RoboForm, a password manager with roots dating back to 1999, initially focused on form autofill. In today’s digital landscape, it prioritizes secure login management with convenient cross-device access. This review explores RoboForm’s value proposition, comparing its affordable pricing and features with competitors. We’ll delve into setup, user experience, customer support, and security to help you determine if it’s the right password manager for your needs.
Pricing and Plans
RoboForm offers free and paid plans for individuals and families.
RoboForm offers a tiered pricing structure, catering to individual users and families. The free version provides core functionality, including password storage and autofill, but restricts usage to a single device and doesn’t support shared folders. This limits cross-platform syncing and sharing capabilities, making it less comprehensive than some free alternatives. However, it’s a useful way to explore RoboForm before committing to a subscription.
RoboForm Premium, priced at $30 annually, removes the device limitation, allowing access to logins and secure notes across Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, and Android devices. It also unlocks shared folders and priority support. A free 30-day trial is available for this plan. The Family plan, at $48 per year, provides five Premium accounts, ideal for sharing with family and close friends.
All subscribers benefit from web access, enabling RoboForm usage on any browser without extension installation. This is particularly convenient on shared computers or when accessing your vault from another device. Remember to log out securely after each session.
Business subscriptions start at $40 per user per year, offering advanced features like provisioning, reporting, and permission management. Volume discounts are available for larger teams, and further savings can be realized with three- or five-year subscriptions. MaagX readers can take advantage of a 30% discount on RoboForm Premium and Family plans, significantly reducing the annual cost.
User-Friendly Design and Setup
RoboForm Interface
RoboForm boasts a straightforward setup process. Upon installation completion, the browser extension page automatically opens, streamlining the initial login or signup process. Creating a new account involves setting a strong master password. Documenting this password securely offline is crucial for safeguarding your login data against potential breaches.
RoboForm facilitates master password recovery through mobile devices with biometric authentication, mitigating the risk of lockout from forgotten passwords. Following account creation, a QR code simplifies mobile app download and setup. The app promptly offers biometric login options for enhanced security and convenience.
The platform guides users through login creation or import from various sources, including popular web browsers, competing password managers, and CSV files. This seamless import process allows quick migration of existing login data.
RoboForm Browser Extension
The browser extension and mobile apps showcase a modern and intuitive design, while the Windows desktop application appears dated. However, the extension provides access to all desktop app functionalities, rendering the latter less essential.
Feature Overview
RoboForm Autofill
RoboForm’s core strength lies in its reliable and efficient autofill capabilities across various devices. Logging into websites is effortless, whether through the extension’s login list, bookmarks, or manual entry. The mobile app seamlessly syncs logins and secure notes, ensuring consistent autofill functionality.
Login sharing is available, although it lacks the flexibility and robustness of solutions like 1Password’s shared vaults and expiration dates. RoboForm requires recipients to have a RoboForm account, even a free one, to access shared logins.
RoboForm Shared Folders
The Family plan enhances sharing through shared folders with granular permission settings. Users can grant view-only access or allow recipients to modify and manage shared records. Shared records update dynamically, while sent logins remain static copies.
Customer Support Experience
RoboForm Live Chat
RoboForm offers live chat and phone callback support during weekday business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET). While promotional materials mention “priority 24/7 support,” this claim seems misleading given the limited availability of live assistance. Submitting a support ticket outside business hours yielded a response within eight hours, faster than average but not indicative of 24/7 priority support. Live chat responses during business hours were prompt and informative.
Security and Privacy
RoboForm adheres to a strict privacy policy, refraining from selling or sharing user data with third-party advertisers. Occasional promotional offers from its parent company, Siber, are opt-out. RoboForm boasts a clean security record, having never experienced a data breach. It successfully completed a third-party security audit in 2023. However, there’s no mention of recurring audits or SOC 2 certification, a standard practice among leading password managers. Data is protected with end-to-end AES-256 encryption, securing user information even in the event of a server breach.
Final Verdict
RoboForm excels in cross-device autofill and family plan sharing. However, it lacks certain features found in competing password managers, such as flexible login sharing without recipient accounts and secure file storage.
Its affordability and user-friendly design make it a suitable entry-level password manager, particularly for those new to this type of software. For those seeking more comprehensive features and enhanced security practices, exploring alternatives like Bitwarden or other top-rated password managers might be beneficial.
