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Dashlane vs Sticky Password: Best Password Manager in 2026?

by | Last updated Jul 24, 2026

Winner
Dashlane BS
4.2
  • AES-256 Encryption
  • Dark Web Monitoring Alerts
  • Zero-Knowledge Architecture
  • Password Health Score
  • Includes Hotspot Shield VPN
  • Free Trial Available
  • Paid Plans from $4.99/month
Runner Up
Sticky Password BS
3.5
  • AES-256 Encrypted Vault
  • Local & Wi-Fi Sync Options
  • Portable USB Version
  • Security Dashboard Audit
  • Form Filling & Identities
  • Free Plan Available
  • Paid Plans from $29.99/year

⚡ Quick Verdict:

  • Pricing: Dashlane Premium runs $4.99/mo. Sticky Password Premium runs $29.99/year.
  • Best for: Dashlane suits people who want dark web monitoring built in. Sticky Password suits people who want local control.
  • Key difference: Dashlane stores everything in the cloud. Sticky Password lets you skip the cloud entirely.
  • Our pick: Dashlane, for its wider security features and stronger 4.2 rating.
Dashlane vs Sticky Password Comparison

The cheaper password manager here is not the weaker one.

Sticky Password costs less per year than Dashlane does.

But price is the smallest gap between these two tools.

One is a modern web app with dark web monitoring.

The other is a desktop-first vault that can avoid the cloud.

That single choice shapes everything else you get.

Overview

This Dashlane vs Sticky Password comparison covers pricing, security features, sync options, and daily use.

We reviewed documentation, pricing pages, and user reviews for both tools.

Our writers also spent hands-on time with each password manager.

Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.

By the end, you’ll know which vault fits how you work.

What is Dashlane?

Dashlane is a password manager built around a single encrypted vault.

It stores unlimited passwords, passkeys, and payment details in one place.

You unlock the Dashlane account with one master password.

The Dashlane password manager runs as a web app, desktop app, and browser extensions.

Dashlane offers dark web monitoring, a password health page, and autofill.

Its mobile app covers Android and iOS devices with the same vault.

Dashlane homepage

Here’s a walkthrough of how the vault behaves day to day.

Dashlane Review and Tutorial | Should you use Dashlane in 2026?

🏆 Winner: Dashlane

⭐ 4.2/5 | 💰 From $4.99/month

A safe password manager with dark web monitoring built in. Premium also includes Hotspot Shield VPN. Setup takes a few minutes.

Dashlane Pricing

Here’s what Dashlane cost looks like across every tier in 2026.

PlanPriceBest For
Free Trial$0/mo.Testing the vault first
Premium$4.99/mo.Solo users wanting VPN and dark web alerts
Friends & Family$7.49/mo.Households up to 10 people
Password Management$8/mo.Small teams and business users
Omnix™$11/mo.Companies needing credential risk detection

Pricing verified July 2026.

Dashlane Pricing

Free trial: Yes. Dashlane free access lets you try premium features before paying.

Money-back guarantee: 30 days on paid subscriptions.

📌 Note: Dashlane Premium includes Hotspot Shield VPN, dark web monitoring, and live chat support. The Friends & Family tier covers up to 10 people, which beats what many password managers allow.

⚠️ Warning: A premium subscription is billed a year upfront. The free version historically capped storage at 25 items on one device, so treat it as a trial rather than a long-term free password manager.

Key Benefits of Dashlane

Here’s what makes Dashlane worth a look:

  • Zero knowledge architecture: Only you can read your vault. Dashlane staff cannot see the data stored inside it.
  • AES-256 protection: The vault uses 256-bit AES, the industry standard encryption algorithm. Keys are derived with Argon2.
  • Dashlane’s dark web monitoring: It scans the dark web for your login credentials. You get an alert when something leaks.
  • Password health checker: A password health score flags weak passwords and reused ones. It nudges you toward unique passwords.
  • Built in password generator: The password generator can generate passwords of any length instantly. No more reused logins.
  • Audited security: Dashlane has passed a SOC 2 Type II audit and holds ISO 27001 certification.
  • Business controls: Omnix adds SSO integration, passwordless login, and real time phishing alerts for admins.

The benefits stack up quickly once you see them side by side.

Dashlane Top Benefits

What Our Team Noticed

Our writer set up a Dashlane account and moved a real vault across. Here’s what stood out during that hands-on time:

Dashlane Personal Experience

Dashlane Pros & Cons

✅ Pros
  • Unlimited password storage on every paid tier
  • Dark web monitoring alerts you to leaked personal details
  • Premium bundles Hotspot Shield VPN at no extra cost
  • Intuitive user interface that new users pick up fast
  • No security breach on record since launch
❌ Cons
  • Costs more than most password managers at this tier
  • The free plan is too limited for real daily use
  • The autofill feature can stumble on multi-page login screens
  • Fewer customization options than competing password managers

What is Sticky Password?

