Reviews

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: July 24, 2025

To beef up its Nintendo Switch 2 first-party library, Nintendo has been bringing enhanced versions of Nintendo Switch games to its new console, both as standalone releases or with an additional upgrade price. While it started strong with Switch 2 editions of two of the greatest games of all time, Super Mario Party Jamboree is a trickier proposition.

This isn't the same as a remaster like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, which integrated new features into the existing game, but more of an expansion bundled with the base game like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and at a higher price. Sure, you can play the base game in 4K or on a nicer 1080p display in handheld mode, but you don't really notice a big visual bump, while the Switch 1 version had no performance issues that this Switch 2 Edition has improved.

All the same content, including the single-player Party Planner Trek, the motion-based modes, and the online-based modes, are still there, and if you're upgrading, all your save data and unlocked rewards and content carry over. But you're not going to experience any material differences from the original game I covered in my previous review. For instance, DK hasn't had a Donkey Kong Bananza-style facelift, while Switch 2 functions like the camera doesn't feature either. All the new Switch 2-exclusive content you'll find exclusively in Jamboree TV, so without further ado, let's get to that.

Mouse trap

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Jamboree TV revamps the Mario Party model into a game show setting, featuring the annoying talking flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, though you can thankfully also mute him. But rather than just picking Mario and pals as contestants, if you have a compatible camera attached to your console, you can also put your own faces on screen as a circle besides your character, though for privacy reasons, you won't be able to capture any screenshots or video when using this feature.

Once your contestants (and/or yourselves) are up on stage, you get to choose between four modes: Mario Party, Carnival Coaster, Bowser Live, and Free Play, the latter where you can play any of the minigames but is presented rather barebones compared to the same option in the base game's Minigame Bay.

Mario Party lets you play the core board game with all seven boards from the base game, but with some new exclusive twists. Aside from the standard party rules, this introduces two new rules.

While Tag-Team lets you play as a 2v2 instead of the usual free-for-all, Frenzy is a welcome option for those strapped for time, condensing a game down to just five turns but throwing in all the perks and high stakes of the last five turns of a normal game, so you start with more coins and a star, more to spend but more to lose. Of course, the option to save the game and continue from where you left off in another session is still possible.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Bowser as a game show host in Bowser Live is a pretty fun turn for the Mushroom Kingdom's resident baddie, and the Switch 2's camera and microphone functions do a decent job of immersing you in that. It's just a shame it's so short-lived.

While camera play won't make a huge difference on gameplay (although having everyone see your mug when you've had a star snatched from you is going to be more priceless than just selecting an emote) the 14 new mouse-based minigames are a decent addition. They're all creatively varied, not just basic point-and-click or drag-and-drop affairs, but sometimes also incorporate gyro controls, while also requiring team coordination.

But given you've also got 73 other minigames in Mario Party mode, you might only encounter a mouse minigame a handful of times, and there's no way to change a setting for more mouse minigames. You can, however, turn off mouse minigames, which you'll have to if pairing the original Switch Joy-Con as extra controllers, but that annoyingly also turns off motion-based minigames.

It's for that reason that there's the mouse-only Carnival Coaster. In this co-op mode, you ride a rollercoaster-slash-shooting gallery with five different themed routes to choose from, and have to try and get to the end before time runs out. You can gain precious seconds by aiming the mouse to shoot enemies that pop up during the ride, as well as completing randomly selected mouse minigames. These minigames adopt co-op rules rather than battling another team, while you're awarded more bonus time based on how well you do.

Make some noise

(Image credit: Nintendo)

If it sounds like the biggest addition to Jamboree TV is mouse controls, you'd be right because the Bowser Live mode feels half-baked, even though it should be a bigger deal. For this game show within a game show, two teams or two battle to win the Koopa king's approval in either camera or microphone-based minigames. The camera is a literally bigger deal because rather than just capturing your heads, it captures each person's whole body so that you're fully transported into the scene and tasked with doing pretty silly things like balancing goombas on your head or hitting coins from a question block as fast as you can.

Meanwhile, microphone minigames takes advantage of the Switch 2 Camera as you use either your voice of handclaps, and it's incredible how well the microphone picks up both even when you're standing or sitting several feet away, so you don't have to yell, even if that's what you're encouraged to do in Bowser Chicken, where you shout to propel a car forward to score points, but not before reaching Bowser at the end. But since the microphone doesn't pick up who's shouting, that allows some underhanded shenanigans like having another team shout just when you thought you stopped your car at just the right spot.

Yet for all the snazzy presentation and wild atmosphere of this mode, Nintendo only thought to include three minigames for each, and they're all incredibly short. So, in a format where you have just two rounds before a final round that's basically determined by which team can make the most noise, the novelty wears off very quickly. It feels like a lack of confidence, perhaps owing to the fact that the camera is also not going to be a peripheral that everyone has. But then it also means it's definitely not worth investing in one if you're expecting to make better use of it in this game.

One other feature that I wasn't able to test pre-launch was GameShare, a cool feature that allows you to share a multiplayer game with other Switch owners even if they don't own the game. However, from the information provided, its support for Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition only works locally and only lets you play a single board, Mega Wiggler's Tree Party, and none of the modes from Jamboree TV. It makes you wonder what even the point is of including the feature when it's so limited, especially when Mario Party boards play perfectly fine on a single console.

Should you play Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV?Play it if...

You want more fun ways to play with your Joy-Con mouse controls
Mouse-based minigames make up the lion's share of the new minigames in Jamboree TV, which are more creatively varied than mere point-and-click that work in co-op as well as versus modes. With Mario and pals, it's also more charming than the mouse minigames in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

Don't play it if...

You don't care for multiplayer games
There's little fun to be had playing a party game solo, especially as Jamboree TV contains no rewards or unlockables like the base game. If you don't already own the Switch 1 version, you're also looking at an eye-watering cost for a casual party game.

Accessibility

While there are no set accessibility settings, Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV allows you to adjust the difficulty of CPU, message speed, as well as whether or not to include a tutorial before the start of each minigame. Jamboree TV minigames requiring a camera, motion, or mouse do not have alternate controls, but for microphone minigames, you can also clap your hands instead of using your voice. Content in the base game remains unchanged, so there are no alternate controls to the Motion Island modes.

How I reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV

I played Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV for about 8 hours on Nintendo Switch 2, including several local multiplayer sessions, but was unable to test online or GameShare as per Nintendo's pre-launch guidelines.

I previously reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree on Switch, so I was able to make comparisons between the original version and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. As there are no meaningful changes in the base game, my time was primarily spent on Jamboree TV.

I played primarily in docked mode on an LG C2 OLED TV. I mostly played with a single Joy-Con in horizontal and vertical, button, motion and mouse-based configurations, and also used the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, except for when capturing screenshots.

Jackery is a mainstay of the power back-up industry being one of the original companies to offer such quality devices and products. I remember seeing their adverts some several years ago before the big boom of power stations.

So, I tested out the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2, packing in a 3072Wh of capacity with a combined max output of 3600W continuous load. Having tested plenty of the best portable power stations, it's notable that few offer one with nearly as much capacity without the use of add on batteries or output as this one.

Image 4 (Image credit: Future)Jackery Explorer 3000 V2: Unboxing

The Explorer 3000 v2 came in a non-descript brown cardboard box, opening it gave way to a satin printed box in the Jackery orange tone, on the side were some nice handles in order to lift the inner box out.

Placing it on the table came with a heavy thud, the Explorer 3000 is certainly weighty, but about the same as other lesser capacity power stations. Removing the Explorer 3000 isn’t hard, open the box, get the manual and power cable out the way, top protective lid off then just lift the Explorer 3000 out. Only the Explorer 3000, manual and AC power cable are provided.

(Image credit: Future)Jackery Explorer 3000 v2: First impressions

Switching it on for the first time shows that the Explorer 3000 had 28% charge, a typical charge amount I would expect for the product as the battery chemistry of LiFePO4 prefers around 30% for long term storage.

IMAGE 5 (Image credit: Future)

Size wise, measuring in at 16.38 x 12.80 x 12.01in and weighing in at 59.5lb. I compared its size to the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 if that was on your shortlist and whilst it is bigger in size, the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 does come with extra capacity and output so needs somewhere to store all of that.

There are two large handles on either side for carrying it like a milk crate. It can be carried by one hand on one of the handles but some may find this difficult to do.

(Image credit: Future)

The front of the power station is the main part with all the important functions, it has:

3 x UK AC outlets capable of delivering 230V at 50Hz in a Pure Sine Wave at 13Amps max, with a total power output of 3600W across all three sockets and can with stand sudden surge demands of up to 7200W for short periods of time.

2 x USB-A ports with 18W max on each

2 x USB-C ports with 100W max on each

1 x Cigarette Lighter Port at 12V with a max load of 10Amps

The left, top, bottom and backside haven’t got much and are bare, save for the back side having the product label.

On the right side is the “input side” with the following:

1 x AC input via the common IEC C13/14 power socket, able to accept 220v to 240v in coming AC at a max of 10A

2 x DC input via an 8020 DC plug which is able to support 16 volts to 60 volts at a max of 12A on a single port with a maximum over all of 1000W input on both barrels.

One disappointment is that the Explorer 3000 v2 all of the sockets have no covers or any ingress protection.

(Image credit: Future)

The front also has the main screen status screen which can be used by the user for a glance at what’s going on. The center of the screen is dominated by the percentage of remaining battery life with a circle around it that shows if it is in use.

On the left of the screen is input and the right is output displaying the number of watts in coming or outgoing respectively on either AC or DC. There are other status symbols which only illuminate when is use such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and so on.

(Image credit: Future)Jackery Explorer 3000 V2: In use

I used the Explorer 3000 v2 on a few tasks through the house to see how it would fair and if any of these everyday household appliances would stress the battery. I ran an air fryer, induction hob, hair dryer and even an air heater, all separately of course and the Explorer 3000 powered on without a hitch. Each one using not much of the 3kWh of battery storage.

Trying to push it further, I brought out my large 3HP Air compressor, plugged that in and gave it a whirl, that managed a max draw around 2250W. I was able to spray paint my entire shed in the day using only about 30% of the battery bringing it down from 100% to 70%.

Charging the power station can be tricky, assuming you have a normal electricity tariff at 20 cents per kWh, this means that charging the Explorer 3000 from 0 to 100% would cost you around a $1.05.

The Explorer 3000 v2 supports charge from Solar Panels, ideally you would use one of Jackery’s SolarSaga line of panels but their biggest one only output at around 200W, but you will need at least 2 or more as charging this on a single SolarSaga 200W will take approximately 22 hours assuming clear sunny sky and constantly repositioning the panels. Connecting up to four additional SolarSaga 200W panels will in essence reduce the number of hours needed to charge but a splitter is required.

One notable negative is that Jackery opted to use a DC8020 Connector and socket, so if you had spare solar panels or the rigid or foldable kind, you would need to source either an MC4 or XT60/90 connector to DC8020 adapter.

Charging via the AC cable is as simple as plugging it in, the Explorer 3000 detects power, turns its self on and starts charging at full speed unless you otherwise specify a lower charge speed or schedule it.

Somehow Jackery managed to essentially fit a DC to AC inverter capable of out putting 3600W in the space of a milk crate. In comparison, most inverters installed permanently in homes for solar power are of the 3.6kWh type with few being more than 4, 5 or even 6. Most homes, even larger 3-bedroom houses in the UK, draw around 250 to 300W on idle these days, imagine the savings if you ran a house on this during the day and charge it during the night on the right tariff.

Jackery Explorer 3000 V2: App

Once set up the unit, I delved into the app. A quick app download, registration and I was in. Adding the battery to the app was a simple and quick affair.

On the home screen you are greeted by your Jackery products, on this occasion the Explorer 3000 v2 and state of charge.

Tapping on the battery led me to the main status screen of the battery showing is state of charge, inputs, outputs, Wi-Fi signal strength, temperature and some basic controls.

Tapping on the cog on the top right led to more in depth controls and settings and through this the product specifications.

Using the app, I did find it a bit laggy. I would click on an icon to switch on say USB charging and about 5 seconds later the icon lit up and my phone acknowledge charge. I found I had to click back forth to see that it had done what I asked of it.

But to be honest, you will seldom be using the app, you would set up the battery the way you like it and just use it.

(Image credit: Future)Jackery Explorer 3000 v2: Final verdict

The Explorer 3000 v2 is another solid product by Jackery improving on the Explorer 2000 battery I recently reviewed.

Whilst most people will think of these products as camping or recreation products, like in my last review ill refer back to the power outages of Spain and Portugal earlier this year.

Perhaps having one of these at home isn’t a bad idea after all. An old saying comes to mind “I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it”.

High output and high storage mean that this is superb for most home uses in an emergency or using off peak charging to use during the day.

For more power solutions, we reviewed the best UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).

Minecraft Hosting Pro is a well-established Minecraft server hosting provider with that rare thing -- a free plan to try out its services. It's one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers around with some great features and good reliability. I've taken a deeper look at what it provides and how well it works, so you know if it's the Minecraft hosting service for you.

I've looked at the price, the level of service, the features, and simply how comfortable it feels to use. In no time, you'll get an informed outlook on what to sign up for. Minecraft Hosting Pro offers servers scattered across the world so it should suit many people's needs. It has all the essentials like extensive support, DDoS protection, and much more.

What is Minecraft Hosting Pro?

Minecraft Hosting Pro is a hosting service designed specifically for Minecraft servers. It allows you to host your own Minecraft servers, providing you with the necessary infrastructure to run the game smoothly and efficiently. 

Minecraft Hosting Pro takes care of all the technical aspects of server hosting, including server setup, maintenance, and updates, so that you can focus on enjoying the game. With Minecraft Hosting Pro, you can create your own virtual worlds, invite friends to play, and customize your gaming experience to your liking. 

(Image credit: Minecraft Hosting Pro)Features

Minecraft Hosting Pro offers a wide range of features to ensure the best experience for gamers. The first of these is DDoS protection, which helps keep your server online even when it's under attack. Also, the instant setup feature ensures that your server will be up and running in a matter of seconds, although free game plans may be temporarily unavailable during peak weeks.

Minecraft Hosting Pro also boasts 24/7 ultra-low latency, which means that your server will have a 99.9% availability rate and will be monitored by server status. With free subdomains and domains available, it's easy to connect to your server without using any ports.

Another feature is the automatic backups that are available daily and manually for seven days, with the ability to create and restore your data to any backup point in your control panel. The dedicated support team is also available to answer all your requests, and you can contact them by opening a ticket via email.

Minecraft Hosting Pro also offers unmetered storage, which means that you can enjoy unrestricted access to disk space without worrying about your map or file size. The company also uses bare-metal hosting to ensure that resources are not lost and that high performance is maintained from hardware. All machines are always used under 60% charge, with enough available power for peak usage, and the company is fully transparent about its back office.

The one-click setup feature ensures that you can get direct access to all Minecraft server versions, plugins, mods, and modpacks. With web FTP and client options, file access, uploading, and editing of configuration files is fast and easy. The low latency server design, testing, and assembly using the latest AMD Ryzens CPU with high clock speed and NVMe hard drives ensure high TPS and lag-free servers. You can choose between 1 core to start your Minecraft server or up to 6 cores for highly populated or modded servers. 

(Image credit: Minecraft Hosting Pro)Server management 

Minecraft Hosting Pro offers server management to ensure that your Minecraft server runs smoothly. The company has data centers located in Europe, North America, and Australia, which ensures low latency for global locations. With an average uptime of 99.9%, you can be assured that your server will be online and accessible to players.

The company has servers located in Buffalo, New York (ny.mchost.pro), Los Angeles (la.mchost.pro), Dallas, Texas (da.mchost.pro), and Miami, Florida (ny.mchost.pro) in North America. In Europe, it has a server located in Paris, France (eu.mchost.pro), and in Australia, the company has a server located in Sydney (au.mchost.pro).

(Image credit: Minecraft Hosting Pro)Interface in-use 

The interface in use for Minecraft Hosting Pro is designed to be user-friendly and straightforward, allowing you to manage your server with ease. Upon logging into your control panel, you will be able to launch commands on your server and check the server activity in real-time through the console. The console allows you to interact directly with the server via specific commands for the version, plugins, and mods installed.

You can access the live console via the control panel and you can as well use the console with your mobile device. The control panel offers several other features, including the ability to monitor the server status, CPU, and memory usage. You can also manage, upload, and download server files through the web FTP without the need for an FTP client. The online file manager offers direct file access to edit your server settings, making it easy to customize your server.

Minecraft Hosting Pro offers a one-click installer that allows you to install multiple versions of Minecraft, including modpacks, with ease. You can also manage player whitelists, operators, and bans through the control panel, providing you with complete control over your server.

(Image credit: Minecraft Hosting Pro)Pricing  

Minecraft Hosting Pro offers a range of pricing plans to suit the needs of different users, from those looking for a basic free plan to those running large communities with extensive mods/plugins. The seven different plans provide varying levels of features, resources, and pricing, ensuring that users can find a plan that fits their specific requirements.

The free plan is a great option if you want to test the service without any charges. It comes with 1 core of the CPU Ryzen 3900X, 3072 MB RAM, unlimited SSD NVMe storage, 1 GBit/s network, and is suitable for up to 4 players. This plan is ideal for small private servers or those who want to try the service before committing to a paid plan.

The Iron plan starts at $6.75/month and is perfect for those who want a more advanced plan with additional resources. It comes with all the features in the free plan, 2 cores of the CPU Ryzen 3900X, and unlimited players. This plan is a good fit for small to medium-sized servers.

The Prime plan, which starts at $9/month, is suitable for medium-sized servers with additional resources. It includes all the features of the iron plan plus 4096 MB RAM, 3 cores of the CPU Ryzen 3900X, and unlimited players.

The Ultron plan is perfect for anyone looking for high performance and power. It starts at $13.5/month and includes all the features in the prime plan plus 6144 MB RAM, 3 cores of the CPU Ryzen 3900X, and unlimited players. This plan is suitable for larger servers with heavy usage and lots of plugins/mods.

The Lara plan is designed for medium-sized servers and starts at $18/month. It comes with all the features in the ultron plan, plus 4 cores of the CPU Ryzen 3900X, 8192 MB RAM, and unlimited players. This plan provides users with additional resources to run their server smoothly.

The Orion plan, which starts at $22/month, is suitable for large servers running vanilla PaperMC/Spigot. It includes all the features in the lara plan plus unlimited players and 14336 MB RAM. This plan is designed for heavy usage and can handle a large number of plugins/mods.

The Thanos plan is the most advanced plan and starts at $36/month. It comes with all the features in the orion plan plus 20480MB RAM, and unlimited players. This plan is recommended for larger community servers that require a lot of resources to run smoothly.

(Image credit: Minecraft Hosting Pro)Support

Minecraft Hosting Pro offers email support as the primary mode of communication with its support team. However, the lack of a live chat or phone support system can be a concern for users who require immediate assistance or those who prefer a more convenient mode of communication.

The email support offered by Minecraft Hosting Pro is available 24/7, and its support team is responsive and knowledgeable. When you send an email on issues related to server setup, installation, and configuration, the support team will respond within 48 hours. During our test, we sent an email regarding the cancellation of our subscription plan and we got a response within a few hours after submitting our inquiry.

While email support can be sufficient for anyone who is not in a hurry to get their issues resolved, it may not be ideal for those who need immediate assistance. The lack of phone support or live chat feature can also be a disadvantage for users who prefer to have a more personal touch when it comes to customer support.

It's worth noting that Minecraft Hosting Pro does not have a knowledge base or a FAQ section on its website. This means that you may have to rely solely on the support team for any questions or issues you may encounter. While this may not be a big concern for experienced users, it can be a challenge for beginners who need more guidance and support.

Overall, while Minecraft Hosting Pro's email support is said to be helpful and responsive, the lack of other modes of communication and a knowledge base can be a disadvantage for users who require immediate assistance or more comprehensive support.

Alternatives to Minecraft Hosting Pro 

Apex Minecraft Hosting is a popular alternative to Minecraft Hosting Pro. It offers reliable and high-performance servers with a variety of hosting plans to choose from. Its customer support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any issues you may have. Apex Minecraft Hosting also provides a user-friendly control panel that allows you to manage your server settings and files easily.

Shockbyte is another alternative to Minecraft Hosting Pro that is well-known for providing affordable Minecraft hosting services. It offers multiple data centers located across the globe, which means that players from all over the world can enjoy low latency and fast server speeds. Shockbyte also provides you with a control panel that enables you to easily manage your Minecraft server settings and files.

BisectHosting is a popular Minecraft hosting provider that offers reliable servers at affordable prices. BisectHosting offers a variety of hosting plans that are suitable for both small and large Minecraft servers. Its offers 24/7 customer support to its subscribers.

Nodecraft is another alternative to Minecraft Hosting Pro offering a wide range of hosting plans to choose from, including modded Minecraft servers. It provides you with a powerful control panel that enables you to easily manage your server settings and files. Nodecraft also offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and email with servers located in multiple data centers across the globe, ensuring fast server speeds and low latency for players.

Is Minecraft Hosting Pro right for you? 

If you are someone who is looking for a reliable and cost-effective Minecraft server hosting service, then Minecraft Hosting Pro may be a good option for you. The service provides a free plan that allows you to test the service before committing to a paid plan, which is a great way to ensure that the service meets your requirements.

However, if you require real-time support through live chat or phone, then Minecraft Hosting Pro may not be the best option for you, as the service only offers support via email. This can be a challenge for users who need urgent help or have technical issues that need immediate attention.

• View or buy at Dreame US / Dreame UK

Dreame AirStyle Pro: two-minute review

The Dreame AirStyle Pro is a multistyler that can operate as a dryer, or to create smooth, curly or bouncy styles using the various attachments supplied in the box. On paper, it looks like one for TechRadar's best hair styler roundup, but when I actually put it through its paces, a couple of design flaws quickly revealed themselves – and they're annoying enough to make this styler difficult to recommend.

The first is that the maximum temperature just isn't hot enough. I have collarbone-length, wavy hair that isn't overly thick, yet I wasn't able to use the Dreame AirStyle to dry it – it just took far too long. I also found that the styles created using the Dreame (in particular, the curls) lacked staying power. I'm as concerned about heat damage as the next person, but you do need some heat for these kinds of tools to be useful.

The second issue is that the attachments don't clip on securely enough. They twist on, but there's no 'click' at the end of that motion, which means they have a tendency to twist off again as you're using them to style.

It's a shame because, as I've said, the Dreame AirStyle Pro shows plenty of promise. The attachments are varied and well designed, and include those all-important auto-wrap curl barrels that position this styler as an Airwrap alternative. It's also stylishly designed and comfortable to use, with controls that are well positioned.

Price-wise, it isn't cheap, but it's far more affordable than Dyson's Airwrap i.d., and in line with rival products. While the Dreame AirStyle Pro's issues might not be insurmountable – you could rope in one of the best hair dryers for the start of the styling process, and take extra care not to dislodge the attachments when styling – there's no real reason to choose it over a tool such as the Shark FlexStyle, which comes in at a similar price and doesn't suffer the Dreame AirStyle Pro's issues.

That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame AirStyle Pro review.

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: price & availability

• List price: $399.99 / £299 / AU$599
• Available: US / UK / Australia
• Launched: May 2025

The Dreame AirStyle Pro is available worldwide, with a list price of $399.99 / £299 / AU$599. However, at time of writing, it was reduced in all territories to $279.99 / £269 / AU$399. Such widespread discounts suggest you won't often find it at full price.

By comparison, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. costs $599.99 / £479.99, while the Shark FlexStyle comes in at $279.99 / £269.99. While Dyson's styler delivers a step up in quality and features, it looks like Dreame is looking to position itself more directly as a competitor to Shark. (There are cheaper Dyson Airwrap dupes, but if you want one with the auto-wrap curl barrels, it will typically fall into a similar price bracket.)

While the AirStyle Pro looks good, feels high quality, and comes with a solid range of accessories, there are a couple of flaws at a functional level (a top temperature that's far too cool, and attachments that don't clip on securely) that make it difficult to recommend over the similarly priced Shark version.

There's a clear jump up in quality and functionality with the Dyson i.d., but I appreciate that not everyone is looking to splash that amount of cash on a styling tool (I compare all three in a bit more depth in this article, if you're interested).

