With a promising start to the year, blending price cuts and the arrival of new apps, Proton Pass keeps improving and is carving out a place among the best password managers in 2026.
Launched in 2023, Proton Pass is the password manager developed by Proton AG, the Swiss foundation established in 2014 by scientists from CERN. Known for its commitment to privacy, Proton AG first established itself with Proton Mail, the first publicly accessible encrypted email service, before expanding its ecosystem with Proton VPN, Proton Drive and Proton Calendar.
- moodEnd-to-end encryption, including for URLs
- databaseSecure offline mode
- browse_activityAdvanced management of mail aliases
- lockAES-256 encryption
- End-to-end encryption, including URLs
- Secure offline mode
- Advanced management of mail aliases
- Support for passkeys, exportable and interoperable
- Pass Monitor and Proton Sentinel
- Generous free version
- Browser extension still imperfect
- Credential management can be rigid
Comme tous les produits Proton, Proton Pass est open source, chiffré de bout en bout et audité par des experts indépendants. Son développement s’inscrit dans une mission plus large : garantir un internet libre et sécurisé, sans surveillance ni exploitation des données personnelles. Contrairement aux solutions des Big Tech, Proton Pass ne repose sur aucun modèle publicitaire et n’enferme pas ses utilisateurs et utilisatrices dans un écosystème verrouillé. Financé uniquement par ses abonnements, il privilégie l’interopérabilité, la transparence et la liberté numérique.
The Offering
For individuals
Proton Pass emphasizes accessibility with a free version that already covers the essentials. Unlimited storage for credentials and notes, management across unlimited devices, two secure vaults to organize data… in short, the offering already provides comfortable daily use. Restrictions: a maximum of 10 “hide-my-email” aliases and vault sharing limited to two other Proton Pass users. A good way to test the service before paying.
For those seeking more flexibility, three paid plans are available:
- Pass Plus, at €1 per month with no commitment, adds 50 vaults for better organizing credentials, unlimited aliases, sharing with up to 10 people and access to the Proton Sentinel program for enhanced protection.
- Proton Unlimited, at €12.99 per month or €9.99 per month with a 12-month commitment, bundles all premium Proton services: Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN and Pass. An all-in-one pack for those who rely on the brand’s secure ecosystem.
- Proton Pass Family, at €6.99 per month or €4.99 per month with a one-year commitment, offers the same benefits as Pass Plus, but for six people. A solution designed for households wanting to secure all their accounts without multiplying subscriptions.
For professionals
Proton Pass also offers plans tailored for entrepreneurs, teams and businesses:
- Pass Essentials (1.99 €/mo with annual commitment, 4.99 € without): unlimited credentials, notes and payment cards, aliases “hide-my-email”, shared vaults with access controls, secure hosting in Europe, 24/7 support and integrated 2FA authentication.
- Pass Professional (2.99 €/mo with annual commitment, 6.99 € without): all Pass Essentials, plus Proton Sentinel and enhanced 2FA authentication. Single Sign-On (SSO) via SAML 2.0 is now available for Pass Professional subscribers. This feature enables companies to integrate Proton Pass with their identity providers (Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Google, OneLogin) to centralize access to professional resources. A command-line tool (CLI) is also in development for developers and IT teams, facilitating automation and integration into CI/CD workflows
- Business Suite (12.99 €/mo with annual commitment, 14.99 € without): everything in Pass Professional, plus 1 To storage per user, 15 custom email domains, a secure calendar (personal and shared) and Proton VPN for 10 devices per user.
Interface and ergonomics
A real desktop app and (finally) effective import
Since summer 2024, Proton Pass is no longer limited to the web. No more juggling a web app or a browser extension; the manager now offers a native app for Windows, macOS and Linux. This delivers a smoother, more independent experience, especially for those who prefer managing their passwords outside the browser.
In parallel, the service continues to roll out browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Brave and Edge, as well as mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Proton Pass is no longer limited to password storage. Since June 2025, the manager can store 14 new item types: Wi‑Fi networks, software licenses, bank accounts, passports, social security numbers, or emergency contacts. Each item can be accompanied by attachments up to 100 MB. Accepted formats: images (JPG, PNG, PDF), text files (TXT, CSV, JSON), audio (MP3, WAV) and other document types. This capability enables centralizing sensitive documents like passport scans, API keys or certificates, all end-to-end encrypted.
