How the password generator works
Last updated 10 November 2026
A strong password is long and random. People are bad at inventing random passwords, so let the computer do it, and keep the result in a password manager.
How it works
- Characters are chosen with your browser’s secure random number generator, without bias.
- The password contains at least one character from every kind you choose, then the order is shuffled.
- Strength in bits = length × log base 2 of the number of characters to pick from.
What the settings do
Each setting changes the set of characters the generator picks from. A bigger set gives a stronger password at the same length.
- Length: how many characters long the password is.
- Lower case, upper case and numbers: add those kinds of characters to the set.
- Symbols: add punctuation marks. Some sites do not accept all of them.
- Leave out look-alike characters: removes characters that are easy to confuse, such as the letter O and the number zero. This helps if you must type the password by hand.
- How many: makes several passwords at once.
What the bits figure means
The tool shows an estimate of strength in bits. A bit is a single yes-or-no choice. The figure is the length multiplied by how many bits each character adds, based on the size of the set of characters to pick from. More bits means more guesses would be needed to find the password by trying every option.
The figure assumes the password was truly random. It does not hold for a password you chose yourself, however clever it looks.
Length against variety
Each extra character multiplies the number of possible passwords, while adding another kind of character only slightly increases the set to pick from. If a site limits the length or refuses some symbols, change the settings until it accepts the password.
What this does not cover
The generator does not store, send or log what it makes, so if you close the page without copying the password, it is gone. It also cannot check whether a password has already leaked or whether a site stores it safely. For a password made of words, try the passphrase generator.
Common mistakes
- Using the same password on more than one account.
- Choosing a short length because it is easier to type. Use the look-alike setting if typing is the problem.
- Saving the password in a place others can see, such as a note on the desk or an open message.
- Changing a generated password by hand to something easier. This removes the randomness the bits figure relies on.
- Closing the page before copying the password.
Things to watch
- Use a different password for every account.
- Turn on two-step verification where you can.
- A site that limits password length or symbols may need different settings.
Nothing generated here is stored or logged.
Like every tool on MoneyMzansi, this one runs entirely in your browser. There is no account, no upload and no sign-up, so it keeps working even if your connection drops once the page has loaded.