What Going on With LastPass?
We have been big fans of LastPass. It’s been a great free password manager for many years. I’ve been using LastPass for almost ten years and to say I’m disappointed in the news that LastPass is changing its free accounts beginning March 16, 2021, is an understatement.
If you’re using LastPass on your Windows computers and you don’t use it on your smartphone or tablet, then the change will not affect you. But for those who, like me, have been using LastPass on all your devices from your Windows PCs to your Android smartphones or tablets, the change means you’ll have to use something else, pay for LastPass Premium or Families, or live with the free version of LastPass and use it on only one active device-type.
LastPass gives this example.
Starting March 16, 2021, LastPass Free will only include access on unlimited devices of one type…
1. Sarah is a LastPass Free user with Computers as their active device type. They can use LastPass on their laptop, desktop, and their dad’s laptop (anyone’s computer!), but they can’t use LastPass on their phone, tablet, or smart watch unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.
2. Steve is a LastPass Free user with Mobile Devices as their active device type. They can use LastPass on their personal iPhone, work-issued Android phone, tablet, and smart watch, but they can’t use LastPass on their desktop or laptop unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.
And here is more information from Forbes…
The first device you log into after March 16 will determine your “active device type”, as LastPass calls it. So, if you fire up LastPass on your laptop, you’ll be able to access your passwords on any laptop or desktop computer, but not your smartphone or tablet. The opposite applies if you open LastPass on a mobile device first.
LastPass says customers will have three chances to switch their active device type…
By making customers choose which type of device to use, LastPass is clearly hoping to nudge customers towards the paid-for Premium accounts, which start from $2.25 per month. However, such bait-and-switch tactics are likely to leave a bad taste in the mouth of some users… (From Forbes “LastPass Breaks Free Accounts…”)
So, if you’re only using LastPass on your Windows computers, nothing will change for you. You can use LastPass on all your Windows desktops, laptops, and all-in-ones (but not Windows tablets) just as you always have.
If you are using LastPass on your Windows computers and your iPhone, Android smartphone, iPad, Windows tablet, Android tablet, or smartwatch, you’re going to have to choose a device-type or pay $2.25, $3.00, or $4.00 a month for LastPass Premium or Families.
We will begin testing free password managers that support importing data from LastPass. Once we’ve done some testing, we’ll let you know. Right now, Bitwarden looks like a good bet. We’ll review Bitwarden soon.
Yes, I received an email regarding this change for Last Pass. Also the message warning came up when I logged into it yesterday. I am happy you are always looking out for our welfare. Thank you for searching for another free password manager.
I have been very pleased with Roboform and I’ve been with them for a number of years now. Lately, I’ve been having them generate passwords for me as they are very, very long and complicated and much more secure than the ones I make up.
I have used Bitwarden as a browser extension for many many months with great satisfaction. I have no reason to think it is in any way less safe than any other password manager. It is a breeze to use.
I have been using Last Pass for many years, but today after getting the notice of the change, everywhere I looked I could not find any information about staying on the free program since I use it for 3 different computers, finally upon clicking on the Last Pass Icon and then clicking on “Recently Used”, all of my sites I frequently visit were gone and I had to go back and re-establish my usual sites by going to each launch site in my vault to get them back on my “Recently Used” list. Not that difficult but a nuisance to continue using Last Pass.
Don, LastPass is not changing how it works. And if you’re using it on three Windows computers you can keep using it on all 3 computers. What they’re saying is if you’re using it on your Windows PCs and your smartphones and/or tablets, you’ll have to choose your device type and stick with it. You can either use it on smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. or you can use it on all your Windows desktops, laptops, and all-in-ones. LastPass is not altering how the program works, but they are adding additional security features to the paid versions, I’m not sure if any additional security features will be added to the free version.
I would rather pay Cloudeight $27.00 a year for their non-biased recommendations than pay LastPass $27.00 in extortion. If they had marketed it as a fee for database management and storage, I might have been able to accept it.
They have to monetize just like your site. I have 4 devices and paid the discounted price. Last Pass has many more features other than just passwords. For me, a bargain!
Michael
I will keep using LastPass on my laptop. But I’m trying out Dashlane for my iPad. I’ll also check out Bitwarden for the iPad.
Dianne
Yep, I was quick to let them know last year I wasn’t happy with the 50% increase. I was happy to pay for it, but such a huge spike was shocking to say the least. I eagerly await your reviews on alternatives.