Password Strength Checker: How to Create and Test Strong Passwords That Keep Your Accounts Safe

A strong password is your first and most important line of defense against hackers. Yet most people still use easily guessable passwords like “123456” or “password” — credentials that cybercriminals can crack in under a second. Understanding what makes a password strong, and using a password strength checker to test your passwords, can mean the difference between a secure account and a data breach.

Use our password strength checker to instantly evaluate how secure your passwords are, with actionable suggestions for improvement.

What Makes a Password Strong?

Password strength is measured by how long it would take a computer to guess it through a brute-force attack. Modern computers can try billions of password combinations per second. Here is what separates a weak password from a strong one:

Factor	Weak	Strong
Length	Under 8 characters	12+ characters
Character variety	Only lowercase letters	Uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
Dictionary words	Single common word	Random phrase or passphrase
Personal info	Birthday, name, pet name	No personal information at all
Patterns	Sequences like qwerty, 12345	No keyboard patterns or repeats

How Password Strength Is Scored

Most password strength checkers assign a score based on entropy — a measure of unpredictability measured in bits. The higher the entropy, the harder the password is to guess.

• Weak (Red): Entropy below 28 bits. Can be cracked instantly. Examples: “password123”, “admin2024”, “letmein”
• Fair (Orange): Entropy 28-35 bits. Crackable in minutes. Examples: “Summer2024!”, “Football#1”
• Good (Yellow): Entropy 36-59 bits. Takes days or weeks to crack. Examples: “S3cur3P@ss!” (12 chars)
• Strong (Green): Entropy 60+ bits. Would take centuries to crack. Examples: “Correct-Horse-Battery-Staple” or “g7K!p9#mQ2@xR5”

Creating Strong Passwords That You Can Remember

The biggest challenge with strong passwords is remembering them. Here are proven methods:

The Passphrase Method

Pick 4-5 random words and combine them: “Blue-Giraffe-Kite-Mountain-78”. This is easy to remember but takes centuries to crack because of the length (26+ characters with symbols).

The Sentence Method

Take a sentence you can remember and use the first letter of each word: “My first car was a 1998 Honda Civic!” becomes “Mfcwa1998Hc!”. This mixes cases, numbers, and symbols naturally.

Use a Password Generator

If you want truly random passwords, use our password generator to create strong, unique passwords for every account. Pair it with a password manager to store them securely.

Common Password Mistakes to Avoid

• Reusing passwords: If one site gets breached, all your accounts are at risk. Use a unique password everywhere.
• Using personal information: Your birthday, pet name, or street address is easy for attackers to find on social media.
• Simple substitutions: Changing “e” to “3” and “o” to “0” is well-known. Hackers check these patterns.
• Writing passwords on sticky notes: Physical security is just as important as digital security.

Test Your Current Passwords

Run your existing passwords through our password strength checker to see how they score. If any show as Weak or Fair, update them immediately. A few minutes of password hygiene now can save you from months of headache dealing with a compromised account.