Manual Thomas
Updated on: November 28, 2024
Fact-checked by Sam Boyd
Short on time? Here’s the final verdict:
LastPass Free and Premium both provide a secure way to store, manage, and access passwords, but they differ in terms of features and functionality. That said, they share key features like:
- Unlimited password storage.
- Automatic form filling.
- Secure password generator.
- Multi-factor authentication.
- Passkey support.
However, LastPass Premium offers several additional benefits, such as unlimited device sync, one-to-many sharing, 1GB encrypted file storage, and more advanced security features.
I took a closer look at the differences between LastPass Free and Premium to help you determine which plan is the best fit for your needs. Whether you’re an existing LastPass user considering an upgrade or you’re new to password managers altogether, this article will provide the insights you need to make an informed decision
LastPass Free vs. LastPass Premium — Quick Overview
Security & Data Privacy — Premium Provides Additional Security
Both plans use the same high-grade security measures:
- Encryption — Both LastPass Free and Premium use 256-bit AES encryption, which is one of the most secure encryption methods available.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (2FA) — Both plans support 2FA, adding an extra layer of security to user accounts by requiring a second method of authentication when logging in.
- Zero-Knowledge Policy — LastPass operates on a zero-knowledge architecture, meaning that only you can access your encrypted vault, and not even LastPass can see it.
Both LastPass Free and Premium offer multi-factor authentication (MFA) options to secure your accounts. You can use the built-in LastPass authenticator or a third-party authenticator app with both plans. In my tests, setting up MFA was quick and easy. However, I was impressed that LastPass Premium provides additional MFA options like Yubikey, fingerprint scanning, and smart card reader compatibility, giving users more flexibility and security choices.
In terms of account recovery, LastPass provides excellent options for both Free and Premium users. This includes mobile account recovery, master password hints, SMS recovery, the ability to restore a previous master password, and one-time passwords.
Unfortunately, LastPass has faced security vulnerabilities in the past, including a high-profile breach in 2022. In response to the incident, LastPass rebuilt its development environment, enhanced security measures, and added extensive logging and alerting capabilities among other things. Despite these incidents, LastPass’s encryption has never been broken.
Overall, while both plans offer strong security features, the LastPass Premium plan provides additional layers of protection and more advanced options, making it a superior choice for those who prioritize maximum security for their sensitive data.
Features — Premium Comes With Advanced Features
Both LastPass Free and Premium come with the same password generator. It allows you to create strong, unique passwords of varying lengths and character types. During account creation, LastPass automatically offered to generate a secure password, which I really liked. Afterwards, I found the password generator to be consistently reliable. Whenever I needed to create a new password, LastPass promptly suggested secure options.
The free and the paid plan alike give you the option to log into accounts with passkeys on websites that support this new tech. Passkeys are a passwordless authentication method that uses public-key cryptography to provide a more secure, user-friendly, and phishing-resistant alternative to traditional passwords. I think it’s great that LastPass has made them available even to free users, although at the moment you can only use them on desktop, via the LastPass Chrome browser extension.
LastPass’s Security Dashboard is a great feature that’s available to all users. It provides dark web monitoring to alert you if any of your account info is found in known data breaches. The dashboard also has a helpful password auditing tool that gives you an overview of the strength and security of all your saved passwords. It identifies weak, reused, or compromised passwords in your vault so you can easily update them.
During my tests, LastPass’s auto-fill and autosave worked seamlessly. When I created new accounts, LastPass immediately prompted me to save the login. Later, when I navigated to those login pages, LastPass automatically filled in my credentials. You can disable auto-fill for specific sites if desired, which I appreciate having for added security on sensitive websites.
LastPass Premium also provides emergency access — which is crucial for peace of mind. With this feature, you can grant one-time, temporary access to your password vault to a trusted emergency contact. I think this is a great way to ensure your loved ones can access your important accounts and information in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, LastPass Free doesn’t include this feature.
When it comes to file storage, both plans offer secure encryption for sensitive documents. However, the Premium plan provides significantly more space at 1 GB compared to the free plan’s 50 MB — I was able to store important files like IDs, insurance cards, and tax forms.
LastPass Free and Premium also come with password sharing but with notable differences. Free users can only share individual passwords and other vault items with one person at a time, which is somewhat limiting. On the other hand, the Premium plan allows sharing with multiple contacts simultaneously — this is incredibly useful for families or teams who need to share access to accounts regularly.
Overall, while LastPass Free comes with a good set of features, I think LastPass Premium is worth the upgrade for many users. The additional benefits like Emergency Access, extra storage space, and one-to-many password sharing give LastPass Premium a considerable lead. In my tests, I was consistently impressed with the extra features and flexibility that come with LastPass Premium.
Ease of Use & Setup — Both Offer the Same User-Friendly Experience
LastPass is one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use password managers on the market. Both the Free and Premium plans provide the same user-friendly experience, with a simple setup process and helpful tutorials to guide you through using all of the features.
