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Passwd password manager review in 2025


Password management for a large team can be rather difficult. Per-user pricing often makes scaling your business hard, and many solutions aren’t flexible enough to suit business needs. Dealing with tens or even hundreds of users can be exhausting for managers. Fortunately, Passwd claims to have the solution. It intends to solve many of these problems by leveraging Google Services to provide simple security for a pretty low price. The Passwd password manager can be a potentially great solution for organizations in the Google Workspace ecosystem.

In this review, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Passwd to help you make an informed decision.

Best alternative to Passwd
NordPass is one of the most popular password managers on the market. It uses next-gen xCbaCba20 encryption, along with a host of features for both individuals and businesses to keep your data safe.
cybernews® score
4.9 /5

Passwd review – pros and cons

kamile-bagdonaite Ieva Jociūtė author sarunas karbauskas Author's picture
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Our in-house research team thoroughly analyzes password managers, and our team of experts uses the gathered insights and hands-on experience to evaluate each provider accordingly. Find out how we assess password managers.

19
Password Managers Tested
6
Month Testing Cycle
2,400+
Hours of Extensive Testing

Passwd review – key takeaways

Passwd is a relative newcomer to the password management game, launching in 2023. This means that many features are still a work in progress. Since the team is constantly working on the product and is open to feedback, information in this review might change quickly.

Here’s a short overview of what Passwd has to offer:

  • Security. Passwd provides best-in-class AES-256 encryption. Unfortunately, the fact that its encryption and decryption happen on a remote cloud means that while adhering to the zero-knowledge principle, it’s not fully zero knowledge.
  • Ease of use. Passwd is simple to use, offering easy access through your browser. However, its more advanced features are lacking. For example, it only offers its autofill feature on Google Chrome. I also dislike how you have to choose between an insecure yet intuitive autofill feature or simply copying and pasting passwords from the extension.
  • Features. Passwd shines in the features it targets toward teams. Robust access management and a seamless integration into the Google Workspace are impressive. Unfortunately, I found the other features, like the Password generator and Security audit to be lackluster compared to other password managers.
  • Plans and pricing. Passwd’s $49.00/month price may seem like a lot, and it is for a single user. But it is targeted toward large teams, where users and records are unlimited, making this price pretty attractive.

Is Passwd safe?

Yes, Passwd is safe, but there are safer password managers on the market. It employs AES-256 encryption, a popular and very secure encryption method. It also adheres to zero-knowledge principles, although not entirely, due to its reliance on the cloud to encrypt and decrypt passwords.

Passwd also uses the Google ecosystem to provide 2FA (two-factor authentication) through Google Auth. This also allows admins to set up user and access rights management through Google Workspace, giving specific team members access to records.

A big missing feature is an app-specific auto lock outside the browser extension and no master password. This means that Passwd heavily relies on Google Workspace settings to ensure security, which can be exploited in some situations.

What worries me is that the password manager hasn’t been audited by any third party. Especially given that Passwd uses an external cloud to perform encryption and decryption tasks.

Passwd encryption

The AES-256 encryption model is definitely top-notch. However, Passwd’s design means that it’s not fully adherent to zero-knowledge principles, as the encryption is done in the cloud rather than locally. This isn’t a massive issue, but it’s worth considering when choosing a password manager for your business.

The passwords are stored in a NO-SQL Firestore database, to which only the Google Workspace admin interface and the Passwd server application can access. The records are assigned non-sequential identifiers, making it harder to match them with known information like logins, user IDs, or emails.

Two-factor authentication

Passwd supports 2FA thanks to its integration with Google Auth. This means that it works with authentication methods like:

  • SMS
  • TOTP apps (like Google Authenticator or Authy)

Unfortunately, as of the time of writing, Passwd does not support U2F (universal 2nd factor) physical security keys. Fortunately, security key support is supposed to come to the password manager in 2025. Of the remaining two variants, I suggest using TOTP, as it provides more security than SMS 2FA.

