⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: 1Password starts at $2.99/month. Dashlane Premium starts at $4.99/mo.
- Best for: 1Password suits families and business teams. Dashlane suits people who want dark web monitoring plus a VPN.
- Key difference: 1Password adds a 34-character Secret Key and Travel Mode. Dashlane includes Hotspot Shield VPN.
- Free version: 1Password has no free plan, only a 14 day free trial. Dashlane Free stores 25 passwords on one device.
- Our pick: 1Password, rated 4.6 against 4.2, for stronger vault organization and cheaper family plan pricing.
The cheaper password manager here is not the weaker one.
1Password costs $2 less per month than Dashlane Premium.
Yet it still ships passkey support, Travel Mode, and shared vaults.
Dashlane answers with dark web monitoring and a bundled VPN.
So the choice depends on what you want your password vault to do.
Overview
This 1Password vs Dashlane comparison covers pricing, security features, and daily ease of use.
Our writers spent hands-on time inside both tools.
Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
We also checked published documentation and G2 reviews for each product.
By the end you will know which one fits your household or company.
What is 1Password?
1Password is a password manager built by Agile Bits in Toronto, Canada.
The company launched in 2006 and has never reported a data breach.
You create one master password that unlocks every stored login.
A 34-character Secret Key is generated at signup and stays on your device.
That secret key never leaves your hardware, so only you can decrypt the vault.
Apps run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Here is a closer look at how the entire app behaves day to day.
🏆 Winner: 1Password
Zero-knowledge architecture with a Secret Key layer on top. Multiple vaults keep work and home logins apart. Every plan starts with a 14 day free trial.
1Password Pricing
Here is what 1Password costs in 2026. Prices below are billed yearly.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $2.99/month | Personal users on multiple devices |
| Families | $4.99/month | Up to 5 family members with shared vaults |
| Teams Starter Pack | $19.95/month | Small businesses with up to 10 seats |
| Business | $7.99/month | Mid-size and large teams, per user |
Pricing verified July 2026.
Free trial: 14 day free trial on every personal plan. No paid commitment during the trial window.
Money-back guarantee: There is no free version, so the trial is your test window before billing starts.
📌 Note: The family plan covers 5 people and lets you add extra seats for a small fee. Enterprise buyers get custom pricing instead of a fixed tier.
⚠️ Warning: There is no free version at all. If you stop paying, you keep read access to saved passwords but lose new saves and sync.
Key Benefits of 1Password
Here is what makes this password manager worth the yearly fee:
- Watchtower feature: Flags weak passwords, reused passwords, and compromised passwords. It also warns you about known breach reports.
- Multiple vaults: Split personal details, company resources, and guest accounts into separate containers. Vault organization stays clean as your list grows.
- Travel mode: Hides chosen vaults so sensitive information stays invisible when you cross borders. Few password managers offer this.
- Secret Key plus 2FA: You can enable two factor authentication and receive a verification code at login. The Emergency Kit PDF stores your QR code for account recovery.
- Password generator: Builds secure passwords and unique passwords in one click. Browser extensions then save passwords automatically.
- Passkey support: Works with FIDO Alliance passwordless login as well as classic credentials. Biometric logins unlock the desktop app quickly.
- Privacy Cards: Virtual cards mask your real debit card during online shopping. Payment details are automatically filled at checkout.
The screenshot below shows how those benefits appear inside the app.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer set up a fresh account, imported logins from a CSV file, and ran it across various devices for a week. Here is what stood out:
1Password Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Secret Key adds a second layer on top of the master password
- Travel Mode hides selected vaults at border crossings
- Family plan covers five people at $4.99/month
- No reported breach since the company launched in 2006
- Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
❌ Cons
- No free tier at any price point
- Support is email support only, with no live chat or phone line
- Some reviewers call the interface clunky next to Dashlane
- No bundled VPN in any plan
What is Dashlane?
Dashlane is a French-founded password manager now headquartered in the United States.
The Dashlane password manager stores unlimited passwords, passkeys, and payment cards.
You unlock the password vault with a single master password.
Encryption keys are built with Argon2, and data stored inside stays sealed.
Dashlane has passed a SOC 2 Type II audit and holds ISO 27001 certification.
The company reports no security breach in its history.
This walkthrough shows the web app and desktop version side by side.
🥈 Runner Up: Dashlane
Dark web monitoring and a password health page in one dashboard. Premium bundles Hotspot Shield VPN. A free plan covers 25 logins on one device.
