LastPass Free users must choose between mobile or computers for unlimited device access starting March 16; email support limited to paid plans starting May 17

9to5Google 2021-02-17 Ben Schoon

Context & Ripple Effects

LastPass had made cloud password storage across PCs, tablets, and smartphones free to all users in 2016, establishing cross-device access as a free-tier baseline. Its 2017 pricing overhaul had already differentiated Premium and Family plans; the new limits make device flexibility and direct support clearer paid-plan benefits.

First-order effects

LastPass Free users must select either mobile devices or computers for unlimited access from March 16, disrupting users who rely on both device categories.
LastPass moves email support behind paid plans from May 17, leaving Free users without that direct support channel.

Second-order effects

The device restriction turns a previously free cross-device convenience into an upgrade lever for LastPass, concentrating conversion pressure on Free users with mixed mobile-and-computer workflows.
Paid LastPass tiers gain a more distinct service boundary: they preserve both-device access and email support rather than competing primarily on password-storage features.

Third-order effects

If maintained, the change points to password-management freemium models in which the free tier provides a single-device entry point while synchronization and human support become the durable paid differentiators.
The earlier expansion of free cloud storage across device types illustrates the reversal: the competitive question shifts from whether a service is free to which parts of a multi-device workflow remain usable without payment.

The trend: Password managers are tightening freemium tiers by reserving cross-device continuity and direct support for subscribers.

Discussion

@jason_koebler Jason Koebler on x
I generally believe if something is good you should simply pay for it, but LastPass has changed its business model and pricing so much that I think I am just going to switch to a company that is clear about its model and why it charges what it does https://www.vice.com/...
@urbanstrata Jeff Gordon on x
@dcseifert Not to sound privileged and all that, but to those using free password management software, jeez man, your LIFE is in that vault — throw 'em a few bucks!
@timhaines Tim Haines on x
1Password family accounts are fantastic. Shared family vaults make life much easier. https://twitter.com/...
@bytemaster7 Daniel Larimer on x
A consequence of centralization. A logically decentralized password manager could offer all of these features for free. As it is any user of last pass is one corporate decision away from being canceled. https://www.theverge.com/...
@kottke @kottke on x
Good on LastPass for charging for their excellent service. The flack they're getting for this is ridiculous - if good password management is so important to people, they can pay $3/mo. Why do we keep having this bad-faith conversation? https://blog.lastpass.com/...
@dcseifert Dan Seifert on x
@urbanstrata good luck using that logic to convince people they should use a password manager when they haven't been. removing cost removes a big blocker for a lot of people adopting them
@spazef0rze @spazef0rze on x
The history of “Changes to LastPass Free”: Until 2015: desktop free, mobile paid 2015-2016: desktop OR mobile free https://web.archive.org/... 2016-2021: desktop AND mobile free https://web.archive.org/... LastPass 2021: desktop OR mobile free, again https://blog.lastpass.com/...
@snubs @snubs on x
I've been paying for LastPass premium for years because of the business/family sharing and ability to use a hardware token (like a yubikey) plus easily authenticate my account across my multitudes of devices. But this isn't a good move for my non-tech friends/family https://twitt…
@pt Parker on x
As a paying LastPass customer, I dislike shakedowns and am motivated to look around. Should I just switch to 1P, or is there a good alternative with yubi 2FA, x-platform, & small doc storage? It would be great to cut a monthly sub, so bonus points for free.
@hunterwalk @hunterwalk on x
Celebrate paying a fair price for independent software products or don't complain when the only options are Google/FB/Apple/etc offer it for “free” https://twitter.com/...
@jake_k Jake Kastrenakes on x
this is a big letdown for free lastpass users — but at least I can recommend 1password more unequivocally now https://www.theverge.com/...
@roobots Roo on x
This is a good time to switch to either a paid 1Password account or free Bitwarden account. IMHO they're both far better options than LastPass https://twitter.com/...
@aantonop Andreas on x
Time to dump LastPass? https://twitter.com/...
@xor Parker Higgins on x
This is a frustrating development. Using a password manager correctly is probably the biggest single security improvement a person can make online https://www.vice.com/...
@katelibc @katelibc on x
I can talk endlessly about how awful LastPass is from a design perspective, but this is a great way to lessen the number of potential paid customers in the future and LastPass is better than nothing all things considered. https://twitter.com/...
@mariannedh Marianne Daz Hernndez on x
I like paying (and being able to pay) for things that offer added value. I do not enjoy feeling like a service suddenly points a gun at me and asks me to start shelling out cash for things that used to be free. I don't know what exactly is the difference, but there is one. https:…
@evacide Eva on x
Eva, will you be recommending LastPass as a password manager anytime soon? No I will not. https://twitter.com/...
@tron @tron on x
This is the same tactic Evernote took and it's a failing one. You're not incentivizing users to upgrade, you're cutting the value of your service in half, prompting them to leave you. https://twitter.com/...
@flargh Peter Cohen on x
How dare they limit that free thing I benefit from https://twitter.com/...
@sarahlane Sarah Lane on x
No big deal to be restricted to one device type for a PASSWORD MANAGER https://9to5google.com/... I mean I'll pay I just wanted to grumble about it
@thisisnoahevans Noah Evans on x
And Apple Keychain doesn't support CSV import. This is a perfect storm, I'm now officially stuck 😭😂 https://9to5mac.com/...
@ow @ow on x
Never been a better time to switch to 1password if you haven't already https://9to5google.com/...
@katebevan @katebevan on x
PSA: if you're a free @LastPass user, you'll almost certainly need to upgrade to Premium as they're changing their free tier. I think this is Absolutely Fine, and worth every penny of the $3 a month it costs, btw (hat tip to @paul_clarke for spotting this) https://blog.lastpass.c…
@coolacid Jason on x
Hey @LastPass - These changes to Free Users? Going to really kill the adoption rate of password managers. I'm a family paid plan, and if you go through with this, I'll move my family elsewhere, and recommend the same to everyone I recommended you to. https://blog.lastpass.com/...
@dcseifert Dan Seifert on x
lastpass is severely limiting its free service starting next month, effectively making it useless. details to come, but this sucks for basically anyone that used Lastpass instead of 1Password because it was available for free
@dcseifert Dan Seifert on x
here's @JonPorty's article on the changes. TL;DR: free plans will be able to use a computer OR a mobile device to access password vault, but not both. https://www.theverge.com/...

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