When comparing RoboForm vs Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline), the Slant community recommends Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline) for most people. In the question“What are the best offline password managers?” Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline) is ranked 10th while RoboForm is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline) is:
On Android, you can check the app permission on Google Play Store or phone settings. See [here](https://www.bluespace.tech/blog/offline/). On iOS, you can check the app activity in the latest iOS 15 system. See [here](https://www.bluespace.tech/blog/offline-2/).
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro RoboForm's toolbar can be used as a bookmark's bar that automatically logs in
RoboForm's toolbar allows accessing all logins and associated websites. Clicking a website will navigate the browser to the appropriate place and peform the login sequence. It even takes care of multiple identities allowing multiple people to quickly switch between, for example, webmail accounts.
Pro Portable versions available
Pro Sophisticated form fill
In addition to being capable of filling in usernames and passwords even in places other popular password managers tend to fail, RoboForm can also fill in a wide variety of other form fields such as long registration or checkout forms that require personal, credit card, banking and other information.
To enable form fill functionality an identity has to be created and all relevant information supplied. It's possible to use multiple identities and identities created from login credential entries. In case of multiple identities a drop-down will offer choice in which to use.
Pro Adding new passwords and updating existing one's requires little manual work
When logging in a website for the first time, RoboForm will offer to save the login credentials via a pop-up. The pop-up allows creating a new entry or replacing an existing one with the information supplied. And if a password has been changed without updating the entry in RoboForm, the application will offer to update the password next time it's used.
Pro Virtual keyboard support for added security
If worried about keyloggers, you can use a virtual keyboard to log in.
Pro Fingerprint verification
Some fingerprint readers can be set up to be used to access RoboForm instead of a master password.
Pro Strong Password Generator
Choose the length and characters you want to use and get a great random password that is one click copy and then saved in Roboform. Quick and effective.
Pro Safenotes allow saving free-form data
Pro Free tier
Roboform for desktop permits the user one license to install one system for free. Paid version, Roboform Everywhere, offers syncronization across multiple platforms for a yearly subscription fee.
Pro Unique extension design
The extension is a remote autofill framework without storing passwords or requiring sign-in. Its design can help minimizing the security risks caused by browser vulnerabilities.
After you scan the QR code on a desktop browser to confirm filling, your password will be encrypted on your mobile app first, then sent to the cloud server via a mobile browser, and finally arrive at the extension to be decrypted and filled in.
Check this to know more details.
Pro Security chip encryption
The app protects your data with your phone's security chip, the same chip used by smartphone wallet to protect payment cards.
NFC Card in Android Pay.
iOS Apple Pay components.
Pro Backup & restore
You can back up all your data including passwords, OTP, attachments etc, with AES-256 and PBKDF2 encryption.
The app also allows you to send your backup password to your friends in encrypted form in case you forget it. Friends help save the encrypted backup password but cannot decrypt it, let alone access your database.
Pro Hundreds of terrific account templates
The app provides many account templates including tech giants like Google, crypto wallets like Binance, email accounts like CTemplar, game accounts like Steam, etc.
You can use these templates to save all your accounts' security information like recovery codes, security questions and answers, etc.
Pro Autofill login
2 taps to autofill your username and password on mobile apps or browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Every time you use autofill, you must authenticate with your biometric or master password to unlock the app. So even if you temporarily lend your phone to someone else, you don't have to worry about them abusing autofill to sign in and spy on your accounts.
Pro Apple ID security template
You can use it to save passwords, recovery codes, receipts, security questions and answers, etc.
There are also some helpful security tips about how to protect your Apple ID.
Pro OTP authenticator (2FA)
You can use the app to help enable 2FA for other platform accounts. The password, OTP, and recovery codes of an account can be saved together.
For example see this.
Pro Save attachments and notes
You can add attachments to save the photos of your ID cards, driver licenses, etc. in the app. Like other data, your notes and attachments are well protected with secure chip encryption and sandbox isolation.
Pro Save payment cards
As long as you enter the card number, ID Guard Offline app can automatically identify the card issuer, card organization and so on. It is easier than ever to store payment card information.
Pro Anti malicious fraud
When you use autofill, the app can identify fake apps, display the requested information, automatically match the filling account, etc.
These security designs can prevent malicious apps or websites from defrauding your password with hidden password boxes, forged login interfaces, etc.
Pro Biometric or master password authentication
Every time you open the app, you are required to authenticate with biometric. If you have set a master password for extra protection, you can also unlock the app by entering the correct master password.