Dashlane Pricing
Here is what Dashlane cost looks like in 2026 across every tier.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | $0/mo. | Testing premium features before paying |
| Premium | $4.99/mo. | Solo users who want VPN and dark web alerts |
| Friends & Family | $7.49/mo. | Up to 10 family members |
| Password Management | $8/mo. | Business seats, billed per user |
| Omnix™ | $11/mo. | Teams wanting credential risk detection |
Pricing verified July 2026.
Free trial: Yes, plus a permanent Dashlane Free tier limited to 25 logins on one device.
Money-back guarantee: 30 days on paid subscriptions.
📌 Note: The free premium friends referral route and the Friends & Family tier both cover up to 10 seats. That beats most password managers, which stop at five or six.
⚠️ Warning: A premium subscription is billed a full year upfront. Reviewers also call the free plan too thin for long-term use.
Key Benefits of Dashlane
Here is where Dashlane’s features earn their price:
- Dark web monitoring: Dashlane’s dark web monitoring scans leak dumps and pings you when login details surface. That head start lets you rotate credentials fast.
- Password health checker: The password health page grades every entry and returns a password health score. Weak passwords and repeats get flagged first.
- Includes Hotspot Shield VPN: Premium bundles the VPN at no extra charge. Few password managers ship one at all.
- Zero knowledge architecture: AES 256-bit encryption is the industry standard encryption algorithm here, and only you hold the decryption key.
- Built in password generator: Generate passwords of any length in the browser or app. The autofill feature then drops them into forms.
- Secure notes and cards: Store secure notes, IDs, and payment cards beside your saved passwords in one place.
- Business controls: SSO integration, group login policies, and real time phishing alerts come with the Omnix tier.
The image below shows those tools inside the dashboard.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer created a Dashlane account, imported a vault, and tested autofill on desktop and mobile. Here is what came out of that:
Dashlane Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Dark web monitoring on every paid tier
- Hotspot Shield VPN bundled with Premium
- Intuitive user interface that beginners pick up fast
- Family tier covers 10 people, double the usual five
- SOC 2 Type II audit and ISO 27001 certification on record
❌ Cons
- Free tier caps you at 25 logins and one device
- Premium costs $2 more per month than 1Password Individual
- Autofill can stumble on multi-page login screens
- Fewer two-factor methods and limited customization options
Feature Comparison
Both products sit near the top of the password manager market. The gap shows up in the details, not the headline claims.
We compared ten areas, from vault structure to business controls.
| Feature | 1Password | Dashlane |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $2.99/month | $4.99/mo. |
| Free Version | ❌ (14 day free trial) | ✅ (25 logins, 1 device) |
| Unlimited Passwords | ✅ | ✅ (paid tiers) |
| Multiple Vaults | ✅ | ❌ |
| Dark Web Monitoring | ✅ (Watchtower) | ✅ |
| Built-in VPN | ❌ | ✅ (Hotspot Shield VPN) |
| Travel Mode | ✅ | ❌ |
| Passkey Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Live Chat Support | ❌ (email support) | ✅ |
| Best For | Families and IT teams | Solo users wanting VPN extras |
1. Password Management and Vault Structure
1Password: You can build multiple vaults and shared vaults, then sort logins by household, freelance client, or company resources. Guest accounts get their own container, so nobody sees everything. Password management stays tidy once your list passes a few hundred entries.
Dashlane: One flat vault holds unlimited passwords, secure notes, and personal details. Tags and folders replace true vault separation. Most Dashlane users find that simpler, though large collections get harder to scan.
2. Password Generator and Strong Passwords
1Password: The password generator produces unique passwords, memorable phrases, or PINs. A username generator sits beside it for throwaway signups. New credentials are saved automatically when you finish a form.
Dashlane: The built in password generator lets you set length and character rules before you generate passwords. Omnix adds credential risk detection on top for teams. Strong passwords land in the vault without extra clicks.
3. Autofill and Browser Extensions
1Password: Browser extensions fill login credentials for a Netflix login or a bank form in one tap. Biometric logins unlock the desktop app, so you rarely manually enter anything. Payment cards are automatically filled during online shopping.
Dashlane: The autofill feature handles logins and checkout forms well. It can trip on multi-page login screens where the email and password sit on separate steps. Real time phishing alerts warn you before credentials go to a fake site.
4. Password Health and Breach Alerts
1Password: Watchtower monitors password security across the whole vault. It surfaces reused passwords, weak entries, and compromised passwords tied to a known data breach. Alerts appear on the dashboard rather than in a separate tool.
