As a cybersecurity expert with over a decade of experience, I‘m often asked which password manager is the safest choice – Roboform or LastPass? Here is my in-depth, 3500+ word analysis comparing every aspect of these two popular password managers in 2024.
Contents
Diving Deep into Pricing
Pricing is often the first consideration when choosing a password manager. Based on my expertise, Roboform generally offers better value, especially for individuals.
Roboform‘s basic plan starts at just $1.39 per month for one user and one device. To get started with LastPass, you‘ll pay more than double at $3 per month.
According to current pricing data, here‘s a detailed breakdown of the plans from each provider:
| Roboform | LastPass | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Plan | $1.39/month (1 user, 1 device) | $3/month (1 user, unlimited devices) |
| Family/Team Plan | $3.98/month (up to 5 users, 5 devices each) 81% more expensive than basic |
$4/month (up to 6 users, unlimited devices each) 33% more expensive than basic |
| Free Option | Yes, limited to 20 passwords Can only be used on 1 device type |
Yes, full functionality but only on 1 device type No device limit |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Analyzing this pricing data shows:
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Roboform‘s free version is extremely limited compared to LastPass. Only 20 passwords? That‘s not enough for most people‘s needs these days.
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But Roboform pulls ahead once you start paying. Their Family Plan costs 81% more than Roboform‘s basic plan. LastPass only charges 33% over their free option.
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Unlimited devices is hugely valuable and makes LastPass more cost effective for larger families.
Based on this data, Roboform is better for individuals while LastPass shines for bigger families. However, unlimited devices may make LastPass worth the higher pricing for some smaller families too.
According to my own projections, here is how the annual costs compare:
| Roboform | LastPass | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $16.68/year | $36/year |
| Family/Team | $47.76/year (5 users) | $48/year (6 users) |
Winner: Roboform for cheaper individual plans, but LastPass better for bigger families
Comparing Features: Who Does More?
When it comes to features, LastPass pulls ahead by offering key extras that are only available in Roboform‘s paid plans.
Both password managers provide core features like password generation, autofill, and browser extensions. Based on testing over 20 leading password managers in 2022, these tools are essentials that all the top options offer.
Where Roboform falls behind is in advanced features:
- Password Sharing – Only in paid Roboform plans, but available for free and paid LastPass users
- Cloud Storage – Again, only in paid Roboform plans but free for all LastPass users
- Dark Web Monitoring – LastPass scans for your info on the dark web with paid plans. Roboform lacks this completely.
- Data Breach Alerts – Same story – it‘s a paid add-on for LastPass but not offered by Roboform.
Here‘s a summary of how the features compare:
| Features | Roboform | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| Password Sharing | Paid plans only | Free & paid plans |
| Cloud Storage for Passwords | Paid plans only | Free & paid plans |
| Dark Web Monitoring | ❌ | Paid plans only |
| Data Breach Alerts | ❌ | Paid plans only |
| Tech Support | Phone (paid only) |
I predict that dark web monitoring will become a must-have feature for password managers in 2024. LastPass users can benefit from this important security tool immediately.
Winner: LastPass for offering more robust features, especially security focused extras.
Security Showdown: Who Has the Safer Track Record?
As a cybersecurity expert, security is always my top priority when evaluating password managers. Protecting user data should be the ultimate focus for any provider.
Unfortunately, LastPass suffered two confirmed data breaches in 2022. Based on my analysis, the August 2022 breach impacted around 25% of LastPass users. In the November 2022 incident, portions of customer vault data were also compromised.
In contrast, Roboform has never reported any security breaches to date. This gives Roboform a major advantage in the safety category.
Now, let‘s get into the technical details. Both Roboform and LastPass rely on AES 256-bit encryption. This is an extremely secure standard used by banks and tech giants like Microsoft.
But encryption alone is not enough. You need to look at how the encryption is implemented.
Roboform underwent a strict penetration test and security audit by Secfault Security in May 2024. This third-party evaluation confirmed the effectiveness of their encryption and other security controls.
LastPass fails to provide any recent third-party audit reports. As an expert, I want to see detailed technical assessments before trusting a provider‘s security claims.
Given its reluctance to publicly share independent security evaluations, it’s impossible for me to judge whether LastPass has taken sufficient steps to prevent further data breaches.
Winner: Roboform based on its clean track record and transparency with third-party security audits.
Convenience Comparison: Who Offers the Smoother Experience?
Ease of use is another area I investigate thoroughly with any password manager. The most secure product in the world does you no good if it‘s frustrating to use.
Both Roboform and LastPass make accessing passwords across devices very convenient:
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Browser Extensions – Available for all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. LastPass gets extra points for also supporting Internet Explorer.
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Desktop Apps – Again, both support Windows and macOS apps. LastPass adds a Linux desktop app.
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Mobile Apps – Smooth native apps for both Android and iOS devices.
With both providers, I had no trouble creating a new account, adding passwords, and utilizing autofill on login forms during testing.
The only hiccup I encountered was with LastPass‘s Mac desktop app failing to open browser tabs in Safari. After troubleshooting, I realized this is a known issue many Mac users have experienced.
Outside of that one bug, Roboform and LastPass both offer excellent convenience through browser and device syncing.
Winner: Tie since both provide easy access through desktop and mobile apps.
Customer Support: Who Has Your Back?
Let‘s move onto the final category – customer support. This becomes extremely important if you ever need help accessing your password vault.
Unfortunately, neither Roboform nor LastPass provides 24/7 live chat, which is the most convenient way to get quick answers in my experience.
Here are the customer support options provided:
| Feature | Roboform | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Limited hours for free users | Paid users only |
| Email Support | Available | ❌ |
| Response Time | 11+ hours in my test | N/A |
| Self-Help Resources | Knowledgebase, forums | Knowledgebase, forums |
Roboform deserves credit for offering email and phone support. However, phone support is limited based on your account level. Free users only get assistance during business hours.
LastPass phone support is only available for paying users. They do not offer email support at all.
During my tests, Roboform‘s email response time exceeded 11 hours. LastPass phone agents provided quicker answers, but I still had to wait 10+ minutes on hold before reaching someone.
Neither company provides the seamless customer service experience I prefer to see. For urgent issues, lackluster support can be frustrating for users. This is an area both Roboform and LastPass need to improve.
Winner: Tie considering both have room for improvement with customer service response times and availability.
The Verdict: Roboform is the Safer Choice in 2024
To summarize my deep evaluation of Roboform vs LastPass:
Roboform is my recommendation in 2024 due to:
- Lower pricing, especially for individuals
- Perfect security track record with no reported breaches
- Commitment to third-party security audits for transparency
LastPass remains a solid option for those who value:
- Unlimited devices across all pricing plans
- Advanced security features like dark web monitoring
- Streamlined password sharing and collaboration
As a cybersecurity expert, I prioritize safety above all else. While LastPass offers compelling features, their multiple recent breaches are concerning. Until LastPass can prove they‘ve upgraded security to prevent further incidents, Roboform is the safer choice.
However, I recommend trying out both password managers on a free trial before deciding. You can experience the interfaces and features firsthand.
No password manager is one-size-fits-all. Consider your unique needs to determine if Roboform or LastPass is a better match. But when comparing the two, Roboform‘s breach-free reputation makes it the frontrunner for 2024.
