bitwarden setup walkthrough for new users: account creation, browser extension, mobile app, master password, and importing existing passwords.