The Best Free Tools to Generate a Secure Password

Key Points:

• A password generator is a software tool that creates passwords for users using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Nowadays, premium password generators are very affordable, with some going for about $3 per month.
• Some quality password generators include: Google Chrome Password Generator, Roboform, PW Gen, NordPass, LastPass, and Dashlane.

Did you know that 4 to 5 cases of cybercrimes and data breaches are related to password issues? These are passwords that are easy to generate, but also to crack. With an average person using about 100 online accounts, creating hard-to-crack passwords unique to each of these accounts is easier said than done.

This is where password generator tools come in. They help you get strong and secure passwords without having to think outside the box. As if that weren’t enough, you can use these tools for free. 

What are Password Generators and Managers?

A password generator is a software tool that creates passwords for users using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. On the other hand, a password manager is a store for generated passwords. Essentially, it’s like a vault.

An example of a password manager is Google Password Manager, which saves passwords used on different sites in your Google account. Interestingly, most generators are integrated into password managers.

9 Best Free Tools to Generate Secure Passwords

Nowadays, premium password generators are very affordable, with some going for about $3 per month. Even then, there is no harm in pocketing a few dollars and using the free option instead.

• Best for iOS: Dashlane
• Best Free Password Generator and Manager: LastPass
• Best for Generating Many Passwords on the Go: PW Gen
• Best for Spotting Potential Weaknesses: F-Secure
• Best All-Purpose Password Generator and Manager: Nordpass
• Best for Long Passwords: Roboform
• Best for Business-Related Accounts: KeePass
• Best for Offline Passwords: Random Password Generator
• Best for Ease of Use: Google Chrome Password Generator

Let’s look at each one in more detail.

Best for iOS: Dashlane

Dashlane is an online and in-app password generator that uses AEC encryption. And so, this generator shields you against potential hackers. Using the free version, you can log in to one device and store up to 50 passwords. 

This generator also audits to confirm whether your passwords are at risk of brute-force attacks. In addition, it scans the dark Web and informs the user if their account or password has been compromised. Moreover, it confirms whether a password has been recycled. 

The passwords you can create using this generator have a limit of 40 characters. There is also a color gauge used to show the password strength, with red meaning weak, orange medium, and green strong. Besides, Dashlane auto-fills your login username and password when you’re accessing an online account. Additionally, the software enables syncing across various devices. 

Best Free Password Generator and Manager: LastPass

LastPass also uses 256-AEC encryption to protect data. This generator produces secure passwords up to 50 characters long and stores them in the manager. You can create passwords using symbols, upper and lower case letters, and numbers. 

It has an automatic sync function that enables updates on various devices. Moreover, LastPass has a security dashboard tool, which is the command center of your stored passwords. Here, you can change reused or weak passwords and get alerts if any sensitive information has been compromised.

You can also check your security score and improve it if need be. What’s more, LastPass offers personal and business options. For the personal option, you can secure your passwords and sync them across all your devices using Android or iOS.

On the other hand, the business option protects all access points and connects anyone who may need access. The generator also auto-fills passwords when logging in to any site. 

You get a 30-day premium trial, after which you go back to the free version features. But you can always subscribe to any of their plans to continue enjoying the premium services.

Best for Generating Many Passwords on the Go: PW Gen

Pwgen.io is one of the fastest password generators to use. It employs cryptography to generate secure and strong passwords. You can customize their strength, generate multiple versions, and even create pronounceable ones.

Pwgen.io can make up to 500 passwords simultaneously with a length limit of 60 characters. The generator can also create different versions of the master password. After the creation, you export them as a text file or CSV. 

Best for Spotting Potential Weaknesses: F-Secure

F-secure is a tool that generates, saves, and secures passwords. It does so using letters, numbers, and characters, and you can choose the combination you want. You can use F-secure on desktop apps, mobile apps, and as browser extensions.

To access the password, you will need a unique QR code. F-secure also supports imports from legit password generators and managers such as Dashlane, Google Chrome, Keepass, and LastPass.

Additionally, F-secure has a status feature that groups your passwords based on their quality. You also get notifications if there are potential risks to your account. Although the F-secures user interface isn’t as eye-pleasing as others, you will love using F-secure due to its ease of use. 

