Any password manager and security app that’s been around as long as mSecure (opens in new tab) is likely to have a good range of core features, and mSecure certainly delivers in that regard. It’s got AES-256 encryption, a secure password generation and seamless automatic logins.
There’s lots of competition when it comes to the best password manager (opens in new tab), though, so mSecure needs to impress beyond those mainstream abilities if it’s going to convince people to part with their money.
On paper, mSecure goes the extra mile with flexible data templates, intelligent searching and loads of organization features, but we'll see how well these play out in practice.
mSecure: Plans and pricing
There’s a free option if you’d like to use mSecure for some basic security needs or if you’d like to try the app. With the free software you can sync your devices, backup and restore data, use biometric login with Windows Hello and customize your templates for data entry.
You’ll get far more functionality if you spend some cash, though. The Essentials product costs $1.66 / $1.50 / AUD$2.50 per month if you pay annually, and it upgrades your app with syncing across cloud services, fingerprint login, browser extension support and a more advanced security center for quick analysis of your passwords. With that product you also get Apple Watch support alongside everything that was already included in the free product.
The Premium version of mSecure only costs $2.49 / £2.20 / AUD$3.25 per month, so it’s one of the more affordable options on the market. You get every feature included in the Essentials package alongside comprehensive sharing options, the option to attach files to your data entries, advanced customization options and tags for easier searching.
There’s no doubt about the value on offer from mSecure, but there are no dedicated business options here – this is a product designed primarily for individuals. It’s not suitable for family use, either: it may have good sharing options, but you’ll find better settings for different accounts and management on other apps.
mSecure: Setup
Getting started with mSecure is fast and easy. You just need to enter your email and a master password to launch the software for the first time.
From there, you can import records from a CSV file or restore a backup database made by mSecure on another device. Note, though, that mSecure can’t easily import records from another password manager without copying them into an unsecured CSV file first.
To start, mSecure covers all the essentials you need from a password manager. There’s no limit on how many entries you can keep and the built-in categories enable you to store much more than passwords. All entries support custom fields and you can also separate entries into groups in lieu of simple tags.
The password generator (opens in new tab) included in mSecure works well, but it wasn’t our favorite. There’s no option to force it to produce human-readable words. As a result, every password is a truly random string that’s hard to type if you don’t have auto-fill enabled. Notably, you also can’t access the password generator without creating a new record in mSecure.
One of the things that’s unique about mSecure is its cross-device syncing. You can sync new data entries across all your devices using the mSecure Cloud, Dropbox (opens in new tab), or your home Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, the software enables you to create encrypted backups of your database (opens in new tab) at any time, which can be ported across devices.
mSecure’s desktop and mobile apps recently underwent a full redesign, so they now sport a modern and sleek user interface. One of the best things mSecure added is auto-downloading of logos when you create an account online. That makes it very easy to find the entry for a specific login, like Netflix or Amazon, when you’re scrolling through your database.
We also liked that mSecure has added flexibility into the data entry process. You can not only add custom fields to every individual record but also redesign the templates for entire data categories.
In terms of platform support, you’ll find apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, alongside browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox – albeit only on Mac. That platform support will cover most people, but it’s pretty weak compared to most other products, which offer broader browser extension options in particular.
mSecure: Interface and performance
mSecure: Security
mSecure uses AES-256 bit encryption to ensure that your data stays locked down, and this is a zero-knowledge service – so your master password is never stored anywhere within the mSecure app or on the company’s servers.
Beyond that, your data is kept secure with automatic locking with customizable inactivity time, self-destruct options and automatic backup. You’ll also benefit from secure sharing, and biometric two-factor authentication on every platform adds another layer of protection.
There are plenty of security features missing here, though. You don’t get reporting and analysis in the same level of detail as you’ll find elsewhere – there’s no breach detection or dark web monitoring here, for instance. Many other apps go further in terms of management, deployment and customization, especially for businesses and teams.
mSecure: Support
mSecure provides support by email only using an online ticket system through a support portal, with no direct email address provided. Don’t expect a same-day response, either.
Beyond that, mSecure does offer a comprehensive knowledge base and a forum with separate sections for different platforms and problems, so it’s easy to drill down and try and find the knowledge you need. There are no options for phone support, though.
mSecure: The competition
If secure password sharing is important to you, it’s worth checking out LastPass (opens in new tab). This popular password manager offers sharing with one other user for free. You can share passwords with an unlimited number of users for as little as $3 / £2.50 / AUD$4.50 per month. We also like that LastPass includes more comprehensive multi-factor authentication options.
Bear in mind, though, that LastPass and virtually every other big-name alternative to mSecure will be more expensive than either of mSecure’s paid product tiers.
mSecure: Final verdict
mSecure is a decent password manager that makes it easy to keep records across multiple devices. We appreciated the redesigned interface and the ability to fully customize data fields and category templates.
For individuals who aren’t tech savvy and people who want to save a bit of cash, this is a very good option – it’s easy to use and affordable. However, its lack of browser extension support and high-end features mean you’ll get more power and security elsewhere.