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Dreame AirStyle Pro specs

Weight (styler only, no cord):

0.6lbs / 0.3kg

Dimensions (styler only):

1.8 x 1.8 x 10.2in / 4.5 x 4.5 x 26cm

Cord:

9.2ft / 2.8m

Temperatures: 

2 (50C and 80C) + cool shot (room temperature)

Speeds:

3 (50m/s, 55m/s, 60m/s)

Wattage:

1,300W

Attachments:

Fast dryer, flyaway attachment, 32mm auto-wrap barrels (L+R), hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumizing brush

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: design

• Tubular dryer with six styling attachments and storage box
• Attachments twist on, but aren't secure enough
• Stylish, premium design with leather-look finish

The Dreame AirStyle Pro has a similar look to most modern multistylers: it comprises a tube-shaped dryer onto which different attachments are clipped.

At the end of the barrel that you hold it are the controls. Two press buttons (with indicator lights) let you toggle though two temperatures and three windspeeds. Slightly unusually, the "cool shot" isn't a separate button, but included as an extension of the on/off slider.

(Image credit: Future)

At the base is a removable filter cage, covering a stainless steel mesh filter that traps any fine hair and particles and keeps them out of the motor. Dreame provides a cleaner brush to help with maintenance. The cable is 9.2ft / 2.8m.

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to use the AirStyle Pro as just a dryer, you clip on the fast dryer attachment. This widens the airflow to 90-degrees to the dryer.

Aside from that, the key attachments are the 32mm auto-wrap curl barrels. Used on slightly damp hair, they attract the strands around the barrel, shaping them into curls as they dry. The idea being that this damp to dry styling is far better for your hair than using traditional hot tongs.

If you want to switch from clockwise to anticlockwise curls then you'll need to swap over the barrels. Currently, the only styler of this kind that can achieve two directions of curl on one barrel is the Dyson Airwrap; all the cheaper alternatives require a manual swap-over.

(Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, there's an impressive range of attachments. Alongside the fast dryer and auto-wrap barrels (L+R), you get a flyaway attachment, hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, and round volumizing brush.

To attach a tool to the dryer section, you line up spots on the base of the attachments, then twist to clip them on. Most examples of this kind of styler have a release switch around the back, but there isn't one here – you simply twist in terms of opposite direction to take off the attachment. Unfortunately, this setup isn't that secure, and in my time with the tool I often experienced attachments becoming loose mid-styling.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: performance

• Not hot enough to be used as a hair dryer
• Controls are well positioned and easy to use
• Attachments work well, but lack of heat limits performance

I started by using the Dreame AirStyle Pro with the fast dryer attachment – and I immediately ran into problems. While the windspeed felt decent, it just wasn't getting hot enough to dry hair, even on the higher of the two temperatures. (For context, I have collarbone-length hair that I'd towel-dried from wet, so it wasn't soaking.) After several long minutes of ineffectually waving the AirStyle over my head, I gave up and switched to a dedicated hair dryer.

(Image credit: Future)

I wondered if my review model was faulty, but a closer look at the specs revealed this wasn't the case. The AirStyle's two heat options are 122ºF / 50ºC and 176ºF / 80ºC. In comparison, the Airwrap has a low heat setting of 140ºF / 60ºC and a high heat setting of 194ºF / 90ºC.

That cooler temperature might be better for your hair, but for anyone other than those with super-fine hair, the AirStyle Pro will prove ineffective and you'll need to have a separate hair dryer on hand for this part of the styling process.

(Image credit: Future)

I then tried out the auto-wrap curlers. They worked well, effectively pulling around the barrels and holding it there as it finished drying. In this part, they were similar to the Airwrap (although the Airwrap has some extra features to make the process more straightforward). As a general rule, auto-wrapped curls don't last as long as those created using hot tongs, but I found the curls created with the AirStyle Pro dropped especially quickly – again, I think this is something to do with the lower temperatures used.

(Image credit: Future)

On the plus side, the styler is comfortable to hold and balanced in weight. The buttons are well positioned, making them easy to find mid-styling and difficult to press accidentally.

I especially like the way the cool shot is activated. It's at the top of the on/off slider, so you can easily locate the raised button by feel alone, and since it's spring-loaded, it pings back when you let go.

(Image credit: Future)

Over the course of my review period, I tested out all the other attachments. Broadly, I felt they were well designed and did what they were meant to do. However, as mentioned, they don't attach securely – they simply twist on and off, with no clipping involved.

This proved an issue when doing anything that involved twisting the tool, and when creating curls using the round volumizing brush, I found it became loose and fell off on more than one occasion.

The hard smoothing brush and soft smoothing brush both feature prongs that can pivot slightly – I'm not sure of their purpose – and they worked well in practice. In fact, the two are virtually identical, except the latter has bobbles on the end of the prongs, so I'm not sure I needed both.

• Performance score: 2.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame AirStyle Pro?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Not cheap but relatively affordable. In line with other similarly designed tools that perform better.

3 / 5

Design

Looks stylish and is comfortable to use. Attachments are varied and well designed, except for the fact they don't clip on securely.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Maximum temperature too cool for effective drying, and means curls drop quickly. Attachments can also fall off in use.

2.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You have very fine hair
Those with fine or short hair may find the AirStyle Pro's cooler temperatures in hair dryer mode perfect for their hair type.

You want an stylish tool
With its tasteful tan, faux-leather finish, this is one of the most stylish hair tools I've tested.

You're worried about heat damage
The Dreame AirStyle Pro gets far less hot than rival stylers I've tested, so if you have heat-damaged hair and don't trust yourself to stick to lower temperatures, it might be a good pick.

Don't buy it if...

You have thicker or longer hair
The AirStyle Pro's lower temperatures likely won't cut it to dry and style thicker or longer hair.

You have tangle-prone hair
I found the attachments here didn't clip on very securely, so those with denser or more tangle-prone hair might find themselves losing tools while they try to style.

Dreame Airstyle Pro (reviewed)

Dyson Airwrap i.d.

Shark FlexStyle

Weight (styler only, no cord):

0.6lbs / 0.3kg

1.4lbs / 0.6kg XXCHECK

1.5 lbs / 0.7kg

Styler dimensions (L x W):

10.2 x 1.8in / 26 x 4.5cm

10.7 x 1.9in / 27.2 x 4.8cm

11.3 x 1.7in / 28.7 x 4.4cm

Cord:

9.2ft / 2.8m

8.5 ft / 2.7m

8ft / 2.4m

Temperatures: 

2 + cool shot

2 + cool shot

3 + cool shot

Speeds:

3

3

3

Wattage:

1,300W

1,300W

1,400W (US), 1,600W (UK)

List price:

$399.99 / £299 / AU$599

$599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849

$279.99 / £269.99 / AU$499.99

Dyson Airwrap i.d.

The Airwrap i.d. is king in this category, both in terms of price and features. This multistyler comes with a switch that launches an automated wrap > curl > cool shot sequence, for maximum ease. It can also do clockwise and anticlockwise curls on the same barrel.

Read my full Dyson Airwrap i.d. review

Shark FlexStyle

The FlexStyle is a very similar proposition to the AirStyle in that it isn't as good as the original AirWrap, but it's a solid alternative if you don't want to spend megabucks. It looks slightly less stylish than the AirStyle but is all-round a more effective tool in my opinion.

Read my full Shark FlexStyle review

How I tested the Dreame Airstyle Pro

I used the AirStyle Pro as my main styling tool for a week. During this time I used it to dry my hair, and tested all the different attachments, paying particular attention to the auto-wrap curlers. I compared the styling results to what I managed to achieve with other similar stylers I've tested – including the Dyson Airwrap i.d. and Shark FlexStyle. I also assessed how easy the styler was to use and the effectiveness of its design and features.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed July 2025

GG Servers promises to provide a reliable and high-performing game server. As is customary, I've focused on its Minecraft offerings to see if it can compete with the best Minecraft server hosting but it also supports other games.

The service provides a user-friendly control panel, robust infrastructure, and its near essential list of supported games.

I tested GG Servers, exploring its key features, pricing options, performance, and overall value. Whether you are a seasoned gamer or just getting started in the world of online gaming, my GG Servers review will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about your game server hosting needs. 

What is GG Servers? 

GG Servers is a web hosting service that specializes in providing high-quality and reliable game servers for online gamers. It offers a wide variety of hosting plans that are tailored to meet the specific needs of different games and gamers. GG Servers' servers are optimized for performance and reliability, ensuring that gamers have a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience. 

(Image credit: GG Servers)Features

GG Servers offers a comprehensive set of features that make it a good choice if you're looking for one of the best Minecraft server hosting services on the market. One of the standout features is the free DDoS protection that comes with all services, ensuring that your server remains online and accessible at all times. This is a crucial feature for any online service, as DDoS attacks can be extremely disruptive and damaging.

Another key feature of GG Servers is the use of NVMe SSD storage, which is standard across all services. Premium services take this a step further with unmetered usage of NVMe SSD storage, providing lightning-fast access to your server files and data. The powerful processors used by GG Servers are also notable, with CPUs that excel in single-core performance. Standard services offer up to 4 GHz, while premium services go up to 5 GHz, ensuring that your server can handle even the most demanding workloads.

GG Servers also offers a global network of server locations, allowing you to choose the one that provides the best ping and performance for your needs. The ping.ggs.gg tool makes it easy to test your ping in all locations, and the Minecraft server itself includes a compass in the lobby server where you can choose your preferred location and test your ping on it.

In addition to these core features, GG Servers also provides a free subdomain, 1-click modpack and plugin installs, and a powerful and easy-to-use Multicraft panel. This panel allows you to manage all of your Minecraft servers with ease, providing full FTP file access and access to your console and chat. Also, the unmetered SSD and NVMe storage, as well as full FTP and MySQL database access, make GG Servers an ideal choice for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich Minecraft server hosting solution.

(Image credit: GG Servers)Server management 

Server management is a crucial aspect of any online service, including Minecraft servers. With so many different options available, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to managing your server. Thankfully, GG Servers offers a range of powerful tools and features that make server management easy and efficient.

One of the key considerations when it comes to server management is uptime. After all, if your server is down, your players won't be able to access it. GG Servers boasts an impressive overall uptime of 99.9121%, which is well above the industry average. This high level of uptime is achieved through a combination of automated DDoS protection, powerful processors, and reliable SSD and NVMe storage.

Another important factor to consider when managing your server is location. GG Servers has a global network of server locations, with servers located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. This ensures that you can choose a location that provides the best possible ping and performance for your players, no matter where they are located.

In North America, GG Servers has servers located in Virginia, Canada, and Oregon. These servers are all equipped with the latest hardware and software, providing lightning-fast access to your Minecraft world. In Europe, GG Servers has servers located in Frankfurt, London, Roubaix, and Finland. These servers are ideal for players located in Europe and nearby regions, with low latency and high performance. Also, in Asia, GG Servers has servers located in Singapore, which are ideal for players in Southeast Asia and nearby regions. And in Oceania, GG Servers has servers located in Australia, providing fast and reliable access to your Minecraft world for players in Australia and New Zealand.

(Image credit: GG Servers)Interface in-use 

The interface of GG Servers is highly intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for even beginners to manage their Minecraft servers. The highly customized version of the Multicraft control panel is accessible from the server panel, which is the main landing page for your account. From here, you can easily navigate to your servers, profiles, open tickets, and log out.

The server panel is designed to give you easy access to all of the features and tools you need to manage your server. This includes full FTP file access, which allows you to easily upload and manage files on your server. You can also access your console and chat directly from the control panel, giving you complete control over your Minecraft world.

One of the best things about the interface on GG Servers is that it is highly customizable. You can change the appearance of your panel, choosing from a range of different themes and colors. You can also customize your files, console, installers, and tools, making it easy to create a panel that is tailored to your specific needs.

In addition to the highly customizable interface, GG Servers also offers a range of 1-click modpack and plugin installs. This makes it easy to add new features and functionality to your Minecraft server with just a few clicks. 

(Image credit: GG Servers)Pricing 

GG Servers offers a wide range of hosting plans to suit every need and budget. All of its plans come with a range of features, including unmetered SSD storage, anti-DDoS protection, and powerful processors.

Its pricing starts with the Stone plan, which offers 1024 MB of RAM, 12 player slots, and unmetered SSD storage, starting at $3.00/month. The Coal plan comes with all the features in the Stone plan, with the addition of 2048 MB of RAM, 24 player slots, and starts at $6.00/month.

The Iron plan offers 3072 MB of RAM, 36 player slots, and all the features in the Stone and Coal plans, starting at $9.00/month. The Gold plan comes with 4096 MB of RAM, 48 player slots, and all the features in the Stone, Coal, and Iron plans, starting at $12.00/month.

If you need even more power, the Lapis plan offers 5120 MB of RAM, 60 player slots, and all the features in the Stone, Coal, Iron, and Gold plans, starting at $15.00/month. The Redstone plan offers 6144 MB of RAM, 72 player slots, and starts at $18.00/month.

The Diamond plan comes with 8192 MB of RAM, 96 player slots, and starts at $24.00/month. The Emerald plan offers 12288 MB of RAM, 144 player slots, and starts at $36.00/month. If you need the ultimate in server power, the Amethyst plan offers 16384 MB of RAM, unlimited player slots, and starts at $48.00/month.

GG Servers also offers the Beacon plan, which comes with 32768 MB of RAM, unlimited player slots, and starts at $96.00/month. This plan is designed for those who need the highest levels of performance and reliability for their Minecraft servers.

Support

GG Servers provides 24/7 customer support to ensure that its users receive the necessary assistance whenever they need it. The company offers live chat, ticket, and email support for its customers to reach out and ask for help. 

Additionally, GG Servers has a vast collection of over 200 articles in its database that cover a wide range of topics related to game server hosting, making it a valuable resource for users who need more information. For security purposes, GG Servers offers pin support to its users for verification.  

Alternatives to GG Servers 

Hostinger is a web hosting company that also offers game server hosting services. It provides servers for popular games such as Minecraft, Counter-Strike, and Team Fortress 2, with features like DDoS protection, automatic backups, and easy server management through a custom control panel. Another option for game server hosting is Apex Hosting, a company that focuses on Minecraft server hosting. Apex offers a range of plans to fit different needs and budgets, including modpacks and custom server setups. Apex Hosting also has a user-friendly control panel, 24/7 support, and a community forum for customers to share knowledge and resources.

GameServers.com is a veteran in the game server hosting industry, having provided services since 2004. It offers servers for over 200 games, including popular titles like Rust, ARK: Survival Evolved, and DayZ. GameServers.com provides features such as DDoS protection, custom control panels, and global server locations to cater to different player bases. If you're looking for a more niche game server hosting provider, Nitrous Networks might be a good fit. It specializes in hosting servers for games like Garry's Mod, Team Fortress 2, and Conan Exiles, with plans that include easy setup, automatic mod installation, and custom configuration options. Nitrous Networks also has a ticket-based support system and an extensive knowledge base for troubleshooting.

Shockbyte is a game server hosting provider that offers servers for Minecraft, Terraria, and Valheim. Its plans come with features like unlimited slots, DDoS protection, and a free subdomain. Shockbyte also has a user-friendly control panel, live chat support, and a 100% uptime guarantee to ensure that players have a smooth gaming experience.

Is GG Servers right for you? 

Whether GG Servers is the right choice for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. One of the advantages of the service is that it provides powerful and secure game server hosting, with features such as DDoS protection and a variety of server locations. Additionally, GG Servers use powerful server hardware, which can improve the performance and stability of your server.

Another advantage of GG Servers is their good server availability, which ensures that your game server is accessible and online for your players. However, it is worth noting that its unlimited databases feature is only available in premium packages, which may be a disadvantage for users who require more databases.

Furthermore, its unlimited slots feature is only included in the unlimited plans, which may limit the scalability of your server if you choose a lower-tier plan. However, you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of GG Servers against your specific requirements to determine whether they are the right game server hosting provider for you.

Nodecraft is a relatively new company which focuses on providing a friendly gamer aesthetic to all your hosting needs. It's already one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers thanks to offering some unique features compared to the competition.

I've focused on Minecraft here but Nodecraft also provides support for many other games like Rust, Valheim, and Enshrouded. Nodecraft has quickly gained a reputation for providing reliable and user-friendly server hosting solutions. 

Here's a deeper look at what makes Nodecraft stand out among a growing crowd of game server hosting. It's not perfect but it's worth checking out.

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Nodecraft features 

One of the standout features of Nodecraft is its backup system. With this system, you can create an exact copy of your server's files, including player data, configurations, and maps. This allows you to test new configurations without risking your current setup. In addition, Nodecraft's backup system allows you to instantly load a previous backup if something goes wrong with your server. This can be a real lifesaver for gamers and developers who want to ensure that their game server is always running smoothly.

Nodecraft's real-time console is another standout feature. The console provides direct access to logs, admin commands, and other useful utilities. Kicking players, assigning admins, and monitoring performance can all be accomplished right in your browser. What sets Nodecraft's console apart is that it is directly streamed from the server to your browser within milliseconds. Behind the scenes, NodePanel scans this output for events such as player joins, server crashes, and other useful information to provide you with a real-time glance at what is going on in your server.

Security is a top priority for Nodecraft, and the company has created a system that allows you to generate a new login for each FTP session. This information is easily hidden from the overview for added security and privacy. This feature ensures that your files are as safe as possible while still allowing you to manage them efficiently.

Nodecraft's web-based file manager streams files from your server directly to your browser. You can edit, upload, and manage files without the need for downloading or using confusing software. This feature makes it easy for you to manage your files.

With NodePanel, all of your services exist with one singular login. Access everything under one account, directly at Nodecraft. No separate logins, no additional subdomains, and no hassle. This feature makes it easy for you to manage your accounts and services without having to remember multiple logins and passwords.

Nodecraft's servers are built with game server performance in mind. The company uses an Intel Xeon E-2174G or equivalent processor with a speed of 3.8+ GHz. Additionally, each server has 64GB ECC RAM for high-speed performance and stability. 

Nodecraft uses enterprise-grade solid-state drives (SSDs) to power all customer game servers, ensuring lightning-fast performance. Also, Nodecraft's DDoS protection and high-performance network are built to withstand attacks and ensure that your game server is always up and running. Nodecraft's entire infrastructure is built on top of a Linux ecosystem which ensures that your game server runs smoothly and efficiently.

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Server management 

Server management is a crucial aspect of game server hosting, as it directly impacts the player experience. Nodecraft offers a wide range of server locations, spread across North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. This ensures that players can enjoy low-latency, high-performance gaming experiences, regardless of where they're located in the world. In North America, Nodecraft has server locations in Washington, California, Colorado, Texas, Chicago, Atlanta, Florida, Canada, and Washington, D.C. 

This extensive coverage ensures that players on the continent can find a server location that's closest to them, thereby reducing latency with improved game performance. Moving to South America, Nodecraft has a server location in São Paulo, Brazil. This location offers gamers in the region access to a low-latency server that is optimized for high-performance gaming. In Europe, Nodecraft has server locations in Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Romania. This coverage ensures that players in the region can access servers that are closest to their location and as such, minimize latency and offer improved game performance.

Also, in the Asia-Pacific region, Nodecraft has server locations in Israel, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. With server locations spread across the region, players can expect low-latency gaming experiences. Having server locations in multiple regions is a critical feature for any game server hosting provider, as it ensures that players can enjoy optimal gaming experiences. 

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Interface in-use 

The Nodecraft control panel provides a user-friendly interface for managing your game servers. The Interactive GUI has been designed to make it easy for anyone, regardless of their technical knowledge, to modify server settings with ease. The panel is intuitive and visually appealing, with a clean and simple layout that allows you to quickly navigate through the different sections. This interface can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, making it convenient for you to manage your servers on the go.

The Nodecraft Interactive GUI provides a wide range of options that allow you to customize your game server to your liking. For instance, you can use the interface to change the server's game settings, such as difficulty level, game mode, and more. You can also upload mods, maps, and plugins with ease through the built-in file manager. Additionally, the panel allows you to monitor server performance metrics like CPU and memory usage, so you can optimize your server for better performance.

If you prefer to modify server settings manually, Nodecraft also offers access to all of the server's game files. This means you can use an FTP client to connect to your server and edit configuration files directly. Advanced users who prefer to use command line tools like SSH can do so as well. Nodecraft provides a wide range of tools to cater to different user preferences and technical abilities. Overall, the Nodecraft control panel is user-friendly for managing game servers, however, it may be overwhelming for beginners.  

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Pricing 

Nodecraft offers four different pricing plans to fit a variety of needs and budgets. The first plan is the most basic plan, which starts at $9.98 per month. This plan includes 3 save and swap servers, 2GB of RAM, 10GB of SSD storage, 20GB of cloud backups, unlimited player slots, automation and tasks, one-click installer, free subdomain and dedicated IP, and DDoS Guard protection. The most popular plan is the second pricing option, starting at $19.98 per month. This plan offers 3 save and swap servers, 4GB of RAM, 20GB of SSD storage, 40GB of cloud backups, and all the other features included in the Nano plan.

The third pricing plan starts at $29.98 per month. This plan offers 5 save and swap servers, 6GB of RAM, 30GB of SSD storage, 60GB of cloud backups, and all the other features included in the first two plans. From there, you can create your own server if you need more. All of these plans come with the option to add additional resources for an additional fee, including more RAM, SSD storage, and cloud backups. Nodecraft also offers a 7-day money-back guarantee, so if you're not satisfied with the service within the first week, you can cancel and receive a full refund.

(Image credit: Nodecraft)Customer support

Nodecraft offers a variety of support options to assist its customers with issues or questions they may have. One of the easiest and most convenient options is their live chat feature, which is available on their website 24/7. While testing this out, I was connected with a support representative and receive real-time assistance with a question I had about setup. If you prefer to speak with someone directly, Nodecraft offers phone support during its support hours of 12:30 AM - 09:00 AM. For less urgent matters, customers can also send an email to support@nodecraft.com. Nodecraft's support team aims to respond to all emails within 24 hours, although response times may vary depending on the volume of inquiries.

In addition to these support options, Nodecraft also offers an extensive knowledge base that contains helpful articles and guides on a variety of topics, such as server setup, game configuration, and troubleshooting common issues. You can browse the knowledge base to find answers to your questions or learn more about the features and capabilities of Nodecraft's platform.

Alternatives to Nodecraft 

Shockbyte offers affordable Minecraft server hosting with instant setup, a user-friendly control panel, and 24/7 customer support. It has servers in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Singapore. Shockbyte offers plans starting at $15/month for a server with 1GB of RAM.

Apex Hosting is a Minecraft server hosting provider that offers a wide range of plans to fit different needs and budgets. Apex has servers located in North America, Europe, and Asia and offers features such as DDoS protection, and automatic backups.

GameServers is a Minecraft server hosting company that provides reliable and affordable game server hosting for a variety of games, including popular titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Team Fortress 2, and Garry's Mod. GameServers offer a range of plans with various features and benefits to suit different needs and budgets.

GTXGaming offers Minecraft server hosting services for a range of popular games, such as Garry's Mod, ARK: Survival Evolved, and Conan Exiles. It has servers located in multiple regions for low-latency gameplay, and its control panel allows for easy server customization and management. It also offers 24/7 customer support.

BisectHosting is a popular Minecraft server hosting provider that offers affordable and reliable hosting for a variety of games, including Minecraft, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Rust. BisectHosting offers a user-friendly control panel and 24/7 customer support. Pricing starts at $7.99/month for a server with 1GB of RAM.

Is Nodecraft right for you? 

Nodecraft may be right for you if you prioritize DDoS protection, low latency, 99.9% uptime, and data centers around the world. Its excellent support through calls, emails, and live chat, as well as a free trial and money-back guarantee, can also be appealing. However, if you prefer a user-friendly control panel, note that Nodecraft's built-in control panel may be difficult to understand at first.

BisectHosting has been around since 2011 as a child company of Venture Node LLC and was registered in Ohio. The company focuses on providing the best Minecraft server hosting but also covers several other games including Rust, Terraria, 7 Days to Die, Valheim, ARK: Survival Evolved and many more.

Relatively unusually for a game hosting provider, BisectHosting also provides other web hosting services such as shared hosting, VPSand dedicated server hostingto those who want to launch their own website.

BisectHosting’s main website is a good example of a user-friendly approach done right, where you’ll be able to find everything you need within a reach of a click or two. It has 20 server locations around the world with the majority in Europe and USA, but others scattered across the globe. Bear in mind that some of these are only accessible for those signing up to a Premium plan.

