The best passwords are long strings of complex combinations of letters and symbols that are also hard to remember. It is even more difficult to use multiple passwords for different sites and services. This is where password management tools come into play, and LastPass in particular is a flexible and useful option; LastPass is free to use, but the pro bono layer is likely to be significantly less flexible for some users.

Dan DeMichele, LastPass' vice president of product management, announced several upcoming changes to the free tier in a blog post. The biggest is the separation of "computers" from "mobile devices. In a few weeks, users of the free service will have to choose one or the other or upgrade to a monthly subscription to continue using LastPass on all devices.

This change will take effect on March 16, 2021; the first time you log in after March 16, 2021 will determine which tier you will be classified into. If you log into LastPass on a desktop or laptop, the password manager will set the active device type to computer and allow unlimited access to devices in that category. Similarly, if you sign in to LastPass with a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch, the active device type will be set to mobile.

"You will have three opportunities to switch active device types, so find the one that works best for you. All devices are automatically synced, so whether you access LastPass from a computer or a mobile device, you will not lose access to anything stored in your vault or be locked out of your account," Demichel explained.

LastPass added the ability to sync across all types of devices in November 2016, exactly one year after LogMeIn acquired the service. This is a welcome change, and especially useful now that more and more people are working at home or on the go. And this is part of the reason why LastPass is trying to revert back to what it was more than four years ago.

"This change is part of our increased focus on providing future premium product improvements as the security landscape continues to evolve in the new era of remote work," a LastPass spokesperson told Engadget.

The spokesperson said that the premium tier will become more valuable over time as more features are added. He also said the change would put the free tier "on par with other major password managers with more restrictions."

Put another way, LastPass feels justified in suddenly weakening its free service and putting it on par with less useful alternatives. I understand the economics of driving users to the paying tier, but why not focus all of its efforts on making the subscription service more attractive, rather than dragging down free users?

Starting May 17, 2021, email support will be limited to Premium and Family subscriptions.

To soften the blow, LastPass is lowering subscription rates for the premium tier for a limited time.