Proton Pass vs Passpack: Best Password Manager for Small Teams (2026)

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Create Digital Tools may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we think are a good fit for small businesses.

The shared spreadsheet called “logins” is not a security strategy. Neither is the sticky note on the office monitor. If your team shares more than a handful of accounts, it is time for a real password manager.

Choosing between Proton Pass vs Passpack comes down to one question: do you want a privacy-first password manager that also covers your whole digital life, or a focused team password tool built around sharing and admin control? Both are zero-knowledge, both are priced for small budgets, and both work for teams of three to twenty people.

In this guide we compare pricing, team features, sharing, admin controls, SSO, security audits, platforms and 2FA, using the official pricing pages and help docs as our sources. We also walk through a step-by-step rollout plan you can use with either tool.

What’s in this guide

• Proton Pass vs Passpack at a glance
• Proton Pass vs Passpack comparison table
• Pricing as of October 2026
• Team features and sharing
• Admin controls and SSO
• Security, open source and audits
• Platforms, 2FA and passkeys
• How to roll out a password manager to a small team
• Document your access processes (without storing passwords)
• Which one should you choose?
• Frequently asked questions

Proton Pass vs Passpack at a glance

Proton Pass is part of the Proton ecosystem, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, Proton Drive and Proton VPN. Pass started as a privacy-focused personal password manager and now has dedicated business plans with an admin panel, policies, activity logs, SSO and SCIM.

Passpack is a long-running team password manager that describes itself as “the business password manager trusted by organizations worldwide.” It is built around a web app, a separate encryption key called the Packing Key, and a model where records are shared with Teams. In 2026 Passpack added a Chrome browser extension (June) and an iPhone app (August), according to its release notes.

Proton Pass vs Passpack comparison table

Here is the side-by-side view. Prices are in US dollars and come from each vendor’s official pricing page as of October 2026. Both vendors can change prices or promotions at any time, so confirm before you buy.

Feature	Proton Pass (Business)	Passpack
Pricing	Pass Essentials $1.99/user/month; Pass Professional $4.49/user/month (both billed yearly, minimum 3 users)	Teams $1.66/user/month (paid annually, up to 20 people); Business $4.50/user/month (paid annually, monthly plan available); Enterprise by quote
Free plan / trial	Free personal plan (Proton Free); 14-day free trial on business plans; 30-day money-back guarantee	No free plan listed; 28-day free trial, no credit card required
Team features	Shared vaults, admin panel, user management, CSV bulk user import, group sharing (Professional)	Unlimited Teams of users, ownership transfer, password history, labels, private and shared notes
Sharing	Vault, item and secure link sharing; sharing rules set by admin policy	Encrypted sharing with Teams and individuals; bidirectional one-time share
Admin controls	2FA enforcement, password generator rules, sharing and export policies, vault creation rights, usage logs (policies and logs on Professional)	Record visibility (all plans); session timeout, idle lock, domain restrictions, multi-admin, account reset and advanced reporting (Business)
SSO	SSO and SCIM on Pass Professional	Google and Microsoft SSO plus directory integration on Business
Open source / audits	Open-source apps on GitHub; Cure53 audit published in 2023	Not open source; SOC 2 Type II certified; regular third-party penetration testing; audit report under NDA
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web app, CLI, extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Brave	Web app (any modern browser), Chrome extension, iPhone app
2FA / passkeys	Built-in 2FA authenticator; passkeys supported on all devices; org-wide 2FA enforcement	MFA with authenticator apps and YubiKey; 10 emergency codes; TOTP in records; passkey storage not listed
Ideal for	Privacy-minded teams that want native apps, passkeys and aliases	Budget-conscious teams that mostly share logins through a browser

Pricing as of October 2026

Pricing as of October 2026, taken from the official pricing pages. All figures are in US dollars. Proton also offers CHF and EUR pricing, and taxes may apply on top.

Proton Pass pricing

Proton’s business page lists two Pass-only plans for teams, both billed yearly with a minimum of three users:

• Pass Essentials: $1.99 per user per month, billed at $23.88 per user per year. It includes unlimited logins, notes and credit cards, vault, item and link sharing, a built-in 2FA authenticator, dark web monitoring, password health checks, passkey support and unlimited hide-my-email aliases.
• Pass Professional: $4.49 per user per month, billed at $53.88 per user per year. It adds SSO and SCIM, detailed activity logs, enterprise policies, advanced account protection, file attachments, SIEM integration, the CLI, group sharing and an SSH agent.
• Workspace Standard: $12.99 per user per month, billed at $155.88 per year. It bundles Pass with Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, VPN and Meet.