With strong claims of being the ultimate destination for seemingly everything, I dived into BisectHosting to see how well it works as a Minecraft server provider, looking at its pricing, how easy it is to use, and more.

There are many Minecraft pricing plans. (Image credit: BisectHosting)BisectHosting plans and pricing

For those interested in Minecraft server hosting only, BisectHosting offers forty packages in total (a half of which are “Budget” while the other half belongs to “Premium” ones), which is such a considerable amount of choices that we were struck with analysis paralysis straight away.

Even the budget-friendly ones are chock-full of features that are fundamental in Minecraft, including custom JAR support, full FTP access, free MySQL, a free subdomain, free DDoS protection and more. The most affordable “Budget” plan will cost you mere $5.98 per month and provide 2GB of RAM and support for up to 12 slots, in addition to everything mentioned above.  

Apart from Minecraft, there are fitting packages for other popular multiplayer games including: Terraria, Valheim, ARK: Survival Evolved, Left 4 Dead 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, 7 Days to Die, Rust, Counter Strike: Source, Arma 3, Garry's Mod and Team Fortress 2.

Besides gaming-focused hosting, BisectHosting offers a few options for those looking to host a website (or several of them) which include shared hosting (that start at $2.99 per month), VPS (from $4 a month) and dedicated server hosting solutions (from $109 a month).

All hosting packages (with the exception of dedicated ones) come with 3-day money-back guarantee. Although it is far below the industry’s standard, at least there is one being actually offered.

As for payment methods, BisectHosting currently accepts credit cards, PayPal, and Paysafecard.

You can manage your Minecraft server from BisectHosting's modified control panel (Image credit: BisectHosting)Ease of use

One thing BisectHosting provides all of its users with is an abundance of choice, with something being offered to suit most tastes. Whether you want hosting for a small multiplayer community or a large one, BisectHosting should get you covered with its unlimited slots.

Those who are on the lookout for Minecraft server hosting services can select from Bedrock (mobile) and Java (original) edition, with more pre-designed packages being provided for Java. Whichever you opt for, the following step is to select a plan and check all of its details, such as data center location, billing cycle and add-ons.

If you aren’t hell bent on saving a few bucks, you could go with the most pocket-friendly out of the “Premium” packages, since they come with all features you could wish for without the need to pay extra for each of them. The most noteworthy are: unlimited slots, NVMe SSD space, dedicated IP, daily backups, Sponge installation and modpack updates and installations. Of course, all of “Budget” server features are included in this one as well.  

Creating an account with BisectHosting will require you to provide a number of personal details (although nothing out of the ordinary) and since instant setup is one of their key features, your server will be ready to use in the blink of an eye.

All server hosting plans come with a highly modified version of MultiCraft as your control panel, and which variation you’ll get depends on whether you chose a plan from the “Budget” or “Premium” section. Both control panels share the same easy-to-use functionality and will enable fast navigation for Java and Bedrock users alike. Even if you haven't used any version of MultiCraft before, with its user-friendly interface you should be able to swiftly find ways to customize your server by installing modpacks, plugins, server JARs and much more.

We used GTmetrix to measure the uptime and response time of our BisectHosting server (Image credit: GTmetrix)Speed and experience

In order to fulfil its goal and become one of the best Minecraft server providers out there, BisectHosting should present us with close to perfect performance, even more so since they claim that NVMe or SSDs are used exclusively to run all of their game servers. After testing the speed of BisectHosting’s main website by utilizing GTmetrix as our tool we got somewhat expected and highly satisfactory results. All vital web metrics related to speed performance were well above the average, resulting in near-perfect an A (99%)

Although BisectHosting offers no uptime guarantee, according to the results we got after monitoring it for a month (via UptimeRobot) it should be close to 100%. No major oscillations were recorded in response time and not a single second of downtime on top of everything. Admittedly, one month of perfect performance doesn’t have to be indicative of a whole year, but it sure seems like a good start. 

Support

As reported by a large number of their users (and supported by our own first-hand experience) BisectHosting’s customer support team is one of their major selling points. Not only they are at your disposal around-the-clock, but the persons in charge are responsive, resourceful and very respectful in their approach to customers. This “dream team” can be reached via support ticket and live chat.

You can find answers to common problems in BisectHosting's knowledgebase (Image credit: BisectHosting)

If you want to be more self-sufficient, you’ll find a major source of information in BisectHosting’s knowledgebase. It currently contains 139 articles in total which are split into ten corresponding categories (Billing Panel, Domain Management, Game Servers, Minecraft Java/Bedrock Servers and so forth). As far as we can see, most of these articles are easy-to-follow and often supplemented with pictures or video tutorials from BisectHosting’s official YouTube channel.

We should give a special mention to their YouTube channel as well, since it is only less than a year old and, yet, it is overflowing with how-to videos which seem to be coming out on a weekly basis.

The competition

When placed side by side, Shockbyte and BisectHosting seem quite similar in terms of pricing, features and support, but there are small differences that might be decisive for some users. Shockbyte is more famous for its overall performance (which means high response time, low latency and lag improbabilities), while BisectHosting’s technical team is doing a better job with support for unlimited domains, SSL certificates and backups.

Both Apex Hosting and BisectHosting offer servers of all sizes with a myriad of additional options. However, the cheapest Minecraft server hosting option with Apex Hosting will cost you $4.49 per month (and for the first month only, after which it will rise to $5.99), while with BisectHosting it’s merely $2.99 per month. On the other hand, with Apex Hosting you’ll get a somewhat longer money-back guarantee.

Besides game server hosting, BisectHosting provides a shared web hosting option with a few attractive features and pricing that is a match for Bluehost’s. The cheapest plans with both hosts come at quite an attractive price, which is $2.95 per month with Bluehost and $2.99 with BisectHosting. However, with Bluehost’s plan you’ll get free domain registration, a free SSL certificate and CDN, which is hard to beat.

HostGator is a great alternative both to Bluehost and BisectHosting for all those looking for a simple-to-use yet feature-packed hosting service equally fit for individual users and small businesses. As expected, even with its cheapest plan, HostGator provides users with a wide array of beginner-friendly and useful features (free domain registration, one-click installs, a free SSL certificate, free domain and website transfer, free MySQL and script transfer, and a generous 45-day money back guarantee), so it might be a better choice.  

Final verdict

On the question if BisectHosting is likely to make your gaming dreams come alive, we would have to say “yes, probably”. It offers a great diversity with its Minecraft packages, a full set of favorable features, prompt and proficient customer support and all at a pocket-friendly price.

Its web hosting packages are, however, another matter and leave out some of the beginner-friendly bonuses we are accustomed to see with other providers. Newcomers who would like to get some of those benefits are better off with fan-favorites such as HostGator, Hostinger or Bluehost.

Apex Hosting is a US-based company which launched in 2013. Its goal according to the site is to "deliver the highest level of customer support to our Minecraft server hosting clients". It makes sense then to see it feature prominently in our look at the best Minecraft server hosting. Registered in Florida, USA, its main office is situated in Sarasota with data centres across 18 locations around the world .

These include six locations in the USA (Portland, Las Vegas, San Jose, Dallas, Vint Hill and Miami), and one each in the following countries: Canada (Montreal), Brazil (Sao Paulo), the UK (London), France (Gravelines), Poland (Warsaw), Germany (Frankfurt), Israel (Tel Aviv), Russia (Moscow), China (Hong Kong), Singapore (Singapore), Australia (Sydney) and Turkey (Istanbul).

While its website isn't the most visually appealing of sites, Apex Hosting knows what counts for users. Below, you'll find exactly how I found the service with most of the things available within a few clicks.

Apex Hosting offers a wide variety of plans to suit your Minecraft server hosting needs (Image credit: Apex Hosting)Apex Hosting plans and pricing

Apex Hosting offers 14 Minecraft packages with the most budget-friendly plan starting at $5.99 for the first month (renewing at $7.99). For the price, you get 2GB RAM which Apex explains is good for basic servers and some modpacks.

To be able to confidently enjoy all modpacks imaginable, opt for the 8GB RAM package which costs $20.99 for the first month recurring at $27.99. In all cases, there’s a discount for committing to paying quarterly but this is still a little pricier than some game server alternatives.

The most expensive option offers 32GB RAM for $77.99 for the first month, increasing to $103.99. All plans offer unlimited player slots, dedicated live chat support, full DDoS protection, automated backups, a free subdomain, one-click pack installers, and unlimited storage.

Another option is to sign up for the Ex Series which has 16GB RAM but also a more powerful server with the Ryzen 9 5900X 4.8GHz, NVMe SSDs, free premium support, and a free dedicated IP.

Although there is no free trial, Apex Hosting provides a 7-day money-back guarantee, which is always handy to have.  As for payment methods, Apex Hosting accepts credit/debit cards, and PayPal.

Ease of use

With so many Minecraft server plans, it's pretty easy to figure out what will work best for you. They all offer unlimited player slots but you will be somewhat limited by the RAM available to you. Fortunately, users have the flexibility to change their chosen plan at any time, so if one plan doesn’t fit your bill, there is probably another one that will. However, if neither of them work for you, don’t forget about their money-back guarantee.

After choosing your server, you’ll have to configure some details about it (billing cycle, your Minecraft username, server version and optional subdomain) and decide if you want to include a few add-ons for extra cash (plugin installations, permissions setup, dedicated IP or premium support). Oddly, there are only two options in regard to the billing cycle (monthly and quarterly) with a saving of 10% when you commit to quarterly. After this, you’ll have to provide your personal information, pick out a payment method, create a password and proceed to checkout.

This is Apex Hosting's customized Multicraft control panel (Image credit: Apex Hosting)

Since Apex Hosting utilizes a customized version of easy-to-use Multicraft as its control panel, keeping your server running and managing all of its aspects should become a straightforward experience in no time. In addition to that, video guides are found only a click away, as is one-click modpack installer, all of which is sure to make things even easier.

Another noteworthy feature that is included with every package is automated backups, which will ensure the safety of your Minecraft world.

We used GTmetrix to test the uptime and response time of our Apex Hosting server (Image credit: GTmetrix)Speed and experience

While boasting (and rightfully so) about hosting over 200,000 Minecraft servers and having the best support in the whole industry (which should be put under question), Apex Hosting brings up  their dedicated hardware features such as “high clock speed” CPUs and the use of SSDs. This should indicate high TPS and lag-free servers for all of their customers. To check out the speed of their servers we tested the performance of their main website with GTmetrix as our tool. The results we got were pretty promising, with all the vital web metrics being above the average and rated with a conclusive grade of an A (100%).

Apex Hosting promises a 99.9% uptime and, as reported by UptimeRobot, it is very likely that you’ll be able to uphold it. We monitored Apex Hosting’s main website for more than a month and were presented with a report showing an impeccable 100% of uptime, which came as a welcome surprise. Not a second of downtime was recorded and while there were several oscillations in response time, they should have no substantial impact on the overall performance.

Support

Although we were rather skeptical about Apex Hosting’s claims to have “the best support in the industry” we decided to give them a chance to prove us wrong. Their customer support is available 24/7 through tickets and live chat, which they seem to take great pride in. From our perspective, chat seems well-organized and functions as a one-stop-solution for most of the problems one might encounter along the way. A support agent we got in touch with responded within five minutes and provided us with everything we wanted to know in a very kind way. If you are using some of the same social platforms they are active on, you can try to reach them there as well.

You can find answers to common web hosting and Minecraft server-related questions in Apex Hosting's knowledgebase (Image credit: Apex Hosting)

If you prefer finding solutions on your own, Apex Hosting’s knowledgebase should probably be your first stop, although their YouTube channel shouldn’t be overlooked since it offers a decent number of easy-to-follow video guides.

The competition

Both Shockbyte and Apex Hosting tend to get high on the majority of “best Minecraft host” lists, and rightfully so. While Shockbyte has more server options in general, a longer list of features and all at a budget-friendly price, Apex Hosting is stronger in terms of customer support.

BisectHosting is another provider determined to make a Minecraft server hosting experience as easy as possible, much like Apex Hosting does. However, BisectHosting is slightly stronger in terms of package options, features and included add-ons, while Apex Hosting provides superior support to its customers. Additionally the daily backups you’ll get with Apex Hosting are a great bonus.

Another difference between the two is the availability of web hosting options (shared hosting, VPS and dedicated server hosting) you have with BisectHosting, but not with Apex Hosting, since it’s focusing on Minecraft. Another web hosting alternative and quite a popular one, would be Bluehost, since in addition to attractive pricing, it provides a full range of hosting services capable of responding to most needs.

Another good (and beginner-friendly) choice for those looking to launch their own website would be HostGator. Besides everything one would expect from a well-known host, they offer their own easy-to-use website builder with all of their shared hosting plans (even the cheapest one) and a 45-day money-back guarantee with “no questions asked”.

Final verdict

There are several reasons behind Apex Hosting’s growing popularity among Minecraft fans, including a variety of server options and total control over it. When we add fast and lag-free performance, backups and DDoS protection, simple-to-use control panel and first-class support to the deal, it’s really hard to say “no” to Apex Hosting.

Although the money-back guarantee is valid for only seven days and might not seem particularly generous, it is actually a bit longer than what is found with some of the company's Minecraft-focused competitors. For a usual 30-day one, you can try out Hostinger, which is one of top web hosting providers out there, with and without Minecraft.

However, if you are on the lookout for a reputable and reliable host for your website and don’t even know how you ended up here in the first place, don’t miss out on checking Bluehost and HostGator.

The Dabbsson DBS1000 Pro portable power station provides 2000W of inverter power in a compact footprint. The base unit features a 1000Wh battery that can be expanded to 5kWh with additional packs. The unit has four fans and is quiet enough to work in an office environment. It supports a handy UPS mode, where the AC output switches from the grid to the battery in under 15ms, ensuring uninterrupted office work.

It has all the bells and whistles that the competition offers: a super-fast charger, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, and a sleek mobile app for remote operation. With the addition of a battery pack, the inverter's output power increases to 2400W, a feature not found in similar products. The DBS1000 comes with a powerful front flashlight to help in roadside emergencies and supports three types of charging.

Dabbsson DBS1000: Price and Availability

The Dabbson DBS1000 carries an MSRP of $899 and is on special for $541 for a limited time. The 2kWh battery expansion, which usually costs $1499, is available at a reduced price of $1099 also for a limited time. Other product variants include two DBS1000s with a parallel connector box that increases the output inverter power and battery capacity. This combination is discounted to $1700 from an MSRP of $2549.

(Image credit: Future)Dabbsson DBS1000: Design

The Dabbsson DBS1000 ships with one AC cord and two DC cables for car and solar charging. A user manual and a warranty card complete the package. The unit is compact, measuring 43 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm, which translates to a volume of just under 28 liters. Two large handles on either side of the case help carry the 16kg unit around effortlessly. The top surface is clear of obstructions and can act as a small table, making it ideal for resting electronic devices such as tablets and phones.

Specifications

Battery chemistry: LiFePO4

Battery capacity: 1024Wh

Number of charge cycles: Over 4000 before 20% drop

AC output power: 2000W, surge 4000W

Number of AC outlets: 4

Number of USB sockets: 3 Type A, 3 Type C

Number of 12V sockets: 1 XT60, 1 Cigar lighter, 2 DC 5521

Number of extra battery ports: 2, total of 5120Whr

AC inverter efficiency: 90%

Number of power inputs: 3

Fastest charge time: 1 hour

Additional features: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, flashlight

Weight: 16kg

The user interface features a large LCD on the front panel. The high-contrast display is easily visible from a distance of a few meters. The remaining battery capacity, input and output power consumption, and warnings such as low battery are displayed clearly. User interaction is straightforward through push buttons located near the output sections, which illuminate when activated.

The DBS1000 features four AC power sockets that can supply over 2000W with a 4000W surge capacity. The unit also allows the power limit to exceed 2000W for longer durations through the P-Boost mode when not charging. The P-Boost mode is compatible only with resistive devices, such as electrical heaters, as the AC output voltage can vary depending on the available thermal margin.

The Dabbsson station provides nine low-voltage DC outputs. Six USB ports, organized as three Type-A and three Type-C ports, give the user multiple options to charge devices, such as smartphones and laptops. Two Type-Cs support up to 100W in PD mode, while two Type-As can fast charge at 18W. The remaining three DC outputs are all 12V, consisting of a 120W cigar outlet and two DC5521, each supporting 50W. The DC and AC outputs have a combined power budget of 2200W.

Dabbsson DBS1000: In Use

A short press on the power button activates the unit. The LCD shows status information, including battery capacity and whether any protection features have been triggered. The display will turn off after five minutes if the station remains unused to conserve power, and it will resume operation when a load is connected. To turn off the unit, a long press on the power button is required.

The DBS1000 has a fast AC charger that supports input power of up to 1200W. DC charging through solar panels, with a similar power rating, is also available. Considering the unit’s 90% efficiency, the station will fully charge the 1000Wh battery in under one hour. The power station can accept a DC voltage of up to 60V at a maximum of 25A, representing six 200W solar cells arranged in a 3-series x 2-parallel configuration.

Any abnormal behavior triggers a self-protection mechanism that turns off the input and output ports. For example, the input current can remain above 20A for an extended period, triggering the overload protection. The app shows a pop-up explaining the issue. The user can then decide to continue charging by clearing the fault.

Dabbsson's mobile app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. Once installed, the next step is to enable pairing by pressing the IOT button on the station. The DBS1000 should be detected automatically and added to the app homepage. The optional firmware update may appear as a single step during the initial setup. The final step is to enable Wi-Fi, which allows for full remote access to the unit.

(Image credit: Future)Dabbsson DBS1000: The competition

The DBS1000 has plenty of competition. The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 possesses features similar to those of the DBS1000. With a 1000Wh battery capacity and a comparable number of output sockets, the Jackery 1000 lacks a mobile app and is non-expandable. It also cannot sustain the same output power as the DBS1000. Finally, the Dabbsson station is less expensive than Jackery’s offering, with a price tag of $999 compared to $1899 for the Jackery.

Dabbsson DBS1000: Final Verdict

The Dabbsson DBS1000 sets the bar high in terms of inverter power and battery capacity, all within a small footprint, and at a reasonable price. For a little less than $1000, the unit offers a 2000W AC inverter that can easily reach 4000W for short durations on a 1 kWh battery capacity. Having a way to increase battery capacity with extra modules is also a great option.

The unit offers multiple charging options, including solar or car DC input, an AC socket, and an additional battery port. The DBS1000 features include a UPS mode, fast charging, Wi-Fi, and an emergency light, making it an ideal companion for the road.

Buy the DBS1000 if you want a low-cost compact power station with an option to expand the battery capacity.

We've listed the best Uninterruptible Power Supply.

Developer Leenzee’s Wuchang: Fallen Feathers surprised me in the most pleasant of ways. Going into the soulslike action role-playing game (RPG) for review, I was expecting a competent game that would ultimately struggle to stand out in the space, similar to a Lords of the Fallen or Mortal Shell. What I found instead was a deeply and constantly compelling action game that I consider to be the best soulslike game since 2023’s exceptional Lies of P.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: July 24, 2025

A dark take on the Ming Dynasty era of Chinese history, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers tells a shockingly grim tale, replete with themes of cyclical violence, abduction, forced marriage, and no shortage of grotesque body horror.

All this sets the backdrop to what is an incredibly refreshing soulslike experience. The game has that classic, Dark Souls-style level design, offering plenty to explore and multiple areas you can branch off into at any given time. Combat also has shades of Bloodborne, greatly rewarding evasion over blocking, and featuring a relatively careful selection of weapons that all pack their own unique skills.

Add in the fact that you can respec your skill tree limitlessly and for free, and you also have a game that encourages you to mix up your style frequently. Some levels and bosses, for example, are best countered with specific weapons, skills, status afflictions, and so on. Whenever I got stuck on a particularly demanding boss fight, I usually found that a few tweaks to the skill tree could make a world of difference.

Difficulty-wise, it’s not the hardest soulslike ever, and if you’ve cut your teeth on rock-hard titles like Lies of P, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, or Nioh 2, you’ll be well-prepared for the horrors in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. That’s not to say it’s a cakewalk, though.

A handful of bosses will certainly stop you in your tracks, and levels will typically have one or two key hazards to be aware of. Sometimes Wuchang takes this a little too far; two different flavors of poison swamp in a row is a bit much, one level is littered with landmines that are needlessly difficult to spot, and the final area (without spoiling anything, of course) is an exercise in pure unbridled frustration to the point where I actually needed to get up and go out for a walk before I realized the temptation to hurl my DualSense into orbit.

Even still, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is one of those rare instances where, after rolling credits, I immediately wanted to play through it again. And thanks to the game supporting New Game Plus at launch, it’s easy to dive right back in, chasing down its multiple endings with all your gear, skills, and levels intact.

Hope is the thing with feathers

(Image credit: 505 Games)

You play as the titular Wuchang, a formidable pirate warrior who, at the start of the game, has been struck with a bout of amnesia. Unfortunately, that’s the least of her worries, as she’s also been afflicted with a disease known as the Feathering - an excruciatingly painful malady that drives people to madness, beasthood, and things even worse than that.

Wuchang is a special case, as she’s able to harness Feathering to bolster her combat prowess. In gameplay, this primarily comes in two forms - Skyborn Might and the Madness gauge. I’ve been over both in my original Wuchang: Fallen Feathers hands-on, but I’ll explain further why they’re now some of my all-time favorite soulslike mechanics.

Skyborn Might is a combat resource you can accrue in several ways, up to a maximum of five stacks. The main method of building it up is to perform a ‘shimmer,’ which is essentially a well-timed dodge that completely negates damage. The game’s five weapon types - longswords, axes, spears, one-handed swords, and dual blades - also all have their own ways of building Skyborn Might once you unlock them in the skill tree (more on that later).

Best bit

(Image credit: 505 Games)

I was constantly impressed by the level design in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. There’s plenty to explore in each level, shortcuts are handled smartly, and there’s occasionally multiple major areas you can branch off into if you’re struggling to make progress and fancy a change of scenery. In that sense, it reminds me somewhat of how the original Dark Souls handled its level design back in 2011.

Longswords, for example, grant a charge upon hitting an enemy with the second attack in the light attack combo string. One-handed swords can build it automatically over time. Spears, meanwhile, have their own resource that can be converted into multiple Skyborn Might stacks if played effectively.

So, what is Skyborn Might for? It has two main uses. Your weapon comes equipped with two skills - one signature skill unique to that weapon, and another known as a Discipline, which you can unlock on the skill tree. Discipline skills can be applied to any weapon in their respective family, and each weapon type has around three or four skills you can unlock, not dissimilar to the Nioh series’ unlockable moves.

If you’re running a magic-focused build, Skyborn Might is also used to cast spells. This is an approach that I really love. Wuchang has no separate magic bar that you need to keep on top of, a la Dark Souls 3 or Elden Ring. Instead, you’ll need to decide how to best spend your Skyborn Might charges; do you go all-in on the offensive with your weapon skills, or hang back with spells? It’s an elegant system that rewards a careful balance of offense and defense.

Going berserk

(Image credit: 505 Games)

The Madness gauge, meanwhile, is decidedly more complex. Madness builds up when you die or kill humanoid enemies, and decreases when killing enemies afflicted with Feathering. There are thresholds at 50% and 90%, at which point Wuchang’s eyes glow red, and you can make use of Madness-related abilities unlocked via the skill tree. To get to these thresholds, you can also make use of certain items that boost the amount of Madness you have.

It’s a risk/reward system, though. If you reach full Madness, you’ll both deal and take more damage. And if you die while fully maddened, a dangerous demon will manifest where you last dropped your level-up currency (called Red Mercury in this game).

During my initial preview, I felt this mechanic could get frustrating and tiresome. After all, introducing another powerful enemy to an already-frustrating section is bound to go south, right? What I didn’t know back then is that the demon attacks indiscriminately, meaning it can be used to your advantage to distract or take down powerful foes.

(Image credit: Leenzee Games)

I now think this is an ingenious inclusion; while the demon doesn’t spawn in boss fights, if you’re stuck on a particularly tough area or elite enemy, it can lend an involuntary helping hand and grant you much-needed room to breathe. Killing the demon will also reset your Madness to zero, so there’s still a choice in whether you want to engage it or not, depending on the type of play style you’re going for.

