The Apple Passwords Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Apple Passwords in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Apple Passwords
The Insider’s Guide
Apple's free password and passkey app for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among password managers, read from Apple Passwords’s own pages.
Made by Apple · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05After you payGetting your money back, getting out, and getting help
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Apple Passwords’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Apple Passwords’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.4
GPA, above 15 of the 17 other password managers we grade
Passwords is Apple's password manager app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. It gathers website and app passwords, passkeys, verification codes and Wi-Fi passwords in one place, fills them in with AutoFill and syncs them through iCloud Keychain. Passwords can be shared with groups of trusted contacts, and on a Windows PC they are available through iCloud for Windows and its browser extensions.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Apple Passwords, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Logins you save through AutoFill turn up in the app, and it fills two-factor codes without you opening it.
- 1
Best for free passwords and passkeys on Apple devices
Cards, documents and secure notes have no place in it, and exports are unencrypted CSV.
- 2
It is free
Apple Passwords has no paid plan at all. Listed as free on the App Store with no in-app purchases shown. Syncing between devices uses iCloud Keychain on an Apple Account.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, iOS and Windows, with a browser extension too.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.4 GPA, above 15 of 17
That is against the other password managers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Apple Passwords is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
- 9
What users like
Sharing chosen passwords and passkeys with a group, usually family, is a feature both reviewers and commenters single out.
Apple Passwords at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Browser extension
- Made by
- Apple
- Category
- Password Managers
- Our grade
- 3.4 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 803,497 ratings
The report card
Best for free passwords and passkeys on Apple devices
Apple Passwords is the free password manager built into Apple devices, keeping logins, passkeys, two-factor codes and Wi-Fi passwords in one place and filling them in. There's no Android or Linux version, it needs iOS 18 or macOS Sequoia 15, and a password can sit in only one shared group. Cards, documents and secure notes have no place in it, and exports are unencrypted CSV.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free on the App Store with no in-app purchases shown, where the middle paid password manager here asks $2.99 a month and the dearest tenth starts at $4.99. This one never asks for anything. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app costs nothing and holds nothing back: AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes, leak alerts and shared groups. Sync between your devices runs on iCloud Keychain with the Apple Account you already have. |
| Features | C | The basics are all covered: passwords, passkeys, two-factor codes, Wi-Fi passwords, alerts when something leaks, and sharing with a group. Apple's own guide marks the limits: a password can sit in only one group, and exports are unencrypted CSV, with Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts left out. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.72 from about 803,000 App Store ratings. Logins you save through AutoFill turn up in the app, and it fills two-factor codes without you opening it. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, plus Windows through iCloud for Windows with extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox. No Android and no Linux, and it wants iOS 18 or macOS Sequoia 15 or later. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Apple Passwords is for
- Fits if every device you own is Apple and you don't want to pay for a password manager
- Works for sharing a few family logins, or reaching Chrome, Edge and Firefox on a Windows PC
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you have an Android phone or a Linux laptop, because your passwords won't follow you
- Too light for people who want somewhere to keep cards, documents or secure notes as well
- Tight if you share with more than one circle, as a password can go in only one group
- Not for you if your devices can't run iOS 18 or macOS Sequoia 15, or family members are below iOS 17
- Watch out: exports are unencrypted CSV files, and Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts are left out
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
What people say
- 4.7on the App Store, from 803,497 ratings
What they like
- Sharing chosen passwords and passkeys with a group, usually family, is a feature both reviewers and commenters single out.
- Reviewers like having two-factor codes and passkeys in the same place as their passwords, so they need no separate authenticator app.
- Several commenters say they moved to it from 1Password or Bitwarden and found it does the job across their Apple devices, though with fewer features.
What they don’t
- Reviewers want a way to sort entries into folders or categories, and say the shared groups are the only grouping on offer.
- People coming from dedicated password managers miss things such as secure notes, custom fields and somewhere to keep cards or documents.
- Commenters say it ties them to Apple devices, naming Android and Linux as places where their passwords do not follow them.
10 App Store reviews from September 2024 to August 2026 and about 25 Hacker News comments from April to September 2026
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Apple Passwords is free to use.
The whole app costs nothing and holds nothing back: AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes, leak alerts and shared groups.
Free
$0
The full app on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, with AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes and shared groups.
