When it comes to creating strong, secure passwords, the best course of action is to use a password generator. These services are often far better than humans at randomizing characters into long and hard-to-crack credentials. They shoulder the job for us, reducing the risk of weak combinations being chosen that compromise our security.
Not every password generator is the same. Out of the many tools available, many offer more security features such as password recommendations, management, multi-factor authentication, data breach alerts, and secure sharing.
What is the best password generator right now?
At ZDNET, I’ve tested a long list of password generators to find the top tools for creating complex passwords to secure your digital accounts. The best password generator is the one you’ll actually use. If you have a password manager, using the built-in generator is the simplest and most seamless way to create and save strong passwords.
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NordPass, my favorite solution, offers a robust password generator tool accessible to both its password manager subscribers and anyone with a web browser. Highly recommended password management companies such as Bitwarden and 1Password also offer these features. These are the best password generators in 2025.
The best password generators of 2025
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NordPass is a top-rated secure password manager, and its password generator is available to users on free and paid plans as well as anyone with access to a web browser.
Why we like it: You can adjust settings to include or omit upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and ambiguous characters such as uppercase O and the numeral 0.
The generator defaults to a password length of 20 characters but allows as few as eight and as many as 64. There’s also a strength indicator that lets you know whether your password is weak, moderate, or strong.
You can choose to add uppercase, lowercase, digits, and symbols to your password. You can also opt to avoid characters considered “ambiguous.”
Review: NordPass
The web version of the NordPass generator allows you to copy the password directly and paste it wherever you need it. If you’re using the generator built into the NordPass app or extension, you can create and autofill a password to meet site requirements and save your password to a new or existing record.
Who it’s for: This password generator is free and couldn’t be any easier to use, making it my top choice.
Who should look elsewhere: If you want to generate passphrases, you will need to use the NordPass app. This allows the creation of three to 10 words with multiple punctuation options for word separation, so the web version won’t be right for you.
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NordPass features: Password strength indicator | Password length customization | Quick and easy | Beginner-friendly | Passphrase generation | NordPass app offers additional security features
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Bitwarden has one of the best free password managers, which comes with a built-in password generator.
Why we like it: Aside from its excellent password manager, you can use the web-based generator to create strong passwords and passphrases, even if you aren’t a Bitwarden subscriber. The tool will generate passwords of five to 128 characters with the default being 14. Passphrases range from three to 20 words with the default being five.
Review: Bitwarden
You can opt to have upper- and lowercase letters, numerals, and/or special characters. If you’re using the generator within the Bitwarden app, you can also exclude ambiguous characters and select the minimum number of numerals and special characters to include.
Passphrases can be generated with capital letters and numbers. The web generator has a strength indicator with an estimated time to crack. Bitwarden also has a separate strength-testing tool evaluated against zxcvbn that allows you to paste generated or existing passwords.
Who it’s for: I like this option as an alternative if you don’t want to pay for a password manager. However, Bitwarden is ZDNET’s pick for the most affordable business password manager.
Who should look elsewhere: If you’re interested in trying out a full password security and management solution, head over to our password manager guide. If not, there’s few that won’t find Bitwarden or NordPass useful as an online password generator.
Bitwarden features: Password and passphrase generator | Password strength indicator | Case, character, and number customization
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1Password is another highly recommended password manager with a built-in password generation function and a standalone web-based password generator. 1Password is also ZDNET’s pick for the best password manager for Mac overall.
Why we like it: You can create passwords with eight to 100 characters, passphrases with three to 15 words, and PIN codes of three to 12 digits.
1Password doesn’t have as many granular settings for which characters to include or exclude. If you’re using the in-app generator — with a paid password manager subscription — you can select “smart passwords” to match site requirements. From there, you can also save and update vault records.
Review: 1Password
There is also an option to quickly generate a password in the browser extension.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to generate strong PINs and passwords.
Who should look elsewhere: Unlike some password managers, 1Password doesn’t make it easy to find the built-in password generator. As there’s no tab or button to open this tool in the mobile or desktop apps, you’ll have to go through manually adding a record or auto-filling a new or existing login. This might annoy some app users who may prefer the online service or another password generator entirely.
1Password features: Password, passphrase, and PIN generator | Generates smart passwords, memorable phrases to match site requirements | Online and app password generator
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The LastPass web-based password generator will create secure passwords up to 50 characters, which you can copy and paste where needed.
Why we like it: Users of the LastPass password manager can create, fill, and save passwords up to 100 characters through their vault, browser extension, or form fields. In addition to toggle options for upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, LastPass has defaults for “easy to say” passwords and “easy to read passwords. This means passwords without numbers and special characters and passwords without ambiguous characters, respectively.
The online generator defaults to 12 characters, including any character combination. Note that LastPass’ own FAQ says strong passwords should have at least 15 characters.
Who it’s for: Like other password managers, LastPass will suggest strong passwords in form fields, and the in-app generator will indicate password strength based on the zxcvbn library. I like that this option can generate passwords with up to 50 characters, making it a top choice for extremely complex passwords.
Who should look elsewhere: Some users may wish to stay away from LastPass, considering old security issues. If so, check out another of my recommendations.