Pro Verifiable security technologies
They shared a lot of blogs to show how to verify their security technologies like security chip encryption, true offline, autofill phishing detection, extension security design, etc.
Check out tech blogs.
Pro Find back master password
With other password managers, if you forget your master password, your can't unlock your database forever. But this app is different. It allows you to send your master password to your friends in encrypted form in case you forget it. Friends help save the encrypted master password but cannot decrypt it, let alone access your database.
Pro Excellent password generator
Its password generator allows you to fine control special characters to satisfy complex password requirements like containing certain symbols, the same characters cannot be sequential.
See here.
Pro No ads, no tracking
Neither the app nor the extension has trackers.
You need to be careful if you’re using a password manager with trackers. Because hackers may attack these trackers to steal your passwords.
See this
Pro Supports multiple platforms
The app supports iOS and Android. The extension supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
The extension only can be used with the help of the app because all your data is safely stored in the app on your phone with secure chip encryption and sandbox isolation, while the extension does not keep any data.
See this
Pro Clean and intuitive UI
After unlocking the app, you will see all the stored accounts' logos and names on the main interface. Tap a tag, like Tools, you can see the accounts with that tag.
Pro Import & export
Support importing CSV files exported from Chrome/Edge/Firefox/Safari/Myki or importing them with zip encryption mode.
You can also export your data from ID Guard Offline app in CSV or JSON format with password encryption.
Pro Timeline (account history)
Automatically record the changing histories of your accounts. This feature would be very helpful if you are using some platforms that ask for the last 3 passwords when changing a new one.
Pro Add multiple tags
The app will automatically tag your stored accounts to help you manage them by categories. You can also add custom tags.
Pro Password meter
When you enter a password to save, the app will automatically detect its strength and let you know if it is a weak password.
Pro Auto-lock
To prevent someone from peeking at your passwords when you walk away temporarily, ID Guard Offline app will auto-lock if no interaction within 30 seconds.
Pro Easy to use
So easy to use some features, like 1 tap to add account, 2 taps to autofill password.
The first time you open the app, it will ask you to use biometric authentication or set a master password as the protection method to protect your data. After finishing that step, you can go into the app’s main interface and start using it. It's straightforward to use without extra setup or redundant introductions.
Pro Minimum permissions
- Access camera: Scan QR code to save or fill passwords.
- Use fingerprint hardware: Use fingerprint recognition to authenticate user (Cannot steal fingerprint data).
- Appear on top of other apps: An autofill bar will appear on top of the input box when autofill is enabled.
- Foreground service: Display the autofill bar when using accessibility service and let user know which app is displaying the floating bar.
- Google Play billing service: Unlock PRO features on Google Play. Google Play connects to the network to authorize user.
- Hide overlay windows: Hide overlay windows to prevent overlay attacks (Android 12+).
No FULL NETWORK ACCESS. TRUE offline. Minimize the attack surface and can never leak any data or be attacked via the network.
Check its permissions on Google Play
Pro Add custom logos
They pre-downloaded and packaged numerous platforms’ logos into the app. When you enter an app name to use its template to save a new account, the app will automatically show you the appropriate logo.
You can also select a picture from your system albums as your custom logo. And yet, if you are an Android user, you can pick logos from the installed apps on your phone.
See this
Pro No signup or login
Neither require sign-up and login nor collect personal information. They have no idea who you are, let alone bother you with ad tracking or promotional emails.
Cons
Con WEAK hashing algorithm (4096 instead of 10,000 iterations)
Weak Hashing algorithm. Roboform only uses 4096 iterations of PBKDF2 with SHA-256, while other password managers use 100,000 iterations. NIST Guidelines require AT LEAST 10,000 iterations of PBKDF2 with SHA-256.
Con Does not help with updating weak and old passwords
You will have to step through the entries yourself.
Con Closed source
Not being open source means that you have to trust them for what they say. Trusting someone with all your passwords is never a good idea.
Con Lack of desktop clients
It might seem that whole world is "mobile" now. But that's not true. A lot of people use their notebooks or even desktop computers to work from. Lack of Linux and Windows clients holds this back.
But it has an extension that supports Chrome, Firefox and Edge. You can autofill passwords on desktop browsers with the help of the app.
Here is a post to share how the extension works.
Another post to introduce the extension's security designs.
Con Chinese company
ID Guard Offline is owned by Bluespace Tech, a company based in Guangdong, China.