The 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.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Browser extension
Apple's free password and passkey app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: end-to-end encrypted, password manager, passkeys.
The basics are all covered: passwords, passkeys, two-factor codes, Wi-Fi passwords, alerts when something leaks, and sharing with a group.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Firefox
Apple Passwords is made by Apple.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
15/17
Other password managers it is graded above
Apple Passwords's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 15 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 12 of 17) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Apple Passwords has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 18 password managers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Apple Passwords’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 12 of 17
- AFree plan and trialAbove 12 of 17
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 17
- AEase of useAbove 10 of 17
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 17
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 18 password managers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Apple Passwords is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Apple Passwords is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.4 is higher than 15 of the 17 other password managers we grade.
What you could not
- A password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
- Passkeys, which rest on security you cannot improvise.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Apple Passwords’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Refunds
After you pay
Getting your money back, getting out, and getting help
What happens once you have paid: whether you can get your money back, how to leave, and how to reach a person when something goes wrong. Each is graded from Apple Passwords’s own terms and help pages.
Leaving Apple Passwords
Not graded · checked Oct 18, 2026
Passwords is listed as free on the App Store and comes with Apple's devices, so there is no plan to pay for and nothing to refund. The only account to close is the Apple Account your passwords sync through, and Apple says you can delete that yourself at any time. It is permanent, and it takes everything else in iCloud with it, so export what you need first.
- Closing your account
There is no paid plan to cancel. The account behind the app is your Apple Account, which Apple says you can permanently delete at any time and for any reason: sign in on Apple's Data and Privacy page and select the request to delete your account. Apple then issues an access code and verifies that you are the account holder before it goes through.
Stated on support.apple.com- What you keep afterwards
Apple's page says a deleted Apple Account cannot be reopened or reactivated, the data stored in iCloud is permanently deleted, and the email address or phone number used with it cannot start a new account for several years. It tells you to back up your iCloud data first, and to sign out of every device, or you may not be able to use them afterwards.
Stated on support.apple.com
In your favour
- Nothing to pay, so there is nothing to cancel and nothing to claim back.
- Apple says you can delete your Apple Account yourself, at any time and for any reason.
- Apple's page spells out what to save before you ask, rather than letting you find out after.
Watch out for
- Deleting the Apple Account is permanent and takes everything in iCloud with it, not just your passwords.
- Apple says it cannot reopen the account or restore the data once it is gone.
- That email address or phone number cannot start a new Apple Account for several years.
- Apple suggests deactivating instead, where that is offered, if you might come back.
Customer support
Good · checked Oct 18, 2026
Passwords has no support desk of its own; you get Apple's, and that is a good deal for a free app. There is a user guide for the app, a huge public forum, a chat that runs in Messages and a phone line in the countries Apple lists. It is not an A because the contact page gives no hours and no reply time, and Apple says live support is not offered in regions it does not list.
Ways to get help
Live chat
The Contact Apple Support page offers a chat with Apple that opens in the Messages app on your device. It covers Apple's products generally and is not a line for Passwords on its own.
Stated on support.apple.comPhone
The same contact page lists phone support country by country. Where a region is not on the list, the page says Apple does not connect you to live support there.
Stated on support.apple.comHelp centre
The Passwords User Guide covers the app topic by topic, including sharing, password history, recommendations, and importing and exporting passwords, with a version for each recent release of macOS. It is open to anyone.
Stated on support.apple.comCommunity or forum
The Apple Support Community is a public forum where anyone can ask a question about an Apple product and other customers answer. Reading it needs no account.
Stated on discussions.apple.com
Not listed on Apple Passwords’s pages: email, contact form or ticket.
- When people answer
Its pages do not say.
- How fast it says it replies
Its pages do not say.
- What depends on your plan
Its pages do not say.
In your favour
- You can reach Apple live, by chat in Messages or by phone, for an app that costs nothing.
- The Passwords User Guide is written for this app and has a version for each recent macOS release.
- The Apple Support Community is public and free to read without signing in.
Watch out for
- The contact page states no hours and no target reply time.
- Apple says live support is not offered in regions missing from its country list.
- There is no queue just for Passwords: you go in through Apple's general support.
