We Bought & Tested The Most Popular Password Protectors. Here’s Why Roboform Is #1
Summary: RoboForm outperformed the other password protectors in ease of use and overall function. This super affordable product was also able to generate passwords that were highly detailed and hard to break while still allowing for fast and easy browsing across the web, making it easy to remain protected while being busy.
I have worked in the IT department of a large company that is super passionate about security, thanks in part to the sensitive information that we manage. Over the years, I have found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of passwords that have to be managed on an ongoing basis. It's not easy to do, which is why most people in the field use a password manager or password protector.
I have been using one for personal use for more than 10 years. I have used it reliably and thought that I was using the most extensive and effective option out there. I know these tools can seem simple to use and not with a lot of features, but I was blown away when I took on this assignment to review them. What I thought was the best out there really was not.
RoboForm is really the best option, as this high-performing password protector is super reliable for both professional use and personal use.
First Impression
Let's be honest. Most password protectors seem pretty straightforward, and I wasn't expecting a whole lot when I went to the website to check it out. There's a nice free trial which is a good way to give it a look to see if it is a good option. I was initially surprised that this protector offered so many features and a nice, clean website that was easy to navigate.
I read through the content and had myself questioning if I was exposed to risks for the last 10 years. RoboForm is really filled with options and features that make it a solid investment. I went through the process to set it up and found it to be simple. It really takes nothing to get the account set up and to start using it.
Testing It
I installed RoboForm and got to work. I set it up to manage a few accounts right away, including my email and social media accounts. It provides one click logins no matter which site you visit with an AutoFill feature.
As I was going about my day, I would get a request to add a password whenever I visited a protected site. I was happy to do so. It took probably 30 seconds to add in each of the passwords I was using throughout the day. That's pretty effortless. RoboForm does a lot of the work for you, allowing for no hassle or long, complex setup process. No one has time for that.
I then decided to sit down with my tablet, and I was pleasantly surprised that RoboForm worked there, too. It will sync to any device at any time, and that's a pretty great feature to have.
Now, here is one of the things that can be frustrating with password protectors. You have no internet for whatever reason, but you need to get into a file or an email. With RoboForm, that's possible because it provides offline access to the data. That's really beneficial when you have a computer that's not online, or you need local storage of passwords only.
Here's a favorite problem I have – storing streaming service passwords. There is no doubt that every other week one of my kids will need the password, and that often means spending 5 minutes scrolling through all of the passwords on my devices to find their login information. However, when I had RoboForm in place, I found that this was no longer needed. There’s a super handy search button that lets me easily find exactly what I need in no time flat.
As a part of this process, I wanted to be sure that the system could provide me with ultra secure passwords to use. I was surprised here, too. RoboForm creates super strong passwords from a random password generator. That helps to amplify the amount of security it can offer, and from my professional experience, this is essential today. Cute passwords with the dog's names are just too easy to break.
RoboForm offers a Security Center where you can learn more about your passwords and make updates to them. This is a good place to get information about just how well you are protecting yourself online. A quality product, it offers excellent encryption services to protect against brute force and dictionary attacks. To do this, the company uses AES 256 bit encryption with PBKDF2 SHA256. That’s a lot of figures that may not seem like much, but it is critical to providing great protection. Also important is that RoboForm does offer multi-factor authentication, which is quickly becoming the go-to option when it comes to protecting accounts.
Here’s another great thing – the ability to share. You can share a single item and folder with someone without having to worry about sending information over the internet. The system sets up the access for you to make it easy for you to send information when and how you need to do so.
There’s more, too. I found RoboForm was outstanding in providing more help than just web passwords. You can store credit cards, fill in online forms, use Windows application passwords, Create Safenotes for your software license key or even your Wi-Fi password, and much more.
The final step I took was to contact customer service with a question. I did this at 11 pm on a Saturday night (that's when you can really tell if you're going to get help!) It took about 10 minutes to get help, and once I did, it was pretty fast and easy to use.
What Makes RoboForm Different from Other Products?
There are a few key ways that it stands out that, I have to say, make it worthwhile:
- Syncing - This really is a great feature because it allows you to easily work as you need to without having to jump through hoops.
- Ultra secure - That's why you use password protectors in the first place – and RoboForm offers ample encryption and solutions to keep you connected and on the go.
- Easy to set up - Without a doubt, this can prove to be one of the most important aspects of what you are doing. It takes about 30 seconds to add a password, and sometimes RoboForm does it automatically.
- Application passwords - You can use it for more than just web passwords, and in particular, I appreciated the sharing features that allow you to protect sensitive files and still share them as you need to.
- Creating secure passwords - Generating secure passwords that are truly highly easy to use on all of your sites is easier to do. If you need to up your game, this is how to do it.
Verdict
You have a lot of options when it comes to password protectors, but the comprehensive function of RoboForm makes it the best choice, hands down. It takes seconds to add passwords, and it is very affordable, too. Without a doubt, this is the password protector I am using because of how effective it can be.
Common Questions & Answers
Q: Is there a free trial?
Yes, definitely use this if you’re not sure, though I went right to setting it up because of how affordable it is.
Q: Is it good enough for professional use?
Yes, I have been using it for the last 30 days with my IT firm, and it is working well.
Q: Does it block access to sites?
RoboForm isn't going to help with the security of websites and viruses, but it does a great job of keeping your sites as secure as possible.
How Much Does It Cost?
RoboForm costs $1.99 per month, keeping it under $24 for the year. The free trial is a great way to find out if this is the right option for you.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
As of November 09, 2024, Ever since RoboForm was on major international media, an incredible amount of buzz has been generated.