RoboForm password manager review

One of the most annoying parts of the Internet experience is keeping track of all those pesky passwords. It seems every account and website you use RoboForm was one of the first password managers that came out. Recently, the service came out with its first update in six years. They have added a bunch of new features that have greatly improved the product’s functionality. In this RoboForm review, we will look at the pros and cons, pricing, and technical specifications.

We will also go over how to start using RoboForm and compare the service to some popular alternatives, namely LastPass and Dashlane.

The pros and cons of RoboForm

We will start this RoboForm review by going over the advantages of this particular password manager. Some of the features that RoboForm has going for it include excellent synchronization capabilities, digital inheritance, secure sharing, and web form filling. The product also has a useful security center that helps you identify potential weaknesses in your passwords.

There are some cons with the service as well, however. RoboForm has a password generator, but it’s not particularly good. A lot of other generators we have used created better passwords. In addition, the two-factor authentication is more limited than a lot of other password managers. The interface could also use some updates.

The recent versions have greatly improved the overall performance of RoboForm, but the lack of consistent updates has prevented it from surpassing some of its competitors.

Technical specifications

RoboForm requires macOS 10.10 and up, iOS 8.0 and up, Windows Vista/7/8/10, or Android 4.1.3 and up.

There is also an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Internet Explorer, which will work with an updated browser.

How to use RoboForm

As with most cloud-based password managers, the first step is to create an online account. On the download page on the RoboForm website, you will see a list of different devices. Pick the device you want the product downloaded to.

The installation is very simple. Once you have it downloaded and installed, you will also find a bunch of useful video tutorials that will make the initial set up a lot simpler.

With the account created and the app installed on your device, you can import passwords now. RoboForm allows you to import passwords from Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera. You can also import from LastPass, Dashlane, 1Password, and a couple other alternative password managers.

You will want to turn off any password capture and password manager functions that are in your browser default settings. These can interfere with RoboForm. While this is a good selection of import options, LastPass has a lot more import settings.

Despite a recent update, the interface still looks somewhat dated. You will see a menu on the left with eight categories: Identities, Applications, Safenotes, Contacts, Bookmarks, Logins, All, and Shared. You can organize your stored data into folders and sub folders, as well as share and send items with recipients of your choice.

RoboForm pricing

RoboForm costs 19.95, which makes it less expensive than LastPass and Dashlane. When you purchase the product, you receive a license that lets you create an account and sync accounts with all your different devices.

RoboForm alternatives

Two products that are similar to RoboForm are Dashlane and LastPass. Dashlane and LastPass are a little more expensive but are both highly respected password managers.

Dashlane has free versions, but it’s very limited in its features. LastPast has a free version that is a lot more functional. All three will give you increased security and allow you to capture and replay passwords.

Let’s take a look at the differences between the three services. Unlike Dashlane and LastPass, RoboForm does not have two-factor authentication, but it has a feature called One Time Password that is kind of like a limited 2-factor authentication. Dashlane is notably more expensive, but that is because it comes with a VPN feature.

Roboform vs LastPass

Roboform vs Dashlane

Bottom line

Before the recent update, RoboForm could not compete with the top tier password management services. While RoboForm still does not have all the functionality as LastPass or Dashlane, the introduction of password sharing makes RoboForm a lot more useful than it used to be.

With additional features, such as web form filling, password generation, and password capture and replay, RoboForm is a good choice if you are looking for an alternative to big name password managers that is a little cheaper.

Recommended read:

Best Password Managers