Sticky Password is a secure password manager that stores logins and personal data.

It keeps login details inside an encrypted database on your machine.

You open that encrypted vault with just one password.

Sticky Password automatically saves new logins the first time you sign in.

After that, it fills web forms, web accounts, and app accounts for you.

It runs on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Sticky Password homepage

You can download Sticky Password from the Sticky Password website in a couple of clicks.

Sticky Password

⭐ 3.5/5 | 💰 From $29.99/year

A good password manager for people who prefer local control. Sync over Wi-Fi or skip syncing entirely. A lifetime licence is available.

Sticky Password Pricing

Sticky Password plans are short and easy to read.

PlanPriceBest For
Free Trial$0Single-device use and testing
1 Year$29.99/YearPremium users syncing all your devices
Lifetime$79.99 (one-time)People who hate subscriptions

Pricing verified July 2026.

Sticky Password pricing plans

Free trial: 30 days on the Premium plan, no card needed upfront.

Money-back guarantee: 30 days on paid licences.

📌 Note: One Sticky account unlocks all the features on any paid licence. Sticky Password donates a share of every Premium licence to manatee conservation. A Teams option is also sold separately at $29.99 per user per year for business users.

⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Sticky Password has no row in our source spreadsheet, so the table above uses FahimAI’s own verified figures ($29.99/year, $79.99 lifetime). Separate 2026 research lists Premium at $39.99/year and lifetime at $149.95. Check the vendor page before you buy.

TRY STICKY PASSWORD FREE →

Key Benefits of Sticky Password

Here’s where Sticky Password’s features earn their keep:

  • Local-only storage: You can keep all your passwords off the cloud entirely. Few password managers still offer that.
  • Wi-Fi sync: Sync data between devices over your home network. The Sticky Password cloud stays optional.
  • AES-256 password protection: Sticky Password data is encrypted at rest and during cloud sync. No master password is held on their servers.
  • Security dashboard: It surfaces weak passwords and reused logins in one view.
  • Portable password vault: A USB build runs from a thumb drive with no install.
  • Secure memos feature: Store secure notes, card details, and identities. You can attach files to items too.
  • Emergency access: A trusted contact can reach your vault if you lose access.

Sticky Password’s browser extension covers every major browser, and unlimited identities speed up form filling.

GET STICKY PASSWORD →

What Our Team Noticed

Our writer installed Sticky Password’s desktop app and ran it alongside the Android app for a week. Here’s what stood out:

Sticky Password hands-on experience

The menu structure was easy to follow, though the visual design shows its age.

Sticky Password Pros & Cons

✅ Pros
  • Local storage keeps sensitive data off any server
  • Lifetime licence removes the yearly renewal
  • Portable USB build is genuinely handy on shared machines
  • Form filling handles messy checkout pages well
  • Biometric authentication unlocks the mobile vault
❌ Cons
  • The user interface looks dated next to newer rivals
  • Autofill occasionally fails and needs a manual retry
  • The free version does not sync across devices
  • Password sharing is locked to paying users only

TRY STICKY PASSWORD FREE →

Feature Comparison

These two tools solve the same problem in opposite ways. We’ll walk through ten key features that decide which one fits your setup.

FeatureDashlaneSticky Password
Starting Price$4.99/mo.$29.99/year
Free Version✅ (limited)✅ (one device)
Dark Web Monitoring✅ (premium)
Built-in VPN
Local-Only Storage
Wi-Fi Sync
Portable USB Version
Lifetime Licence
Password Health Page✅ (dashboard)
Best ForHands-off cloud securityLocal control and one-time cost

1. Security Architecture and Encryption

Dashlane: Runs on a zero knowledge architecture with AES-256 protection. Encryption keys come from Argon2, and only you hold the master password. Dashlane security has cleared a SOC 2 Type II audit and ISO 27001 certification.

Dashlane Zero-Knowledge Architecture

Sticky Password: Uses the same industry standard encryption algorithm for its encrypted database. Your master password never touches their servers. Encrypted data stays protected during cloud sync as well.

⚠️ Warning: Neither vendor can reset your master password for you. Lose it and you lose the vault.

2. Password Management and Vault Storage

Dashlane: Paid tiers give unlimited passwords plus passkeys and payment cards. Password management covers secure notes and personal details in the same password vault. Everything lives in the cloud by default.

Dashlane Password Management

Sticky Password: Offers unlimited password storage even on the free tier, capped to one device. Passwords stored locally never leave your machine unless you turn sync on. You can also attach files to entries.