Dashlane: The password health page gives each login a grade and rolls them into one score. Dark web scanning runs continuously and emails you when data appears in a dump. That pairing is stronger than what many password managers offer.
5. Encryption and Account Security
1Password: AES 256-bit encryption protects the vault, and the Secret Key means a stolen master password alone is not enough. You can enable two factor authentication for a verification code at each new login. A hardware security key also works as a second factor.
Dashlane: Dashlane security rests on the same encryption standard with Argon2 key derivation. Two factor authentication covers TOTP apps and biometrics. Zero knowledge architecture means staff cannot read what you store.
⚠️ Warning: Neither vendor can reset your master password for you. Save your recovery material before you need it.
6. Sharing With Family Members
1Password: The family plan covers five people and lets you add seats cheaply. You can share passwords through a shared vault or send a single item as a link that expires. Each person keeps a private space too.
Dashlane: Friends & Family covers ten seats, more than most password managers allow. Sharing happens item by item with view or edit rights. There is no separate vault per person, so household and work items mix.
7. Business Plan and Admin Controls
1Password: The business plan runs $7.99 per user per month, with a Teams Starter Pack for ten seats. Admins manage access, provision secure applications, and set vault policies. Enterprise buyers get custom terms.
Dashlane: Business seats start at $8 per user monthly, and a Standard tier runs $20 monthly for ten users. Admin tools cover SSO integration, group login rules, and seat provisioning across operating systems.
8. Travel Mode and Extra Protection
1Password: Travel mode hides chosen vaults so sensitive information disappears from the device. Extended access management ties device health to sign-in rules for companies. No rival on this list ships the same feature.
Dashlane: Instead of hiding vaults, Dashlane offers credential protection plus the bundled VPN for security online on public Wi-Fi. That VPN is thinner than a standalone service. It still covers casual café browsing.
9. Apps, Support, and Ease of Use
1Password: There is a desktop app, mobile apps for Android and iOS devices, and a command line tool for developers. You can easily access the vault on multiple devices with no hard device cap. Help arrives through email support only.
Dashlane: Dashlane’s mobile app mirrors nearly all the features of the desktop version. The intuitive user interface is the reason many reviewers call it more user friendly. Paying users also get live chat support.
10. Pricing & Cost
Here are the plans side by side, straight from each pricing page.
| Tier | 1Password | Dashlane |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Trial | 14 day free trial | Free Trial: $0/mo. |
| Personal | Individual: $2.99/month | Premium: $4.99/mo. |
| Family | Families: $4.99/month | Friends & Family: $7.49/mo. |
| Small team | Teams Starter Pack: $19.95/month | Password Management: $8/mo. |
| Business | Business: $7.99/month | Omnix™: $11/mo. |
1Password: Every tier undercuts the matching Dashlane plan. A family of five pays $4.99/month here versus $7.49/mo. there. The catch is that there is no free version to fall back on.
Dashlane: You pay more, but Premium folds in a VPN that would cost extra elsewhere. Dashlane Free also keeps a foot in the door at zero cost. Households above five people get better per-seat value.
💡 Pro Tip: Import a CSV file during the trial. If autofill handles your ten trickiest sites, the rest of the vault will be fine.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A tight budget | 1Password | $2 cheaper each month |
| A free password manager | Dashlane | Only one with a free tier |
| Separate work and home vaults | 1Password | True multi-vault structure |
| Dark web alerts plus VPN | Dashlane | Both bundled in Premium |
| Border privacy | 1Password | Travel Mode hides vaults |
| Ten household seats | Dashlane | Friends & Family covers 10 |
💰 Your Budget
1Password wins on sticker price at every tier. Dashlane only pulls ahead if you would otherwise buy a VPN separately.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
Developers lean toward 1Password for its command line tool and secure applications support. Companies already running single sign-on may prefer Dashlane’s admin console.
👨👩👧 Your Household Size
Five people or fewer makes the 1Password family tier the cheaper way to manage passwords together. Larger households get more seats from Dashlane.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Newcomers often find Dashlane easier on day one. People switching from another password manager usually adapt to either within an afternoon.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Run both trials in the same week with the same twenty sites. That test tells you more than any spec sheet about premium features you will actually use.
🛟 Support Options
Dashlane answers through chat, which matters if you get locked out on a deadline. 1Password routes everything through email and a documentation library.
Switching Guide
Already committed to one of them? Here is what changes if you move.