The business page marks these yearly prices as discounted, and it offers a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. For solo founders, the personal pricing page also lists a free Proton plan, Pass Plus at $2.99 per month (billed $35.88 per year) and Pass Family at $4.99 per month (billed $59.88 per year for up to six users). Check the current price on the official pricing page before you commit, because promotional rates change.

Passpack pricing

Passpack’s plans page lists three tiers:

• Teams: $1.66 per user per month, paid annually, for teams of up to 20 people.
• Business: $4.50 per user per month, paid annually, with a monthly plan also available. It includes everything in Teams plus SSO, multi-admin, API access, advanced reporting and organization-level controls.
• Enterprise: custom quote, adding a dedicated account manager, onboarding assistance and custom integrations.

Every plan starts with a 28-day free trial with no credit card required. We could not find a free-forever plan on Passpack’s site. One small note: Passpack’s homepage labels the Teams price “per user/year,” while the dedicated plans page says “per user/monthly, paid annually,” so confirm the exact billing on the Passpack plans page before you budget.

What a five-person team pays

Using the listed per-user rates, a five-person team on the entry tiers pays about $119.40 a year on Proton Pass Essentials ($23.88 × 5) and about $99.60 a year on Passpack Teams ($1.66 × 12 × 5). On the higher tiers, Proton Pass Professional comes to $269.40 a year and Passpack Business to $270 a year. At this size the gap is small, so features should drive the decision more than price.

Team features and sharing

The biggest day-to-day difference between the two tools is how sharing works. That shapes how you organize logins, how you onboard people and how you clean up when someone leaves.

Proton Pass: vaults, items and secure links

Proton Pass organizes items into vaults. On business plans you can share a whole vault (for example “Marketing tools”), share a single item, or create a secure link for a one-off handover. Pass Professional adds group sharing, so you can share a vault with a group instead of person by person.

Pass stores more than passwords. Proton lists logins, notes, credit cards and passkeys, and the business plans include unlimited hide-my-email aliases. Aliases are useful for a small business: you can sign up for vendor tools with an alias instead of exposing your main inbox. Pass Professional also adds file attachments.

Passpack: records shared with Teams

Passpack calls each saved login a Record. According to Passpack’s quick start guide, “Records are shared with Teams, not individual users.” If you only want to share with one person, you create a Team with one member. It sounds rigid, but it keeps shared access organized from day one.

All Passpack plans include unlimited Teams, private and shared notes, custom notes, labels, password history, restore of recently deleted passwords and the ability to transfer ownership of a record. That last one matters when someone leaves: you can move their records to another person instead of losing them. The plans page also lists a bidirectional one-time share for sending a credential once.

Both tools import from a spreadsheet or another password manager. Passpack’s admin guide describes a CSV import with fixed columns (name, login, password, website, notes, sharedNotes) and a limit of 1,000 rows per batch. Proton describes “easy password import” on its pricing page.

Admin controls and SSO

For a team of five, admin controls might feel like overkill. They become essential the first time someone leaves on bad terms or a contractor needs access to two tools and nothing else.

Proton Pass admin controls

According to Proton’s admin guide, you turn on multi-user support in Settings, name your organization and become the primary admin. From the Users page you can add people by email invitation or bulk-upload them with a CSV template. For each user you can change their password, revoke all sessions or remove them from the organization.

Proton’s team policies help page lists six policies you can set on Pass Professional (and on Workspace plans):

• Password generator rules (length, character types, memorable passwords)
• Allow sharing outside the organization
• Allow individual item sharing
• Allow data export for organization members
• Allow all users to create vaults
• Require two-factor authentication (with reminders and enforcement)

Pass Professional also includes a usage log that records invites, item changes and uses, vault and share changes, and secure link activity. Each entry shows the time, user, event type and IP address, and you can export filtered results as CSV.

Passpack admin controls

On every Passpack plan, admins can invite users (several at once, separated by commas), create Teams and set Record Visibility, which decides whether users can view and copy a record’s login and password by default. Restricted visibility is a useful option for shared accounts where you want people to use a login without seeing it.

The Business plan unlocks the stronger controls. According to Passpack’s policies docs, these include session timeout and idle lock at the organization level (from 5 minutes to 1 week), multiple administrators, deleting and resetting team member accounts, restricting which email domains can join, blocking members from joining outside organizations, device registration, unlimited password history with all changes logged, advanced activity reporting and API access.