Import remains compatible with a wide range of managers (1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, Enpass, KeePass, LastPass, NordPass) and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, Safari), with support for generic CSV files.
A step up in security
If Proton Pass aims for greater flexibility, it remains primarily a manager designed by a company specialized in encryption. Here, everything is end-to-end encrypted, including the login ID and the site URL, unlike other services that protect only the password field.
Authentication relies on bcrypt for hashing and Secure Remote Password (SRP) to avoid any risk of attack during login. And to further secure access to accounts, Proton Pass offers an integrated 2FA authenticator, with auto-fill of 2FA codes. A good way to broaden the use of this essential protection without bearing its constraints.
Biometric authentication (Touch ID on Mac, Windows Hello on Windows, fingerprint or facial recognition on mobile) is now available on all desktop and mobile platforms. This feature, reserved for paying subscribers on computers, allows unlocking the vault without always entering the master password. A feature that combines security and everyday convenience.
Adding an identifier
Better desktop management
Long considered limited to browser extensions, Proton Pass now has native apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, offering more comfortable management of credentials outside the browser.
On desktop, the interface is clear and intuitive. You can add and organize your credentials, aliases, notes and payment cards by filling dedicated fields: item name, login identifier (with the option to create an alias), an automatically generated password, two-factor authentication and the associated URL, which can be detected and added automatically. Notes or other information can also be added if needed.
If the extension remains useful for auto-fill, the desktop application enables full vault management, with a more comfortable display and no risk of disruptive window closures, as could happen with the extension’s window.
An extension still imperfect
Although the desktop apps have significantly improved the experience, the browser extension remains essential for auto-fill. It works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave and Safari, but still presents some ergonomic limitations, notably a floating window that can be cumbersome and closes when you click elsewhere.
When creating an account on a site, Proton Pass automatically detects the login and password fields. On the email side, it suggests using your Proton address or generating an alias, taking the site’s name as a reference.
Regarding the password, Proton Pass automatically generates a secure key. But unlike what people might have criticized in the past, you can partially customize this password before saving it. Length, uppercase letters, digits, types of special characters… the tool offers some flexibility to adapt to the requirements of websites and subscribers.
However, the extension shows limitations on multi-step signup forms. If a site first asks for an email address before generating a second field for the password, Proton Pass does not always detect that it is a signup and may not automatically offer an alias. You will then need to create it manually.
The login
Proton Pass automatically fills your credentials when the site URL is correctly provided.
Unfortunately, if the login URL contains random characters that change on each visit (such as security tokens), the service still cannot isolate the domain to propose the associated credential sets. In that case, you will need to manually retrieve your username from the web extension or the desktop app, and paste it into the dedicated field on the login interface.
Only then does the manager “get back on track,” showing the ability to automatically propose the password linked to the login.
Likewise, if one of your Proton Pass credentials only has a password without its username, and vice versa, the service suggests saving the reconstructed pair as a new entry. It is not possible to modify the existing one directly. Accepting creates a duplicate, with a complete record on one side and an incomplete one on the other. Not ideal for keeping your manager well organized without effort.
Finally, if you renew one of your passwords, Proton Pass now automatically detects it and updates the existing entry on the fly. No need to manually modify it in the manager.
On mobile
To use Proton Pass effectively on mobile, enable autofill and set the app as the default manager. The option isn’t perfect, but it works correctly in most cases. If the manager recognizes the site or app, it suggests automatically filling in your credentials. If not, you can open the app, select an existing identifier and link it to the relevant service so it’s easier to detect in the future.
When you create an account on a site or app, Proton Pass detects the login fields and suggests adding/creating a new identifier, without leaving the current page. By tapping +, a floating window opens to save the entry directly in the manager. As with the extension, you can fill the email field with your Proton address or an alias, and generate a password by adjusting its settings, such as its length.
The security of Proton Pass
Proton Pass is built on an approach that emphasizes transparency and verifiability. Its source code is open source, meaning anyone can inspect it to verify that it truly delivers on its security and privacy promises. This openness was complemented by a single independent audit conducted by Cure53 in May and June 2023, which scrutinized its mobile apps, browser extensions and API. The assessment highlighted generally strong security, with some reservations about the browser extension, which have since been addressed. Note that the audit did not cover the desktop apps, released after that evaluation.