🔄 Switching from 1Password to Dashlane?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Hotspot Shield VPN included with a paid tier
- Live chat instead of email-only help
- A free tier you can fall back on
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Travel Mode and its hidden vaults
- The Secret Key second factor
- Multi-vault separation for guest accounts
📋 How to switch:
- Export your 1Password vault to CSV
- Create a Dashlane account and import the file
- Turn on 2FA, then delete the export file
🔄 Switching from Dashlane to 1Password?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- A cheaper bill at every plan level
- Travel Mode plus the Secret Key layer
- Separate vaults for work, home, and clients
❌ What you’ll lose:
- The bundled VPN
- Live chat support
- Ten family seats, down to five
📋 How to switch:
- Export saved logins from Dashlane as CSV
- Start the 14-day trial and import the file
- Print the Emergency Kit and store it offline
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
We focused on personal and small-team use. We did not stress-test enterprise deployments, custom SSO rollouts, or the recovery flow after a lost device. Our notes reflect the July 2026 builds, and certain features may shift as each vendor ships a new feature. Admins managing hundreds of seats should run their own pilot before committing.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | 1Password |
| 🔐 Account Security | 1Password |
| 🕵️ Breach Monitoring | Dashlane |
| 🗂️ Vault Organization | 1Password |
| 👶 Ease of Use | Dashlane |
| 👨👩👧 Family Value | 1Password |
| 🛟 Support | Dashlane |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | 1Password |
🏆 WINNER: 1PASSWORD
1Password wins 4 of 7 categories and rates 4.6 against 4.2.
Best for: Families of five, developers, frequent travellers, and small IT teams
These two rank among the most popular password managers, and both belong on any list of top password managers. Whichever ends up your favorite password manager, you are covered on the basics that other password managers charge extra for. Both use the same encryption grade and neither has reported a breach.
1Password is the better pick if you want the cheapest safe password manager with real vault separation. The Secret Key, Travel Mode, and $4.99 family tier are hard to match.
Dashlane earns its place among the best password managers for people who value monitoring over structure. If a bundled VPN and chat support decide it for you, that is a fair call.
For most readers weighing security purposes against monthly cost, 1Password is the better buy.
More of 1Password Compared
Our full 1Password review 2025 update ranked it against these rivals:
1Password wins on: Travel Mode, five-seat family sharing, the Secret Key layer
NordPass wins on: A working free tier, lower entry price, XChaCha20 encryption
1Password vs Bitwarden
1Password wins on: Polished apps, Watchtower reporting, faster setup for non-technical users
Bitwarden wins on: Unlimited password storage on a free account, open-source code, self-hosting
1Password vs Keeper Security
1Password wins on: Cheaper family plan, simpler onboarding, no paid add-ons for basics
Keeper wins on: Deeper admin configuration, encrypted messaging, compliance reporting
1Password vs LastPass
1Password wins on: A clean breach record, the Secret Key, stronger family value
LastPass wins on: Free single-device access, wider legacy browser extensions, name recognition
More of Dashlane Compared
Our Dashlane review looked at how its advanced features hold up elsewhere. If you are still shortlisting Dashlane alternatives, this video runs through the field.
Dashlane wins on: Bundled VPN, richer password health page, ten family seats
NordPass wins on: Lower monthly cost, a usable free plan, lighter apps
Dashlane wins on: Friendlier interface, dark web scanning, phishing warnings
Bitwarden wins on: Free unlimited logins, open-source audits, far cheaper premium
Dashlane wins on: VPN at no extra charge, quicker first-run setup, breach alerts by default
Keeper wins on: More two-factor methods, granular record permissions, cheaper business seats
Dashlane vs RoboForm
Dashlane wins on: Modern design, dark web coverage, stronger mobile parity
RoboForm wins on: Much lower price, best-in-class form filling, lighter resource use
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1Password or Dashlane better?
1Password is better for price, vault structure, and family sharing. Dashlane is better for breach monitoring, chat help, and its bundled VPN. Our pick is 1Password.
Is 1Password still free?
No. There is no free tier, only a 14 day free trial on personal plans. Paid access starts at $2.99 monthly for one person.
Has Dashlane been breached?
The company reports no breach to date. It holds ISO 27001 certification and has cleared a SOC 2 Type II audit, both verified by outside assessors.
How much does one password cost per year?
The Individual plan is $2.99 a month billed yearly, roughly $36. Families runs $4.99 monthly, Business $7.99 per user, and the Teams Starter Pack $19.95.
What is the most trustworthy password manager?
No single answer fits everyone. Both tools here use audited zero-knowledge designs and report clean breach records, which puts them near the top of any shortlist.
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