SSO and directory sync

Proton Pass Professional includes SSO and SCIM, so users can sign in with your identity provider and accounts can be provisioned automatically. Passpack Business supports SSO with Google and Microsoft accounts. Its FAQ says it is “expanding its integration capabilities with SAML 2.0-compatible identity providers,” and its directory integration docs cover Google and Microsoft sync, with Okta listed as “coming soon.”

One Passpack detail to know: SSO does not replace the Packing Key. According to Passpack’s SSO docs, users signing in with Google or Microsoft still enter their Packing Key to decrypt their data.

Security, open source and audits

Both tools use end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption, which means the vendor cannot read your stored passwords. The differences are in how much you can verify and how recovery works.

Proton Pass

Proton says Pass protects passwords, passkeys and cards “with zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption.” Proton has published the source code for the Pass browser extensions, iOS app and Android app on GitHub. In a July 2023 blog post, Proton reported that the security firm Cure53 audited the Pass mobile apps, browser extensions and API in May and June 2023, and that almost all findings were fixed. Proton’s business page also references GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2 and ISO 27001.

Passpack

Passpack uses AES-256 encryption with a user-defined Packing Key that is separate from your login password. Passpack states it is SOC 2 Type II certified and runs regular third-party penetration testing, and its Trust Center offers the annual Type II audit results under NDA. Passpack is not open source.

The Packing Key brings a recovery trade-off. Passpack’s FAQ says it “cannot recover a lost or forgotten PackingKey to a main admin account,” although admins can recover team members’ Packing Keys. Download the Recovery Kit as soon as you set up the owner account and store it somewhere safe and offline.

Platforms, 2FA and passkeys

Platform coverage is where Proton Pass pulls clearly ahead. Proton lists apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, a web app, a command line tool and browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Brave.

Passpack is web-first: it runs in any modern browser, and in 2026 it added a Chrome extension with one-click autofill and an iPhone app with Face ID and Touch ID unlock. We did not find an Android app or a Firefox or Safari extension on Passpack’s site. If your team uses Android phones or non-Chrome browsers, check Passpack’s downloads before you commit.

On two-factor authentication, both tools are solid. Proton Pass includes a built-in authenticator for storing 2FA codes, and admins can enforce 2FA across the organization. Passpack supports MFA with Google and Microsoft authenticator apps and YubiKey, issues 10 emergency codes, and can store TOTP codes inside records.

Passkeys are a clear point for Proton. Proton Pass lists “passkeys supported on all devices,” even on the free plan. We could not find passkey storage listed on Passpack’s plans or features pages, so if passkeys are part of your plan, confirm with Passpack first. You can compare both by starting a Proton Pass business trial alongside a Passpack 28-day trial.

How to roll out a password manager to a small team

Whichever tool you choose, the rollout matters more than the feature list. A password manager that half the team ignores is barely better than the old spreadsheet. Here is a step-by-step plan that works for teams of 3 to 20 people.

Step 1: List every shared account

Make an inventory of the shared accounts your business uses: social media, banking portals, domain registrar, website admin, payment processors, software subscriptions. Record the account name, owner and who needs access. Do not write the passwords in this list. You will enter them straight into the password manager.

Step 2: Pick a plan and set up the owner account

Start the trial and create the owner or primary admin account. In Proton Pass, you enable multi-user support under Settings and name your organization. In Passpack, you create your account and your Packing Key, then download the Recovery Kit right away. Turn on 2FA for the owner account before you do anything else.

Step 3: Design your vaults or Teams

Group access by role, not by person. Typical groupings for a small business are Admin and finance, Marketing and social, Operations and suppliers, and Website and IT. In Proton Pass these become shared vaults. In Passpack they become Teams, with records shared to each Team.

Step 4: Import or add credentials

Import from a browser or old password manager where you can. Passpack takes a CSV in its sample format, up to 1,000 rows per batch. Once the import is done, delete any exported CSV files, because they hold passwords in plain text. Use the import as a chance to rotate weak or reused passwords on critical accounts.

Step 5: Set policies before you invite people

Decide the rules first: enforce 2FA, decide whether people can share outside the company, and decide who can export data. In Proton Pass Professional these are toggles in the Admin panel. In Passpack, set Record Visibility, and on Business also set session timeout and idle lock.

Step 6: Invite the team in small batches

Invite two or three people first, ideally the ones who use shared accounts most. Have them install the browser extension and mobile app, then log in to two or three shared tools through the password manager. Fix any confusion before you invite everyone else.