Madness initially seems like something you wouldn’t want to deal with, but when managed right, it becomes a powerful tool and a certified ace up Wuchang’s sleeve. Like many things in the game, it’s all about balance. Madness can be risky, but the power it grants Wuchang shouldn’t be ignored, especially for the game’s more challenging encounters.

Dressed for the occasion

(Image credit: Leenzee Games)

There are plenty of ways to make Wuchang more capable throughout your playthrough, which is where the skill tree comes in. Leveling up in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a bit different than your average soulslike. You still get currency for leveling and buying items upon defeating enemies, but you’ll instead convert that currency into Red Mercury Essence, which are effectively skill points.

The skill tree in Wuchang is pretty sizable and divided into six main branches - one for each weapon type, and another for ancillary features like improving healing flask potency and unlocking powerful Madness-related buffs. The skill tree is still dotted with upgrades for your main stats (including health, stamina, weapon, and magic attack power), but you’ll also spend your points on new abilities, ability modifiers, and bone needle items, which can be used to temporarily add a status element to your weapon.

It seems a bit intimidating at first, but remember, you can reset skill points whenever you desire by resting at a shrine (this game’s equivalent of bonfires or sites of grace - effectively, checkpoints). Resetting is completely free, and you can choose to either refund all skill points or just a few to put somewhere else.

(Image credit: 505 Games)

What this means, then, is that you are strongly encouraged to mix up your skill point distribution from time to time, and Wuchang’s level and boss design back this up. Some bosses, for example, can be made much easier by unlocking the longsword’s Deflect discipline, which can parry weapon-based attacks. Deflect is powerful, but it’s not universal, and won’t work against spells or enemies that attack with, say, their hands.

Wuchang also places great importance on status effects and being able to resist them. In most soulslikes, status effects can be a mild annoyance, but Wuchang often expects you to have an answer to them. One area, for example, is set on a chilly mountain, and Wuchang will gradually accrue Frostbite while here. To combat this and other status effects, you can ingest status-fighting items or pieces of armor made with those resistances in mind.

The game can occasionally lean into this a bit too much for my liking, though. Having two flavors of ‘poison swamp’ style areas back to back is certainly a choice. Moreover, one very annoying enemy type builds up Despair when in view, instantly killing Wuchang should it fill up. Then there’s the game’s final area, which may as well be the final boss of all poison swamps, complemented by relentlessly hostile enemies with massive pools of health.

No spoilers, of course, but this one area was a bit of a black mark on the whole experience for me, and its massive size definitely made it outstay its welcome as I found myself begging and pleading for it all to be over.

An exceptional soulslike experience

(Image credit: 505 Games)

Even with that final area almost making me want to commit to the life of a hermit, it did not completely spoil what has been one of my favorite gaming experiences of the year. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an expertly crafted soulslike with some of the subgenre’s most impressive level design. It’s so rare for these types of games to instill the same wonder that makes FromSoftware’s output so special, but I was always so curious to see what Wuchang had in store around each and every corner.

Areas are also punctuated by some truly incredible boss fights. There’s a good variety here, too, from nimble humanoid warriors to hulking monstrosities. These encounters are where Wuchang’s phenomenal soundtrack shines, too. One boss later in the game really caught me off guard with a blistering metal track that nonetheless felt perfectly in place given the boss’s appearance and context.

If you swear by soulslikes as one of your favorite kinds of gaming experiences, then Wuchang: Fallen Feathers might just land on your personal game of the year list, because it’s certainly found a place on mine.

Should I play Wuchang: Fallen Feathers?

(Image credit: Leenzee Games)Play it if…

You want old-school Souls-inspired level design
Wuchang’s areas are impressively broad, with critical paths that aren’t always obvious. That means you’ll be doing plenty of organic exploration, and you might just find yourself wandering into new areas entirely.

You’re after something new from the subgenre
The game has plenty of ideas all its own, most of which are incredibly compelling. The Skyborn Might and Madness systems do wonders for Wuchang’s combat, and you’ll need to master both to overcome the game’s more challenging boss fights.

Don’t play it if…

Status effects really annoy you
Wuchang does not shy away from throwing status afflictions at you at any given chance. The abundance of poison swamps, frostbitten climes, despair-inducing hallways, and corrupted caves will definitely test your patience.

You hate keeping track of NPC questlines
There are a lot of side quests in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, most of which are tied to the game’s many side characters. Sometimes these characters can be quite difficult to find, and if you end up beating an area or boss too early, you risk these quests abruptly coming to an end until your next playthrough.

Accessibility

Dedicated accessibility settings for audio and visuals are unfortunately minimal in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers at launch, including the lack of colorblind options. You can choose to display the game’s control scheme on-screen, and you can fully remap controls to your liking in the settings menu. But there isn’t anything noteworthy beyond that.

How I reviewed Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

I played Wuchang: Fallen Feathers from start to finish on PlayStation 5, with my first playthrough clocking in at just shy of 36 hours. That included defeating the vast majority of the game’s bosses (both mandatory and optional), thorough exploration of each area, and the completion of most side quests. I’m now well into my second playthrough on New Game Plus, which carries over your levels, skill tree progress, and equipment.

I played primarily with the DualSense Wireless Controller on an LG CX OLED TV, occasionally hooking up my RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset to experience the game’s fantastic music and ambient sound design.

First reviewed July 2025

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release date: June 5, 2025

Namco’s Ridge Racer is my favorite racing game series of all time. A stellar blend of arcade drifting, superb visuals, and vibes-driven soundtracks have made it a legendary racing franchise, particularly with entries like Ridge Racer Type 4 for the original PlayStation, and Ridge Racer 6 on Xbox 360 - both of which remain my favorites in the series to this day.

It’s a franchise that has been long-dormant to my chagrin, with the last mainline entry - Ridge Racer Unbounded - coming from FlatOut and Wreckfest developer Bugbear Entertainment in 2012. And honestly, the less said about that game, the better.

Now, developer Hamster has injected some life into the series once again, with a fantastic port of the original Ridge Racer for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer is a package featuring the 1993 arcade version of the game, with a handful of modes and plenty of settings for customizing your experience.

It is very light in the content department, though. You’re not getting anything like Type 4’s 300+ cars or Ridge Racer 7’s tremendous campaign. As you might expect for an arcade racer of its time, you’re getting one track, a single car, and a half-dozen music tracks. If that relative lack of content is an issue, you might want to give Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer a miss.

That’s not to say that there aren't at least a few things to do. The track varies and extends based on your selected difficulty, as well as the car’s top speed. The ‘Original’ mode packs in plenty of customizable options to tailor your experience, and chasing online leaderboard times is a moreish endeavor. For $16.99 / £14.99, there’s a good amount on offer for the low cost of entry.

Slide through the curves

(Image credit: Hamster Co.)

Ridge Racer is perhaps the arcade racing game in its purest form. Similar to peers like Daytona USA, you’re tasked with completing a number of laps, while doing your best to pass other cars and hit checkpoints within the time limit, thus granting you a time extension - valuable seconds needed to continue the race.

Ridge Racer comes in four flavors of difficulty, each changing things up quite significantly. Novice offers a simplified course layout over two laps. Intermediate is the same course extended to three laps with a higher top speed. Advanced includes the full course layout, while Time Trial (shortened to T.T. in-game) pits you against a single driver on the full course with an even higher top speed.

Even though there’s just one track, it’s a visual treat even today, and it’s impressive just how much variety is packed into a single circuit. The full course takes you through a city, beachside resort, construction site, countryside, and more over just a couple of minutes. Lovely environmental touches like planes flying overhead and the time of day gradually shifting make for an atmospheric racing experience, too. Blasting through it all at around 220km/h is a real treat, especially once you’ve nailed down the drifting and handling.

Drifting, in particular, is definitely the pioneering gameplay feature of the Ridge Racer series, and that started as early as this first entry. The trick is to let go of the throttle and feather the brakes while turning, thus whipping your car around tight corners without losing much speed.

Nailing it here feels incredibly satisfying, especially when the game punishes you with quite severe speed loss if you hit a wall or another driver. Drifting would be refined in future entries, but it's impressive how good of a job Namco did in this first outing.

Drift into the lead

(Image credit: Hamster Co.)

So what other modes are on offer in Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer? If you want to challenge the online leaderboards, there are a few ways to do so. Hi Score Mode is a true-to-arcade experience where you must achieve the best race time you can on a single credit.

Caravan Mode has you racing for five minutes straight, with your score recorded in distance traveled. In both Hi Score and Caravan, you’re also able to choose your difficulty, each of which has its own leaderboard. Finally, Time Attack Mode is a gauntlet that has you setting times in each of the game’s four difficulties consecutively.

Best bit

(Image credit: Hamster Co.)

Chasing down faster times in the game’s various online leaderboards is a shockingly addictive experience. This is where most of the replay value lies, too, especially as there’s just a single track to race on that evolves depending on the difficulty you select.

There’s a good amount to do, then, if you’re a high score chaser, and plenty of varied ways to go about it. What you might notice, though, is that outside of Original Mode, track position doesn’t really matter. It’s all about going as fast as you can, setting the fastest times, or going as much distance as you possibly can.

Original Mode is the most malleable of the bunch. It’s the most casual of the modes, offering save states, and is the only mode that actually pauses when you hit the pause button. You’ll also have the option of playing Japanese or English ‘SD’ or ‘DX’ ROMs, with the only major difference being DX’s addition of a clutch button, mimicking the arcade cabinet releases.

There are plenty of settings, too. Full button layout customization is offered, as well as various display settings, including wallpapers for the 4:3 resolution, screen layout with the option for widescreen, and various CRT filters (though I much preferred to play without these for cleaner image quality).

You can also choose from six distinct music tracks before loading into a race. Ridge Racer is known for routinely having some of the best soundtracks to grace the genre, though I can’t say that’s the case in this first entry.

The rave-inspired music ranges from tolerable to borderline insufferable, and had me pining for the pristine blend of funk, house, and UK garage found in Ridge Racer Type 4. Though special mention does have to be given to Speedster - Track 5 - which houses an iconic sample that's also used in the Jet Set Radio soundtrack. That's plus points in my book.

Ridge Racer also has the dishonor of featuring what is perhaps the series’ most irritating announcer. Delivering lines with the overly charismatic cadence of an American game show host, you’ll hear “hey, somebody’s right on your tail!” countless times during a single race.

Should you play Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer?Play it if...

You want an authentic arcade racer experience
Ridge Racer was arguably the breakout arcade racer of its day, and while it lacks the wealth of content enjoyed by its many sequels, there’s a purity here that’s hard to find in contemporary racing games.

You love the thrill of online leaderboards
Chasing the best times possible in Ridge Racer is where most of its fun lies. The game is perfect for quick pick-up-and-play sessions, especially on the Switch 2’s handheld mode.

Don't play it if...

You were expecting more content
As mentioned, a single track and car is a far cry from what future Ridge Racer games would offer. I’m seriously hoping for a full-fledged series compilation release in the future, because this original game is definitely the series in its most basic form.

Accessibility

There aren’t really any contemporary accessibility options in Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer. Being able to adjust screen and button layouts depending on your preferences is nice, but there’s not a whole lot beyond that.

How I reviewed Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer

I’ve clocked in four hours of playtime in Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer so far. That’s more than enough to experience each of its modes many times over, and most of that time was spent climbing the online leaderboards for each mode.

I played the game on Nintendo Switch 2, using the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller to play in docked mode. Though the vast majority of my playtime was spent in handheld mode, usually on lunch breaks or just before settling in for the night.

For many, much of our day-to-day life is now handled online, including financial management, shopping, family connections, work collaboration, and more. While digital technology offers numerous advantages, it also poses multiple security risks that threaten users both financially and personally.

Today's cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics, deploying increasingly sophisticated attacks, including phishing scams, data breaches, and ransomware threats. These menacing strategies aim not only at financial theft but also often target our most sensitive data, leading to a cascade of complications that can significantly disrupt our lives.

This is where a dedicated identity theft protection service, like NordProtect, becomes invaluable. Acting as a real-time shield against potential threats, it provides proactive monitoring that continually watches over your personal information around the clock.

Picture receiving rapid alerts at the first hint of suspicious activity; this timely response can make all the difference in mitigating damage before it spirals out of control.

But it doesn't end there. Comprehensive recovery assistance provided by these services ensures that if the worst does happen, you're not navigating the aftermath alone. Specialists work with you to recover compromised accounts, restore your credit, and rebuild your digital identity, guiding you through each step with expertise and support.

NordProtect: Something new

Nord Security, the company behind the popular NordVPN, first introduced NordProtect in late 2023. At the time, it was only offered as part of NordVPN’s Prime plan in the U.S. In early 2025, however, the company expanded its availability, and NordProtect became available as a standalone product.

NordProtect: Plans and pricing

NordProtect offers three primary subscription levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The first is the basic plan and includes features like dark web monitoring, credit monitoring (TransUnion), VantageScore 3.0 credit score, credit freeze assistance, identity theft recovery ($1M), cyber extortion protection ($50K), online fraud coverage ($10K), cyber attack coverage ($10K), malware breach alerts, and criminal records monitoring.

The mid-priced Gold plan includes all the features of the Silver plan, plus the NordVPN service and Threat Protection Pro. The premium Platinum plan is the most comprehensive, offering all the features of Silver and Gold, along with NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, and a personal data removal service (Incogni).

You can purchase a subscription on a monthly, yearly, or two-year basis. There are discounts available on annual and two-year plans for the first year, and all plans come with a 30-day unconditional guarantee.

(Image credit: Future)

At the time of this writing, two-year subscriptions will save 63% off the regular price, with Silver costing $132 for the first 24 months, Gold at $204, and Platinum at $288. One-year packages are available with a 50% discount, priced at $90 for Silver, $126 for Gold, and $168 for Platinum. There’s no discount when paying for the NordProtect service on a monthly basis. For this, you’ll pay $15.49 for Silver, $21.49 for Gold, and $28.49 for Platinum.

Please note that prices for the year- and two-year plans revert to the regular price after the completion of the first term.

For this review, I opened a Platinum subscription.

NordProtect: Key features and offerings

NordProtect delivers a complete  suite of security  features that protect  personal information and enable  recovery from security  breaches with exact precision. The service delivers three core security components that monitor activity continuously and provide immediate alerts, together with financial protection, which form an integrated defense system for total identity security.

The NordProtect dark web monitoring service operates 24/7 to provide you with exceptional protection. The service  scans continuously through illegal online  marketplaces as well  as forums and  underground communities to detect  any leaked personal  data, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and  Social Security numbers.  You would receive immediate notifications when your information is compromised through this service, allowing you to react promptly and reduce potential security threats.

(Image credit: Future)

The credit monitoring service of NordProtect works in conjunction with TransUnion to provide you with financial protection features. This feature detects financial identity threats, including unauthorized account inquiries and new accounts opened using your personal information. The system provides detailed monthly reports on VantageScore 3.0 credit scores, as well as immediate alerts about potential fraudulent activities, helping you maintain continuous awareness of your financial situation.

The core strength of NordProtect is its outstanding identity theft recovery support system. When identity theft occurs, you are protected by up to $1 million in insurance coverage for such incidents. This coverage extends to eligible expenses, including legal fees, lost wages due to identity theft, and mental health counseling costs. The identity restoration process is supported by dedicated case managers who provide personalized assistance throughout your recovery journey. The service guides you in freezing your credit and helps you navigate the complex task of restoring your credit score.

The identity protection service NordProtect stands out because it includes both cyber extortion protection and online fraud coverage as exclusive features. The cyber extortion protection provides up to  $50,000 for expert assistance  and possible ransom  payments that occur when  cybercriminals threaten to reveal or erase  personal data.

NordProtect: Interface and in use

After extensive testing and hands-on experience with NordProtect, I found it to be remarkably user-friendly and intuitive. The primary access point is through a web-based dashboard within your Nord Account, which I appreciated for its centralized design. It allows for easy management and monitoring of various identity protection features, viewing alerts, and customizing settings—all without the need to download a separate application.

Being able to access NordProtect directly from a web browser significantly enhances its convenience. Additionally, I discovered that if you’re already a NordVPN Prime subscriber, you can seamlessly integrate these features into your existing Nord Account, which is a bonus.

During my testing across different devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, I was impressed by the broad compatibility. This flexibility ensures that I can manage my identity protection effortlessly, regardless of whether I'm using my desktop or mobile device. Overall, my thorough evaluation confirms that NordProtect offers a solid solution for identity management.

The main drawback of NordProtect’s interface design stems from the separate methods users need to access NordVPN and Incogni. The NordVPN service is available with both Gold and Platinum subscriptions, whereas Incogni is only accessible through the Platinum plan. These software  solutions operate independently and use different  access methods. For example, users need to download the NordVPN app on their devices to access the service. The back-and-forth process between these services might create confusion for some users.

(Image credit: Future)

For some,  using Incogni could complicate things further. Nord Threat Protection Pro, which is part of NordVPN, and Incogni operate as separate services from Nord Security. They provide distinct yet supportive solutions for online privacy and security. Nord Threat Protection Pro provides real-time  protection against immediate online  threats. The digital  shield protects your browsing experience  by blocking malware , phishing sites  , ads, and trackers  regardless of VPN  status. The system exists to prevent dangerous content from ever reaching your system.

Incogni specializes in proactive data removal from data broker databases. Through automated  contact with brokers,  Incogni removes your personal  data, including names  , addresses, phone numbers, and financial records. Incogni operates  as a system that  tracks your data while sending periodic  deletion requests to minimize  your digital presence and protect you  from spam, scams , and identity theft. 

The bottom line: Nord Threat Protection Pro stops new threats from entering, but Incogni removes existing data exposure, creating a comprehensive protection system when used together.

NordProtect: Support

Nord offers comprehensive customer support primarily through its robust online Help Center, which features extensive FAQs, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides covering various topics, including account management, billing, connectivity, and app usage. For more personalized assistance, customers can readily access 24/7 live chat support, which is recommended for urgent issues due to its typically quick response times.

Alternatively, for more complex inquiries or when immediate assistance isn't critical, customers can opt for email support, with responses usually provided within a few hours. These support channels are often accessible directly through Nord's websites and even within their applications, ensuring convenient access for users. While traditional phone support or call centers are not typically offered, Nord's combination of self-help resources and direct messaging options aims to provide thorough and accessible support for its diverse customer base.

NordProtect: The competition

In the competitive landscape of identity theft protection, NordProtect faces several established rivals.

Aura stands out as a strong competitor, often lauded for its comprehensive catch-all service, which provides extensive identity monitoring, including home and auto titles, financial accounts, and criminal records. Aura also frequently bundles additional cybersecurity perks, such as a VPN, password manager, and antivirus.

LifeLock by Norton is another major player, known for its strong identity theft insurance, often offering up to $3 million in coverage across personal expense reimbursements, stolen funds, and legal fees. While NordProtect focuses on TransUnion for credit monitoring, LifeLock offers three-bureau credit monitoring in its higher-tier plans, providing a broader view of credit activity.

Identity Guard is a direct competitor that offers in-depth monitoring and credit tracking, with its top-tier plans including three-bureau credit monitoring.

IDShield distinguishes itself by providing up to $3 million in identity theft insurance and assigning licensed private investigators to identity theft cases, as well as monitoring court and public records.

Lastly, IdentityForce offers a good balance of features, including a personal identity safety score and a customized action plan, and provides up to $2 million in identity theft insurance.

While NordProtect is a newer entrant backed by a strong cybersecurity reputation and often bundled with other Nord Security products, its competitors frequently offer more extensive multi-bureau credit monitoring and, in some cases, broader family plan options. credit monitoring and, in some cases, broader family plan options.

NordProtect: Final verdict

NordProtect, launched by Nord Security in late 2023, has evolved from being part of NordVPN’s Prime plan to a standalone identity theft protection service available since early 2025. It offers Silver, Gold, and Platinum subscription tiers, with monthly, yearly, and two-year payment options, as well as discounts for annual and biennial plans during the initial term. All plans are backed by a 30-day unconditional guarantee.

The service provides a comprehensive suite of security features, including 24/7 dark web monitoring, credit monitoring in partnership with TransUnion, and identity theft recovery support, which includes up to $1 million in insurance coverage. Notably, NordProtect also provides cyber extortion protection (up to $50,000) and online fraud coverage.

Users primarily access NordProtect through a web-based dashboard within their Nord Account, which is user-friendly and compatible across various devices and operating systems. While centralized access is convenient, a minor point of friction arises from the separate access methods required for bundled services, such as NordVPN (included in Gold and Platinum plans) and Incogni (exclusive to Platinum). Nord Threat Protection Pro, available with Gold and Platinum, complements Incogni (Platinum only) by preventing new threats and addressing existing data exposure.

NordProtect provides comprehensive customer support through an online Help Center, 24/7 live chat, and email. However, traditional phone support or call centers are not typically provided.

In the competitive identity theft protection market, NordProtect competes with established players, including Aura, LifeLock by Norton, Identity Guard, IDShield, and IdentityForce. While NordProtect leverages Nord Security's strong cybersecurity reputation, some competitors offer more extensive multi-bureau credit monitoring and a wider range of family plan options. Overall, NordProtect stands as a robust solution for identity management, offering strong protective and recovery capabilities.

Denon AH-C500W: Two-minute review

It’s something of a cliche among tech writers and audio fans to refer to any stem earbuds as a ‘cheap AirPods alternative’, before heaping upon it praise for being just as passable a pair of headphones as Apple’s are, or superior in some arbitrary way. I was almost ready to trot out that same, somewhat tired comparison with the new Denon AH-C500W to be perfectly honest. That was until I realised it was actually incorrect.

Not the part about them being AirPods rivals – you’ve seen the picture at the top of this review, even AirPods’ mom wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between her child and the Denon. And not about them being cheaper either; the AH-C500W do undercut Apple’s options.

No, I’m talking about the new Denon earbuds being superior. The Denon don’t have any unique selling point to beat the AirPods, no untouchable audio quality to keep them competitive, and a price that isn’t actually that cheap, in the grand scheme of things. If you’ve got an Android phone and so can’t use AirPods to anywhere near their full potential, here’s Denon, but if not they’re harder to recommend – and that's coming from me, an AirPods naysayer.

If you’ve not heard of Denon (not to be confused with Danone of yogurt fame), it's a celebrated Japanese audio company mainly focused on larger speakers, soundbars and AV set-ups, but also selling choice premium headphones and earbuds too. In this gilded array the AH-C500W are the odd duck, coming at a much more affordable price point than basically everything else on Denon’s website.

A blast from the past, the C500W use an open-fit ear design. No, not the fully open earbuds that’ve been launching left, right and center throughout 2025, but like AirPods: they sit in your ear but without any tip to wedge it in there. Instead, you cross your fingers and pray to whomever you believe in that they don’t fall out. In my testing the Denon never actually did, but they’d often move around in my outer ear slightly, which would affect music quality – and when I tried to fix it, the oversensitive touch controls would think I’d pressed ‘pause’ and stop my music. Not very handy.

Audio quality is actually fair, at least when you’re at home, but step outdoors into the noisy world and the lack of any kind of noise cancellation will have an audible effect on your listening. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) isn’t mandatory in earbuds, but open designs block virtually no noise, and I found myself wishing for ear tips to offer some relief from background noise.

Something else missing from the Denon AH-C500W is an app… that does anything truly meaningful. That is to say there is an app, but its only functions are to turn off touch controls or adjust your listening using the most barebones EQ I’ve ever seen.

If there’s anything resoundingly positive to be said for the Denon, it’s the design. AirPods comparisons aside these are sleek-looking, lightweight when in your ear and easy to tote around thanks to the tiny carry case. The latter in particular was a source of joy when going out with the earbuds – sometimes I test buds with huge containers that are a pain to put in my pocket, but not the Denons.

Denon AH-C500W review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Unveiled and released in April 2025
• Costs $99 / £99 (roughly AU$209)
• Already available cheaper

The Denon AH-C500W earbuds were announced in April 2025 and went on sale shortly afterwards. They were joined in this release by the AH-C840NCW, a slightly more expensive alternative which comes with ear tips and noise cancellation.

When announced, the buds were given the price of $99 / £99 (roughly AU$209) but three months later at the time of writing this review, the UK price is already down by £10 on Denon’s official website (and not via a sale, but as the default price) so you can pick them up for below RRP very easily.

