“I don’t need a password manager. I can remember all of them.”
“All of my passwords are the same so I don’t need to record them somewhere.”
“I have all of my passwords saved on my browser anyway.”
“Nobody will try to hack my account so I don’t need to securely store my information.”
If you have found yourself saying one of the above before, then you’re making a mistake. Password managers can offer so much to even the most average of users, and those of you that have multiple sign-ins on multiple websites (all of you) would be smart to securely write down your password.
If you’re one of the millions of people that use Chrome as a web browser, there’s something you should know. Anyone, and I mean anyone with access to your computer has access to all of your saved passwords on Chrome. Ever try typing “chrome://settings/passwords” into Chrome’s search bar?
You’ll find all of your usernames/passwords for all the sites you have saved the password for on Chrome. All of this is easily accessible by pretty much anyone on your computer.
Now do you want a password manager? If so, check out my list after the break of the top password manager apps available for Android.
1. Password Genie:
Password Genie is one of my personal favorites in the Play Store, as it serves almost as an electronic wallet, storing everything in one convenient place on your smartphone. The developers pride the app in its simplicity— it can be accessed with only one simple password.
You can sync all of your data with all of your devices, so any changes you make will be reflected across all platforms that you use.
And of course as any good password manager should, all of your information is encrypted, using 128-bit SSL and 128-AES encryption.
You can store all of your passwords, logins, credit card numbers, insurance info, pin numbers, garage codes, Rx numbers, and so much more. You can also store a photo of your card if you want.
Your passwords are organized by category, and the app allows for the creation of custom folders if the presets don’t fit your needs. Presents include: Bank Account, Birthday, Bookmark, Car Rental, Credit Card, Frequent Flyer, Hotel, Insurance, Note, Passport, Prescription, Saved Login, and Vehicle Information.
The app is free to download and comes with a 30-day free trial, but you’ll have to pay $5.99/year once the trial is over. It’s a great deal considering what you’re getting, and I definitely recommend Password Genie as a password manager.
2. mSecure:
mSecure is much like Password Genie, but has some more functionality when it comes to searching through your list of passwords and some other features. It’s also priced higher, so there is always a trade-off.
mSecure includes a built-in password generator which will create “unguessable passwords” for every website, which is a nice addition to add to the security-end of the program.
To make your information even more secure, the data stored in the app can self-destruct if someone tries to guess your password too many times. Worried about it self-destructing? You can back up everything through mBackup, your internal SD card, or through Gmail.
There is also a desktop version, so the app works cross-platform, on both PC/Mac and Android/iOS.
Like Password Genie, you can “group” your data into custom defined groups so you won’t have waste time searching for your passwords. You can also mark your favorite records for quick access. There are also search/sort functions so your can find them easier.
You can store an unlimited number of records, which is excellent, considering how many passwords people use these days.
The app also focuses on making things more efficient for the end-user, so the app can automatically fill in web-form fields in your browser so you don’t have to enter your passwords yourself.
Don’t worry about encryption, either, because mSecure has you covered. The app features ultra-secure 256bit Blowfish encryption.
Definitely grab this app if it seems like something you can use— it only has a one-time fee of $9.99 for the Android version, and a bit higher for the desktop version.
3. aWallet:
If you’re looking for a more lightweight option, or don’t want to spend money on a password manager, aWallet might be the solution for you.
aWallet is absolutely free in the Play Store, and has just enough features to keep you happy, and to keep your information secure. Once again, the app encrypts data using AES and Blowfish algorithms with key sizes of 256, 192 and 128 bits. It also supports Triple DES with key sizes of 168 and 112 bits— you’ll have nothing to worry about with this one.
If you do want to pay some money, however, you can upgrade to the pro version in the app, which adds a password generator and CSV import.
When you get into the app, it’s pretty easy to navigate your way around. There are four main modules, including Favorite Category, Categories, Lock, and Category Editor.
Favorite Category allows you to designate certain passwords as “favorites” so you don’t have to waste time searching through a big list for just one password.
Categories lets you search through all of your categories of passwords, which store every password you enter into the application.
Lock lets you set/reset your master password, which will allow you to initially access the application. If you leave the app at any time and go back to it, you will always have to enter your master password as a security measure.
Category Editor lets you set custom categories for your passwords if you find that you need them. The presets include: Computer Logins, Credit Cards, e-Banking, e-Shops, Email Accounts, and Web Accounts.
aWallet certainly presents a nice, free, and lightweight option for those not looking to fork over cash to keep their data organized and secure. Although it may not include many of the nifty features that some others have, it still gets the job done, and gets it done well.
4. Keeper:
Keeper is probably the most mainstream app of the bunch on this list, and is also free. For that reason, it’s one of the best password managers available on the Play Store.
The application includes many of the same features as the other apps on this list, including a password generator that creates high-strength security passwords and remembers them for you.
The app can also launch websites— all you have to do is tap on the username/password information on your device, and the app will securely fill in the form data, doing all of the work for you.
Probably the feature that stands out the most with Keeper is the fact that you can share records with business teams, work groups, and family members. This makes every so much easier, so you won’t have to keep telling family members every time you change the Netflix/Spotify password. I know that’s always been an issue in my family.
Once again, data is military AES encrypted so you won’t have to worry about a security breach— your data is well-protected. You’ll also get unlimited storage on Keeper’s Cloud Security Vault.
The app is also available cross-platform, on both Mac/PC and Android/iOS and syncs all of your data up for you.
While the base app is free, you have the option of getting Keeper Backup for $9.99 per device per year if its worth it for you.
I’d definitely grab this app if you’re looking for another free, lightweight password manager program. Compare aWallet with Keeper and see what you like best!
Obviously I can’t mention all of the password managers available on Google Play, as there are hundreds— do you guys have any personal favorites? Share in the comments section below. Stay safe out there!
Come comment on this article: Top 4 Android password manager apps [October 2013]
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