LastPass Free vs. Premium 2024: Which Is Right for You?

74% of data breaches involve human error, privilege misuse, stolen credentials, or social engineering, causing many to turn to password managers like LastPass despite its troubling past with frequent breaches.[1] If you want better digital identity management and advanced security features on multiple devices, choose LastPass Premium over the Free version. But if you need only basic password management and use one device, LastPass Free will suffice.

In this article, we’ll help you understand these two products and what each offers, so you can choose the best version of LastPass for your needs. Let’s dive right into it.

LastPass Free vs. Premium review at a glance

If you're looking for a basic password management solution for one device, LastPass Free is a great choice. However, if you require more advanced features such as access to multiple devices and secure file storage, as well as customer support, then LastPass Premium is the way to go. Your decision should be based on your budget and security requirements.

Let’s see how these two stack up against each other.

• LastPass Free: Best for basic needs and minimal security
• LastPass Premium: Best for higher levels of security

LastPass Free vs. Premium features comparison

LastPass plan	Free	Premium
Monthly price	Free	$3.00/mo (billed annually)
Number of users	1	1
Number of devices	Unlimited usage on 1 device type	Unlimited usage on unlimited device types
Number of saved passwords	Unlimited	Unlimited
Encryption	AES-256 encryption, PBKDF2-SHA-256 zero-knowledge encryption	AES-256 encryption, PBKDF2-SHA-256 zero-knowledge encryption
Account syncing
Autofill
Password generator	Yes	Yes
Security dashboard
Dark web monitoring
Secure notes
One-to-one sharing
One-to-many sharing
Secure file storage	Yes — 50 MB of storage	Yes — 1 GB of storage
Emergency access
Multi-factor authentication
Customer support	Self-service resources	Personal email support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Safari, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Safari, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge
Learn more	View Plan	View Plan

LastPass Free vs. Premium: main differences

By now, you can see that the Free version does not offer as many features as the paid version. But how exactly do these two products compare on a feature-by-feature level? We’ve broken down the differences between each platform so you know exactly which product offers what.

Here are the main differences between each platform.

Prices

LastPass Free is 100% free, while LastPass Premium is $3.00/mo (billed annually) when you purchase an annual subscription — a total of $36.00/year.

Number of devices and users

There are differences between the Premium and Free plans you should know upfront.

With the LastPass Premium plan, you can access your account across multiple device types, which include computers (desktops and laptops) as well as mobile devices (phones, smartwatches, and tablets).

This means a Premium user could simultaneously use LastPass on their laptop, phone, and tablet. There are no limitations on the number of device types a Premium user can use.

On the other hand, the LastPass Free plan restricts account access to only one device type. This means you can choose either computers (desktops and laptops) or mobile devices (phones, smartwatches, and tablets) for your LastPass usage.

For example, if a user selects computers as their device type, they can use LastPass on any computer, but they won't be able to use it on mobile devices, like phones or tablets, unless they upgrade to the Premium plan.

Essentially, the Premium plan allows you to access LastPass across both computer and mobile device types without any restrictions, while the Free plan limits you to a single device type, requiring you to choose between computers or mobile devices.

One-to-many password sharing

LastPass offers a secure way to share passwords with trusted people. This is helpful for sharing streaming services like Netflix or giving your partner access to your utility accounts. The free version allows you to share with only one person, while Premium allows you to share with multiple contacts.

Secure file storage

LastPass securely stores and retrieves sensitive information through its encrypted password vault. The Secure Notes feature allows you to save important info like health insurance cards, passports, vaccination records, and credit cards.

With a zero-knowledge security model and AES 256-bit encryption, your information is protected from unauthorized access. Free users get 50 MB of secure storage, while Premium users get 1 GB.

Multi-factor authentication options

To secure your accounts, use two-factor authentication (2FA) and multifactor authentication (MFA). LastPass offers various authenticators, including biometric logins, to enhance 2FA security.

Both Free and Premium plans offer MFA, either with the built-in LastPass authenticator or with a third-party authenticator app. Use this feature to prevent unauthorized access and protect your digital data.

