LastPass has a free tier, and that has helped make it one of the more popular password managers around. But that free tier is now getting some major limitations.
Starting March 16, LastPass users on the free plan will no longer be able to use the password manager on on their phone and laptop. They will have to choose one type of device.
The LastPass free plan now has two options:
- Desktop only: If you choose the desktop option, you can only access your data from any Mac, Windows, or Linux PC, which includes desktop PCs or laptops.
- Mobile only: If you choose mobile, you can only access your data from an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone/device (like a Samsung Galaxy phone).
What you won’t be able to do is use LastPass for free on your computer and phone. That’s not going to work for a lot of people, which means it’s time to either upgrade to a paid plan ($36 per year for a single user, $48 per year for families) or move your data elsewhere.
There are several other password services we think are better than LastPass, and one of them is also free. If you’d like to switch, have a look at our updated Guide to the Best Password Managers. Once you’ve decided where you want to take your passwords, you will need to export your data out of LastPass and import it into the new service.
How to Export Your LastPass Data
LastPass has two export options: a CSV file or an encrypted file. If you’re switching to any of the services in our guide, CSV is the option to use.
It’s important to note that CSV is a plain text file, which means this file we’re about to export will have all your password data unencrypted, in plain text. Be very careful with this export file. I suggest performing the export on your desktop or laptop, using the browser extension, but only on a network you trust. Once you’ve imported that data into the new password manager, be sure to delete the plain text file.
The easiest way to get your data out is the LastPass web browser extension, which you can get from the LastPass site. Once you have the browser extension installed, click the toolbar button in your browser to open the LastPass menu. Click on Account Options, then Advanced, then Export. You should then see an option labeled “LastPass CSV File.” Click that link and your web browser will save the resulting file on your hard drive.
If you’re on a phone or tablet (or already chose the Mobile plan), you’ll have to use lastpass.com. Beware. Many browsers won’t automatically download the generated file. To use the site, log in to your account and expand the sidebar menu on the left and click the Advanced Options menu item. Then click the Export option, enter your master password, and click Submit. This will then open a CSV file in your browser. Some browsers will automatically download this file. If yours does not, just select all and copy it. Then open Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (MacOS) and paste in the CSV data. Select File > Save As in Notepad or TextEdit and enter a name with the .csv extension at the end. Make sure to save it as plain text (not rich text).
