In short
A password manager for small business starts with each vendor's entry plan, and the seat rules differ most: Keeper Business Starter covers 5 to 10 users, NordPass Teams is a 10-user pack, 1Password Teams Starter Pack includes 10 members with room for 10 more, and LastPass Teams goes up to 50 users. Forever Systems can quote all four.
Get a quote for a password manager for a small business
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will come back to you with options and a quote.
What small teams need first
A small business does not need every enterprise feature. It needs the basics to work well from day one:
- Shared logins without spreadsheets: one place for the finance portal, the social media accounts and the supplier logins, shared only with the people who need them
- Simple administration: add a starter, remove a leaver and see who has access, in minutes
- Multi-factor authentication on the vault itself, so a stolen password is not enough
- Strong passwords without effort: a built-in generator, and alerts for weak or exposed passwords
LastPass describes the starting point for many small teams: "Stop storing passwords in shared spreadsheets or docs" (LastPass (opens in a new tab)). The NCSC's advice when choosing a third-party password manager is to "pick a reputable company with a strong security track record" and enable two-step verification (2SV) (NCSC (opens in a new tab)).
The four entry plans
The plans each vendor offers for small teams, with seats and features as each vendor publishes them. No prices: they depend on seats and term, so ask us for a quote.
| Plan | Seats as published | Sharing and admin | What the next plan up adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Password Teams Starter Pack | Includes 10 members; add up to 10 more seats | Share passwords and sensitive data, role-based permissions, security alerts | 1Password Business: identity-provider integrations (Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin, Duo and more), Watchtower alerts, expanded vault sharing and reporting, free Families accounts |
| Keeper Business Starter | 5 to 10 seats (Keeper (opens in a new tab)) | Encrypted vault and admin console, password sharing, shared team folders, policy engine, Security Audit. Keeper lists a Free Family Plan for every user on its business plans (the exact plan confirmed at quote) | Keeper Business (minimum 5 seats): delegated administration; Keeper Enterprise adds SSO and SCIM |
| NordPass Teams | A 10-user pack (NordPass business plans comparison), for teams of up to 10 members (NordPass (opens in a new tab)) | Secure sharing, Google Workspace SSO, Password Policy, Activity Log, Item Transfer | NordPass Business (from 5 users): shared folders, group management, Password Health, Data Breach Scanner, Vanta integration |
| LastPass Teams | Up to 50 users (LastPass (opens in a new tab)) | Admin console, shared folders, essential security policies | LastPass Business (no user limit): 100+ policies, directory integrations, federated login, Families for employees |
Reading the table for a few common sizes:
- Under 5 people: Keeper Business Starter starts at 5 seats, the 10-user packs (1Password Teams Starter Pack, NordPass Teams) leave room to grow, and LastPass Teams covers up to 50
- 10 to 20 people: past Keeper Business Starter and NordPass Teams; inside 1Password Teams Starter Pack with its extra seats, and LastPass Teams
- 21 to 50 people: LastPass Teams still applies; elsewhere you are on per-user plans (Keeper Business, 1Password Business, NordPass Business)
Not sure which plan fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right plan for your organisation, with a quote.
When to move up a plan
Small businesses usually outgrow the entry plan for one of three reasons:
| You need | Where it starts |
|---|---|
| Sign-in with Microsoft Entra ID or Okta | 1Password Business, Keeper Enterprise, NordPass Enterprise, LastPass Business (NordPass Teams already includes Google Workspace SSO) |
| Personal accounts for staff | 1Password Business (1Password (opens in a new tab)), NordPass Business ("Free Premium plan for all users"), LastPass Business (LastPass (opens in a new tab)); Keeper lists a Free Family Plan on its business plans (confirmed at quote) |
| Shared folders by group, health reports and breach monitoring | NordPass Business; 1Password Business (Watchtower); Keeper BreachWatch add-on; LastPass Business |
| More than the entry plan's seats | Above 10 on Keeper Business Starter and NordPass Teams, above 20 on 1Password Teams Starter Pack, above 50 on LastPass Teams |
Moving up is usually straightforward, but check the direction: NordPass lets you upgrade from Teams to Business at any time but not downgrade from Business to Teams. If you expect to grow past the entry plan within a year, it can be simpler to start on the plan above. The enterprise password manager guide covers the top tiers.
Free trials
Trying before you buy is the easiest way to find out which product your team finds easiest. As each vendor describes its business trials:
- 1Password: Teams Starter Pack and Business, "Try FREE for 14 days. No credit card required"
- NordPass: a 14-day free Business trial with no credit card, with trials for Teams and Business
- LastPass: a 14-day trial of Business with all features and no seat limit, no credit card, and a Business Max trial for new customers (LastPass (opens in a new tab))
- Keeper: free trials of Keeper Business and Keeper Enterprise (Keeper (opens in a new tab))
The business password manager free trial guide compares the trials in more detail. Contact us to arrange a trial of the plan that fits your team.
Is a password manager for a small business the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
How we help small businesses
A small business rarely has time to compare four products, so we can do that part for you. We can:
- Recommend the plan that fits your team size, sharing and identity platform, comparing all four vendors
- Set up the admin console, policies and shared folders, and connect Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 sign-in where the plan supports it
- Import passwords from browsers and shared spreadsheets, and show staff how to use the vault and generator
- Quote the licences, which can be billed monthly, with the plan and terms confirmed at quote
Contact us for free advice or a quote. For the full set of questions, read how to choose a business password manager.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 1Password Teams Starter Pack and 1Password Business?
1Password says: "Teams Starter Pack helps secure a small team for a flat monthly price and includes 10 members ... 1Password Business is priced per user and adds identity-provider integrations, expanded role-based vault sharing and permissions, Watchtower alerts, and broader business administration and reporting capabilities." 1Password Business also includes a free Families membership for each user.
Is a team password manager different from a business password manager?
Mostly in the plan name. Vendors use "Teams" for their small-business entry plans (1Password Teams Starter Pack, NordPass Teams, LastPass Teams) and "Business" for the per-user plan above. Both give you an admin console and sharing; the Business plans add more policies, reporting and, at most vendors, directory integration.
Can we upgrade later?
Yes. All four let you move up as you grow. NordPass notes that you can upgrade from Teams to Business at any time, but cannot downgrade from Business to Teams, so choose the starting plan with your next year's headcount in mind. We can quote both options so you can compare.
Do we need single sign-on as a small business?
Not always. For a team of 10, a master password plus multi-factor authentication on each vault works well. If you already run Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, single sign-on saves staff a password and ties leavers' access to their work account. NordPass Teams includes Google Workspace SSO; for Entra ID, look at 1Password Business, LastPass Business, Keeper Enterprise or NordPass Enterprise.
How many users is LastPass Teams for?
LastPass Teams covers up to 50 users, with an admin console, shared folders and essential security policies (LastPass (opens in a new tab)). LastPass Business and Business Max have no user limit and add more policies, directory integrations and Families accounts for employees.
Still have a question about a password manager for a small business?
Ask us and a member of our team will get back to you.
More password manager guides
1Password1Password's business plans, Secret Key security model and wider Unified Access range, and how we can quote and set up 1Password.NordPassNordPass's business plans from Nord Security, what each adds, and how we can quote and set up NordPass.