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1U Password Manager

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
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Powerful biometric authentication is the star feature in 1U Password Manager. The password manager itself is pretty basic, however, and it could use some user-interface work. - Security
3.5 Good

The Bottom Line

Powerful biometric authentication is the star feature in 1U Password Manager. The password manager itself is pretty basic, however, and it could use some user-interface work.

Pros & Cons

    • Outstanding authentication through facial biometrics, including liveness detection.
    • Sync among one Android/iOS device and multiple desktops.
    • Predefined templates for popular sites.
    • Secure password sharing.
    • Free!
    • No import from competing products.
    • Can't capture two sets of credentials for one site.
    • Syncing not entirely automatic.
    • Some important features are mobile-only.
    • Weak password generator.
    • No password-strength rating.

1U Password Manager Specs

Import From Browsers
Secure Password Sharing
Two-Factor Authentication
All Specs

These days we're just as likely to visit a secure site using a mobile device as a Mac or PC, so many modern password management utilities include the ability to sync with mobile devices. The free 1U Password Manager goes a step further; it manages passwords on your desktop, but actively requires that you use a mobile device for biometric authentication. I'm very impressed with the authentication technology, but not quite as impressed with the password manager itself.

There's no master password with 1U. It relies entirely on biometrics, specifically face recognition. With everyone constantly taking selfies, you won't look out of place when you authenticate by centering your face in 1U's field. There's only one you, and only your face can unlock your saved sites, according to the company.

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Final Thoughts

Powerful biometric authentication is the star feature in 1U Password Manager. The password manager itself is pretty basic, however, and it could use some user-interface work. - Security

1U Password Manager

3.5 Good

Powerful biometric authentication is the star feature in 1U Password Manager. The password manager itself is pretty basic, however, and it could use some user-interface work.

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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