I’ll save you clicking over to its review; the also-devoid-of-ANC Apple AirPods 4 cost $129 / £129 / AU$219 so they’re only slightly more expensive. That’s not the only competitor at this price point though and the splendid Nothing Ear (a), the Skullcandy Method 360 and Sony WF-C710N all match the Denon (in at least one country each, although in some others they're a hair pricier).

While the Denon AH-C500W are cheaper than the AirPods 4, it wouldn’t be right to refer to them as ‘cheap’ earbuds, and they’d need to cost at least 30% less to be considered budget alternatives.

Denon AH-C500W review: Specs

Drivers

12mm

Active noise cancellation

No

Battery life (ANC off)

7 hours (buds) 25 hours (case)

Weight

4.5g (buds) 50g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3

Waterproofing

IPX4

Denon AH-C500W review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 7-hour battery life, 25 with case
• No noise cancellation of any kind
• App has few features

Pick up the Denon AH-C500W if you think the AirPods 4’s 5-hour battery life is awful – the Denon doesn’t do an awful lot better, but at least it’s not so noticeably below the class-leaders.

According to Denon’s stats – which I’d back, from my experience – the earbuds will last for 7 hours on a full battery. That’s roughly in line with industry standards, but remember that anything that’s average is worse than literally half of all other options. The charging case brings the full figure up to 24 hours which isn’t amazing either, and actually falls short of Apple, possibly because Denon opted to add wireless charging support instead of a bigger battery.

In the ‘Features’ section of our reviews, we generally talk about earbuds’ noise cancellation. The C500W doesn’t have any, something I bring up just in case anyone skipped the introduction to this review (no judgement, I sometimes do the same thing). If you use these, expect to hear what’s going on around you.

For the vast majority of my testing time, I used the Denon without a tie-in app, finding that searching ‘Denon’ in the Play Store brought up an AVR remote, and the buds work just fine without an app. Towards the end of the review period I realised that had I simply scrolled down I would have discovered that there actually is an app, called Denon Headphones, which I missed below myriad other apps from the company.

(Image credit: Future)

Downloading the app didn’t actually make much of a difference to my user experience though, and that’s because it doesn’t really add too many perks and features.

Nowhere is that exemplified more than in the equalizer, a feature which many would argue is all but necessary in earbuds these days. It’s the most barebones music customizer I’ve seen, offering a 5-band EQ and no presents, and I needed to slide each band to its extreme to hear even a noticeable difference.

Beyond that you’ve got a way to turn off and on touch controls, and to change some of the triggers (but not all of them), monitor which devices are connected to the buds and turn on LE Audio. Regarding the middle point, the buds offer Multi-point connection so you can use the Denon alongside two phones, tablets or computers at once, which is useful and becoming an industry standard now. Also, they're Auracast ready, another (hopefully) soon-to-be industry standard perk.

The AH-C500W do have one feature I really liked though. There’s wearer detection which you can customize by bud, so you can set up music to pause if you remove, say, the left earbud but not the right one, or only if you remove both buds. As someone who likes the idea of auto-pausing music but finds it annoying that songs stop if I remove one bud just to readjust it or as a polite gesture, this was a wonderful fix.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C500W review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Light, compact case and buds
• Unreliable fit due to lack of tip
• Black or white color options

I loved how small the Denon AH-C500W case is, definitely one of the teeniest carry cases I’ve seen in the wireless earbuds realm. It measures 58 x 48 x 28mm, and weighs 50g.

In a rare diversion from the AirPods playbook it’s a short and wide pebble-style case that opens to reveal the whole bud, not just the top, and I find this kind of design makes it easier to remove the bud. The only feature of note is a USB-C charging port on the back.

You can pick up the Denon in either white or black, and both the buds and case come in your chosen hue.

The earbuds weigh 4.5g and they’re dead ringers for AirPods, from their open design which means they hang (relatively) loose in your ear, to the stem which dangles down from your ear, and even down to the fact that the bud is angled slightly along your cheek.

(Image credit: Future)

Copying is largely accepted in the tech world, but I wish Denon had copied from another design playbook than the AirPods’, because the AH-C500W carries over all of the design's shortcomings. With that comment I’m largely looking at the open design, which means the body of the bud is wedged in your ear without a silicon tip or sports loop to keep it in place. A replaceable ear tip can offer some insulation from outside sound and keep an earbud from jostling around in your ear. The lack of it also means that the Denon is susceptible to sound leakage (both from outside to the listener, and from the buds to people nearby) and doesn’t sit particularly still in your ear.

The latter point isn’t horrible, and I’ve tested earbuds (even tip-bearing ones) that are worse, but almost every time I took the C500W for a walk I’d find myself fiddling with them to ensure they were sitting in my ear right – and after 10 minutes of walking they’d have shifted, and I’d have to repeat this process all over again.

The Denon have a touch control that you can press several times or hold for different controls, and the lack of a visual or touch indicator as to where this haptic button is means that you have to get used to the design yourself. And do you remember me saying I had to constantly fiddle with the earbuds in the last paragraph? Yeah – good luck doing so without accidentally pressing the enigmatic ‘pause’ button.

The buds have an IPX4 resistance to water, which makes them sweat-proof but not ready to survive jets of water.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C500W review: Sound quality

• Sole 12mm driver
• Detailed sound, if you can even hear it
• Lots of distortion in certain genres

(Image credit: Future)

The Denon pack 12mm drivers and 2 microphones each. A more intriguing feature present is called Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology or Masimo AAT, which Denon previously used in some other of its wireless earbuds. This is mentioned only on Denon’s website right at the bottom, and not in its app or marketing materials, so it’s hard to know what it actually does. Masimo’s own website suggests that it’s a listening test to create a personal listening profile, but no such feature is present in the app.

The audio quality of the AH-C500W is mixed, but that’s a mix of highs and lows. There’s a lot of quality and detail in music – you can hear the timbre and individual strings of a guitar strum, the bowing of a violin – but then there’s also quite a bit of peaking on instruments like hi-hats, acoustic guitars and percussions.

Your mileage with the buds will vary dramatically based on what kind of music you listen to. Certain genres will feed you a cacophony of hisses and hums, with instruments that the Denon distorts too easily, but when listening to other genres I could go for multiple songs without hearing an issue, and while enjoying top-quality music.

The sound profile of the buds is largely neutral, though there’s a more emphatic and pronounced bass than I was expecting given the form factor. That form factor is, at the end of the day, the biggest issue with the AH-C500W’s music quality. However songs sound in a vacuum (or at home), they sound a lot worse when outside noise is leaking in, or when your buds are constantly slipping in your ear to change position.

• Sound quality: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C500W review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Not amazing value by default
• Wait for sales to pick up

When I first saw the Denon AH-C500W – and indeed, for the fortnight of testing before I started writing this review – I thought the buds cost about half as much as they actually do.

That’s because I made an assumption based on the feature set, sound quality and design, comparing it to similar traits in other buds on the market, and I presumed that these would cost about £50 / $70 / AU$100. The fact that they actually cost a lot more probably tells you all you need to about their value as a proposition in a hugely congested market.

If you can find them discounted further, the AH-C500W might be worth buying – you don’t have to wait for them to get as low as my presumed price – but at the original retail price, my verdict is that they don’t offer great value for money.

• Value: 3/5

Should I buy the Denon AH-C500W?

(Image credit: Future)Denon AH-C500W score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Passable battery life but not many other features to talk about.

3/5

Design

The buds are lovely and lightweight, though they're just not secure in your ear.

3.5/5

Sound quality

Sound is textured and detailed but it peaks often, and that's only when you can hear it in the first place.

3.5/5

Value

You're not getting amazing bang for your buck when you consider other budget options.

3/5

Buy them if…

You have an Android phone
Apple users can buy AirPods which are better for you, but Android owners need alternatives like the Denon.

You only listen in one spot
Bobbing up and down while you walk risks dislodging the Denons, but if you're only ever going to listen while seated at your desk, you'll appreciate the music quality.

You want a slender carry case
I've seen some monster charging cases in my time, ones that'll weigh your trouser pockets like rocks. Not here though.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You're not sold on the open design
I found the lack of ear tips infuriating, both for allowing in sound and for letting the buds wobble and move so much..

You need noise cancellation
Very few earbuds nowadays outside of true budget options lack active noise cancellation – just AirPods 4 (and even they have an ANC version nowadays).

Denon AH-C500W review: Also consider

Denon AH-C500W

Nothing Ear (a)

Sony WF-C710N

Denon AH-C840NCW

Drivers

12mm

11mm

5mm

12mm

Active noise cancellation

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life

7 hours (buds) 25 hours (case)

5.5 hours (buds); 24.5 hours (case)

12 hours (buds) 30 hours total (with case)

10 hours (buds) 35 hours (case)

Weight

4.5g (buds) 50g (case)

4.8g (buds); 40g (case)

5.2g (buds); 38g (case)

5.1g (buds) 54g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Waterproofing

IPX4

IP54

IPX4

IPX4

Nothing Ear (a)
Released at the same price as the Denons, these buds may have a worse battery life but they have a solid feature set, energetic sound and reliable design. There's a reason we gave them a five-star review.

See our full Nothing Ear (a) review

Denon AH-C840NCW
The AH-C500W's contemporary may cost a little more, but it fixes all of the problems of the cheaper buds. The battery life is better, there's noise cancellation and the buds have tips to stick into your ear well. Our review is incoming – watch this space!

How I tested the Denon AH-C500W

• Tested for at least three weeks
• Tested at home, in the office and on walks

I used the Denon AH-C500W for at least three weeks before writing this review, and possibly for a month (I didn't keep track religiously). I tested them alongside their contemporary siblings, the AH-C840NCW.

The buds were paired with my Android smartphone for testing and I used them on apps like Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and certain games during the testing period. Spotify was the main one though. Testing was done at home, around my neighborhood and at the gym.

I've been reviewing audio products for TechRadar for years now, including products made by many of Denon's rivals.

• First reviewed in July 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Boulies EP200: 30-second review

If I asked you to draw a picture of an office chair, I strongly suspect you'd show me something that looked a lot like the Boulies OP300.

To me, it's professional seating well-suited for professional spaces. Now, I’m a big fan of the company’s EP200 office chair (you can read my review here). One of my main issues with it, though, is the limited availability outside the UK. Thankfully, that’s not an issue with the OP300 office chair, which is readily available in both the UK and the US.

With that in mind, I was keen to try out the OP300 - formerly, and briefly, known as the EP300. For what it’s worth, the EP series are for those using an office chair for around six hours a day, while the OP range are aimed at professional settings, gaming, and those using the chair for over eight hours a day. I’m not sure I fully agree with this division. I use the EP200 for at least eight hours a day without fatigue or discomfort. But maybe that’s besides the point.

It’s a smart, all-black ergonomic seat that looks professional and feels comfortable, with plenty of adjustments to find the sweet spot. I spent the last two months trying it out to see how it compares to the best office chairs around.

Boulies OP300: Price & availability

(Image credit: Boulies // Future)

The Boulies OP300 is priced at $370 / £290 - although at the time of review, it’s on sale for $300 / £260 via the Boulies website in the US (click here) and the UK (click here). I’m also seeing it on Amazon.co.uk, under its original name, for the same cost.

I’d suggest the price is about right for what you get here, putting it roughly on par with the likes of the FlexiSpot OC3 and Branch Task Chair as a mid-range professional seating option.

Boulies OP300: Specs

Price (RRP)

$370 / £290

Seat height

19.5 - 23in / 49.5 - 58.5cm

Seat depth

18.1 - 20.3in / 46 - 51.5cm

Seat width

20.7in / 52.5cm

Backrest height

20 - 21.6in / 51 - 55cm

Recommended user height

5’5” - 6’3”

Max weight load

120kg / 265lbs

Material

Back: Mesh / Padded mesh
Seat: Padded foam

Warranty

2 years

Boulies OP300: DesignImage 1 of 3

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There’s something distinctly functional about the design of the OP300 - and that’s no bad thing. It’s a traditional office chair design that will suit every office environment. One look and you can imagine it parked under a hundred desks in an open-plan office just as easily as in the home office.

The chair itself is available with either a mesh or padded mesh backrest (reviewed here) and a cushioned foam seat. Whichever you choose, this is an office chair Henry Ford would understand - like the Model T, you can choose any color you want, “so long as it is black.” And, again, I don’t consider that a drawback for the types of settings this chair is designed for. In fact, I’d argue that this uniformity is exactly what you’d want in the workplace.

The backrest width isn’t quite as wide as the EP200 (approximately 20in vs 19in), but wide enough - and more importantly, supportive enough - to comfortably fit most body types. As is the seat itself, for that matter, which I think it a nice touch. Around the back is a sturdy Y-shape support where backrest height adjustments can be made and that, again, to my eye, looks functional rather than unnecessarily over-designed.

In use, the casters rolled nicely across both wooden flooring and textured carpeting, and while sitting, it didn’t creak or feel unstable. While the plastic is thin in places (notably on that Y-support), it doesn’t feel cheap or prone to break under use.

Boulies OP300: Assembly

Firstly, it’s worth noting that when disassembled in the box, it’s heavy - I'd strongly recommend having two people carry this to its destination. How my delivery guy managed alone to get this from his van to my door is a testament to his strength and sheer tyranny of will. Once in position, it’s an easy one-person job.

I had no issues putting this chair together, taking me around fifteen to twenty minutes to complete the entire procedure. Instructions were clear to follow. Even if you haven’t assembled an office chair before, it all makes sense and is pretty intuitive anyway.

Boulies OP300: Comfort & adjustabilityImage 1 of 3

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I have no problems with the amount of comfort delivered here - like the EP200, the broad seat itself feels at once firm and supportive, even with its foamy cushioning.

Now, that may be a deal-breaker for some who prefer to sink into an office chair like it’s a well-loved couch, but I rather prefer this, and it kept me productive (and less sluggish) throughout my use. Although, saying that, the backrest, which reclines between 85 and 113 degrees, felt soft and breathable, and I found it all too easy to snuggle into it.

Having a lot of adjustability is, I feel, critical for any ergonomic chair worth its salt. So, I was pleased to find loads of options to tweak the seat and find that comfortable sweet spot.

First, you can modify the seat depth to make sure you're firmly ensconced with your back against the rest. The armrests move in three directions - up, down, back and forth, and swivel in and out to suit your seating style. And the headrest can be lightly angled and adjusted up or down. So, those are the basic boxes all ticked.

Beneath the seat to the right (as you’re sitting in it) are three levers to alter the chair’s height and angle, and to lock the recline into place. On the left is the lever for adjusting seat depth. These are all operated by flipping the levers up or down, which I really liked. There’s no need to fiddle here, no pushing and pulling and flipping up or swivelling around three times and performing an awkward rain-dance to get the chair into your chosen position. It’s just simple and effective.

In fact, the only area where the chair isn’t adjustable is the lumbar support. It’s fixed into position. I would’ve liked to see more flexibility here, but I can’t say it’s especially noticeable in use.

Given the backrest can be adjusted between five levels depending on your height, and is already contoured, at no point did I find fatigue setting in or that my lower back wasn’t adequately supported while sitting down during the working day.

Boulies OP300: Final verdictImage 1 of 3

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One of the reasons I like Boulies office chairs is that they’re generally good all-rounders - and the OP300 is no exception. I’ve used this seat for working, gaming, chilling out, and, when family were over, even eating dinner at my downstairs desk.

With its classic silhouette and all-black materials, the design isn’t especially flashy - quite the opposite, in fact. But to my mind, that makes it ideal, where it won’t dominate the office or home office landscape.

At all times, the OP300 felt comfortable and supportive, which are really the two criteria any good office chair should meet.

Should I buy the Boulies OP300 office chair?

Buy it if…

✅ You want a comfortable, adjustable office chair: I used this chair for hours and hours at a time and felt none of the discomfort I get from cheaper office chairs. I especially like the simple adjustment mechanics.

✅ You want a traditional office chair that won’t break the bank: For what’s on offer, the Boulies OP300 is well-priced. Neither too cheap, nor too expensive, but about right.

Don’t buy it if…

❌ You need adjustable or dynamic lumbar support: While the backrest is height-adjustable, the lumbar support is fixed into place, which some may not like.

❌ You need an office chair with serious style: I can’t emphasise enough how ‘professional’ the stylings of the OP300 are. In terms of design, it’s about as classic an office chair gets.

For more workspace essentials, we tested the best standing desks for the home and office.

LogMeOnce is, without a doubt, one of the best password managers we’ve seen. Most password managers offer the same core features, from autofill to secure password generation, but LogMeOnce goes beyond other apps thanks to its impressive range of advanced abilities.

Sign up to LogMeOnce and you’ll be able to use QR code logins, facial recognition, and cloud storage encryption, and security comes from military-standard encryption and security options along a wide range of multi-factor options.

With a free version and a range of plans at decent prices, LogMeOnce might seem too good to be true – so we’ve tested this software to deliver the real verdict.

LogMeOnce: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

For individuals seeking a no-cost solution, the LogMeOnce Premium edition that’s available for free, stands out. Remarkably, it provides a generous array of features, such as unlimited password storage, autofill, secure password sharing, encrypted file storage, two-factor authentication (2FA) options, and a lot more, making it an excellent entry point for anyone aiming to fortify their digital security.

Stepping up, the LogMeOnce Professional subscription, which costs $2.5/month enriches the cybersecurity experience with advanced attributes like 1GB of encrypted storage, multi-factor authentication (MFA), emergency access, advanced activity report, and priority tech support. This level is ideally suited for users who demand more sophisticated security features without substantial investments.

Then there’s the $3.25/month Ultimate plan that bumps up the encrypted file storage to 10GB, and adds even more security features like remote logout, comprehensive reporting, a customizable dashboard, and more.

Furthermore, the LogMeOnce Family plan is specifically tailored to cater to the needs of households. It costs $4.99/month, and allows up to 6 accounts, offering a centralized platform for families to securely manage their passwords, digital assets, and personal information. This subscription not only amplifies online safety but also promotes shared responsibility among family members.

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For the business-oriented users, LogMeOnce presents three distinguished plans: Teams, Business, and Enterprise. The Teams plan is designed for a small group of people, and costs $4/user/month when billed annually. It provides all the essential features such as secure password management, comprehensive 2FA, user and group management, multiple login options, including passwordless login, priority technical support, and more.

If you need single sign-on (SSO) and active directory integration you can switch to the $7.99/user/month Business plan, which adds a lot more features such as automated user provisioning, role-based access control, delegated administration, identity theft protection, and more.

The top-tier is the Enterprise plan, which is designed for larger enterprises that require comprehensive and scalable cybersecurity solutions. In addition to all the features in the Business plan, it also offers MFA, IP address-based restrictions, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, and more.

Each of these subscription plans by LogMeOnce is developed with the understanding that security needs vary widely among users and organizations. By offering a broad spectrum of features across different tiers, LogMeOnce accommodates a range of budgets and security requirements, making it a versatile choice for anyone looking to protect their digital life or their business's online assets.

LogMeOnce: Setup

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

Whether you're an individual looking to protect your personal information or a business aiming to safeguard your data, setting up LogMeOnce can be a game-changer. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the setup process, ensuring you're up and running with LogMeOnce in no time.

Creating an Account: The first step is to create a LogMeOnce account. Visit the LogMeOnce website and choose the plan that fits your needs—ranging from a free version to professional and business plans.

Downloading the Software: After signing up, download the LogMeOnce software or app that corresponds to your device(s). LogMeOnce supports a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Installing LogMeOnce: Run the downloaded file and follow the installation prompts. Installation typically involves agreeing to terms, deciding on installation locations, and waiting a few moments for the software to install.

Launch LogMeOnce: Once installed, open the LogMeOnce application. If it's your first time, you'll be guided through initial setup procedures.

Import Passwords (Optional): If you’ve been using another password manager or have a digital record of your passwords, LogMeOnce allows you to import these during setup. Supported formats include CSV files, and LogMeOnce can also directly import from many other popular password managers.

Creating Your Master Password: Your Master Password is critical—it's the key to unlock all your other credentials. Choose a strong, unique password that you will remember. LogMeOnce does not store this password, so its recovery relies on security questions or a printed backup.

Manual Entry: You can manually add login details for websites and apps by clicking on the “+Add” button inside your vault. Enter the website URL, your username, and password.

Browser Extension/Add-On: Install the LogMeOnce browser extension to streamline this process. When you log in to websites, LogMeOnce will prompt you to save these credentials to your vault.

LogMeOnce Secure Wallet: Besides passwords, LogMeOnce allows you to safely store other sensitive information, including credit card details, secure notes, and personal documents, further enhancing its utility.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Set up 2FA for an additional layer of security. LogMeOnce offers multiple 2FA options, including SMS, email, and various authenticator apps.

PasswordLess Login: Explore LogMeOnce’s PasswordLess feature that enables you to log in without needing to enter your master password every time, using your mobile device or a photo of yourself.

Customization and Settings: Delve into LogMeOnce’s settings to customize your experience. This includes notifications, default behaviors, and security settings tailored to your preferences.

Syncing Across Devices: LogMeOnce seamlessly syncs your data across all linked devices. Install the mobile app on your smartphone and tablets to access your data on the go.

Staying Secure Everywhere: With LogMeOnce set up on your devices, you gain peace of mind knowing that your passwords are secure yet accessible to you anywhere and anytime.

By following these steps, you're well on your way to enjoying the myriad benefits of LogMeOnce, from heightened security and convenience to advanced features that cater to power users and businesses alike. Embrace this powerful tool and experience a more secure and streamlined digital life.

LogMeOnce: Interface and performance

It’s a well-designed bit of software. The main dashboard offers quick access to your passwords, secure notes and wallet, secure file storage, and dark web monitoring. You’ll also find quick links for your security evaluation and two-factor authentication settings.

The right-hand side has your Daily Journal, which summarizes your current password situation – a smooth feature that allows you to instantly see which areas need attention. There’s also the Identity Scorecard, which presents a quick security evaluation.

Head into different sections and at the bottom of the screen you’ll get a dock that opens more configuration options. Anyone who’s used a PC or Mac will be familiar with the setup – it works like a taskbar.

On top of this, the browser extension is very impressive. It includes quick links to all your saved websites, and logging in is as simple as clicking on the icon for the site you want to access. The mobile apps are equally powerful, and they performed very well on every device we tested them on.

One thing worth noting is that, although LogMeOnce is just as capable as other password managers, the user interface suggests otherwise. The mobile apps are particularly troubling, and have collected a handful of negative reviews accordingly. This, along with the limited browser extension support, put it one or two paces behind most other options.

LogMeOnce is also yet to announce any plans to adopt passkeys, which promise to revolutionize the way we log into websites. Promising the ultimate, passwordless security, passkeys have so far been slow to take off, and for all we know, LogMeOnce could just be waiting to see how it pans out, and whether it represents a worthwhile investment. Nevertheless, there’s no mention of passkeys anywhere on the company’s site.

LogMeOnce: Security

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

Like all good password managers, LogMeOnce is backed by powerful security features. This includes AES 256-bit encryption compliant with NIST guidelines and communication to the LogMeOnce server via SSL/TSL encrypted tunnel communication. In fact, it goes one step further than most of its competitors, with a range of patented and copyrighted tools to further protect your sensitive information.

Along with encryption and master password access, LogMeOnce also comes with PasswordLess login, powerful two-factor authentication (2FA), and anti-theft tools. Custom security solutions are also available for business users with highly sensitive data.

There are loads of multi-factor authentication options available here. You’ve got biometrics, PIN codes, secure devices, and even the option to login with a selfie. Beyond that, you can also turn a USB drive into an authentication token.

Elsewhere, LogMeOnce has options to wipe devices in emergencies, remind you to reset passwords after specified amounts of time, secure browsing and document storage and secure backup modules. Users also benefit from secure sharing options and auto-login single sign-on settings.

LogMeOnce Business: Team and Admin Features

For any business, a good set of team and admin features in their password manager are essential to help ensure security, efficiency, and control, and LogMeOnce’s business plans don’t disappoint in that regard.

The platform provides a centralized interface that helps admins manage user access, and team credentials, enforce password policies, monitor activities, and a lot more.

Talking of password policies, you can use LogMeOnce to define and enforce granular password policies. This includes setting requirements for passwords, such as minimum length, character complexity, expiration frequency, and such. In addition to mandating periodic password changes, admins can also enforce password history rules to prevent users from reusing old passwords.

LogMeOnce also has adequate user and group management features. You can use the platform to organize users into groups, which can be formed based on a variety of factors, including formal structure like departments (IT, marketing, finance, etc.), or specific tasks, and projects.

