Apple Passwords vs Proton Pass
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apple Passwords
Apple's free password and passkey app for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Proton Pass
End-to-end encrypted password manager with email aliases
Where they differ
- Apple Passwords is free. Proton Pass starts at $2.99 per month, billed every 12 months ($35.88); $4.99 billed monthly.
- Only Proton Pass lists a web app.
- Only Proton Pass lists Linux and Android apps.
- Proton Pass is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Apple Passwords | Proton Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $2.99 per month, billed every 12 months ($35.88); $4.99 billed monthly |
| Free plan | Listed as free on the App Store with no in-app purchases shown. Syncing between devices uses iCloud Keychain on an Apple Account. | Proton Free: unlimited logins, notes and credit cards on unlimited devices, passkeys, 2 vaults, 10 hide-my-email aliases and alerts for weak and reused passwords. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Apple | Proton AG |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | proton.me |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Apple Passwords
- People whose devices are all Apple and who want a password manager at no cost
- Families and housemates who share a handful of logins
- Apple users with a Windows PC who need their passwords in Chrome, Edge or Firefox
Proton Pass
- People who want a free password manager with unlimited logins and devices
- Privacy-focused users who want email aliases for sign-ups
- Existing Proton customers, since Pass is part of Proton Unlimited
Worth knowing
Apple Passwords
- There is no Android or Linux version. On Windows it runs through iCloud for Windows, with extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
- The App Store listing requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or visionOS 2 or later, and the Mac guide starts at macOS Sequoia 15.
- A password or passkey can be shared with only one group, and every member needs iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 or later.
- Exports are unencrypted CSV files, and Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts cannot be exported.
Proton Pass
- The free plan is limited to 2 vaults and 10 hide-my-email aliases.
- The 2FA authenticator, vault sharing, Dark Web Monitoring and file attachments are listed under Pass Plus, not the free plan.
- No free trial of the paid plans is advertised; Proton offers a 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
Key features
Apple Passwords
- One place for every credential
- Lists app and website passwords, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts, with sorting and search.
- AutoFill and iCloud Keychain sync
- Logins saved through AutoFill appear in the app automatically and are available on every device signed in to the same Apple Account with Passwords turned on in iCloud settings.
- Passkeys
- Creates and saves passkeys for sites and apps that support them and signs in with Touch ID or Face ID. Passkeys are stored in iCloud Keychain.
- Verification codes
- Two-factor verification codes can be set up inside Passwords and filled in automatically without opening the app.
- Security recommendations
- Alerts you when a saved password has been found in a data leak and recommends changing weak or compromised passwords.
- Shared groups
- Share passwords, passkeys and Sign in with Apple accounts with a group of contacts. Everyone in the group can change the shared items and add their own.
Proton Pass
- End-to-end encrypted vaults
- Everything stored is end-to-end encrypted, and Proton says that no one else, not even Proton, can access it.
- Hide-my-email aliases
- Creates email aliases to hand out at sign-up so your real address stays private: 10 on the free plan and unlimited on Pass Plus.
- Passkeys and autofill
- Passkeys are supported on all devices, including on the free plan, and logins autofill on websites and in apps.
- Built-in 2FA authenticator
- Pass Plus can generate two-factor codes inside the password manager instead of in a separate authenticator app.
- Password monitoring
- Free accounts get alerts for weak and reused passwords. Pass Plus adds Dark Web Monitoring that warns when credentials appear in a leak.
- Sharing and Emergency Access
- Pass Plus adds secure vault sharing, shareable secure links, file attachments and Emergency Access. Pass Family extends these to up to 6 users with an admin panel.
Plans
Apple Passwords
Free$0
The full app on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, with AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes and shared groups.
Proton Pass
Proton Free$0
Unlimited logins, notes and cards on unlimited devices, passkeys, a password generator, 2 vaults and 10 hide-my-email aliases.
Pass Plus$2.99
per month, billed every 12 months ($35.88); $4.99 billed monthly
Unlimited aliases, built-in 2FA authenticator, secure vault sharing, Dark Web Monitoring, file attachments and Emergency Access.
Pass Family$4.99
per month, billed every 12 months ($59.88); $6.99 billed monthly
Everything in Pass Plus for up to 6 users, with an admin panel for the family.
Proton Unlimited$9.99
per month, billed every 12 months ($119.88); $12.99 billed monthly
Pass bundled with Proton Mail, Calendar, VPN and Drive in one subscription.
Ways to pay less
Apple Passwords
No public discounts listed.
Proton Pass
- Annual discount
40% off Pass Plus on the yearly plan
Proton's pricing page lists Pass Plus at $2.99 a month when billed every 12 months ($35.88), against $4.99 billed monthly.