Passwd features

Passwd offers robust features for organizations needing a password management system. They include:

FeatureWhat it does
Record TemplatesAllows users to store data in templates, including passwords, payment cards, API credentials, database data, SSH keys,and secure notes
AutofillAllows autofilling through a browser extension (Google Chrome only)
Temporary sharingAllows you to share credentials temporarily and revoke access after some time
Access managementOffers a role system, along with comprehensive logs
Password generationGenerates 4-50 character passwords; no option to generate words
Security auditChecks password security, password leaks, and age
Export and import optionsAllows export and import through CSV files in plaintext only

Record templates

Passwd offers many templates to help users store their data in the most comfortable and intuitive way possible. This means that it doesn’t just support passwords but also lets you save payment cards, API credentials, database data, SSH keys, and even notes that you want to keep secure, which I think is a pretty useful functionality.

passwd-new-item-1
Passwd record creation feature with a list of templates

Autofill

Autofilling passwords is possible thanks to a browser extension called the Passwd Browser Extension. The extension is only available on Google Chrome and offers search and autofill functions. You can log into it simply using your organization’s Google account, providing additional comfort.

Unfortunately, Passwd’s autofill isn’t perfect. It either fills out passwords unprompted, or forces you to copy-paste your password every time. This version of autofill is a massive security flaw if you end up on a spoofed website. On the other hand, copy-pasting kind of defeats the whole purpose of the extension.

Temporary sharing

Passwd allows temporarily sharing credentials, which can come in handy when managing your organization. This can be achieved by sending the user a link or managing roles and permissions for particular items, giving users viewer, editor, or autofill-only permissions. While this is a good feature, it worries me that while testing, we found that the recipient of an autofill-only password share can still view it in their Passwd app.

passwd-sharing-2
Passwd’s record-sharing system

Access management

Access management allows Passwd admins to set up an in-depth system of roles. This system can get access to various passwords for different roles, like editor, viewer, and autofill only. Despite issues that allow the autofill-only role to still view the password in the app, I think it’s fair to say that Passwd’s robust role management system is one of the best features the app has to offer.

Password generation

Password generation has become a must-have for password managers, and Passwd lets you generate passwords that are 4 to 50 characters long. You can pick between uppercase or lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. Unlike some competitors, Passwd doesn’t offer word-based password generation, but given their limited utility when using a password manager, this is not a dealbreaker by any means. Overall, the password-generation options were good enough for me.

passwd-password-generator
Passwd password generator

Security audit

Like many password management tools, Passwd offers Security audit feature to help users avoid serious breaches. The app checks for password security and age and monitors for leaks through the Have I Been Pwned API. While these are welcome additions, they pale in comparison to competitor solutions like NordPass’s Data Breach Scanner.

passwd-security-audit
Passwd security audit

Export and import options

Transferring from one password manager to another can be a hassle, and while Passwd tries to find a simple solution, it’s not quite there yet. Both imports and exports are handled through CSV files stored in plain text. This means you must be extra careful while transferring data from or to a different password manager. On top of that, I ran into issues importing from NordPass and 1Password, but that may be due to formatting errors on my end.

passwd-import
Passwd export and import

Passwd plans and pricing

Passwd does not offer a consumer plan per se, focusing on three different enterprise plans: the Free plan, which is basically a free trial, the Workspace plan that supports most of its features, and the Enterprise plan that installs Passwd on a private cloud and adds an audit log for increased security.

FreeWorkspaceEnterprise
Price$0.00$49.00/month$69.00/month
User accountsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Unlimited records❌ No, limited to 15✅ Yes✅ Yes
Unlimited browser extension❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes
TOTP (2FA) support❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes
Sharing outside of organization❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes
Support❌ No✅ Yes, online support✅ Yes, priority support
Records on private cloud❌ No❌ No✅ Yes
Audit log❌ No❌ No✅ Yes

The Free plan is basically a limited 30-day free trial. It offers very limited features and only 15 records to store your passwords. Essentially, it’s more of a proof-of-concept than an actual product, especially given that you do not get the privacy guarantees you would with the paid plans.

The Workspace plan is a robust product that offers plenty of features, unlimited records, and browser extension use. Its only drawback is that it does not store your information on a private cloud and does not have the audit log, making it less secure than the Enterprise version. The latter also offers priority customer support.

Passwd compatibility and ease of use

Passwd is a PWA (progressive web app), an in-browser program that combines a website and a traditional app, giving it wide compatibility. PWAs are in-browser but behave like native apps when installed, appearing in your app menu or on your desktop.

Desktop appsCompatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux through your browser
Mobile appsPasswd can be used without installation through your Android or iOS browser
Browser extensionOnly available on Google Chrome and potentially some Chromium-based browsers

Passwd is a PWA that works on virtually every platform. I tested it on Windows, Android, macOS, Linux, and iOS without any issues. I found that the desktop app has a bit more functionality than its mobile counterpart.

