Password managers such as 1Password and Lastpass are excellent and super important. We maintain a recommended list of password managers for a reason – a good facilitates the use of solid and unique passwords everywhere on the web, regardless of the platform or the browser you use.
But to get the most out of them, you have to pay subscription fees. This has only sense – there is a cost to manage these cloud services. But now that Apple presents an application of autonomous passwords in iOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia, I wondered if I could drop my 1Password subscription and save a few dollars a month. I also use Authy for two -factor authentication keys, and I love it, but as Apple's password application also supports the standard 2FA keys, I could effectively eliminate two Applications of my iPhone.
When the application arrived in iOS 18, took the plunge, and I learned that most Users can replace their paying password manager with the free Apple solution. There are a few wrinkles and troubles, but it's really “good enough” for most everyday users. Apple could endure its application in a few places, and that will not do the work for power users, but the biggest discomfort I encountered has been to make the change, not using the Password application after transferring everything.
Change is the worst
The worst part of the passage of 1Password and Authy to apply Apple passwords was literally carried out.
Putting the passwords out of 1Password out has been quite easy. 1PASSWORD can quickly and easily export passwords to the CSV format (separate values of commas), and the password application matters quickly. He treated enough duplicates and only a handful of passwords did not matter.
Treating with this was more boring, either the reconciliation of the problem in 1Password and export again, or add them manually. It's not difficult, but it's a Tedoius process.
Worse, the movement of 2FA codes of Authy. I love synchronization and backup of Authy's clouds, but there is no civil servant export function. Without counting on third -party tools I do not trust (and that I do not want to configure), this means connecting to each account for which I have a code 2FA and adding a new one. In many cases, the service authorizes only one code 2FA and I had to deactivate 2FA and replace it from the Password application.
It's quite easy – it supports the standard manual code or “scan a QR code with your camera by phone”. Again, it's not a difficult task, but it's an hour of busy work that I prefer not to have to do.
Then there are other applications. I use Chrome a lot, so I had to enter the iCloud extension passwords so that Autofill works there. I also had to install the iCloud application on my Windows machine to synchronize my passwords (Apple does not provide password management on Windows, but passwords synchronize with browser extensions via the iCloud Windows application). If you plan to change to record costs for your password manager, expect it to take a little time. The entire process took the most of an afternoon, and I spent the coming days cleaning the bad occasional URL or the duplicated password.
Those who do not already have password management will not have to go through all of this, of course. Apple's passwords are a boon for anyone who has been reluctant to download and subscribe to a password manager – it is free, it is easy to start using and it is integrated into all your devices.
Foundry
Good enough for the most part
Apple password application works well enough for the basic functions on which most of us count. It stores and fills the connection passwords, Wi-Fi passwords, 2FA codes and pass keys. He warns you of passwords, reused passwords and reused passwords that have been easy to do that have appeared in major data violations. It is also relatively easy to safely share passwords with others. Apple also provides its own passwords suggested for new registrations.
It does not give you much in terms of other features of credit card and identification information on forms, storage or notes of secure documents, etc. Apple has other applications that do these things in an encrypted way, but if you use other platforms and browsers, they are not easily available.
I also prefer the interface of certain other applications to the effort rather of Apple pedestrians.
After configuring the browser extension in Chrome, you will need to enter a six -digit password (generated by the iCloud Windows application) to synchronize the browser extension with your stored passwords. It will not grasp the 2FA codes, so you will have to look at your iPhone for this. Good news, however: with MacOS Sequoia and the application of passwords, the Chrome and Edge extensions – as well as Firefox last December – on the Mac as well.
Just say that for most Users, Apple Password Application does the job. It is not a luxury experience, but most people do not use a password manager at all … putting them in the door this way is a good thing. If you love Your current password manager and use it to connect to several platforms and browsers, it may well be worth paying your subscription fees.
If you mainly use Apple and Safari products, you will have more fluid driving, and it is difficult to recommend a paid password manager for everyone, except PowerY users.