What these two grades rest on. Read on 18 October 2026: Apple's support article on deleting an Apple Account, its Contact Apple Support page, the Passwords User Guide for macOS, the Apple Support Community and the app's App Store listing, which shows it as free. The guide's export page returned a 404 for our reader and was not read. Nobody here closed an account or contacted Apple's support. They are graded apart from the five that make the GPA. How we grade refunds and support.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden, Proton Pass and Strongbox
The 5 tools Apple Passwords is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Google Password Manager
Free
Password and passkey manager built into Chrome and Android.
- Only Apple Passwords lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Apple Passwords lists a browser extension.
- Only Google Password Manager lists a web app.
- 2.8GPA
1Password
Free trial · from $3.99/mo
Password manager for individuals, families and businesses.
- Apple Passwords has a free plan. 1Password does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only 1Password lists Linux and Android apps.
- 3.8GPA
Bitwarden
Free plan · from $1.65/mo
Open-source password manager with a free plan and self-hosting.
- Only Bitwarden lists a web app.
- Only Bitwarden lists Linux and Android apps.
- Bitwarden is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Proton Pass
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted password manager with email aliases.
- 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.
- 3.0GPA
Strongbox
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
KeePass-compatible password manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Only Apple Passwords lists a Windows app.
- Apple Passwords is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Strongbox can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
18
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Apple Passwords free?
Yes. Apple Passwords is free to use.
How much does Apple Passwords cost?
Apple Passwords lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Apple Passwords work on?
Apple Passwords is available on macOS, iOS and Windows. It also has a browser extension.
How is Apple Passwords rated?
Apple Passwords's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 803,497 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026.
Is Apple Passwords any good?
We have not tested Apple Passwords, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Sharing chosen passwords and passkeys with a group, usually family, is a feature both reviewers and commenters single out.
Does Apple Passwords have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Apple Passwords is listed for macOS, iOS and Windows.
Does Apple Passwords have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Apple Passwords is listed for macOS, iOS and Windows.
Is Apple Passwords open source?
Apple Passwords is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Is Apple Passwords end-to-end encrypted?
Apple Passwords describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site.
What does Apple Passwords integrate with?
Apple Passwords's listing names Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Firefox.
Who makes Apple Passwords?
Apple Passwords is made by Apple.
What are the alternatives to Apple Passwords?
The closest alternatives to Apple Passwords in our directory are Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden, Proton Pass and Strongbox.
How do I close a Apple Passwords account?
There is no paid plan to cancel. The account behind the app is your Apple Account, which Apple says you can permanently delete at any time and for any reason: sign in on Apple's Data and Privacy page and select the request to delete your account.
What happens to my data if I leave Apple Passwords?
Apple's page says a deleted Apple Account cannot be reopened or reactivated, the data stored in iCloud is permanently deleted, and the email address or phone number used with it cannot start a new account for several years.
How do I contact Apple Passwords support?
Apple Passwords's pages list these ways to get help: live chat, phone, help centre and community or forum.
How does Apple Passwords compare with other password managers?
Apple Passwords's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 15 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 1.
Is Apple Passwords good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Apple Passwords A for value for money. Apple Passwords has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Apple Passwords?
Apple Passwords is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Apple Passwords’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apple's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices change, so check support.apple.com before you buy.
- support.apple.com/guide/passwords/welcome/mac
- apps.apple.com/us/app/passwords/id6473799789
- support.apple.com/guide/passwords/mchl901b1b95/mac
- support.apple.com/guide/passwords/mchl4af65d1a/mac
- support.apple.com/guide/passwords/mchlc00a3602/mac
- support.apple.com/guide/passwords/mchl35b12625/mac
- support.apple.com/guide/passwords/mchlf7ac261e/mac
- support.apple.com/guide/icloud-windows/icw2babf5e03/icloud
- support.apple.com/en-us/102651
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Apple Passwords, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/apple-passwords
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Apple Passwords: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/apple-passwords
Know someone choosing between password managers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/apple-passwords/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded password managers after Apple Passwords, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Password Managers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 18 password managers we grade, compared
- Bitwarden Insider's GuideOpen-source password manager with a free plan and self-hosting3.8 GPA
- RoboForm Insider's GuidePassword manager and form filler with a single-device free plan3.4 GPA
- Google Password Manager Insider's GuidePassword and passkey manager built into Chrome and Android3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Apple Passwords’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Apple Passwords is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices and plans change: check support.apple.com before you buy.