Password Manager Review: Avira Password Manager

Surfing without a password manager? It's like having no covenant for your keys, no list for your purchases, no directory for your contacts. In short: More work, more effort, more stress. It's good that the range of password managers is huge and that you have a free choice of free and premium products. Some providers you may already know from other software - Avira for example.

Avira Password Manager is a password manager from the well-known German antivirus developer, which allows you to generate, store and manage your logins. The software is divided into the components web dashboard, browser extensions and mobile apps for Android and iOS. You can use all these components completely free of charge and synchronize them with each other. Our test reveals what limitations there are, what the Pro version has to offer and how Avira Password Manager compares with the best programs on the market.

Because the password manager is only one of many programs in the portfolio of the German developer of security software, you first need a parent Avira account. Once you are logged in, you can then start setting up the password manager. As always, you must first create a master password for this.

Avira does not provide you with strict templates, but an assessment of the security of the selected password. As always, you should be absolutely sure that you do not forget this password. For your own security, Avira does not save it and there is no recovery option.

Once you have set your master password, you will be taken to the first component of the Avira user interface, the web dashboard. From here you can carry out the first steps of the setup. For example, Avira will ask you to install the corresponding browser extension. This is available for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. There is no desktop application: on Windows and Mac everything takes place in the browser.

If you are not managing your passwords for the first time, you can import backups of other programs into the Avira program in the settings. Importing external data always causes a few problems, and our test with a Dashlane .csv unfortunately generated entries that were hardly usable.

The components of the Avira Password Manager are installed quickly and easily. The only disappointment was the import function, which achieved better results with other programs and is not as helpful as it could be during initial setup.

Score: 4.0 / 5

The user interface of the password manager is divided into two components on the desktop: Web Dashboard and Browser Extensions. The division makes sense, but some users may want a dedicated desktop app so they don't have to rely on additional tabs when surfing.

Web dashboard

In the browser dashboard you manage all your logins and passwords. It is divided into two columns: On the left you can switch between the different functions in the menu, in the middle you edit the records. In the "Passwords" area you will find all your logins, which you can sort by tags you created yourself. You can add new records here directly by clicking on the plus sign.

When you set the password, you will be shown how secure it is - with the time it would take hackers to crack it. You can also assign tags to entries and write notes about them. Manual management is intuitive and straightforward, thanks in part to the somewhat limited features.

At Avira you can only save passwords and secure notes, other categories for identities or payment methods do not exist. All this information must therefore be stored in the "Notes", which will soon overload them. At least you can sort the notes with tags and colors, but a bit more coverage would be desirable in the categories.

Browser extension

You do not have to save new logins manually: If you have installed the browser extension, fields for logins and passwords are automatically recognized and saved if necessary. For new registrations you can also call up the password generator by clicking on the Avira icon and create a secure password directly in the browser.

Otherwise, the browser extension works like a mini version of your web dashboard. You can see your logins and notes, copy usernames and passwords and make some settings. For editing records, however, you will be redirected to the dashboard.

The Avira Password Manager is user-friendly and intuitive because it focuses on the essentials.

Score: 4.7 / 5

Avira focuses on simplicity, but the program buys this with a lack of functions. But let's first get to what the password manager offers.

Password Generator

No password manager can do without a generator for secure passwords, and of course Avira also allows you to create unbreakable combinations automatically. Unfortunately, the generator is not available as a standalone version, and you can only open it in the Dashboard when creating a new record, or in the browser fields. In addition, your options when creating passwords are limited compared to other password managers: you can determine the length and choose whether to use numbers or special characters, but you have no choice regarding upper and lower case or readability.

Security test

Finally, you can reach the main payment barrier of Avira in the Security section: because information about your security status is only available in the Pro version. Avira treats the indispensable security feature as an additional option, while other programs such as LastPass make these important functions accessible to regular users.

Other functions, on the other hand, are also missing from Avira for Pro users. Secure password sharing, for example, which is now standard equipment for many password managers, is unfortunately not available. Neither sharing, nor the one-time sending of data records is possible. Avira also lacks bonus features such as emergency access, a travel mode or the possibility of a digital will.

The password manager of the security experts does without all the frills in order to concentrate on a user experience without distractions. However, some "distractions", such as data record categories or sharing options, have become standards, the omission of which is negatively noticeable. It is also a pity that the security features in particular have been banned behind the payment barrier, whereas other password managers make those available to non-paying customers. Avira does not set annoying limits for synchronization.

Score: 3.7 / 5

Like most password managers, Avira uses the Zero Knowledge Principle: only you know your passwords, to which Avira also has no access. Your data is encrypted using the AES 256-bit standard, which is considered extremely secure. Your master password is stored encrypted on the Avira servers and should therefore be out of danger.

The optional 2-factor authentication, which can also be activated by users of the free version, gives an even more secure feeling. Authentication works with Avira with the smartphone: you enter your phone number and a code is sent to you during login to confirm your identity.

Since there are neither recovery methods nor emergency access, there are no security gaps. With the Password Manager, Avira lives up to its reputation as a security specialist.

Score: 5.0 / 5

Avira provides Andoid and iOS devices with its free Password Manager app. The focus is also on simplicity on the smartphone: because there are only two categories, you have an immediate overview of all your logins and notes. Automatic synchronization ensures that all your data is transferred from the desktop to your mobile apps.

In the settings you must first give the program the appropriate rights to open in the browser and other applications. Unfortunately, the autofill function on the smartphone did not work as reliably as on the desktop. Occasionally we had to copy login data manually because the Avira window did not pop up or the website did not connect to already saved entries and wanted to create a new entry instead. For the most part, however, the app cut a fine figure.

Score: 4.3 / 5

Unfortunately Avira does not provide a support chat. You can only get personal help via the contact form. This is also available in local languages, although the English "Fast Lane" support promises a faster response. In the test, an answer to our questions came after about 28 hours.

There doesn't seem to be a support center and FAQs only about the password manager, but in the help section you can search for existing topics and previously asked questions. However, a clearly arranged support area with instructions would be desirable.

Score: 4.0 / 5

For private users, the Pro version of the Avira Password Manager is available either as a monthly or annual license, whereby you can save a little on the latter. The Pro version gives you full access to the security features of the program. If you can do without it, you can also use the free version of the program. There are no annoying record limits here, and synchronization between the desktop version and the mobile apps is also available.

There is no business plan for the Avira Password Manager yet.

You can see the current prices in the following table:

Avira establishes itself with a solid software entry in the highly competitive password manager market. The applications convince with intuitive handling, the most important functions are available and without limits for records or cross-platform synchronization the free version also cuts a fine figure. Autofill worked well in the desktop and mobile versions in the test, and the browser extension was also reliable when automatically saving.

But if you want more than just the basic functions, you could quickly reach the limits of what is possible. Many features like password sharing and record categories are completely missing, and the security center is reserved for users of the Pro version. However, those who can do without the missing functions and who value simplicity above all could be very happy with the Avira Password Manager in its current form.

The browser extension of Avira Password Manager was tested on Google Chrome, the mobile application on an Android device (version 8.1.0).