Emergency access

LastPass Premium lets you grant trusted contacts temporary access to your vault during an emergency. Recipients can access only encrypted data with their private key, ensuring privacy. You control access and can set a specified time for trusted contacts to wait before accessing the vault.

This feature is not available in LastPass Free.

Customer support

LastPass provides different levels of support for Free and Premium users. Premium users receive personalized email support from the customer care team, while Free users rely on self-help resources and community solutions. Only paid plans provide assistance.

From our personal experience with LastPass customer support, you’re advised to check the self-help section before contacting support — even if you pay for a Premium plan. We found this frustrating because we didn’t get our questions answered in a timely manner. We feel it would be helpful if LastPass added a chatbot to connect us with a human for quicker solutions.

Which LastPass plan should I get?

LastPass Free is a great option for simple password management. It offers unlimited storage and easy autofill without any extra features or costs. This is perfect for individuals who want an uncomplicated solution.

For those needing more security features, LastPass Premium offers password sharing, password strength analysis, data breach notifications, and more. Below are some pros and cons of each plan.

LastPass Free: Best for casual users who need basic password management.

LastPass Premium: Ideal for individuals who want comprehensive security features and advanced tools.

LastPass Free vs. Premium pros and cons

LastPass plan	Free	Premium
Pros	Decent password management for free Multi-device access (limited to one device type) Basic multi-factor authentication	Unlimited device type access (both computers and mobile devices) Advanced multi-factor authentication options Emergency access feature
Cons	Limited device type access (only one device type is allowed) No emergency access feature	Requires a paid subscription Some advanced features may not be necessary for all users
Best for	Bare-bones needs for a simple password solution	Someone who needs higher security
Learn more	View Plan	View Plan

LastPass alternatives

Still on the fence about LastPass? We get it. We’ve rounded up three alternatives to explore that may better suit your needs. Below is a quick summary of our recommendations.

• NordPass: Nordpass is a password manager released in 2019 by NordVPN. NordPass stands out with its XChaCha20 encryption instead of the usual AES 256-bit encryption, and NordPass Free offers unlimited password storage, device sync, autofill, and multi-factor authentication. You can upgrade to Premium for more features — we like that it is $1.29/mo (billed every two years) billed annually (the most affordable of our alternatives). You can have peace of mind with a 30-day money-back guarantee, too.
  
  See NordPass Plans | Read Our NordPass Review
  
• Dashlane: Since 2009, Dashlane has offered complete device security, unlimited password sharing, automatic generation, secure storage, and dark web monitoring. It's also user friendly for beginners, thanks to its intuitive interface. Dashlane has a free plan and its lowest-tier personal paid plan is $4.99/mowhen billed annually. It also allows a full refund if asked within 30 days of activation.
  
  See Dashlane Plans | Read Our Dashlane Review
  
• 1Password: Founded in 2005, 1Password lets you receive alerts for compromised sites and weak passwords on unlimited devices, and includes Travel Mode to enhance security during travel. It has expert support, a digital wallet, AES-256 encryption, and 1 GB of secure storage. 1Password is unique in providing a security key as an extra layer of security. 1Password has no free plans and starts at $2.99/mo (billed annually) when billed annually. Know upfront that while it does have a free 14-day trial, 1Password has a no-refund policy and no money-back guarantee.
  
  See 1Password Plans | Read Our 1Password Review

LastPass Free vs. Premium FAQs

LastPass Free vs. Premium: which is better?

When comparing LastPass Free and Premium plans, it's important to consider the full picture. LastPass Free offers basic password storage and management across devices, with unlimited password storage and autofill features. With LastPass Premium, it has extra security insights, password sharing, and alerts for potential breaches.

Knowing LastPass’ history of nine data breaches since 2011, we recommend one of our top-rated password managers for your security. But if we absolutely had to choose, we definitely recommend LastPass Premium over the Free version.

At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide whether the added features of the Premium plan are worth it and if you're okay with the historical breaches, based on your specific needs and concerns.