End-to-end encryption and advanced protection of credentials
All data stored in Proton Pass benefits from end-to-end encryption with proven protocols. Neither Proton nor any third party can access the stored information, even in the event of server compromise. To further protect locally stored credentials, Proton Pass uses the Argon2 hashing algorithm, recognized for its resistance to brute-force attacks.
Pass Monitor: proactive monitoring of credentials
Proton Pass does more than securely store passwords. With Pass Monitor, it actively monitors the security of registered accounts. This module analyzes data breaches and flags vulnerabilities to help users enhance their protection.
One of the key features is Dark Web Monitoring, which scans compromised databases and clandestine forums to identify exposed email addresses. Proton analyzes not only Proton addresses but also aliases created via Hide-my-email as well as up to ten personalized addresses, in partnership with Have I Been Pwned and Constella Intelligence. When a breach is detected, the alert provides precise details about the nature of the compromised data and the steps to secure the affected accounts.
Pass Monitor also evaluates password quality and detects those that are weak or reused across multiple services, a major risk in credential-stuffing attacks. It also identifies accounts where two-factor authentication (2FA) is disabled, encouraging activation. For Proton Pass Plus users, the built-in authenticator even lets you enable 2FA directly from the app.
Finally, Proton Pass integrates Proton Sentinel, an advanced protection program that relies on a combination of artificial intelligence and human analysis to detect and block account takeover attempts.
Additional features
Proton Pass isn’t just about storing passwords. It includes a suite of tools designed to protect your digital identity and strengthen the confidentiality of your communications.
Flexibly secure mail aliases
Mail aliases help mask your primary address and avoid advertising tracking. With the integrated Hide-my-email option, Proton Pass goes further by letting you send emails directly from an alias, thus avoiding exposing your real address. It’s also possible to link an alias to a custom domain or to a specific inbox for better organization.
A manager of identities for all your sensitive information
With the Identities feature, Proton Pass lets you store and automatically fill in your personal and professional information: name, address, phone, payment details, passport or Social Security numbers.
Secure sharing of credentials and protected access
Proton Pass includes Secure Links, a secured sharing system that lets you send credentials or sensitive information via protected temporary links. Unlike standard shares by email or chat, these expiring links guarantee that only authorized recipients can access the data.
For extra protection, the Extra Password feature lets you add a secondary password to certain entries, providing an additional security layer for the most sensitive data.
Passkeys easy to manage
Proton Pass supports passkeys, an alternative to passwords based on biometric or hardware authentication, eliminating phishing risks.
Unlike other password managers, Proton Pass allows storing, sharing and exporting passkeys, offering maximum flexibility to users. This compatibility is available across all platforms and all subscriptions, with no restrictions.
Emergency Access
Proton Pass now includes Emergency Access, a feature that lets you designate up to five trusted contacts who can access the account in exceptional circumstances. The user sets a personalized waiting period (from a few days to several months) before contacts can view the data. During this period, they can approve or deny any request. Once granted, access allows viewing all Proton data (emails, files, passwords) while maintaining end-to-end encryption. This option, available to paying subscribers, provides peace of mind for sharing sensitive information with loved ones.
Editor’s note
Proton Pass is establishing itself as an increasingly polished password manager, driven by the rapid evolution of its ecosystem. Its arrival as a native app on Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as its secure offline mode, position it well against competitors. The advanced integration of mail aliases directly within the app, combined with passkey management and end-to-end encryption of all data, further boosts its appeal.
With breach monitoring via Pass Monitor, enhanced security thanks to Proton Sentinel, and compatibility across all platforms and browsers, Proton Pass is becoming a increasingly credible alternative to established managers. A few adjustments remain for the extension, but the service’s rapid pace of development makes it a strong contender among the best solutions on the market.
Proton Pass continues to gain momentum with the release of native apps on Windows, macOS and Linux, a secure offline mode and advanced management of email aliases. Its end-to-end encryption, support for passkeys and the integration of Pass Monitor and Proton Sentinel strengthen its appeal against market alternatives. The mobile experience is smooth, but the browser extension remains imperfect, especially on complex forms or when editing credentials. Data management is much more pleasant on desktop, where the interface allows for efficient organization.
Daniel Brooks
I cover everyday products with a practical eye, from kitchen tools and home essentials to smart gadgets and consumer trends. My goal is to help readers understand what is genuinely useful, what is worth the price, and what deserves a second look before buying.