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It’s not about the name – it’s about functionality
Apple recently made headlines with the launch of Apple Passwords, a new password management app currently in beta for iOS 18 users. Although this is significant news, this isn’t the first time a major tech player has ventured into password management. Microsoft introduced its Windows Credential Manager with Windows XP back in 2001, and it has been a part of every version of Windows since then, continuously updated.
When a big name like Apple releases a new product, there's always a buzz about it aiming to be the best in its category. However, a big brand name doesn’t always guarantee the best option available—though it doesn't mean the product is bad either.
So, when it comes to choosing the right password manager, it’s important to look beyond the brand and focus on functionality. To help with that, let’s compare the features of these OS-specific password managers with NordPass and highlight the elements that stand out.
OS-specific password managers vs. NordPass
When comparing NordPass to platform-specific password managers, two key factors to consider are security and ease of use. Let’s dive into these aspects in detail:
Security
Although the core function of all password managers is to keep all passwords safe in one place, it is not that all password managers provide the same level of protection.
Password storage
Microsoft Credential Manager stores passwords locally on your device and encrypts them using the Windows Data Protection API (DPAPI). This setup is convenient for Windows users, but it relies on the security of the Windows operating system itself. Apple Passwords, in contrast, stores passwords in the iCloud Keychain, allowing secure access across all Apple devices.
NordPass takes a slightly different approach by keeping all passwords and other sensitive data in an encrypted cloud vault that can be accessed from any device. Moreover, NordPass uses XChaCha20, an encryption standard known for its exceptional security and performance, to encrypt the data before it is uploaded to the cloud. This ensures that all the information stored in the vault remains fully secure.
The zero-knowledge architecture
The term "zero-knowledge architecture" describes a design where a product is built so that the provider cannot access the user's data stored in the system or service. Microsoft Credential Manager doesn't fully follow this approach. Although it encrypts passwords, the encryption keys and processes are managed by Windows, which means Windows itself could potentially decrypt the data.
Apple Passwords uses a version of zero-knowledge with end-to-end encryption. This setup ensures that Apple can’t access your passwords because only your device holds the decryption keys.
NordPass goes all in with zero-knowledge architecture, with encryption and decryption occurring only on the user’s device to ensure that no one—including the NordPass team—can access their passwords.
Safe credential sharing
Microsoft Credential Manager doesn’t offer a built-in way to share passwords, so you have to do it manually, which can be quite risky. Apple Passwords makes sharing easier and more secure by using AirDrop and iCloud, with encryption to protect your credentials during transfer. NordPass, however, offers secure password-sharing features directly in the app, allowing you to share passwords with trusted contacts through encrypted channels.
Ease of use
The ease of use for password managers largely depends on their compatibility with your devices and how simple it is to use and manage your stored passwords. Let’s look at how these aspects compare among the OS-specific solutions and NordPass.
Compatibility
Windows Credential Manager is well-integrated with the Windows system but is limited to Microsoft environments. It only supports browser extensions for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, which might be inconvenient for users who prefer other browsers.
The Apple Passwords app works seamlessly across Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and integrates well with various Apple services. It also offers browser extensions for Safari, providing a smooth experience for users within the Apple ecosystem. However, its support for non-Apple platforms and browsers is highly limited.
NordPass offers broad compatibility across multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. It also provides extensions for popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, ensuring a consistent experience regardless of the platform or browser you’re using.
Login experience
Microsoft Credential Manager does a decent job with autofill and autosave for Windows apps, but it’s quite basic compared to other options. Apple Passwords excels at autofill and autosave features within the Apple ecosystem. It automatically fills in login details and saves new passwords across Safari and other supported apps, making it easy for users to manage their credentials on Apple devices.
NordPass offers robust autofill and autosave features across various browsers and applications. It ensures that your credentials are automatically filled in and saved as you browse, making password management effortless. NordPass also provides seamless integration with its mobile and desktop apps, enhancing the overall user experience.
Additional features
Some modern password managers do more than just help you manage your passwords – they offer extra features that can boost your cybersecurity and make navigating the online world somewhat easier. However, this isn't true for all of them.
OS-specific solutions
Microsoft Credential Manager mainly focuses on handling credentials without offering much beyond that. Its key extra feature is support for Windows Hello, which allows you to log in using biometric authentication.
Apple Passwords, on the other hand, provides a wider range of features. It can detect weak, reused, and compromised passwords, generate strong new ones, and sync credentials across Apple devices. It also integrates with two-factor authentication, generating and autofilling verification codes for supported accounts. These features make Apple Passwords a more optimal choice for Apple customers.
NordPass
NordPass includes the features of Apple Passwords, such as password health checks, secure credential sharing, two-factor authentication (2FA), password generation, and data breach alerts. But it also offers some additional benefits:
Email Masking: This feature lets users create temporary email addresses for signing up for services or newsletters so that they don’t have to share their real email addresses.
Activity Log: With NordPass, businesses can keep an eye on all account access activity across their organizations, making sure that only the right people are getting into the right resources.
Data Breach Scanner: Apple Passwords can alert you if your passwords are compromised, and so can NordPass. But NordPass goes a step further with its advanced data breach monitoring tool for businesses. It scans the dark web for any mentions of a company's credentials and sends instant alerts if its business information is at risk.
Company-Wide Settings: NordPass also lets organizations set and enforce a strong password policy for all employees. This ensures everyone uses secure passwords, enhancing overall security.
Additionally, by making it easy to onboard and offboard members, and featuring a user-friendly design that's easy to navigate, NordPass provides a comprehensive solution that covers a lot of cybersecurity ground. This allows both individual users and organizations to protect themselves more effectively and enjoy greater freedom online.
What are the risks associated with using an OS-specific password manager?
First off, using a password manager tied to a specific OS, like Apple Passwords, can cause issues if you want to sync or access your passwords across different devices, unless they’re all from Apple. This could lock you into one vendor’s ecosystem and make it difficult to switch platforms later without losing access to your passwords. There are also potential security risks if the OS updates, which could affect how the password manager works and lead to compatibility issues or vulnerabilities.
For companies, the problems can be even bigger. Employees on different operating systems might face inefficiencies because there's no unified solution, leading to downtime and decreased productivity. IT departments would need to manage multiple systems, which can be more complex and require more time to support and maintain. This might also mean extra training, which adds to the costs.
Additionally, since it’s uncommon for all employees to use the same brand of device, enforcing consistent security policies for multiple password managers becomes challenging. This can create security gaps and make it harder to meet some industry standards and data privacy regulations.
Give NordPass a try and form your own opinion
We could go on to explain the differences between NordPass and OS-specific password managers, and point out how we think NordPass excels in terms of security and usability. However, it’s always better to feel the difference rather than just hear about it.
Therefore, we encourage you to try our 14-day free trial for the Business plan (30 days for Premium) and see for yourself how NordPass offers an enhanced password management experience beyond what you might expect from similar tools. We’d be interested to hear your thoughts!