Keeper vs Lastpass

Managing secure, complex passwords can feel like a full-time job. Two popular password management platforms, Keeper and LastPass, promise to simplify the process without compromising a user’s online security at their favorite or most-used websites.

Keeper describes themselves as being “fanatical” about protecting passwords and secure data. It offers a private master password that only the user knows, which is used as a decryption key. The decryption occurs locally, as does the encryption, so that even if the information is accessed by an unauthorized party, it is virtually unusable.

LastPass offers a similar experience. It offers users the option of storing digital records of many types, from passwords to credit card information. A browser extension is used to simplify the user experience while online, helping to autofill login data or online shipping information to reduce the amount of time that must be dedicated to data input.

Here are the key points of comparison in the Keeper vs LastPass debate.

1. Subscription Cost

Keeper offers users a free trial to determine if it has the capability of meeting their needs. The free trial is not included on their family plan. The individual plan is priced at $30 per year and includes unlimited password storage, unlimited devices with syncing, secure record sharing, biometrics logins, and customer support. The family plan is good for up to 5 years and is priced at $60 per year.

There is also a business plan from Keeper, priced at $30 per user, per year. The business option features an admin console, automated provisioning, and other specific features that are more beneficial from an organizational point of view.

LastPass offers a freemium experience. On the free plan, basic password protection can be achieved. For syncing and mobile use, the premium plan is required, priced at $2 per month, though billed annually at $24. The premium version offers multi-factor options, application support, and up to 1 GB of encrypted file storage.

There is also a family plan at $4 per month that provides up to 6 user licenses, unlimited shared folders, and password management for individual family members on the same URL.

2. Initial Setup

Keeper and LastPass offer a similar setup process. The password data is tied to specific URL information that is gathered locally and then encrypted before being sent to servers that Keeper or LastPass maintain. How that information is gathered, however, is slightly different between the two.

Keeper supports importing passwords and data which needs to be secured through the use of web browsers, other password managers, and .csv files. Users need to log into their vault, choose the type of file or information that they wish to upload, and then drag-and-drop the file as instructed by the platform.

LastPass collects information from the URLs that are visited when using the browser extension component of the platform. Users can choose to manually enter the information if they prefer as well. It also supports imports that come from a generic .csv file, though spreadsheets from iOS and Mac platforms can sometimes format incorrectly.
LastPass offers an option to import passwords from individuals who do not have administrative control as well, though these passwords are stored locally and without the same level of security.

3. Security

Both Keeper and LastPass offer options that include two-factor authentication. Keeper allows users to turn off two-factor authentication if they prefer. LastPass requires an upgrade from the free plan to have this security option.

Keeper offers users a self-destruct option that kicks in when an incorrect password is entered five times consecutively. The records are not deleted from the security vault, however, and can be retrieved with a proper login cycle. Users need to sign-in with their master password and two-factor authentication if enacted. A cloud-data restore can also be performed from the sync screen on the app.

This feature does not activate on Keeper until a paid subscription is in place, so it is not available during the free trial.

LastPass does not offer a self-destruct feature at the time of this comparison.

4. File Storage

Keeper allows users who are taking advantage of the free trial to have up to 100 MB of secure storage space, though this space is also limited to 5 files or less. On the individual plan, there is unlimited secure record sharing, but there is no added secure file storage included with the plan. It can be added to the individual plan for an added $9.99 per year, which would then provide 10 GB of secure file storage.

On the family plan, up to 10 GB of secure file storage is included as part of the base plan. Business plans have secure file storage available as an add-on, much like the individual plan.

Up to 1 TB of secure file storage is available as an add-on, with annual pricing up to $750 per year for the largest levels of space.

LastPass allows users to have up to 1 GB of file storage capabilities within their vault. As with the passwords, the information being saved to the vault is encrypted before being sent to the server.

5. Autofill Options

Keeper utilizes a trademarked feature they call KeeperFill. It is designed to display a small icon along recognized data entry fields that have been saved for the URL. Users must click on the icon to create a pop-up screen that displays the data, where a button must then be clicked to authorize the data to be entered.

LastPass is designed to maintain URL entries from within the vault itself. It takes users to a specific URL that has been saved and autofills the information that has been entered into the database. This makes it a simple and convenient solution that speeds up the process of data entry for a user’s most visited websites.

Both platforms offer password and data sharing to authorized parties, allowing for emergency access, collaboration, or other needs. There may be additional pricing associated with this feature, especially for those using Keeper or the free version of LastPass.

Keeper vs LastPass: Which Is Better?

Keeper and LastPass offer a similar set of features that can be used on a variety of platforms. Because of the similarities, the differences in file storage and cost become deciding factors for many users.

Keeper is more expensive to use, but it also offers 10 times more secure storage when compared to LastPass. If there is a need to store large files or login credentials from several different websites, Keeper has more to offer than LastPass.

At the same time, LastPass is more convenient to use. It offers simple notifications that let users know they’ve properly saved or inputted the data they need for each website. Sharing is available at the $2 per month level as well, which saves money.

Have you used Keeper and LastPass? What is your opinion of these two password protection platforms?