Step 7: Run a short training session

Spend 20 minutes on the basics: how to autofill, how to save a new login, how to generate a strong password and how to share with a vault or Team. Explain the recovery process too, especially Passpack’s Packing Key, which the company cannot reset for the main admin.

Step 8: Retire the old system

Set a cut-off date. After it, delete the old spreadsheet, shared doc or notes file that held passwords, and empty the trash. Ask everyone to remove saved passwords from their browsers for shared accounts.

Step 9: Build offboarding into your process

When someone leaves, remove them from the organization the same day and rotate the passwords for any shared accounts they used. Proton lets you revoke sessions and delete users. Passpack lets you transfer record ownership, and on Business you can delete and reset member accounts. Review the activity or usage logs once a quarter.

Document your access processes (without storing passwords)

A password manager stores the secrets. Your team still needs a place to record the process: who gets access to what on day one, who approves new tools, and the offboarding checklist. That documentation belongs in your operations wiki, and the passwords themselves stay in Proton Pass or Passpack.

Important: never store passwords, recovery codes, Packing Keys or 2FA backup codes in Notion or any other docs tool. Notion pages are not built to be a password vault. Record only the name of the vault or Team that holds the credential, plus the owner who approves access.

If you run your back office in Notion, our Small Business Back-Office Kit includes HR and onboarding, an employee directory and a company handbook. You can add your “Access and password manager policy” to the handbook, and add steps like “Invite to password manager” and “Remove from password manager and rotate shared passwords” to your onboarding and offboarding checklists.

Just getting started with Notion? The Free Notion Starter Kit includes a project management template and a daily standup template you can use to track the rollout itself, such as “Import marketing logins” or “Train the team.” If you don’t have Notion yet, you can sign up for Notion here.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Proton Pass if…

• Your team uses a mix of Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone, or browsers other than Chrome.
• You want passkey support now.
• Open-source apps and a published third-party audit matter to you.
• You like the idea of hide-my-email aliases for vendor sign-ups.
• You might later move to Proton Mail, Drive or the full Workspace bundle.

Choose Passpack if…

• Your team works mostly in Chrome and on iPhone or desktop browsers.
• You want the lowest listed per-user price for a team of up to 20.
• You like a strict Team-based sharing model and want record visibility controls on the entry plan.
• SOC 2 Type II certification is a requirement from your clients.
• You want a monthly billing option on the Business plan.

For most small teams, we recommend starting with Proton Pass for Business because of its platform coverage, passkeys and transparency. If your workflow is mainly browser-based sharing and price is the deciding factor, Passpack is a capable, focused alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Is Proton Pass or Passpack cheaper for a small team?

On the entry tiers, Passpack Teams is listed at $1.66 per user per month (paid annually) and Proton Pass Essentials at $1.99 per user per month (billed yearly, minimum three users). On the higher tiers, Proton Pass Professional ($4.49) and Passpack Business ($4.50) are almost identical. Prices are as of October 2026.

Does Passpack have a free plan?

We could not find a free-forever plan on Passpack’s site. It offers a 28-day free trial with no credit card required. Proton offers a free personal Proton Pass plan and a 14-day free trial on its business plans.

Which tool supports SSO?

Both do, on their higher tiers. Proton Pass Professional includes SSO and SCIM. Passpack Business supports SSO through Google and Microsoft accounts, plus directory integration with Google and Microsoft.

Is Proton Pass open source?

Yes. Proton has published the source code for the Pass browser extensions, iOS app and Android app on GitHub, and Cure53 audited Pass in 2023. Passpack is not open source, but it states it is SOC 2 Type II certified.

Can Proton Pass and Passpack store passkeys?

Proton Pass lists passkey support on all devices, including the free plan. We could not find passkey storage listed on Passpack’s plans or features pages, so contact Passpack if you need it.

What happens if I forget my Passpack Packing Key?

According to Passpack’s FAQ, the company cannot recover a lost Packing Key for a main admin account. Admins can recover team members’ keys. Download the Recovery Kit when you set up your account and store it somewhere safe.

Can I keep our passwords in Notion instead?

No. Use Notion to document processes, owners and checklists, and keep the actual passwords, recovery codes and 2FA backups in a dedicated password manager like Proton Pass or Passpack.

Get your team off the shared spreadsheet

Both tools offer a free trial, so the lowest-risk move is to start one this week, import your ten most-used shared logins and run Steps 1 to 6 above with a couple of teammates. Within a few days you will know which workflow fits your team.