Passphrases vs. Passwords: Which is More Secure in 2025?

The Battle for Security and Memorability

The classic XKCD comic about 'correct-horse-battery-staple' introduced the world to passphrases. But does the concept hold up in 2025 against powerful cracking hardware? The answer is yes, and it all comes down to math.

What is Entropy?

Entropy is the measure of randomness or unpredictability. The higher the entropy, the more secure the credential.

Comparing the Two:

• A complex 12-character password (e.g., Tr0ub4dor&3) using 94 possible characters has about 79 bits of entropy. This is very strong, but difficult to remember.
• A 4-word passphrase from a standard 7,776-word list (e.g., ocean-locket-ember-froze) has about 51 bits of entropy. Good, but not great.
• A 5-word passphrase from the same list jumps to 64 bits of entropy. Now we're talking.
• A 6-word passphrase gives you 77 bits of entropy, making it just as strong as the 12-character complex password, but vastly easier to type and remember.

The Verdict for 2025

For any password you must remember (like your email or master password), a long passphrase of 5-6 words is the superior choice. It delivers the same or better security as a complex gibberish password but is far more user-friendly. For everything else, use a password manager to generate and store long, random passwords.