Password Depot Review 2024: Hit or Miss?

Password Depot by AceBIT is a secure password manager and data storage vault for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. It’s free for Android, iOS, and macOS, but the Windows version requires a paid license (although there is a 30-day free trial).

This password manager is primarily designed for enterprise users with a dedicated IT team. It enables centralized management and administration in addition to sharing passwords, credentials, and documents, but it’s also available for individual use.

While the app is functional, it’s more complicated than your everyday password manager. I felt like I needed IT expertise to figure out how to use it and add items to my vault. On Mac, I couldn’t get it to function without consulting the developer’s documentation, which isn’t ideal. 1Password offers a much more beginner-friendly experience.

That said, Password Depot includes all the basic features you’ll need, such as secure password generation, auto-fill across devices, and data syncing (though syncing via Google Drive is difficult to set up, and I couldn’t get it to work properly). But since it’s free on all devices (except Windows), it’s worth a try.

Password Depot Full Review — Functional but Unnecessarily Complicated

While Password Depot is functional, it’s complicated to navigate. The design is far from user-friendly, with an overwhelming number of screens and settings you’ll need to manage just to get it working properly. To make matters worse, I couldn’t get data syncing to function via Google Drive — a feature so common in other password managers that its absence here is hard to overlook. However, you don’t have to use Google Drive to sync passwords if you don’t want to, as Password Depot also provides local storage.

I wouldn’t recommend Password Depot if you’re looking for an intuitive password manager. There are much better options available, like Dashlane, which is far easier to use and works flawlessly across any platform.

Password Depot Plans & Pricing — The Lifetime License Is a Welcome Surprise

Password Depot mainly caters to businesses but also offers plans for individuals and families. For businesses, it provides licensing options for 3 to 15 users through its Enterprise Server service.

For businesses with 5 users, the app costs $584.52 / year. The price for 10 licenses is $1,142.10 / year, and for 15 licenses, it’s $1,671.57 / year. All of these prices include 1 year of software maintenance. Each additional year of maintenance typically costs between $300 and $360. AceBIT also offers customized pricing for larger businesses as well. If your business needs more than 15 licenses, you can contact Password Depot for a quote.

For personal users, Password Depot is completely free on macOS, Android, and iOS. If you’re using Windows, you can purchase a single lifetime license for $107.17. Additionally, a family plan is available for up to 5 people, priced at $160.79 / year. There’s a 30-day free trial of the Windows version, too, that you can download from Password Depot’s site.

Overall, I’d say Password Depot is a good choice for small business owners (although you may prefer some of the options on this list to it). It may also suit individual users who want a free password manager for all their devices — except Windows, which lacks a free plan. While the one-time payment for Windows may seem high, at least there are no recurring fees. Sticky Password is the only competitor that comes to mind that operates on this business model, too.

Password Depot Security Features — All the Essentials, Plus a Few Nice Extras

Password Depot offers top-tier security. It uses 256-bit AES encryption — the same standard trusted by banks and the military — along with many additional security measures. These include a 3-second timeout after incorrect password attempts to protect against brute force attacks, two-factor authentication via a key file, clipboard protection, traceless memory, and built-in keylogging protection. While 256-bit AES encryption is widely used by top password managers, such as 1Password, some of these other features are less common.

You can store your database locally, on a USB drive, or in the cloud (via Dropbox, Google Drive, or AceBIT’s servers, which is Password Depot’s parent company).

Biometric login is available on mobile, though this feature isn’t available on desktop (unlike my favorite, 1Password, which has Windows Hello support). You can also log in using a key file, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring your master password and access to the key file. While this boosts protection, it’s not always convenient because the key file must be securely stored and readily accessible. In contrast, RoboForm and other managers typically offer more convenient forms of 2FA, such as authentication apps or SMS codes, which can be easier for day-to-day use (and just as secure).

The password generator has a 255-character limit and allows you to mix letters, numbers, and special characters. It also requires hovering your mouse across a screen resembling a scene from The Matrix to generate a password. This guarantees true randomness, so any user who wants extra security will appreciate it, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it annoyed some users as well.

Password Depot also offers clipboard protection and various anti-keylogging features. The software detects clipboard viewers and hides changes made to the clipboard, clearing sensitive data after use. On Windows 10 Release 1809 and above, clipboard history is blocked from recording data, adding another layer of security. The program also automatically locks itself when idle or when the computer enters standby, ensuring no unauthorized access during those times.

Aside from passwords, Password Depot can store a wide range of data, such as TeamViewer credentials, PuTTY connections, credit card details, EC cards (specific to Germany), software licenses, and documentation.

