> Obviously, one could pay for an authenticator like 1Password, which at least is ecosystem independent. However, not everybody is in a situation where they can afford to pay for basic services like password managers
This argument was made in the context of moving out of the Apple ecosystem (are there other ecosystems one would want to leave where the only option is paying for something like 1password?). I don’t really buy it because I can’t work out a situation where one is switching from some expensive ecosystem but unable to pay a low fee for 1password. But maybe I’m missing an example.
> This argument was made in the context of moving out of the Apple ecosystem
Author here. Insert your favorite ecosystem in that people currently have. If you have a windows 11 computer you end up with Windows Hello passkeys for free. If you have a Chromebook then it will be something else.
Apple devices show up in low income households somewhat regularly where I live because of subsidized iPads for education.
>I can’t work out a situation where one is switching from some expensive ecosystem but unable to pay a low fee for 1password.
You lose your job.
There is also keepass, which you can sync with whatever free cloud storage you want. It might not be the nicest password manager you can use, but you can always use it for free.
Bitwardens free tier is also generous enough that a lot of people won't have to pay
KeePassXC has been repeatedly threatened with blacklisting by the WebAuthn alliance. Once for allowing exports of passkeys, once for not requiring reauthentication of an already unlocked vault when providing a passkey.
Seems like the existence of keypass does not support the argument made in the OP.