The platform also allows for delegated administration, which means specific individuals can be assigned roles at the group level or user level. The platform supports half a dozen roles, which helps streamline the management of access to shared passwords and other sensitive information.

Team password sharing is a core business feature, and LogMeOnce doesn’t disappoint on this front as well. Besides passwords, groups can have notes, and credit card details as well. By default, the platform only lets users within a group use the passwords, but you can give them permission to view, and modify them as well. Similarly, you can enable your users to share passwords as well.

In the same vein, LogMeOnce also lets you allow your users to create their personal vaults. You can do this for individual users, all for all users belonging to a group. Unlike the business vault that you as an admin can create, modify, and delete, you can’t access a user’s personal vault. Conversely, while users can delete their personal vault, they can’t delete the business credentials, unless allowed by the admin.

You can use LogMeOnce’s Cloud Encrypter feature to encrypt your files and photos in your favorite cloud storage platform (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive). Once you’ve added your account, the platform will automatically encrypt all your data on the service with your own key using AES 256 encryption.

Additionally, LogMeOnce also includes its own encrypted file storage service. It works pretty much like any other cloud storage service with the exception that it encrypts all its contents.

To use the service, your users will need to install the Secure Drive desktop app. After logging in to their account, they can then open their LogMeOnce Secure Drive, and copy contents to it as they would on any other folder.

The total amount of data that you can store is based on your account limits. The Teams plans bundles 1GB of encrypted storage space, while the Business, and the Enterprise plans offer 10GB. You can easily purchase additional storage space with prices starting from $9.96/year for 10GB, going all the way up to $199.92/year for 250GB.

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

The platform backs up its set of features with comprehensive reporting and auditing capabilities. It gives admins access to all kinds of security and activity reports, which are useful for compliance purposes, as well as for identifying suspicious activity, and help gauge the overall password health within the organization.

LogMeOnce Business: Integrations and Compatibility

The Business and Enterprise plans of LogMeOnce support SAML 2.0, which allows integration with a wide range of SSO identity providers such as Okta, and Microsoft Entra ID.

This is increasingly becoming a must have feature for most organizations. Thanks to this integration, users in an organization can log in to multiple apps with a single set of credentials, which helps reduce password fatigue and the likelihood of using weak or reused passwords.

Additionally, LogMeOnce also integrates with on-premise active directory and LDAP, which helps automate the onboarding/offboarding of employees directly from their status in the directory services.

Thanks to this, instead of manually creating and managing user accounts in LogMeOnce, businesses can automatically provision new users, update existing user information, and de-provision users when they leave the company. This is another crucial feature for enterprise users as it ensures that access is immediately revoked upon an employee's departure, significantly enhancing security.

One of LogMeOnce’s stand out features is its support for a wide range of 2FA options. In addition to the standard use of email, SMS, and Google Authenticator option to send 2FA codes, the platform offers several other methods like voice calls, USB tokens, X.509 certificates, and its newest home-brewed mechanism called Selfie-2FA.

Thanks to the variety of options, businesses of all sizes can choose the authentication methods that best suit their security policies and user convenience needs.

LogMeOnce also offers an API, which businesses can use to integrate the platform with in-house apps, CRM systems, HR platforms, and such. The API can interact with LogMeOnce features, and can be used to perform functions like user provisioning, activation, deactivation, retrieve and change password, export logs, and more.

LogMeOnce Business: Ease of Use and Deployment

Like a majority of its peers, LogMeOnce Business is a web-based solution, which simplifies deployment as there's no server software to manage in-house. Once you’ve rolled it and signed up your users, they can easily install browser extensions and the desktop, and mobile apps to get going.

Again, just like its peers, LogMeOnce also uses a web-based admin console. The first time you log in, it’ll take you through the interface, and introduce the various sections, and buttons. There’s also an onboarding checklist that’ll help you complete the initial steps to setup the platform.

Unlike other platforms, LogMeOnce Business makes it the responsibility of the admins to import and manage passwords for business apps. The app itself has a curated list of over 4600 business apps that have been tested and vetted by LogMeOnce. You can search and add the apps (and their login credentials) manually. You can also import the credentials from popular web browsers, and password managers.

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

Next up, you add users, and groups. Again, you can do this manually, or hook up LogMeOnce with your identity provider, and directory services. Adding, and customizing password policies is also fairly straightforward and intuitive.

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

Once the platform is up and running, you can use the dashboard to get a quick snapshot of your organization's security posture. There’s also the security scorecard that tracks and analyzes various aspects of the managed passwords for the organization as a whole, as well as for individual users.

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)

(Image credit: LogMeOnce)LogMeOnce: Support

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LogMeOnce has a range of customer support and self-help options to draw on if you run into trouble. The main website features a chatbot that will guide you to articles or help you submit a support ticket. Tickets can also be logged directly from your management dashboard or the online portal. We feel that real-time support could be improved - there are no phone lines and emails aren’t always the quickest way to get to the bottom of something.

LogMeOnce: The competition

LogMeOnce is a genuinely good password manager, but there are a couple of powerful alternatives worth considering, especially if you can’t look the increasingly dated UI.

For example, LastPass has long been a leading password management program backed by very advanced features. It includes secure multi-factor authentication, has over 1,200 pre-integrated apps, and comes with a selection of advanced administration controls for IT managers and other tech professionals. Additionally, pricing is quite comparable.

If you’re really going down the business security route, Bitwarden offers self-hosting so that businesses can keep passwords stored in a secure and trusted location, even behind their own firewalls and proxies.

LogMeOnce: Final verdict

LogMeOnce is up there with the absolute best password management programs we’ve used in terms of functionality. It’s extremely affordable, comes with advanced tools designed for business users, and is backed by a range of powerful features.

On top of this, it’s easy to set up and is compatible with most common web browsers, devices, and operating systems. Also, security tools and customer support resources are comprehensive with an extensive library of articles and even videos.

That said, the product’s design could do with quite a significant overhaul, which is most notable on the apps. In theory, this shouldn’t take away from the abilities of the password manager, but failure to keep up-to-date with design could suggest diminishing developer resources. Furthermore, when we attempted to contact LogMeOnce’s press department, we were met with radio silence.

Ultimately, we’d recommend LogMeOnce for anyone who’s looking for a powerful, versatile password management solution backed by advanced features.

What to look for when choosing a password manager

A password manager not only helps in storing your passwords across various platforms securely but also plays a crucial role in generating strong, unique passwords that enhance your online security. However, with a myriad of options available, choosing the right password manager can feel overwhelming. Key features to look for include security, ease of use, compatibility, additional features, and pricing.

First and foremost, security is the cornerstone of any password manager. Ensure the application uses robust encryption methods, like AES-256 bit encryption, to keep your passwords safe from unauthorized access. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security, making it significantly harder for intruders to gain access to your vault. Next, consider the ease of use. A user-friendly interface that integrates seamlessly across your devices is essential for a smooth experience. The ability to automatically fill in passwords and form data across websites and apps can amplify convenience and enhance your online interactions.

Compatibility is another pivotal aspect. The ideal password manager should support a wide range of devices and platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, ensuring you have access to your passwords regardless of the device you're using. Moreover, assess additional features such as secure password sharing, digital wallet functionality, and the ability to store other sensitive information like software licenses or confidential notes. These features can significantly enhance the utility of a password manager beyond just password storage.

Lastly, pricing is an important consideration, but it shouldn't be the sole deciding factor. Free versions can be a great starting point, but they often come with limitations that might not meet your needs. Evaluate the features offered in paid plans and consider whether they justify the cost, based on your personal or business requirements. Opt for plans that offer a balance between cost and functionality, ensuring you receive value for your investment.

In conclusion, selecting the right password manager involves considering a balance of security, user experience, platform compatibility, additional functionalities, and cost. By prioritizing these key factors, you can choose a password manager that not only secures your digital life but also simplifies it, allowing you to navigate the online world with confidence and ease.

We've also featured the best business password managers.

Proton has established itself quite successfully in the world of security products. You may have heard of its offerings in the encrypted email and VPN industries. Well, it also has a superb answer to the best password managers in the form of Proton Pass.

This handy password manager promises end-to-end encryption for all your passwords, ensuring your sensitive data remains secure even from Proton itself. It supports 2FA, encrypted notes, and even email alias generation - all packed into Proton's signature user-friendly interface. And just like all of Proton's offerings, its open-source and regularly audited by security experts.

But does Proton Pass live up to its reputation for privacy and ease of use? With competition from established players, can a relatively new password manager carve out a space for itself? Let's take a look.

Proton Pass: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Proton Pass)

Proton Pass offers a range of pricing options to suit different needs. The Free plan provides a solid foundation with unlimited passwords, support for passkeys, and two vaults, all protected by end-to-end encryption. For users seeking enhanced privacy and convenience, the Plus plan, priced at $2.99/month with an annual subscription, unlocks access to the Proton Sentinel service, unlimited hide-my-email aliases and premium support.

The Proton Pass Family plan is $4.99 per month, when paid for a year, and it allows up to six people to experience everything the Proton Pass Plus offers.

Those who want a comprehensive suite of privacy tools can opt for Proton Unlimited at $9.99/month with an annual subscription, which includes all Proton services like Mail, VPN, Drive, Calendar, and Pass.

(Image credit: Proton Pass)

The Business plans start with Pass Essential that costs $1.99/user/month when paid for a year (yearly total $23.88/user). It includes all the essential password management features such as the ability to store unlimited passwords, passkeys, notes, and credit card details, a built-in 2FA authenticator, and unlimited email aliases.

For larger organizations that need support for single sign-on (SSO), and detailed activity logs, there’s Pass Professional that costs $4.49/user/month with an annual subscription (yearly total $53.88/user). You’ll have to pay for a minimum of three seats for both Pass Essential and Pass Professional plans.

(Image credit: Proton)Proton Pass: Setup

Here’s an overview of how to set up Proton Pass.

First and foremost, it's important to have a Proton account. If you still need to create one, visit the Proton website and sign up for an account. Once you've registered and verified your credentials, you'll need to enable two-factor authentication (2FA), which is where Proton Pass comes into play. Two-factor authentication adds a level of security by requiring your password and a unique code that you can access only at the time of login.

To set up 2FA and Proton Pass, log in to your Proton account and navigate to the security settings page. Here, you will find the option to enable two-factor authentication. Click on it, and you'll be prompted to download a two-factor authentication app if you haven't already. Proton recommends using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator, Authy, or FreeOTP, which you can download from your mobile app store.

After installing the authenticator app on your smartphone or tablet, the next step is to link it to your Proton account. Within the Proton security settings, a QR code will appear on the screen. Open your authenticator app and use its 'Scan QR code' feature to scan this code. This will automatically add your Proton account to the app and generate timed, one-time passcodes.

The Proton security settings page will also provide you with a recovery code. Writing this down or printing it and keeping it somewhere safe is crucial. This code is a lifeline for instances where you might lose access to your second-factor device. With your authenticator app now synced, your Proton Pass is effectively set up. When you log in to your Proton account, you will enter your password and the unique code displayed in your authenticator app.

(Image credit: Proton)Proton Pass: Interface and performance

The Proton Pass interface is a masterclass in minimalist design, reflecting Proton's philosophy of providing simple yet powerful security solutions. Activating two-factor authentication (2FA) for your Proton account reveals a clean and intuitive dashboard that seamlessly blends user-friendliness with robust security.

Navigating to 2FA settings is effortless, with clear instructions and visuals guiding you through the setup process. The prominent display of the QR code for your authentication app ensures quick and easy account linking. Proton Pass excels in its handling of the recovery code, prominently showcasing it during setup and stressing its importance for account recovery. This thoughtful design prioritizes user understanding and preparedness.

Once set up, using Proton Pass becomes second nature. The login process is streamlined, requiring your password and 2FA code in a clear, two-step sequence. Input fields are unambiguously labeled and positioned for a frictionless experience. This commitment to simplicity extends throughout the interface, minimizing distractions and cognitive load to ensure a smooth and efficient authentication process.

The aesthetic minimalism of Proton Pass isn't just about visual appeal; it's a deliberate strategy to enhance usability and encourage secure practices. By prioritizing clarity and ease of use, Proton Pass empowers users to take control of their online security without unnecessary complexity.

(Image credit: Proton)Proton Pass: Security

Proton Pass takes a multi-layered approach to security, aiming to protect your passwords and sensitive data with the strongest possible safeguards:

End-to-End Encryption: This is the cornerstone of Proton Pass's security. All your data, including passwords, usernames, notes, and even website addresses and metadata, is encrypted on your device before it's sent to Proton's servers. This means that no one, not even Proton themselves, can access your information in its unencrypted form.

Zero-Knowledge Architecture: Proton Pass operates on a zero-knowledge principle. This means that your encryption keys are generated and stored only on your device. Proton has no access to these keys, further ensuring that they cannot decrypt your data.

Strong Encryption Algorithms: Proton Pass uses both asymmetric and symmetric encryption algorithms to secure your data, including AES256 and OpenPGP. These are industry-standard algorithms known for their resilience against brute-force attacks and other security threats. Proton Pass also encrypts stored passkeys using Curve25519.

Open Source: Much of Proton Pass's code is open source, allowing security researchers and the community to audit it for vulnerabilities. This transparency helps ensure the integrity and security of the software.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Proton Pass supports 2FA, adding an extra layer of security to your account. This requires a unique code from your authentication app in addition to your password when logging in, making it much harder for unauthorized access. As an additional bonus, Proton Pass also offers an in-app authenticator and will let you know when 2FA can be enabled on any of your stored accounts.

Password Generator: Proton Pass includes a strong password generator that can create complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts, reducing the risk of password reuse and vulnerability to breaches.

Breach & Dark Web Monitoring: Proton Pass can monitor your accounts for data breaches and alert you if your information is compromised. This allows you to take immediate action to protect your accounts.

Proton Sentinel: For users in need of extra protection, Proton Pass also offers protection from it's Proton Sentinel high-security program which includes additional security protections, enhanced visibility into security logs, 24/7 suspicious login monitoring using both AI and human detections, and automatic security specialist referral for all account security support requests.

Hide-my-email Alias: Proton Pass also makes your email more secure by offering a fully integrated email masking tool that allows you to customize your masked domain and alias, and allows you to forward mail that is sent to your masked email to multiple inboxes.

Secure sharing: Outside of secure sharing with other Proton users, you can securely share vaults, links, and files with non-Proton users.

Secure payments: Proton Pass will let you securely store an unlimited amount of credit cards.

In summary, Proton Pass employs a comprehensive suite of security measures to safeguard your sensitive information. Its focus on end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, and open-source practices makes it a highly secure choice for password management.

Proton Pass Business: Team and Admin Features

Proton Pass Business offers adequate team management and administrative capabilities.

As is the norm for such offerings, Proton Pass Business offers a web-based centralized admin console for managing users, controlling permissions, and monitoring password health, and user activity.

Your users can use the platform to create organization-wide, or department, and team-specific vaults to share credentials, and other secure data. Users can share the vault with other users in the same team or department, with granular access permissions.

By default, the invited users can only view the items in a vault, but they can also be given Edit permissions to create, delete, and export items in the vault, or Manage permissions to grant, and revoke access to a vault to other members.

As an admin, you can prevent users from sharing vaults with others who aren’t part of your organization. In addition to vaults, you can also prevent your users from sharing individual items, and stop them from exporting their data as well.

If you do allow sharing of individual items, your users can share passwords, and other sensitive information, such as secured notes, with their colleagues.

They can also share these with anyone, even if they don’t use Proton Pass, with Secure Links. The feature helps create unique, expirable links to your login credentials, secure notes, and other items. You can set the expiration date from anywhere between one hour up to 30 days, and even restrict the number of times the recipient can access the link (from one to as many).

That said, you can’t control which devices can access company vaults. Neither can you restrict access by IP address.

You can use Proton Pass Business to define password policies. The platform gives you the ability to enforce password complexity requirements, including the ability to customize minimum and maximum password length, and whether they should include numbers, special characters, and uppercase characters.

(Image credit: Proton Pass)

One interesting option is the ability to ask the platform to help your users generate memorable passwords. That said, unlike some of its peers, the platform doesn’t allow admins to enforce a password rotation policy on its users.

Another strong security feature is the ability to require all your users to use 2FA. If you don’t want to force this upon them, you do have the option to gently remind them (via email) to enable 2FA on their own.

(Image credit: Proton Pass)

The platform also lets admins forcefully logout users after the expiry of a configurable idle period, which can range from one minute to one hour. Here too we miss a failed login attempt feature that you get with some of its peers, which locks accounts after detecting suspicious activity, like a number of failed logins.

(Image credit: Proton Pass)

Talking of suspicious activity, Proton Pass Business gives users access to a Pass Monitor feature that monitors the dark web for leaked passwords, and more. Business users are also enrolled in the Proton Sentinel program, which helps detect and stop unauthorized attempts to break into your account, even if the attackers have the correct password.

Finally, the platform offers detailed activity logs that help give visibility over all kinds of user activity, such as any changes made to passwords and vaults. The platform is pretty comprehensive in its logging, and tracks about two dozen events, for everything from invitations, and vaults, to individual items, and secure links.

Proton Pass Business: Integrations and Compatibility

Proton Pass works across platforms, and offers native apps for all the popular desktop and mobile operating systems, namely Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also offers extensions for the best web browsers including Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Proton Pass can import passwords from any of these browsers, as well as from the best password managers including 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, Keeper, NordPass, RoboForm, and others.

If you are a Pass Professional user, you also get support for SSO and SCIM integration. Proton Pass Business plugs into all the mainstream identity providers (IdPs) like Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, and Google Workspace to streamline user lifecycle management.

Finally, as we have mentioned earlier, Proton Pass is also deeply integrated into the Proton ecosystem of services, including Proton Mail and Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton VPN, and Proton Wallet. As an admin you can control which of these services can users in your organization access.

Proton Pass Business: Ease of Use and Deployment

The admin panel of Proton Pass Business is clean, and fairly intuitive.

The first order of business is user provisioning, and the platform offers adequate options to help admins add (and later remove) team members.

(Image credit: Proton Pass)

Admins can invite members by sending them an email. You can also directly create a password for them, instead of sending them an invite, and then share the password with them using other secure means. The platform also offers bulk user import through CSV files.

In the same vein, the process of enabling SSO for the supported IdPs is also fairly intuitive, and is well documented. Once added, you can give admin privileges to other users, although only the primary admin can edit the plan of the organization.

Admins can track the activity of their users through the Reports section. It offers a Pass Monitor report that tells you the number of reused, weak passwords, if the passwords were found in any breach, and other details, for every user. Then there’s the Usage report that tells you the total number of items a user has access to, the number of vaults they own, and have access to, and other details, again for every user.

Finally, there’s the Activity Logs section that logs all user events along with their time, the user account that it happened on, the type of event, and the IP address the activity originated from.

You can filter the logs by email or IP address, event type, and date range. You can also click on a time or event entry to filter by that timestamp or event type. Both the reports, and the activity logs can also be exported as a CSV file.

Proton Pass: Customer support

(Image credit: Proton)

Like any other company, Proton has a wealth of online guides to help you set things up and carry out basic troubleshooting and other issues. There are also helpful tabs on the latest Proton Pass updates and guides to enhancing personal privacy.

Getting in touch is easier than with some bigger companies, as there’s a clear form that’s easy to find, though responses will be by email rather than live chat. As more Internet users begin to question and value their privacy, turning to Proton and other security-focused products, we can only hope that the company invests in multi-channel support, be it live chat, social media support, or a phone number. Fortunately, it looks like all customers, free or paid, are treated equally.

Proton Pass: The competition

Proton Pass is not short of competition, and frankly the password management market is fairly saturated. However, Proton's open-source basis and wealth of security tools and features make it a very strong contender.

It's rivals include the likes of NordPass, which offers more competitive pricing with a similar feature set. For business oriented customers, 1Password is slightly more expensive but offers 24/7 support, however a business looking for a dedicated suite of secure business products may benefit from signing up to the full Proton Business Suite to access Mail, Calendar, VPN, Pass, and Drive for just a few extra dollars per user per month.

Proton Pass: Final verdict

Proton Pass simplifies strong security with its intuitive two-factor authentication (2FA) interface. Setting up 2FA is a breeze, thanks to clear instructions, a streamlined recovery process, and an uncluttered dashboard. While Proton Pass makes robust cybersecurity accessible to everyone, deciding whether to use it depends on your specific needs.

If you regularly handle sensitive information, Proton Pass provides a significant security boost, protecting your account from potential breaches. However, if you rarely deal with sensitive data or find 2FA workflows disruptive, alternative security measures might be sufficient.

Ultimately, choosing Proton Pass is about your commitment to online security. It's an extra step in your authentication process, but one that significantly strengthens your defenses and protects your digital identity.

We've also featured the best business password managers.

What to look for in a password manager

Choosing a password manager is a crucial step towards safeguarding your digital life. With so many options available, it's essential to prioritize features that guarantee both security and a seamless user experience. Here's a breakdown of key factors to consider:

Security is Paramount:

Robust Encryption: Look for a password manager that employs industry-leading encryption standards like AES-256. This ensures your sensitive data remains unreadable even if a breach occurs.

Zero-Knowledge Architecture: Prioritize providers who utilize a zero-knowledge model, meaning they cannot access your encrypted data or master password. This puts you in complete control of your information.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA for an added layer of security. This requires a unique code from your authentication app in addition to your master password, making it significantly harder for unauthorized access.

Open-Source Options: Consider open-source password managers. Their transparent code allows for community scrutiny and independent security audits, ensuring higher trustworthiness.

Usability Matters:

Intuitive Interface: A user-friendly interface is essential for effortless password management. Look for features like easy navigation, clear organization, and a straightforward password generation process.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensure the password manager seamlessly integrates across your devices (desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets) and various operating systems (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android).

Auto-fill and Password Generation: These features streamline your online experience. Auto-fill automatically populates login credentials, while the password generator creates strong, unique passwords for each account.

Beyond the Basics:

Password Health Check: A good password manager should assess your existing passwords for strength and identify any weak or reused ones, helping you improve your overall security posture.

Breach Monitoring: Some password managers offer breach monitoring, alerting you if your credentials are compromised in a data breach. This allows for swift action to secure your accounts.

Secure Sharing: If you need to share passwords with family or colleagues, look for secure sharing features that maintain encryption and control over access.

Provider Reputation and Support:

Reliable Customer Service: Choose a provider with responsive customer support to assist you with any issues or questions.

Regular Updates: Frequent updates demonstrate the provider's commitment to security and addressing potential vulnerabilities.

By thoroughly evaluating these factors, you can select a password manager that not only protects your digital identity but also simplifies your online experience. Remember, a good password manager is an investment in your online security and peace of mind.

Bitwarden takes a different approach from most of the best password manager tools because it is released under an open-source license.

Bitwarden's open-source status doesn't mean that, either. That designation means people can view, access, and contribute to the app's development. When you want an app to be secure and transparent about how it works, that can only bode well for its effectiveness.

There's more to like about this app than its open-source status. Bitwarden promises easy, robust security within minutes, unlimited password and device support, and secure, encrypted sharing.

Bitwarden is known for its open-source nature, one of its greatest strengths. This means that anyone can review its codebase for security vulnerabilities, ensuring a transparent approach to security.

To secure your data, Bitwarden uses end-to-end encryption, strong encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256. This ensures that your data is encrypted and decrypted locally on your device, meaning that not even Bitwarden can access your passwords.

It is compatible with various devices and platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, browser extensions, and a web interface, making passwords accessible from anywhere.

Bitwarden offers a generous free tier and reasonably priced premium options. The premium plan is competitively priced and allows individuals and businesses to access advanced features like two-factor authentication.

Bitwarden comes with essential features such as secure password sharing, a security dashboard for password health, and the ability to store sensitive data securely.

For organizations, Bitwarden provides team and enterprise plans that include user management, directory sync, event logs, and enterprise policies for added security and administrative control.

Some drawbacks of Bitwarden include:

• The user interface (UI) may not be as intuitive or polished as that of other commercial password managers, making it a bit cumbersome for new users to navigate and use.
• While Bitwarden covers the basics well, it may lack some of its competitors' more advanced or niche features, such as advanced form-filling capabilities or breach monitoring services.
• Accessing Bitwarden offline may limit some functionalities until you're back online, which could be a disadvantage in areas with poor internet connectivity.
• Priority support is reserved for paying customers, so free users may find it challenging to get timely assistance.
• Non-technical individuals may find it difficult to set up and get the most out of Bitwarden without assistance, especially when configuring more advanced features.

