Megan Ellis / Android Authority
For years I relied on Chrome’s built-in password manager thanks to its convenience. Even as more appealing solutions emerged, I hesitated to make the switch to a standalone password manager. But in September, I finally switched over to Proton Pass. I expected it to be a bumpy transition, however — besides a few quirks — the change wasn’t disruptive at all.
What password manager do you use? 52 votes The built-in managers for my browser and phone. 21 % A free standalone password manager. 40 % A paid standalone password manager. 35 % I don't use a password manager. 4 %
Why it took me so long to try a new password manager
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
I get overwhelmed when too much change happens at once, which impacts my productivity significantly. So while I heard about the security benefits of a standalone password manager, I was deep in Google’s ecosystem and didn’t want to disrupt my routine too much.
However, I started making small changes as my dissatisfaction with the tech giant’s software increased. I first switched from Chrome to Brave on my smartphone, then made the switch on my desktop PC as well. However, I kept Chrome on my phone as an easier way to access my stored passwords. Google’s password manager is built into Android, but it was frustrating to access the feature through my settings because of the differing UI between my devices. This made Chrome the easier answer.
Too much change at once significantly affects my productivity.
This changed when Google rolled out its standalone Passwords app, as I was finally able to leave Chrome behind completely while still having an easy way to access my passwords. This also prompted me to explore my settings a bit more, and I realized I could change the default service for auto-filling passwords on my Android devices.
Since I wasn’t syncing my Brave browser apps on my phone and PC, I decided it was time to finally explore a way I could manage my password across devices, without being dependent on a specific browser.
... continue reading