Password Entropy vs Strength Checkers: What’s the Difference?
1 min read
Most websites use a basic password strength checker that labels your password as weak, medium, or strong. But are they accurate? Not always. This is where password entropy comes in.
⚖️ Strength Checkers vs Entropy
- Password Strength Checker: Usually rule-based. Checks for uppercase, numbers, and symbols. Often fooled by predictable patterns (e.g.,
Pa$$w0rd!). - Password Entropy: Based on math. Uses character set size and length to calculate actual unpredictability.
📊 Example
Pa$$w0rd!— Most strength checkers say “Strong” 🚫 but entropy ≈ 47 bits → Actually Weak.k9fB2$LmQz1&— Strength checker says “Strong” ✅ Entropy ≈ 75 bits → Truly Strong.
🛡️ Why Entropy Matters
Attackers don’t care about website meters. They care about how many guesses per second they can attempt. Entropy tells you exactly how resistant your password is to those attacks.
🚀 Try Our Tools
For accurate results, use our Password Entropy Calculator instead of relying on simple strength bars.
🔗 Related Tools
In conclusion, password entropy gives you a mathematical guarantee of strength — something flashy strength bars can’t provide.