Best All-Purpose Password Generator and Manager: Nordpass

Nordpass is an online and in-app password generator created by the team behind Nord VPN. It generates passwords of up to 60 characters through an app or website. The passwords generated are a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers, but you can select what you expect in your password and your desired length. 

Nordpass automatically creates and saves your unique password when prompted in any account. You can use the generator for both personal and business accounts. It also supports zero-knowledge architecture. This feature ensures that only you know what you have stored in the password manager, and you alone have the master password. 

Nordpass uses the XChaCha20 encryption algorithm to ensure your information is secure. The free version allows you to have one active session, meaning you can only log in to one device simultaneously. You can also add a Nordpass extension on commonly used browsers like Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Brave, and Microsoft Edge. 

Best for Long Passwords: Roboform

Roboform started as a form-filling tool but has now advanced to a password generator. It uses AES-256 encryption to secure passwords. Additionally, it has a password audit tool that scans passwords and notifies you if yours is at risk. Using Roboform, you can create a strong password with a maximum of up to 512 characters. 

You can use the advanced setting that helps you exclude similar characters when generating the password. It also offers autofill, saving you the hassle of having to type usernames and passwords each time you need to log in.

In addition, you can use it when offline in both desktop and mobile apps. These apps also have local-only storage options. Roboform is supported on all major browsers, including Mac, Windows, and iOS. 

The free Roboform version lacks features like cloud backup, syncing, 24/7 support, and authentication. Nevertheless, you can still enjoy other outstanding features and get strong passwords with the password generator. 

Best for Business-Related Accounts: KeePass

KeePass is a reliable password generator with comprehensive generation rules to create passwords. It is mainly used as a password manager but has a password generation option under the tools tab as well.

Although it is difficult to set up compared to other password generators, it creates some of the most safest ones. When creating passwords, you can define the characters, letters, or numbers you expect to have in the password. Moreover, you can select the number of profiles to generate your password: a 40-bit Hex key, 128-bit Hex key, 256-bit Hex key, or an automatically generated password for new entries. 

It uses the AES and Twofish algorithm encryption to ensure maximum security. KeePass encrypts not only your password but also your user name, credit card numbers, and notes, among other sensitive information. It enables auto-fill, but this is also protected from keyloggers. You can export the password in various formats, such as HTML, TXT, CSV, and XML. 

Best for Offline Passwords: Random Password Generator

The Random Password Generation tool is used to create random passwords, meaning that these passwords are unpredictable. You will install the generator on your device or browser and enter a password that works as the master password. When generating, you can select your preferred password characters and length. 

After the password has been generated, it has a gauge to show its status. This can be weak, medium, strong, or best. When you get your desired password, you can either copy or save it in the Random Password Manager. It is possible to modify passwords saved in the manager or export them as TXT files. 

Best for Ease of Use: Google Chrome Password Generator

Google Chrome is one of the most used password generators, especially by people who use Chrome as their primary browser. This password generator automatically pops up when creating an account on any website. 

If this option does not pop up, you can right-click the password text box and get a preview of the suggested password. Google Chrome also allows you to specify the length and characters used in the password. 

You can click on the suggested password, which is automatically saved in the Google Chrome password manager. In this manager, you can make any adjustments to your passwords. Moreover, you can confirm whether the passwords saved in your account are exposed to any breach through the Password Checkup tool. 

Conclusion 

Your personal and professional data could cost you a lot if it got into the hands of unauthorized persons. With a good password, you can rest assured that your data is safe from data breaches and cybercriminals.

This list of free password generators will hopefully help you generate strong passwords so you’ll never have to reuse them for different accounts again. Besides, password managers store the generated passwords, saving you the stress of memorizing complicated ones. 

Up Next 

• How Do You Actually Find Saved Passwords on a Mac? Forgot your password? Here’s a quick guide to help you locate your saved passwords on your Mac computer.
• How Do You Actually Find Saved Passwords on an iPhone? Some things can seem impossible to locate, like saved passwords on your iPhone. Read on to find them quickly.
• 7 Best Password Managers Today: Free and Paid It can get cumbersome to keep track of your unique passwords for all the platforms you use. Here are some great password managers to help.