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LastPass features: Password strength indicator | Business and personal accounts | Case, number, and symbol customization | Lengths of up to 50 characters | Easy-to-say or easy-to-read password generation
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Random Password Generator is one of several password generator websites not associated with a password manager or other security-focused app, so you can access it in any browser.
Why we like it: The generator will create up to 100 passwords at once, ranging from four to 64 characters. In addition, the service has more criteria settings than most such as the option to exclude sequential or repeated characters.
As a web-based tool, Random Password Generator won’t automatically save to your password manager, but it’s a simple and quick option for creating strong, secure passwords on your local device.
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Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a simple password generator they can favorite in their browser, use quickly, and then get on with their day.
Who should look elsewhere: If you want more than a simple password generator, check out NordPass, Bitwarden, or 1Password.
Random Password Generator features: Can generate multiple passwords at once | Case, number, and symbol customization | Online | Free to use
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NordPass is my top pick for password generation, thanks to its criteria options and integration with a highly recommended password manager. But the other options on our list aren’t far behind. Here’s how the best password generators compare:
Password generatorCriteria settingsPassphrase generatorPassword manager integrationNordPass✓✓✓Bitwarden✓✓✓1Password✓✓✓LastPass✓x✓Random Password Generator✓xx
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Choose this password generator…
If you want…
NordPass
The best password generator overall. NordPass provides a user-friendly password and passphrase generator with multiple criteria settings, including a measure of password strength.
Bitwarden
A robust password generator that can be used within or separately from a highly secure password manager. We also really like the Bitwarden password manager, too.
1Password
A password generator that can also create random passphrases and PIN codes. This option also comes with a memorable phrase generator which is rather interesting.
LastPass
A basic password generator with easy-to-understand presets. On the other hand, LastPass also provides a generator with a high 50-character limit.
Random Password Generator
A web-based app with the option to generate multiple passwords at once. It’s simple, quick, and easy to use, but it isn’t associated with any password management system.
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Gone are the days of “abc123” being a suitable password to protect your accounts from bad actors. Strong passwords require a random string of numbers, letters, and characters, making them hard to remember. Password generators offer users a tool for creating strong passwords, but there are a few factors to consider before using one:
- Seamless use: An easy-to-use password generator will be a built-in tool that seamlessly suggests, fills in, and saves passwords that meet the criteria of the websites and services you use.
- Security: Before using a password generator, make sure it doesn’t save, transmit, or store your generated passwords.
- Customization: A decent password generator will provide multiple ways to customize your password, offering settings to change letter cases, numbers, and symbols.
- Alerts: Some software solutions with built-in password generators, such as password managers, may also alert you to data breaches or password leaks on the dark web. If this is important to you, it might be better for you to sign up for a comprehensive password management solution rather than use a simple generator.
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To find the best password generators for creating secure passwords, we tested tools available within password management apps and via web browsers for anyone to access. We also compared available settings and ease of use across platforms.
When selecting the best password generators of 2025, we also considered:
- Price: Many password generators are free or offer free versions of more advanced software. We included a range of options suitable for all budgets.
- Customer reviews: While we researched the best password generators, we took into account customer experiences and feedback.
- Company reputation: We don’t showcase any organization with a poor security focus or shady past. After all, the products they provide may have a significant impact on your security.
- Use cases: Password generators can be of real benefit, but they might not be all you want. We’ve included options that provide more security features and functions than just a password generator.
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- As attacks against accounts escalate, Google is encouraging its users to change their passwords to passkeys for heightened security.
- Microsoft has introduced secure password deployment in Microsoft Edge for Business.
- ZDNET has published a guide on how to clean up outdated, saved passwords in the cloud.
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Password generators from reputable companies such as secure password management software developers, are safe to use, thanks to strong encryption and algorithms for creating complex combinations. These tools also don’t store your generated passwords on their servers. However, you shouldn’t use any password generator you find without vetting it first.
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All the password generators on our list are free to use on the web. Those connected to password management software are also available to subscribers, within those services’ apps and extensions. Generating passwords from your password manager makes it easier to save credentials directly to your vault.
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If you’re not going to use a password generator to create strong, complex passwords for you, then at least avoid common words and phrases. Passwords like “1233456” or “qwerty”, or any personal information, including your surname and date of birth, are easy to guess.
Instead, you should use a random combination of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Sorry, but passwords like “p1ssword” or “admin1” don’t cut it. Passwords should also be at least 12 characters in length. Examples could be “Pz*q#F2584po,” “t6b>5>;Z<1T_,” and “3n*8A|4W£|is.”
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When you have multiple online accounts for everything from your banking to social media, it can be nearly impossible to keep track of what passwords you use for them. There’s also the risk of using the same password for different services, in which if one company experiences a data breach, all of your accounts could be at risk.
While no software is completely secure, we recommend considering a password manager or vault. They can help you generate complex passwords, store them securely, and may also provide additional security features.
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Are there alternative password generators worth considering?
Though the options above offer plenty of avenues to create random and secure passwords, you may be interested in alternatives. Here are a couple of our other recommendations.
- In ZDNET’s June update, we performed significant editorial and layout changes.
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