Need more advice on passwords? Then look no further than our reviews of the best password managers. And if you need some help with images, look at our coverage of the best password recovery software.

Bitwarden: Plans and pricing

Bitwarden’s business and personal plans are packed with features and are affordable (Image credit: Bitwarden)

When looking at Bitwarden's pricing model, it's evident that they have designed it to cater to a wide range of users, from individuals to large enterprises. Bitwarden offers several tiers, which are extensively outlined on their official pricing page.

The free tier provides a robust feature set that includes unlimited password storage and syncing across all devices, making it an excellent starting point for individual users.

For those seeking enhanced capabilities, Bitwarden offers a premium tier priced at just $10 per year, adding features like advanced two-factor authentication and emergency access. Family packages are available for just $40 per year for up to six people.

(Image credit: Bitwarden)

For businesses, Bitwarden categorizes its offerings into Teams and Enterprise plans. The Teams option starts at $4 per user per month, which includes everything in the Premium plan along with essential capabilities such as user management and event logs crucial for small to medium-sized teams. The Enterprise plan, tailored for larger organizations, offers additional advanced features such as Single Sign-On (SSO), directory synchronization, and custom branding. Enterprise pricing varies based on the required features and the scale of deployment, and interested users are encouraged to contact Bitwarden for a custom quote. For most users, the Enterprise plan is $6 per month for each user.

The flexibility of Bitwarden’s pricing not only makes it accessible for different types of users but also underscores its commitment to providing secure password management solutions across varying corporate needs and user bases. Whether you're an individual looking to bolster your personal cybersecurity or a large organization aiming to protect sensitive data, Bitwarden provides versatile and affordable options to fit the bill.

Bitwarden’s installation process is one of the simplest you’ll find. (Image credit: Bitwarden)Bitwarden: Setup

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how businesses can set up Bitwarden to safeguard sensitive information effectively.

Bitwarden offers various plans tailored to meet different business needs. Companies can choose from the Teams or Enterprise plans depending on their size and requirements. The Teams plan is ideal for smaller businesses or teams within larger organizations that need essential user management and sharing capabilities. Larger organizations can benefit from the Enterprise plan, which includes advanced features such as Single Sign-On (SSO), directory sync, and custom branding options. Deciding the right plan is crucial as it impacts the features and capabilities available to the organization.

The next step is to set up an organization account once the plan is selected. This is a straightforward process:

• Register for an organization account on Bitwarden’s website.
• Verify the email used for registration to activate the account.
• Once in, navigate to the dashboard to add and manage users.

Users can be added individually or in bulk through services like directory integration in the Enterprise plan, which supports syncing with directories like Microsoft Active Directory.

Bitwarden uses Collections to manage passwords and secure notes accessible to different users or groups within the organization. Setting up Collections ensures that sensitive data is only accessible to authorized personnel.

Here’s how to set up Collections:

• Create Collections based on department, function, or any other criteria relevant to your business.
• Assign users or groups to these Collections to manage access rights.

To maximize security, Bitwarden allows businesses to implement custom security policies across the organization. These policies might include:

• Mandating two-factor authentication for all users.
• Enforcing password complexity and rotation policies.
• Restricting login attempts and locations.

Implementing these policies helps in further safeguarding your business from potential cyber threats.

User training is essential to ensure that all team members understand how to use Bitwarden effectively and why robust password management practices are important. Training should cover:

• The importance of using a password manager.
• Guidelines on creating strong passwords.
• How to use Bitwarden daily to manage and retrieve passwords.
• Reporting and remediation processes in the case of suspected security breaches.

Regularly auditing the use of Bitwarden within your organization is crucial to maintain security standards. This includes checking who has access to what data, ensuring that outdated or ex-employee access is revoked, and conducting periodic security reviews and updates of the tool itself.

All of Bitwarden’s features can be administered in the web application (Image credit: Bitwarden)Bitwarden: Interface and performance

Bitwarden’s basic plans focus on the meat of password management, but even the free plans include multi-device sync, optional self-hosting, and unlimited cloud storage.

Premium plans include reports on your passwords that highlight weak passwords and unsecured websites. Also, advanced features are added, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and emergency access. A Data Breach Report can tell you whether an email address has been compromised in a known data breach.

Bitwarden has a sleek, straightforward interface that allows users to easily search and access their passwords and secure data. And while it’s not as slick-looking as some other tools, that doesn’t really matter when the app’s functionality is more important.

While there are desktop clients for viewing and editing credentials and checking other account information, most will rarely use them in favor of the extensions that serve the password manager’s primary function: to automatically fill out login details and capture new ones.

Adding a new item is as easy as filling in a simple form, and you can attach notes and custom fields to each entry for total personalization.

We prefer using the web app, as it still includes complex authentication options and access to reports. The browser extension resembles the web app and includes a password generator, which makes using the password manager on the fly even easier.

Bitwarden includes plenty of features to make life easier. It automatically fills forms, quickly syncs passwords and data across devices, and tests your passwords for strength levels. Like many other apps, it monitors your password vault and lets you know if your information has been exposed in a security breach.

The web portal and apps come into their own when it’s time to access the other types of information stored in the vault. Saved payment details work with autofill, but you’ll need to log in to find identity information like driver’s licenses and passports. This can be really handy when you’re booking travels, so long as you know where your passport is when the time comes to board the plane!

Bitwarden promises to be compliant with a range of industry standards (Image credit: Bitwarden)Bitwarden: Security

It’s got a robust slate of security features, too. Your Bitwarden vault is secured with AES-256 encryption and your master password is never sent to Bitwarden – so there’s no chance of a breach from Bitwarden’s side of things.

Besides using Bitwarden’s own servers to keep your passwords online, so that you can access them from anywhere, you can also opt for self-hosting. This is designed primarily with businesses in mind, who can apply their own firewalls, proxies, and other services to maintain optimal security and compliance, keeping passwords inside their trusted infrastructure.

Bitwarden’s security measures go beyond zero-knowledge encryption, too. The app’s open source status means its source code is available online, resulting in more scrutiny from security experts – so problems get sorted in a timely fashion.

Bitwarden Business: Team and Admin Features

Bitwarden’s two business plans offer the right amount of features to help organizations manage credentials efficiently.

The platform revolves around the concept of a vault where your users can securely store and manage not just their credentials, but also other sensitive information such as credit card details, and more.

The platform has two kinds of vaults. There’s the organization vault that is a shared space where teams or the entire organization can store and manage credentials collaboratively. In addition to this shared vault, all users also get a personal vault that only they can access.

Credentials placed in either of the vaults can be assigned to specific collections, which are then shared with teams or groups. Think of collections as folders that you can assign to different teams, or user groups. Collections let you segment access based on departments like IT, HR, Marketing, or even specific projects.

(Image credit: Bitwarden)

All users in Bitwarden are assigned a role that helps determine what actions they can take. On the other hand, you also have the ability to set collection permissions, which help determine what actions a user can take with the items in a particular collection.

While roles can only be set at an individual-member level, permissions can either be set for an individual member or for a group as a whole.

So, for instance, you can have a member with a simple User role that gives them the ability to access shared items in assigned collections. By default, this user can also add, edit, or remove items from assigned collections. But you can revoke all except the permission to only view the items. This gives you fine-grained control over the use and sharing of credentials, and other sensitive information in your organization.

(Image credit: Bitwarden)

You can also assign Custom roles to users, which allows for even more granular control of permissions. Using this role, you can, for instance, give a user permission to access event logs, or manage users.

Another core concept in the Bitwarden Business plans is called Bitwarden Send. Using this feature your users can securely share sensitive information, such as text or files, with people inside or outside the organization.

The sharing feature comes with adequate restrictions. For instance, you can set an expiration time and date, from one hour to 30 days. You can also limit access by number of views, and even lock access behind a password. This feature comes in handy when you want to share temporary credentials with contractors.

The business plans also offer a comprehensive suite of security policies. As admins you can enforce minimum requirements for master passwords, including length, complexity, and the use of special characters.

You can also set a maximum vault timeout duration to automatically lock vaults after a specified period of inactivity. For additional security, you can also make 2FA authentication mandatory for all users.

The platform also lets you disable certain features like personal vaults, or revoke a user’s ability to export data from their vaults. Similarly, you can also turn off the send feature to further prevent data exfiltration.

That said, Bitwarden does lack a couple of policy features that you get with its peers. For one, you can define a password rotation policy. There’s also no ability to restrict login attempts based on apps, or locations.

(Image credit: Bitwarden)Bitwarden Business: Integrations and Compatibility

Both the Bitwarden business plans offer a couple of methods for automatic user and group provisioning, and deprovisioning.

For starters, the platform supports the System for Cross-domain Identity Management (SCIM) protocol, which allows you to automatically provision and deprovision users and groups from your existing identity provider (IdP), such as, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, OneLogin, JumpCloud, and Ping Identity.

Both plans also allow the use of a standalone Directory Connector app that can sync users and groups from various directory services, including Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, and others.

(Image credit: Bitwarden)

Meanwhile, the Bitwarden Enterprise plan also supports Single Sign-On (SSO) integration, which allows users to log in to the platform using their existing credentials on various IdPs including Google, JumpCloud, AWS, and several others.

Both Bitwarden business plans also offer pre-built integration with popular Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms like Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Panther, Elastic, and Rapid7. Thanks to this integration you can export the Bitwarden event logs into any of the supported SIEM platforms and combine it with other security data for enhanced threat detection and incident response.

Bitwarden Business: Ease of Use and Deployment

Unlike a majority of its peers, Bitwarden offers two deployment models. There’s the standard cloud-hosted model, and then there’s the self-hosted model. The ease of deployment differs significantly between the two, with cloud being a lot simpler.

Getting started with the cloud option just takes a matter of clicks as there’s literally no software to install or servers to configure.

On the other hand, while the self-hosted option offers maximum control, it requires significant technical expertise and IT resources to roll-out. While Bitwarden provides detailed guides to help you set it up, it's an involved process that’ll take some doing.

Despite the complexity, self-hosting is invaluable for businesses with stringent data residency requirements, or those operating in regulated industries that require full control over their deployment.

The cloud-hosting option also comes with a web-based admin console that is logically organized, and straightforward to navigate with clear menus. Its intuitive layout enables admins to quickly find and tweak the features and settings you need without extensive searching or training.

Onboarding users is a simple process that can be done manually by providing the platforms a list of email addresses of users you want to invite. Larger organizations can easily hook up Bitwarden with their existing IdPs to streamline onboarding and offboarding users.

Both Bitwarden business plans also have detailed logging and reporting abilities. The event log provides detailed, timestamped records of over 60 distinct event types within your organization, including user logins, password changes, failed logins, edits to groups, and collections, and a lot more.

(Image credit: Bitwarden)

Then there are all kinds of vault health reports that can help identify weak, and reused passwords, as well as those that have been found in known data breaches.

All things considered, between the two deployment options, the Bitwarden business plans both empower business users with the right tools for managing passwords, and are also easy to administer.

Bitwarden has a useful help center and you can email the developers for support (Image credit: Bitwarden)Bitwarden: Customer support

Bitwarden is an active open-source project, so there’s plenty of support in the form of an online community, tutorials, a knowledge base, and forums. Every common feature has a well-written tutorial and the user forums, while basic, are active and helpful.

You can even email the developers for support via an online support portal, with Premium subscribers getting priority. It’s impressive for an open-source project like Bitwarden to have the level of customer support that rivals commercial products. The only thing missing is phone support – that would have been a welcome addition, especially for business customers.

Unlike most other companies, because Bitwarden’s individual developers all have their own preferences, many of them are happy to interact with customers on other platforms, like Reddit and Twitter. These aren’t considered official help channels as such, but sometimes they’re a way to get a more authentic, personalized response.

Besides troubleshooting, the company’s blog is generally a good place to visit now and again to check for content relating to up-and-coming features, or just to alert you of something you might not have known such as how to create secure passwords.

Bitwarden: The competition

If you’re willing to spend a little more, Dashlane adds identity theft protection to the mix. This adds credit monitoring, identity restoration support, and identity theft insurance that covers you up to $1 million should the occasion occur. Another paid password manager with more features than Bitwarden is LastPass.

If you have a specific feature or trait in mind, you may want to consider alternative avenues. For example, KeePass is another open-source password manager, while the likes of iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager are among a growing number of services with support for passkeys.

Bitwarden: Final verdict

There’s lots to like about Bitwarden. It’s got rock-solid security options bolstered by the app’s open-source status. It works with virtually every device and browser you could think of – so it’s impressively versatile too.

When it comes to features this app ticks every mainstream box and it’s easy to use, even if it’s missing out on some of the slick design and high-end ability you’ll find elsewhere. But that's not a big issue when it’s got a tempting free product, good pricing on all of its paid options, and solid open-source security.

What to look for in a password manager

Businesses must diligently choose a robust password management solution when safeguarding sensitive information. Security is paramount; thus, a prospective password manager must offer advanced encryption standards, such as AES-256-bit encryption, to ensure that critical data remains inaccessible to unauthorized parties. It’s also imIt'stive that the service touts end-to-end encryption with zero-knowledge architecture, meaning even the service providers cannot access your passwords.

A business should seek a password manager that improves user-friendliness without compromising security. Employees should be able to navigate the system effortlessly, encouraging widespread adoption and adherence to security protocols. Cross-platform compatibility is another vital feature, guaranteeing that employees can securely access their credentials across various devices and operating systems, whether at their desks or on the go.

From an administrative perspective, managing user access, enforcing security policies, and monitoring usage are critical for maintaining company-wide password hygiene. Businesses should look for services that provide comprehensive admin controls, user provisioning, and detailed audit logs. Moreover, scalability is crucial – the chosen solution should be able to accommodate the growth of the business, with flexible plans that can be adjusted as the company expands or its needs evolve.

Budgetary considerations are inevitably part of the decision-making process; hence, a password management solution should offer transparent pricing with a clear understanding of what features are included at each pricing tier. It is beneficial to seek out options that provide a good balance of advanced features and cost-effectiveness, including premium customer support, to promptly address any technical issues or security concerns that may arise.

Lastly, while it is vital to focus on immediate needs, it is just as important to consider future-proofing. The chosen password manager should be from a reputable provider that updates the latest security trends and threats, ensuring the business is equipped with up-to-date protection. This forward-thinking approach secures the present and long-term integrity of a business's sbusiness'sata and online assets.

We've also featured the best business password managers.

Using a password manager is crucial if you want to protect your important information and ensure that you’re covered if you forget one of those all-important codes. If you’re looking for the best password manager, consider 1Password. This app has a strong business pedigree, with companies like IBM, GitLab, and Slack trusting the software to keep passwords secure and consistent. With customers like that, it’s undeniably a top option for your family or organization.

Like any technology solution, 1Password has its mix of advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we'll explore the pros and cons of using 1Password to help you decide if it's the right password manager.

One of 1Password’s most significant advantages is its strong focus on security. It utilizes end-to-end encryption, meaning your data is encrypted before it leaves your device and can only be decrypted with your Master Password, which 1Password does not store or have access to. This approach minimizes the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.

1Password boasts a sleek and intuitive interface that simplifies password management whether using the desktop app, browser extension, or mobile app, navigating through your data and accessing your passwords is straightforward and hassle-free.

With the increasing importance of two-factor authentication (2FA), 1Password's ability to generate and store one-time passwords (OTPs) is a significant plus. This feature enhances security and consolidates your login and 2FA data in one spot.

Another notable advantage of 1Password is the ability to securely share passwords and sensitive information with family members or team members. Depending on your subscription plan, you can control who can access specific items, ensuring that sensitive data is only shared with authorized individuals.

1Password supports various devices and platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. It also offers extensions for popular web browsers, ensuring you can access your passwords no matter where or what device you're using.

Unlike some competitors offering a free version, 1Password operates on a subscription model. While there is a 14-day free trial, long-term use requires a subscription. This ongoing cost may be a drawback for users who prefer a one-time purchase or a free solution.

For users new to password managers, the array of features and settings with 1Password can be overwhelming at first. While user-friendly, there's a learning curve to utilize all its functionalities efficiently.

While 1Password's free trial allows users to explore its features, it could be more robust in functionality compared to the full version. This limitation might not provide a comprehensive user experience assessing the tool's capabilities.

For the highly security-conscious, storing sensitive information in the cloud (even with solid encryption) might be a concern due to the theoretical risks of cloud breaches. Although 1Password's security is top-notch, the very nature of cloud storage can be a deal-breaker for some.

Certain features of 1Password, such as accessing your password vault from a new device, require an internet connection. While you can view and use stored passwords offline, initial setup and synchronization across devices need the internet.

We’ve evaluated 1Password’s family and business plans to see if this app is worth using – or if you should seek out a competitor instead. And if you want to explore those alternatives, take a look at our roundup of the best business password managers. 

(Image credit: 1Password)1Password: Plans and pricing

1Password offers different plans tailored to fit individual and business needs. Let's take a closer look:

For Individuals and Families

*  Individual Plan (from $2.99 per month): Designed for one person, this plan includes access to all devices, protection for your data, and around-the-clock email support.

*  Family Plan ($4.99 per month for up to five): This plan is ideal for household use. It has all the features of the individual plan but allows you to share passwords, credit cards, secure notes, and more with family members.

For Teams and Businesses

*  Teams Plan ($20 per month for up to 10 users): Built for collaboration, this plan provides features that help manage team access to shared vaults, with admin controls and secure document storage.

*  Business Plan ($8 per user per month): Tailored for larger organizations, the business plan includes everything from the Teams plan and additional advanced tools for security audits, custom roles, and more.

1Password may also offer unique plans, typically discounted, targeted at specific users, such as students, educators, or non-profit organizations.

1Password: Setup

As a leading password manager that simplifies password management while bolstering security, setting up 1Password in a work environment is a strategic move towards enhancing your company's digital security posture. In this guide, we'll walk you through every step of the process.t

Before diving into the setup, it's crucial to understand why 1Password is an asset for any organization. It goes beyond storing passwords - 1Password can manage secure notes, documents, and credentials, ensuring that all sensitive information is kept within a tamper-proof digital vault. Additionally, it enhances productivity by streamlining the login process for various work tools and platforms, reducing the time employees spend managing their passwords.

Step 1: Sign Up and Create Your Account

Begin by visiting the 1Password website and signing up for the plan that best suits your organization's needs. During this process, you'll create an account that will serve as the main administrative hub for managing your team or business.

Step 2: Configure Your Vault

Upon setting up your account, the next step is to configure your vaults. Vaults are secure containers where items like passwords, notes, and documents are stored. You can create multiple vaults for different departments or projects to keep your organization's data organized and accessible to the right people.

Step 3: Adding Users and Groups

After your vaults are configured, you'll need to add your team members. This can be done individually or in bulk through an invitation link or email. Additionally, consider setting up groups for easier management, allowing you to assign vault access to entire teams rather than individual users manually.

Step 4: Establish Security Policies

One of the key benefits of 1Password is the ability to customize security policies. This includes enforcing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), setting password strength requirements, and configuring other security settings tailored to your organization's security guidelines.

Step 5: Training and Support

With your 1Password setup complete, the final and crucial step is training your team. Ensure that everyone understands how to use 1Password effectively, including storing and managing passwords, using the browser extension, and accessing their vaults. Take advantage of the resources and support provided by 1Password for a smooth transition.

(Image credit: 1Password)1Password: Interface and performance

1Password provides convenient access on virtually all devices. Along with mobile apps for iOS and Android, the platform also provides desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus a command-line tool and extensions for popular browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Safari. There are also some more quirky options, like Apple Watch support.

It’s a very intuitive app. On the left-hand side, there’s a navigation column that allows users to access their private or shared vaults, tutorials, and their popular passwords. Here you’ll also find the Watchtower, which keeps track of security breaches and lets you know if your details have been compromised. In the main window, you can see all your passwords, messages or alerts, and the search box – which is extremely fast.

Adding new passwords is simple and comprehensive. You’re able to choose from more than two dozen security categories – from straightforward login and credit card details to medical records and passports – and each category collects different kinds of relevant information. It makes creating passwords easier – and speeds up categorization, too.

This is a highly responsive app, too, with changes on one device showing up on other devices almost instantaneously. We’re really fond of the small highlights than run across the top of the UI and throughout the experience, such as Wi-Fi passwords, medical records, identity information, and payment details.

Logging in online is a little more of a task than it is with other password managers. You still use your master password to get in, but you also need to authorize it by copying and pasting a so-called secret key to verify it’s you. We feel this could be handled a little easier, even if by manner of notification to the apps that are already signed in. Dashlane does something similar, and emails a one-time code to the account holder too, just for that extra layer of protection.

(Image credit: 1Password)1Password: Security

1Password uses a wide range of tools to keep your information as secure as possible. Accounts are locked by a master password, which is never shared with 1Password or any third parties. Beyond that, you’ve got your Emergency Kit, which includes a secure key you’ll need to use when logging in.

1Password provides two-factor authentication with Authy and Microsoft Authenticator, and it comes with security breath alerts, protection against keyloggers, and AES 256-bit encryption. Your passwords are also protected with Secure Remote Password (SRP), which adds another layer of credential authentication. 

(Image credit: 1Password)1Password Business: Team and Admin Features

1Password for Business pitches itself as a robust enterprise password management platform that’s designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. It offers a comprehensive set of features that help facilitate secure credential management, while streamlining administrative tasks, and can also integrate with your existing IT infrastructure.

Its shared vault system is particularly useful for use in a business setting. In the context of a password manager, think of a vault as a secure container that stores login credentials, as well as other secure information like credit card details.

The vaults in 1Password Business provide granular access control with over a dozen distinct permissions, which allow you as admins to control who can view, edit, copy, share, or export items within the vaults.

You can also choose which apps can be used to access this vault. For instance, if you aren’t using 1Password Business’ developer features, you can disable access to the vaults from the CLI tool. Similarly, if you only want your users to access the vault through the browser extensions, and the Android and iOS apps, you can disable access through its Windows, macOS, and Linux apps.

The platform also has an interesting Travel Mode feature that allows your users to temporarily remove access to all but certain vaults that have been marked as Safe for Travel. This helps protect sensitive business credentials and data from potential exposure during travel, especially during border inspections or other security checks.

Like all its peers, you can also use 1Password Business to create custom groups based on the departments, or projects in your organization. You can then assign specific permissions and responsibilities to these groups, such as the ability to invite, and remove people, create vaults, recover accounts, and more, facilitating efficient delegation and management.

Setting permissions at the group level allows for scalable permissioning. You can then assign vault access once to the group instead of each user.

In addition to regular users, 1Password Business also has a concept of guest users. These are individuals who are granted limited access to specific shared vaults. They don't have their own private vault, nor can they access all the shared vaults within the organization. Instead they can only access a designated vault that you’ve earmarked for them. A guest user can be a freelancer, a contractor, or anyone who needs limited access to specific information, like project-related passwords or client-specific details.

(Image credit: 1Password)

The platform also lets you define various security policies. The authentication policy helps create rules to manage how your users authenticate with, and log into the platform. You can use these to require strong master passwords, and select a two-factor authentication (2FA) mechanism. 1Password Business supports multiple 2FA options including the use of an authenticator app, security keys, and the Duo authentication service. You can also choose to make 2FA mandatory for all users.

Then there are sharing and permissions policies, where you create rules for features like credentials sharing. For instance, if you don’t want your users to share items with anyone, you can restrict them to only share items with someone who uses an email from an approved domain. You can also define the expiration settings for the shares, and more.

Finally, there are the firewall policies that you can use to restrict access to the platform, based on country, continent, or IP address.

1Password Business backs it all up with extensive logging and reporting mechanisms that provides a comprehensive trail of all actions within the 1Password account, including who accessed or modified what items and when.

1Password Business: Integrations and Compatibility

Your users can access their credentials from various devices and platforms as 1Password offers apps for all the popular desktop and mobile operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, along with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

1Password Business also integrates with all the major identity providers (IdPs) such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, OneLogin, JumpCloud, and Rippling through the SCIM Bridge. This helps streamline user management as it allows for automated provisioning and deprovisioning of users and groups.

