Norton Password Manager is a free, browser-based password management app that provides unlimited password storage and seamless cross-platform syncing. While easy to set up, it falls short compared to other free password managers, lacking key features like secure credential sharing and robust multi-factor authentication support. Additionally, its passwordless entry feature proved unreliable, and creating new logins via the browser extension felt cumbersome. For a more feature-rich experience, Bitwarden and NordPass stand out as our Editors’ Choice winners for 2025.
Setup
Setting up Norton Password Manager is straightforward since it’s primarily web-based. Simply create a Norton user account and set a unique password for your secure password vault, which safeguards your most sensitive data.
For added convenience, users can install browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari, enabling automatic password saving and autofill. Mobile apps for iOS and Android are also available for seamless access across devices.
Additionally, Norton offers a dedicated application for importing passwords from Chrome and Firefox. Users can also transfer credentials from Dashlane, LastPass, and 1Password files, making migration to Norton Password Manager effortless.
Pros
- Free
- Easy to store and change passwords
- User-friendly interface
- Great platform support
Cons
- Only has basic features
- Limited form-filling capabilities
Interface and performance
Norton Password Manager’s browser extension-based interface is clean and well-organized, offering both grid and list views for stored credentials. Dedicated sections for logins, wallet, addresses, and notes help keep personal details neatly categorized.
A safety dashboard provides an overview of password strength, while an integrated password generator helps create unique credentials. Its straightforward interface makes it an excellent choice for users who aren’t particularly tech-savvy. Despite Norton’s long history in cybersecurity, the company continues to modernize its software, keeping up with more recent competitors like Dashlane, albeit within the limitations of its free service.
When entering credentials on a new site, Norton Password Manager prompts users to store details in a secure vault or generate a new, secure password. Additionally, it highlights weak, duplicate, and old passwords, encouraging users to strengthen their security. However, it does not notify users if their credentials have been exposed in a data breach—a feature found in many premium alternatives.
One of the standout features is Autochange, which allows users to update stored passwords with a single click. While promising, our tests showed a 50% success rate, likely due to inconsistencies in website architectures rather than Norton itself. Other password managers with similar features experience the same limitations.
Despite its ease of use and solid core functionality, Norton Password Manager lacks advanced features available in paid competitors. Unlike other services, it doesn’t offer dark web monitoring, broader OS and browser support, or a dedicated desktop client. Its limited search and categorization options may also frustrate users managing a large number of credentials.
Another downside is Norton’s lack of transparency regarding updates and features, making it difficult to determine whether improvements or new functionalities are on the horizon. Additionally, passkey support—a modern, passwordless authentication method—is missing, with no indication that Norton plans to adopt it. Given its consumer-only focus (with no business or family plans), supporting passkeys would be a welcome addition.
Unlike some competitors that bundle VPN services with their password managers, Norton offers VPN access as a separate subscription. Pricing starts at $49.99/year for one device, $79.99/year for five devices, and $99.99/year for ten devices. Australian customers, however, face odd limitations, with options restricted to three devices (AUD$109.99) or five devices (AUD$129.99), but not ten. Norton also offers first-year discounts on its subscriptions, making it a more affordable entry point.
Overall, Norton Password Manager is a capable free password manager with an easy-to-use interface and essential features. However, its limited functionality, lack of passkey support, and absence of breach detection tools may leave security-conscious users wanting more. For those seeking a more feature-rich experience, Bitwarden and NordPass remain superior free alternatives.
Security
Norton Password Manager offers strong security features, placing it on par with top-tier password managers. Your data is stored in the cloud with 256-bit AES encryption, ensuring high-level protection.
All browser-to-cloud vault connections use TLS-secured encryption, and access is strictly controlled—your vault password is never stored or transmitted anywhere, making it the only key to unlocking your data. For added security, two-factor authentication (2FA) is available when using the Norton Password Manager mobile app.
While this provides a solid foundation for security, premium password managers offer more advanced features, including greater cloud storage flexibility, additional authentication methods, and custom encryption algorithms, making them a better choice for users seeking enhanced protection.
Support
Norton offers an extensive support site, but very little of it is dedicated to Norton Password Manager. While a basic FAQ and a handful of guides cover some features, they lack screenshots and video tutorials, making troubleshooting more difficult. Searching for help often leads to irrelevant results about other Norton products.
A support forum exists, but Norton Password Manager shares space with Norton Safe Web and Norton Safe Search, making it difficult to find relevant discussions. User issues often go unresolved, as there are only a few new posts daily.
We tested Norton’s 24/7 live chat by asking simple product-related questions. While the response time was fast, the support agent appeared poorly trained on Norton Password Manager and couldn’t answer basic queries. Overall, Norton Password Manager feels like a low-priority product, with limited documentation and inadequate customer support.
Final Verdict
Norton Password Manager functions well as a basic password manager, but it’s clear that the free software isn’t a priority for Norton. The Autochange feature is a useful addition—when it works—but its reliability is inconsistent. While password security is solid, there’s nothing here that competing free password managers don’t do better, making alternatives like Bitwarden or NordPass more compelling choices.