It also comes with a highly secure shredding tool that adheres to strict specifications from the U.S. Department of Defense. This feature is handy for deleting temporary files, as simply removing them via Windows Explorer only deletes the filename, leaving the actual file recoverable. Password Depot’s shredding feature permanently destroys files, which is important if you’re concerned about leaving traces of sensitive data.

Password Depot Ease of Use & Setup — Not a User-Friendly Experience

Password Depot is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS and as a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer. When I first opened the app, I found myself staring at it for several minutes, both on my Mac and Android phone.

Eventually, I realized I had to create a database file to add items — an unnecessary step compared to more user-friendly password managers like LastPass. LastPass makes it simple to start adding items without fuss, and these items will automatically sync across all your devices.

That said, downloading and installing the software was straightforward (and I tested it on all 4 platforms it’s available on). Importing passwords from other password managers is easy, too, with Password Depot’s Import Wizard. Apart from using standard CSV files, you can also import your passwords using TXT and XML files.

Once you download the app and add items, you can sort any of the data into categories as well, which are completely customizable. However, I found the whole process pretty complicated. The customization options are buried within the menu instead of immediately editable within the user interface.

On Windows, Password Depot offers 3 “modes” for individual users: Beginner, Expert, and Custom. I found that choosing the beginner mode really doesn’t make using the app any less complex. It just reduces the number of dropdown menus available in the top bar from 8 to 4.

As I mentioned, there’s also a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. I tried it out on Google Chrome, and I have to say that setting it up is an arduous task. Enabling auto-fill requires many highly complex steps most users won’t have patience for. The top password managers allow for seamless auto-fill without any additional steps.

On that note, I was really happy to find out that the mobile app on Android and iOS provides a much better experience than the browser extension in terms of user-friendliness — but keep in mind that auto-fill isn’t as intuitive on mobile devices compared to other password managers. Rather than having the auto-fill option appear in your web browser of choice, you have to select a saved entry in the Password Depot app, tap Open URL, and then tap the Autocomplete button in the integrated browser that appears. Top password managers (like 1Password) have seamless auto-fill functionality that works with most web browsers.

Customer Support — Decent but Not Top-Class

Support is available via a contact form and phone — but you’ll first have to book an appointment to get phone support. Though odd, it’s free, even on the free plan.

There’s also a pretty helpful and fairly extensive knowledge base. Since the app is fairly complicated, I appreciate the vast amount of documentation outlining how to perform any function you might need. The FAQ section offers various categories, but you can also use the search function if you have a specific question. Video tutorials are also available.

To test email support, I gave the contact form a shot. Overall, I found the experience to be good. An agent answered my question within 24 hours, and their answer was thorough.

Is Password Depot an App You Should Consider Using?

Password Depot is better suited for business environments rather than individual users. It offers high-level security with features like 256-bit AES encryption, protection against brute-force attacks and keyloggers, 2FA with key files, a password generator with true randomness, and more. However, for individual users who are not likely to be targets of state-sponsored attacks, this level of security doesn’t make up for its complex interface and setup. Compared to user-friendly alternatives like Dashlane or 1Password, which offer smoother experiences and comprehensive features while still being very secure, Password Depot is far from ideal for personal use.

Overall, if you’re a business looking for an enterprise-grade password management solution with top-notch security and multi-user support, Password Depot is worth considering. However, for individuals or small teams, more user-friendly options are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Password Depot safe?

Yes, Password Depot is highly secure. It uses 256-bit AES encryption, the same level trusted by the military, and it features a 3-second delay after incorrect password attempts to deter brute-force attacks. It also supports 2FA with a key file, offers clipboard protection, traceless memory, and safeguards against keyloggers.

However, while it’s secure, the app’s complex interface makes it difficult to use effectively, especially for beginners. Options like Dashlane provide a more user-friendly experience for individual users.

What is Password Depot used for?

Password Depot is a password manager designed to securely store and organize your passwords and other sensitive information. It allows you to generate strong passwords, auto-fill credentials, and store data across different platforms, including local storage or cloud services like Dropbox.

Despite its functionality, Password Depot’s complex interface and limited features — such as the lack of seamless data syncing — make it challenging for average users, although it could be worth it for business users, who also get free software maintenance.

How safe are password storage apps?

Password storage apps, in general, are very safe, especially when they use strong encryption methods like 256-bit AES, which is the standard for most top-tier apps. This encryption, used by Password Depot, among many others, ensures your passwords are stored securely and remain inaccessible to unauthorized users.