The platform also integrates with leading Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools such as Splunk, Sentinel, Elastic, Sumo Logic, Panther, and several others. Thanks to this, the platform can stream activity to the SIEM tools for more detailed auditing and security analysis.

1Password Business also offers a robust set of developer tools that can help integrate secret management into various stages of the software development lifecycle. For instance, developers can generate, import, and store their SSH keys directly within 1Password, and also help it integrate with Git workflows.

Then there’s the 1Password CLI that allows developers to securely access items stored in 1Password directly from the terminal. 1Password Business can also integrate with popular CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions, CircleCI, and Jenkins, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Kubernetes, and Terraform.

1Password also provides an open source Software Development Kits (SDKs) for popular programming languages like Python, and JavaScript, and also offers an extension for the Visual Studio Code IDE.

1Password Business: Ease of Use and Deployment

Deploying 1Password Business is relatively straightforward. The initial setup, as outlined earlier, can be completed quickly, and the user onboarding process is intuitive enough.

From an administrative standpoint, the interface is clean and neatly arranged. Most of the regular admin tasks can be completed without too much mucking about the interface, and don’t require extensive technical knowledge. That said, you’ll need to have IT chops to tackle more advanced tasks like IdP integration.

(Image credit: 1Password)

1Password Business’s web-based admin interface provides an overview of user activity, vault access, security insights, and policy compliance. There’s also an activity log that can help you track events like vault access, user logins, sharing activities, policy changes, and more. All activity is timestamped, and the log can be easily filtered.

(Image credit: 1Password)

The platform also has various reports, like breach report, and business watchtower. After you’ve verified the domain controlled by your company, the breach report will flag accounts, information, and employees that have been exposed in data breaches. Then there’s the business watchtower report that identifies security issues like weak passwords, across all your vaults.

(Image credit: 1Password)

Besides these, you also get detailed usage reports, adoption reports, team reports, devices reports, and more. Then there’s the insights dashboard that offers analytics on data breaches, password health, and team usage.

All things considered, the 1Password Business admin interface strikes a good balance between power and simplicity, and works well for all sized organizations.

1Password: Support

With 1Password, you’ll have access to 24/7 support via email. The website states that Business users get VIP support, but it doesn’t explain the difference between regular and VIP—just that help is available “whenever you need it.” As mentioned above, Enterprise subscriptions come with a dedicated account manager and onboard engineer.

The 1Password site also provides helpful articles covering a variety of support topics. These are a great place to start if you run into technical issues or want to learn more about the service’s features. Users can also access security white papers if they’d like a deeper dive into how the service works.

1Password: The competition

Lastpass, one of the most popular password managers, comes with some notable pros and cons compared to 1Password. Unlike 1Password, Lastpass offers a surprisingly robust free plan that enables users to store and share passwords across all their devices.

Furthermore, Lastpass Emergency makes it easy to configure a digital will that automatically transfers your information in case of an emergency or death. The only way to set this process up on 1Password is to pay for a family or team plan and create multiple admins or organizers. That said, Lastpass and 1Password come with many of the same features, and their pricing is mostly similar aside from the Lastpass free plan.

If you’re after more than a password manager, Dashlane and Proton Pass are among the handful that offer VPN connections for certain plans, all in a bid to keep your identity protected.

1Password: Final verdict

1Password offers everything individuals and businesses need to store and share passwords and other sensitive pieces of information. The spread of pricing options means it’s a low-cost way to keep your data safe.

In addition to mobile apps, the service is also compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux along with several browsers. Its flexibility, affordability, and ease of use make it a great option for companies and home users.

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What to look for in a password manager

In today's world, where digital security breaches are not just common but expected, the importance of robust password management cannot be overstated. Password managers have become essential tools for individuals and businesses striving to secure their digital realms. However, with many market options, it can be challenging to know what features to prioritize when selecting a password manager. Here's a curated checklist to guide your choice.

Non-Negotiable Features

Encryption is the foundation of a password manager's security. Choose a service offering strong encryption, such as 256-bit encryption — the standard governments and militaries use worldwide. This encryption level ensures that even if data gets intercepted, it remains indecipherable without the unique key.

A zero-knowledge protocol means the service provider does not know your data. Your passwords and sensitive information are encrypted locally on your device before syncing with the server. Ensure your chosen password manager offers end-to-end encryption, with decryption only possible on your device.

Two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond just the master password. This could be a biometric scan, a security key, or a code generated by an authenticator app. A password manager that supports 2FA significantly enhances your protection against unauthorized access.

Important Usability Features

Your digital life isn't confined to one device, so your password manager shouldn't be either. Cross-platform compatibility ensures you can access your passwords on a PC, Mac, Android, or iOS device. Check for seamless integration with various operating systems and browsers for a smooth experience.

One of the main benefits of a password manager is convenience. Look for features like autofill and auto-login that save time and prevent the risk of typing errors. This facilitates a smoother and faster login process without compromising security.

Strong, unique passwords are essential for secure accounts. A built-in password generator that can create complex passwords enhances security by eliminating the human tendency to reuse passwords or choose easy-to-guess options.

Additional Considerations

A simple, intuitive interface makes a big difference, especially for teams or individuals less familiar with tech. Ease of use encourages adoption and regular use, which is critical for maintaining security practices.

Consider recovering access to your account in case of a forgotten master password. Options like account recovery using a trusted device or emergency access for trusted contacts can be life-saving without compromising the security of your data.

Evaluate the cost relative to the features offered. Many password managers offer a basic level of service for free, with premium features available for a fee. Consider what features are must-haves for you and whether the cost of a premium plan justifies its benefits.

Choosing the right password manager is a balancing act between security features and usability. The ideal tool secures your digital life from threats while seamlessly integrating into your daily routine. You can select a password manager that protects your information and enhances your online experience by focusing on solid encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, and essential usability features. Remember, in the quest for digital security, your password manager becomes your closest ally.

Lots of password managers are free, and plenty more only unlock a good range of features if you pay loads of cash – but Sticky Password tries to bridge the gap.

Sticky Password is developed by Lamantine Software, a company that includes some of the original creators of AVG Antivirus.

This app attempts to deliver the best of both worlds by offering a free version with loads of features, including unlimited encryption and storage and biometric authentication – so it’s very capable for lots of people. The paid version is no less impressive, with cloud syncing, secure sharing and emergency access.

Then there’s Sticky Password for Teams, which is a comprehensive password management solution tailored for businesses. It offers all the security features as its consumer variant, alongside administrative controls to help streamline the use of passwords for a team of users.

We’re going to find out if Sticky Password can compete with the best password managers currently available.

Sticky Password: Key Features

Sticky Password offers essential features such as password sharing, password autofill, password generation, automatic syncing, and encrypted storage of credit cards and digital notes.

Sticky Password can generate long, complex password strings up to 99 characters long. You can customize the length and character types, and can combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to maximize protection.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)

The app can also help you save lots of time with its automatic form filling feature. You can use it to create and manage identities, and save everything from personal, email, and address details to credit card details, passport information, and more. Besides these, the app also lets you securely save any text with its Secure Memos feature.

Sticky Password also offers a suite of powerful features designed specifically for business. For instance, it allows admins to specify different permissions for different people. This makes it easy for businesses to streamline their password management and reduce points of weakness in the system.

The app also monitors the dark web and will alert you (and the concerned employee) if any of the managed credentials are found in known data thefts or leaks.

As a business product, Sticky Password for Teams has a centralized admin console. You can use it to add or remove users, delegate administrative rights, and more. As an admin you can even manage the entire team's licenses, including renewals and seat allocations, through this interface.

You can also grant, manage, and remove access to shared passwords with specific permissions for different people, to ensure your employees can collaborate securely. You can even earmark individuals who can access critical accounts in case of emergencies.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)

For this, the app allows you to set the conditions under which access will be granted. The emergency contact will be granted access after sending you a request that you can reject during the waiting period.

The paid version of the app ensures all your passwords, and other encrypted data is synchronized across all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. It offers multiple options for this purpose, which is one of its best features.

You can either choose to sync the data over the cloud, which is very convenient if you have employees on the go, or, you can choose to sync over the local Wi-Fi router. Local Wi-Fi sync means that devices on the same network can share encrypted passwords and credentials without this data ever leaving the premises. This is ideal for businesses operating in one primary location because you can share passwords among colleagues in total security.

Importantly though, Sticky Password gives you full control over the devices and the network your data is synced over.

A final security feature we haven’t seen before is Sticky Password’s use of Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX) to further secure the sensitive data stored on a device. So even if an employee’s computer is stolen, the thief will be unable to access Sticky Password data that is encrypted and stored deep within the device’s CPU chip. Note however that this requires you to have a 7th Gen, or newer processor.

Sticky Password: Security and compliance

Top-notch security protocols are essential for any password manager, and Sticky Password doesn’t disappoint. Sticky Password uses all the industry-standard encryption protocols, and also goes further, offering innovative security features that are perfect for businesses.

Not only does Sticky Password encrypt all data end-to-end with 256-bit AES encryption, but it does not store the master password or the encryption key. Without these, no one, not even Sticky Password, can unencrypt your business’s valuable passwords and data. Elsewhere you’ve got fingerprint scanning, and this software runs portably – so it can boot from USB sticks and memory cards.

To ensure security when transferring passwords, Sticky Password uses the concept of trusted devices. These are devices that have been specifically authorized to access and synchronize your encrypted password database.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)

Such devices are added to a whitelist on the admin console, after which they can perform synchronization operations. The first device you use with Sticky Password is automatically authorized during the initial setup. Additional devices require individual authorization, which is done by sending a one-time PIN.

For added security, you can also enable two‑factor authentication, which works in conjunction with the Google Authenticator app. Sticky Password can also be made to use biometric authentication. For this, you can verify your identity with a swipe of a finger on Android and iOS devices.

Sticky Password’s storage space and back-end system reside on secure Amazon AWS services (Amazon S3 and Amazon EC2), and according to its Privacy Policy, the app adheres to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards.

Sticky Password: Setup

Sticky Password has native apps for all the popular desktop, and mobile operating systems, including several releases of macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.

The platform is also compatible with over a dozen of the best web browsers, from popular ones like Google Chrome, Brave, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, to other more obscure options like Vivaldi, Comodo Dragon and Sidekick.

The apps themselves are easy to download and install. It’s necessary to make an account before logging in, but this simply requires an email and password. We also recommend installing the Sticky Password browser extensions.

While it doesn’t have native Linux apps, you can use it on the best Linux distros like Ubuntu, and Fedora, and even on Chromebooks, through the contactless connect feature. This feature also gives you access to your passwords on shared computers where you can’t install the Sticky Password app.

Using contactless contact involves scanning a QR code with the Sticky Password app on your mobile device. That said, accessing passwords through this feature, while being completely secure, requires a little running around, and isn’t as convenient as using a native app.

Sticky Password: Interface and performance

The Sticky Password desktop application has a pleasing layout and makes it easy for the user to find important information and control their account. The security dashboard is particularly useful for visualizing security weaknesses.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)

We were impressed with the speed of syncing. Using both a mobile and desktop device simultaneously resulted in a seamless experience. Once we had entered credential information on a desktop site, we could immediately log in password-free on a mobile device.

When setting up Sticky Password for Teams, the first person to activate the team license key on their device automatically becomes the team administrator. Once the admin is set up, you can invite other team members through the admins’ web interface.

Head to My team under the StickyAccount section to add and remove team members.

You can invite users via their email addresses. They’ll then receive instructions on how to install Sticky Password and join the team. Once added, you can also assign (and later revoke) admin rights to other team members.

If your colleges already have a StickyID, you can simply email them the team license key, which they can then plug into their account.

It’s a good idea to check your list of trusted devices from time to time. Head to Dashboard > Trusted devices to see the list of trusted devices, and remove the ones that are no longer in use. Removing a trusted device will also remove the local database and backups created by Sticky Password on this device.

The other tasks can be performed by the team members from their native Sticky Password desktop app. The first thing they should do is head to Menu > Import to import all their passwords in bulk. Sticky Password can import data from all the popular web browsers, as well as from the best password managers such as Bitwarden, BitDefender, KeePass, LastPass, RoboForm, and more.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)

They can then also navigate to the Web Accounts tab to manually store their usernames and passwords for online accounts and services. Then there’s the App Accounts section where your users can store credentials for any locally installed app, such as for Skype or a remote desktop connection.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)

Then there’s the Sharing Center where you can share passwords with other Sticky Password users, and manage their access and permission levels. As an admin, you can set individual permissions for each team member, and grant them either limited read-only rights, or full rights. The latter gives them the same rights as you, and they even have the authority to revoke your access as well.

Finally, head to Emergency Contacts under the Sharing Center section to add emergency contacts.

One of the most important sections of the Sticky Password app is the Security Dashboard. From here your users can monitor their password hygiene, and security posture. It helps identify and change weak, expired, reused passwords, and those that were exposed in a data breach.

(Image credit: Sticky Password)Sticky Password: Plans and pricing

Sticky Password offers a single Premium plan for businesses, with access to a 30-day free trial first. It costs $29.99 user/year, making Sticky Password more affordable than most of its competitors.

Similarly, individuals also get a single Premium product, which costs $29.99 for a one-year license. However, if you’re sure that you want to stick with Sticky Password for the long haul, the lifetime license for individuals costs $79.99.

Individuals can also use Sticky Password for free, which is meant for users who need to store and access their passwords from a single device, since it doesn’t have any synchronization ability. Also, just like business users, individuals too can take the Premium version for a spin with a 30 day free trial.

Sticky Password: Support

The Sticky Password website has a help center, so most of the time, troubleshooting can be done online without needing to contact the Sticky Password team.

For more complicated issues, businesses have access to online support with an average wait time of fewer than 24 hours. We would like to have seen a more responsive support service, as the lack of phone support might deter some businesses from investing in Sticky Password.

Sticky Password: The competition

While Sticky Password provides an excellent core service, we think businesses might be better off considering a password management solution with greater administrator control over user settings and privacy.

Competitors such as NordPass, LastPass, and RoboForm all provide more advanced analytics that medium and large-sized businesses are likely to appreciate. Although these providers are more expensive, companies that value user management and centralized access control might prefer to consider one of them.

Also note that unlike many other business password managers, you can’t use Sticky Password for Teams to provision users by integrating with in-house or cloud directory servers like active directory, or Microsoft Entra ID.

Sticky Password: Final verdict

Sticky Password is a middle-of-the-pack password management solution. Although it may not be the best password manager available, it is still a highly secure platform with just enough features to please business users.

In particular, we think local WiFi sync and Intel SGX are innovative features that might convince businesses to rely on Sticky Password for their organization. However, the lack of advanced business features like Active Directory integration means the app will only work for small businesses, rather than large companies.

On the flipside, its limited feature set means Sticky Password is also more affordable than many of its competitors. Given the fact that it makes no compromises when it comes to security, Sticky Password manages to successfully position itself as one of the most secure password managers available for small businesses.

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The password manager market contains a huge variety of products, from basic individual products to enterprise-level utilities – and that’s where ManageEngine Password Manager Pro comes in.

This tool delivers the kind of features admins need with a business password manager, with rock-solid security, an incredible number of customization options and granular, in-depth options for managing your entire company’s identities and passwords.

It’s no wonder that it’s trusted by more than one million admins and users and has already been deployed by businesses like Walmart, VMWare and NASA. It’s also no wonder that this product is produced by Zoho, as that company has loads of experience producing enterprise software.

After you’ve discovered whether you should roll out ManageEngine Password Manager Pro to your business, head over to our verdict on the best password managers.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Key Features

Password Manager Pro aims to equip admins with enough features and functionality to help transform password management from a security liability into a structured, controlled process.

Being aimed at large enterprises, the platform claims to deliver a complete solution that can help you control, manage, monitor, and audit the entire life cycle of privileged access.

Like all its peers, it offers a centralized password vault where your users can store all their passwords in a secure, encrypted database. As an admin, you can create a hierarchical structure of folders within the vault to organize passwords based on departments, systems, apps, or any other logical grouping.

The platform also enables you to define granular access controls to control who can access specific passwords, and whether users can only view the password, or even change it. They can also set time-based access restrictions, and even force approvals for password access.

Similarly, you can also restrict access based on IP addresses or IP ranges. Admins can also assign ownership of specific password records to other authorized users, allowing for decentralized management, which is especially useful in larger organizations.

Password Manager Pro can store more than just passwords, which makes it pitch itself essentially as a centralized, encrypted repository for business-critical data. You can, for instance, use it to securely house all kinds of documents, images, and files, as well as Windows service accounts, digital signatures, SSL certificates, SSH keys, and more.

The platform also offers password lifecycle management features. You can use it to create and enforce organization-wide password policies. It enables you to specify complexity requirements (minimum length, character types), word usage (password should not contain dictionary words, or login name), password aging (how often passwords must be changed), and password history (preventing reuse of recent passwords).

(Image credit: ManageEngine)

You can also manually reset passwords for any account in the vault, and also enforce mandatory password resets for users. Passwords can be changed any time on demand, or automatically at periodic intervals. You can also configure passwords to be automatically reset after every usage.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro also offers several disaster recovery options, including live and scheduled database backups. You can restore the backed up data to the Password Manager Pro database using the provided recovery scripts.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Integrations and Compatibility

As an enterprise solution, Password Manager Pro integrates with your existing Active Directory (AD) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) installations. This allows your users to log in to Password Manager Pro using their existing AD or LDAP credentials, eliminating the need for separate logins.

Moreover, when a password is reset in Password Manager Pro, it can automatically update the password in the corresponding AD or LDAP account. Similarly, when users are added or removed in AD or LDAP, Password Manager Pro automatically updates its database to reflect these changes.

Password Manager Pro can also integrate with third-party Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. It also integrates with IT Service Management (ITSM) tools like ServiceNow and Jira to automate password retrieval and management within incident and problem management workflows.

The platform also has plugins for several popular continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platforms including Jenkins, Ansible, Chef, and Puppet. Thanks to these plugins you can securely inject secrets into your CI/CD pipelines, instead of hardcoding credentials in scripts.

The platform also provides three APIs to enable all kinds of enterprise apps to securely retrieve passwords from ManageEngine Password Manager Pro.

The platform also has a remote login feature that your users can use to securely access remote machines directly from the Password Manager Pro web interface, without needing to manually enter passwords. This comes in handy especially for establishing one-click connections to RDP, SSH, and telnet sessions.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Security and Compliance

Unsurprisingly, ManageEngine Password Manager Pro has faultless security credentials. This software uses dual 256-bit AES encryption, first at application level, and then at database level.

You can also set it up to run in the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliant mode where all encryption is done through FIPS 140-2-certified systems and libraries.

Password Manager Pro also supports smart card authentication. You can further compliment this by various two-factor authentication (2FA) provisions to provide an extra layer of security. The platform supports PhoneFactor, Google Authenticator, Duo Security, YubiKey, and several more 2FA mechanisms.

(Image credit: ManageEngine)

Password Manager Pro can also be configured to detect and send alerts when it detects passwords that violate your organization's IT policy, or have expired. Alerts can also be generated when users request access to specific passwords or resources.

(Image credit: ManageEngine)

When it comes to auditing, the platform gives you as admins access to detailed audit logs that track all activities performed within Password Manager Pro. This covers events like password access, modifications, policy changes, user logins, and administrative actions.

(Image credit: ManageEngine)

All events are reported together with timestamps and user details. These logs will help with security analysis, incident investigation, and compliance reporting. Password Manager Pro also lets you grab compliance reports for PCI-DSS, NERC-CIP, and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.

To ensure that none of its logs can be tampered, in addition to restricting access, the platform ensures they are encrypted with AES-256 encryption.

The platform can also record videos of sessions initiated through Password Manager Pro for RDP, SSH, telnet, and remote database connections. The videos include everything the users see on their screen, along with all the actions they perform during the sessions.

These videos help organizations meet audit requirements, and help comply with regulations like PCI-DSS, FISMA, and HIPAA.

Remember though that recording sessions can be resource-intensive in terms of storage space. Also, depending on the number of concurrent recordings, and the resources of the Password Manager Pro server, there might be a slight performance impact on user sessions.

(Image credit: ManageEngine)ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Setup

Unlike many of its peers, Password Manager Pro is a self-hosted, on-premises password management solution. You can set it up on top of a Windows or a Linux machine, as it offers 64-bit installers for both platforms.

Before installing it, make sure the machine has at least a Dual Core or Core 2 Duo processor, with no less than 4GB of RAM. The product itself needs about 200 MB of disk space, and recommends earmarking 10GB at the minimum for the database.

The disk space requirements vary on usage, and you’ll need a lot more if you’ll be recording sessions regularly.

Besides this, you’ll also need an external mail server that Password Manager Pro can use to send emails and notifications to users. It can work with both your own in-house SMTP server, or a publicly available one.

Once that’s done, you can access ManageEngine’s settings through a web portal. At this point you’re going to get lost unless you’re an IT admin or someone with plenty of technology experience. This is a powerful tool, but that means you will be confronted with lots of different menus.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Interface and performance

By default, Password Manager Pro has five predefined roles that come with a specific set of permissions. Administrators can set up, configure, and manage the platform, while Privileged Administrators can additionally configure privacy and security controls.

Then there are Password Administrators who can perform resource and password-related operations, while Password Auditors can also access all audit reports. Finally, there are Password Users who can view (and optionally modify) only those passwords that are shared with them by the Administrators and Password Administrators.

You’ll most likely login as an admin, which gives you extensive control over the platform. You can, for instance, perform bulk actions on password records, which helps save significant time and effort when managing a large number of passwords.

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Indeed, the ManageEngine interface is not one for beginners. Its Dashboard has options for configuring mail servers, adding users and managing your company’s data, and the Dashboard also provides a quick overview of your password conflicts and violations – and how users across your whole network are managing passwords.

(Image credit: ManageEngine)

Go beyond the Dashboard, and in sub-menus, you’ll find in-depth areas for managing resources, groups, connections, certificates and SSH keys.

There’s lots going on here and you’ll have to know plenty about system administration to find your way around, but the interface is straightforward and unfussy – so it’ll fit right into your workflow.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Plans and pricing

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is a complex, technical product designed for medium business, large companies and huge enterprises, so its pricing structure is necessarily complex – and it’s not exactly a cheap bit of software.

As we’ve said before, Password Manager Pro has five predefined roles, and the licensing restricts the number of administrators as a whole. That said, there is no restriction on the number of Password Users and Password Auditors.

The Standard edition starts at $595 / £550 / AUD$ 900 for a year-long license for two administrators, and prices rise if you add admins. The Premium software starts at $1,395 / £1,250 / AUD$ 2,000 for a five-admin, one-year deal, and the Enterprise edition costs $3,995 / £3,800 / AUD$6,000 for a ten-user package. It’s also possible to buy perpetual licenses, although prices obviously rise further.

The Standard Edition has all the basic features to store your passwords and selectively share them among users. The Premium Edition adds more enterprise-class password management features such as remote password resets, session recording, IP restrictions, privacy settings, and more. To access every feature though you’ll need the top of the line Enterprise Edition.

Importantly though, you get support for adding unlimited resources and for managing an unlimited number of users, with each plan.

It’s also possible to add SSL/TLS certificate discovery, CSR, public CA integration and several other extra features to your package with the Key Manager Plus add-on. And while this is all very complex, ManageEngine’s enterprise-level feature set does mean that you’re able to contact the company for a customized quote too.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Support

You get plenty of support options if you fork out the cash for ManageEngine Password Manager Pro, with toll-free phone support, email forms, direct email addresses and active user forums all available. Suffice to say that you will be able to get help if you need it, no matter the time.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: The competition

ManageEngine has plenty of strong competitors in the enterprise and big business password management space. Parent company Zoho has its own Vault password management system, and it’s worth exploring that product if you’d like a password management product that can be integrated with wider CRM, workplace and finance products.

Beyond Zoho and ManageEngine, we’d also recommend N-Able Passportal, which deploys a top range of impressive, high-end features for enterprise-level password management. It’s a great standalone product, although N-Able doesn’t have the same broad packages you’ll get with Zoho or ManageEngine.

ManageEngine Password Manager Pro: Final verdict

We’ll say this right away: ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is not the tool to buy if you want small business password management or a family product. It’s a high-end tool for enterprises and large businesses, and both its price and feature set reflect that status.

If you’ve got the budget and you need a high-end password management tool, though, there’s not much better than this. It’s just as good as its rivals, and you only need to consider which product has the features and integrations that your organization needs.

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