NordPass review: The VPN experts can now look after your passwords
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Good security features
- Decent free tier
Cons
- Password import from Keychain only via a Mac
- Best features are on paid tier
Our Verdict
NordPass is a solid and easy to use password manager with plenty of useful features.
Price When Reviewed
45 Euro
You may be familiar with the NordVPN brand, as it’s one of the most popular VPNs around and features at the top of our best VPN chart. But, that’s not the only string to the company’s bow, as a little while back it introduced a password manager called NordPass. So, does the expertise in one field translate to another? Here’s how NordPass shapes up.
Software & Features
- Autofill login details
- Import passwords from other password managers
- Store passwords, passkeys, documents and account details
NordPass may well be one of the newest password managers around, but it already feels like a mature product, with all the features you’d expect in a modern service.
Once installed, you can import your existing passwords from Chrome or Firefox browsers or output a CSV file from your previous password manager and import this to NordPass (there are helpful instructions to help you do this). After that, you should be good to go.
Importing existing passwords from iCloud Keychain is less simplistic but it can be done, albeit only via a Mac. To import a CSV file to NordPass click on Settings > Import Items and choose Safari. You can then upload the CSV file from iCloud Keychain.
There is also a NordPass Safari extension that you need to install if you prefer to use Safari. To add this extension to Safari click on Safari in the menu bar, choose Settings, and then open Extensions and enable the extension. You may then need to pair the extension with a 4-digit code that will be supplied.
NordPass supports biometrics, so once you’ve created your master password you will only have to enter it occasionally as a security measure, and all other times you can use Touch ID or Face ID to access your passwords.
As you’d expect, NordPass can autofill your login details on sites or apps, plus you can also store your address and credit card details so all of these will automatically populate text fields when you’re checking out, saving lots of time.
The interface is on par with other password managers, in that you have the main Home page where you can see your passwords, plus links to other features you can set up, such as entering the data for the form-filling features mentioned above.
Along to bottom of the screen you have tabs for various areas of the app. There’s the Browse page, where you can quickly look at, enter or edit passwords, passkeys, secure notes, credit cards, and personal details, as well as organizing them into folders.
Martyn Casserly
The next option is Tools, where you’ll find the password generator. With this you can easily create long complicated passwords that are difficult to crack. There are also options to include or omit capital letters, digits or symbols, depending on what the app or site requires.
To check on the current security level of your passwords there’s a Password Health area that lets you know if any are particularly weak or overused.
For Premium subscribers, there’s also Email Masking, which can generate temporary emails addresses for when you’re signing up to online services that you don’t expect to use for long. It’s basically the same as the Hide My Email service Apple includes with iCloud+.
You can also avail yourself of the Data Breach Scanner on the Premium tier, which will warn you if any of your passwords have appeared in leaks or security breaches reported online.
Finally, Premium members can securely share passwords with others (they don’t have to be NordPass members) via links created in the app.
NordPass is available on macOS, iOS, Android, Windows and Linux, plus there is the secure Web Vault that means you can access the information from any browser. Extensions are available on Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera, Firefox and Brave.
Security & Encryption
- XChaCha20 encryption
- Data Breach Monitoring
- Multi-Factor Authentication
To protect your data, NordPass utilizes XChaCha20 encryption, which is arguably even tougher to crack than the AES-256 variant used by most password managers.
NordPass uses a zero-knowledge architecture, which means your data is encrypted and decrypted locally on your device, so NordPass never has access to your master password or Login details. This is a pretty standard technique and one you’ll find on most other password managers. The reason being, that even if the NordPass servers are cracked, this won’t expose your data as the encryption/decryption key required on your device.
Martyn Casserly
As mentioned above, NordPass will monitor Premium accounts to look for any reports of data breaches, so you can change your account details before they become compromised.
Multi-factor authorization is also available, allowing you to set up further levels of security to prevent hackers. This can be via a One Time Password (OTP) being sent to your device, authenticator apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator, plus a USB authenticator if you’re on a Mac or PC.
Price & Availability
There is a free tier available on NordPass, which also has a 30-day trial of the Premium features. Then, if you want, you can stay free or pay $20.28/£19.08 p/a for a single Premium account. Should you want the Family package, which gives you six Premium accounts, then that will set you back $35.88/£35.88 p/a.
The free tier is quite good, in that it allows for unlimited passwords and passkeys, supports the autofill feature, Multifactor authorization, secure notes and the password generator. If you’re only using one device, then it’s probably most of what you need. You can sync the passwords between devices, but only one can be logged in at a time, so bear that in mind.
Moving up to the Premium tier opens up the ability to be signed in on multiple devices, while also unlocking secure sharing, Email Masking, and the Data Breach Scanner. These are useful tools, and as the overall asking price is quite reasonable, they look like good value to us.
Should you buy NordPass?
NordPass is a solid and easy-to-use password manager that actually has a pretty decent free tier if you’re not switching between devices too often. Support for biometrics, passkeys and multifactor authentication make it secure, while the wide range of apps and extensions means it should work on all your device. It’s reasonably priced too. Good work Nord!