Passwords & storage
Password book vs. password manager: honest pros and cons
Both work. Here's how to choose.
Both work. The right one is the one you'll actually keep up to date.
| Password book | Password manager |
|---|
| Cost | About $10–20, once | Free (Bitwarden, Apple Passwords, Google Password Manager) or about $20–40 a year |
| Easy for family | Very. They just open it. | They need the master password, or an emergency access feature |
| Safe from hackers | Yes, it's offline | Yes, it's encrypted |
| Safe from fire or loss | Only if it's stored well | Yes, it's synced across devices |
| Stays up to date | Only if you write down every change | Updates when you change a password |
A good middle ground: use a password manager day to day, and keep its master password in a sealed envelope in your binder.
Good to knowNever put passwords in your will. After probate, a will usually becomes a public record.