The only compatibility issue is the browser extension, which only works on Google Chrome and, potentially, some Chromium-based browsers, depending on their settings. This is a bit disappointing for many professionals who stick to Firefox or other browsers. I hope that Passwd will become available on more platforms in the future.

Passwd desktop app

The Passwd desktop app is clean and simple. You can easily find the record you are looking for, edit it, or create a new one.

passwd-interface
Passwd desktop app home screen

On the left sidebar, you​​ can find All Records, Security audit, Export and import, Settings, What’s new, and a FAQ. Below, you’ll also find tags that will help you filter your passwords quickly, which I think is a nice touch. Creating a record is simple, with a dedicated button in the top right corner.

Overall, I think Passwd has a decent interface. However, because it is a browser-based PWA, I kept feeling that there was a lot of missing potential, as it lacked some of the feature-depth and usability that I became accustomed to with other password managers. Since it’s not a standalone app, you can’t set up an autolock to protect your data, or a master password that would add an additional layer of security after the Google login.

Passwd mobile app

Because Passwd is a PWA, the mobile interface is very similar to the desktop app.

passwd-mobile-interface-view
Passwd mobile app interface

The installation is simple; you don’t have to use the Play Store or App Store. Instead, you have to use your browser’s menu to add Passwd to your home page. All Records, Security audit, Export and import, Settings, What’s new, FAQ, and filter tags are moved to the dashboard. Unfortunately, since Passwd is a PWA, it cannot fully leverage your phone or tablet’s potential, as it does not support the autofill feature on mobile devices.

Passwd Autofill Browser Extension

To autofill your password, you need to install the Passwd Autofill Browser Extension, which is only available on Google Chrome on a desktop device.

passwd-autofill-1
The Passwd Autofill Browser Extension being used to login to Disney+

I’ll be honest, the extension is not the best. It lets you copy and paste your information to your current website or enable automatic autofill. However, autofill does not work if you have more than one password saved for a website. The only way to autofill is instantly, which can be risky on well-designed phishing websites. Overall, I found the extension very underwhelming.

Passwd customer support

Live chat✅ Yes
Email✅ Yes
Phone❌ No
Knowledge base✅ Yes

Passwd offers basic customer support for paid plans via email and 24/7 live chat, with Enterprise plan customers getting priority. My experience with the support is mixed. On one occasion, I got an answer to my question within 2 minutes, and on another, the agent didn’t seem to understand my question and I ended up waiting 14 minutes for an answer on the chat without any warning.

passwd-customer-support
Chat with Passwd customer support

Passwd also offers a knowledge base featuring well-written guides on using their product. However, it’s not the most intuitive system and could be improved by adding more video content.

Passwd alternatives

NordPass1PasswordRoboFormKeeperDashlane
Rating
4.9
4.8
4.7
4.6
4.5
Price$1.24/month$2.99/month$0.99/month$1.46/month$3.75/month
Free versionYes14-day trialYesYes, and a 14-day trialYes
Biometric loginYes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅
Multi-factor authenticationYes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅
Business planYes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅
Open-sourceNo ❌Yes ✅No ❌Yes ✅Yes ✅ (Android and iOS apps)

Bottom line – is Passwd legit?

Passwd is a decent password manager that will find fans in some professional niches. It’s tailored to organizations, as its minimum $49.00/month price tag is not worth it for an individual consumer, and the free plan is essentially a free trial.

With its pricing model favoring bigger teams, Passwd is an okay choice if you want a relatively simple enterprise solution to implement and manage. Unfortunately, some features are lacking, and it becomes a nuisance to implement if your team isn’t wholly based on the Google Workspace ecosystem. Given all that, while I appreciate a lot of what Passwd has to offer, I’d still recommend NordPass as a safer and better alternative.

How we tested the Passwd password manager

For this review, we’ve used our standard password manager testing process to find the best password manager for your needs. When testing, we focused on:

  • Features (30%). Password managers don’t just store passwords; they offer many other quality-of-life functionalities. We tested all of Passwd’s features, including password generation, security audits, and role management, as well as the encryption used by the manager.
  • Plans and pricing (30%). I reviewed Passwd’s plans and pricing to see how much they cost, and whether they’re worth the spending.
  • User interface (20%). Since password managers secure crucial information, a good user interface is key to ensuring that it’s stored properly. I graded Passwd on its design, layout, and ease of use.
  • Cross-platform compatibility (20%). I tested Passwd on various devices to see whether it’s usable across different ecosystems.

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