I found it very easy to create a LastPass account and install the browser extension. The password requirements for the master password are strong, which I appreciate. I like that LastPass provides a link to their password generator to help you create a complex master password.
Once you install the browser extension, LastPass immediately takes you to the web vault. The vault interface is clean and uncluttered, making it simple to locate and use all the features. I was impressed with the brief tour LastPass provides on first opening the vault, with clear explanations of what each section does.
Setting up additional security features like passwordless login with biometrics was also a breeze. LastPass walks you through the process step-by-step. After I finished following the process, the biometric login with my MacBook Touch ID worked perfectly.
The mobile apps for iOS and Android are equally user-friendly. Downloading the app, logging in, and accessing your vault data is seamless. I really like that LastPass lets you enable auto-fill for logins, addresses, and credit cards on your mobile device. The layout and features are very similar to the web vault, so you can easily use LastPass on the go.
One area where I think LastPass could improve is password importing. While you can import from many other password managers and browsers, the process isn’t as streamlined as competitors that offer one-click direct importing. But overall, it’s still fairly quick and easy to import your data to LastPass.
In terms of differences between the Free and Premium plans, the experience is virtually identical. The Premium plan unlocks some additional sharing and advanced MFA features, but that doesn’t change the core functionality or ease of use. So whether you choose the Free or Premium plan, you’ll get the same intuitive, user-friendly password manager from LastPass.
Customer Support — Premium Offers Much Better Support Options
The support you get from LastPass on the Free plan is quite basic, offering access only to support articles and the community forum. If you’re a free user, you’ll need to rely on these resources to resolve your issues. There’s no email support, live chat, or phone support available unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
That said, I found LastPass’s “How To” guides, FAQs, and community forum to be comprehensive and helpful. The training videos and step-by-step guides made it easy to understand and resolve common issues. The community forum is active, with many users sharing solutions and tips.
Email support is available only for Premium, Teams, and LastPass Business users. Accessing it is straightforward — just log into the support center and click “Contact Us.” I appreciated the quick response time; I received a detailed answer in just over 5 hours.
Though LastPass claims to offer live chat support, my experience was disappointing. It’s restricted to Premium users, and even then, it’s unreliable. I tried numerous times over several days to connect with a representative but never succeeded. There was no queue system, making it frustrating and time-consuming.
Phone support is a huge advantage for LastPass’s paid subscribers. After submitting a request through the support center, I received a callback within minutes. The representative was friendly and resolved my technical issues quickly. This level of support is uncommon among password managers and is a big plus for LastPass Premium users.
Overall, LastPass offers decent customer support for premium users but falls short for free users. While the self-help resources are useful, the lack of accessible live chat and email support for free users is a drawback. For premium users, the inclusion of phone support and quick email responses are definite advantages.
Overall Winner: LastPass Premium
LastPass Free is a great choice for users who just need basic password management features. It offers unlimited password storage, easy auto-fill, and multi-device access (although limited to only one device type at a time). LastPass Free also includes standard security features like a security dashboard and basic multi-factor authentication.
However, in my tests I found that LastPass Premium provides a more comprehensive, feature-rich experience for those who want maximum security and convenience. With Premium, you get unlimited access across all your devices, both computers and mobile. It also enables one-to-many password sharing, 1 GB of encrypted file storage, advanced multi-factor authentication options, emergency access, and priority tech support.
While LastPass Free is a solid basic password manager, I recommend LastPass Premium for anyone who wants the best security and most useful features. In my opinion, the advanced tools and expanded storage are well worth the modest subscription cost. For optimal password management across all your devices and accounts, LastPass Premium is my choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LastPass Free secure enough for everyday use?
Yes, LastPass Free provides good security for everyday use. It uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is the same level of security used by banks and government agencies. However, LastPass Premium offers additional features such as advanced multi-factor authentication and Emergency Access, which can enhance your overall security and provide more comprehensive protection against threats.
What features are included in LastPass Premium that are not in the free version?
LastPass Premium includes several features not available in the free version. These include advanced multi-factor authentication options, priority tech support, and the ability to share passwords, items, and notes with multiple people securely. These features provide enhanced security, making it worth considering for users who need more than just basic password management.
Can I use LastPass on multiple devices with the free version?
No, the free version of LastPass only allows you to use the service on one type of device at a time, either a computer or a mobile device, and you can only swap devices 3 times. If you need to access your passwords across multiple devices simultaneously, you will need to upgrade to LastPass Premium. This flexibility is crucial for users who need consistent access to their password vaults on various devices throughout the day.
Does LastPass Free offer password sharing?
Yes, LastPass Free allows you to share passwords with one person. However, this feature is limited compared to LastPass Premium, which lets you share passwords, notes, and items with multiple people. Premium users also get the benefit of managing shared folders, making it easier to collaborate and securely share sensitive information with family members or colleagues.