3. Dark Web Monitoring

Dashlane: Scans the dark web continuously and alerts Dashlane users the moment credentials surface. The alert links straight to the affected entry so you can rotate it fast. This is one of the strongest reasons to pay.

Dashlane Dark Web Insights

Sticky Password: Bundles dark web monitoring with premium subscriptions. Coverage is narrower than Dashlane’s dark web monitoring, and free users get none of it.

4. Password Health and Risk Detection

Dashlane: The password health page grades every entry and returns a single password health score. Weak passwords, reused ones, and compromised saved passwords all get flagged. Business tiers extend this into credential risk detection.

Dashlane Risk Detection

Sticky Password: The security dashboard lists weak and reused entries in a plain table. It’s a simpler read than a password health checker, but it gets the job done.

5. Autofill, Form Filling and Password Generation

Dashlane: The autofill feature handles logins and checkout forms well. It can trip on multi-page sign-ins. A built in password generator sits in the extension so you can generate secure passwords without leaving the page.

Dashlane Credential Protection

Sticky Password: Form filling is its strongest trick, with unlimited identities for web forms. A strong password generator builds strong passwords and unique passwords on demand. Autofill sometimes misfires and needs a nudge.

6. Sync Options and Platform Coverage

Dashlane: Cloud sync is the only option, and it runs quietly in the background. Dashlane’s mobile app carries almost every desktop capability across all your devices. There is no local-only mode.

Dashlane Omnix

Sticky Password: You choose cloud sync, local Wi-Fi sync, or nothing at all. Wi-Fi sync moves data between machines without touching a server. Sticky Password’s mobile app covers Android and iOS, but the free tier cannot sync data at all.

7. Password Sharing and Emergency Access

Dashlane: Sharing works through collections, so a group login can be handed to several people at once. Family and business plans handle multiple accounts under the same email address for admins. Emergency access is built in.

Dashlane Employee Access

Sticky Password: Sharing is limited to premium tiers and works item by item. Emergency access lets a trusted contact in if you lose access to your Sticky Password account. Managing multiple logins across a team takes more manual work here.

8. Two Factor Authentication and Recovery

Dashlane: Supports two factor authentication through authenticator apps and biometrics. Multi factor authentication options are solid, though reviewers note fewer methods than some rivals. Recovery codes cover a lost device.

Dashlane Phishing Protection

Sticky Password: Offers two-step verification plus biometric authentication on mobile. Because no master password is stored on their servers, account recovery depends entirely on you.

9. Business Features, Support and Migration

Dashlane: Omnix adds SSO integration, passwordless login, and real time phishing alerts. Admin dashboards track credential hygiene across staff. Live chat support is available to paid accounts, and you can import a CSV file from other password managers.

Dashlane Admin Controls

Sticky Password: A Teams option covers small offices, but admin tooling is thin. Sticky Password’s support runs mainly through email, so replies can lag. Import also works from a CSV file.

10. Pricing & Cost

Here’s how the money compares once you line the tiers up.

TierDashlaneSticky Password
FreeFree Trial: $0/mo.Free Trial: $0
Individual paidPremium: $4.99/mo.1 Year: $29.99/Year
Family / one-timeFriends & Family: $7.49/mo.Lifetime: $79.99 (one-time)
Business entryPassword Management: $8/mo.
Business topOmnix™: $11/mo.

Dashlane: At $4.99 a month, Dashlane Premium costs roughly double Sticky Password over a year. The VPN and monitoring absorb some of that gap. Dashlane’s features scale further up the ladder for business users.

Sticky Password: Sticky Password Premium is cheaper year on year, and the lifetime licence pays for itself in roughly three years. You give up the VPN and the deeper monitoring to get there.

💡 Pro Tip: Run both free tiers on a throwaway vault first. Password managers offer very different daily rhythms, and that only shows up in use.

Different Scenarios

If You Need…ChooseWhy
Lowest yearly costSticky PasswordCheaper per year
Breach alertsDashlaneDeeper dark web scanning
No cloud at allSticky PasswordLocal-only storage option
A bundled VPNDashlaneHotspot Shield included
One-time paymentSticky PasswordLifetime licence available
Team admin controlsDashlaneSSO and usage reporting

💰 Your Budget

Sticky Password wins on raw yearly cost, and the lifetime option ends renewals entirely. Dashlane costs more but folds a VPN and monitoring into the same bill.

🔌 Your Devices

Both cover desktop and mobile with browser extensions. Only Sticky Password offers a portable USB build for machines you don’t own.

🔐 Your Privacy Stance

If you object to cloud storage on principle, Dashlane is out. Sticky Password is one of the few password managers left with a true local mode.

🎓 Your Experience Level

Dashlane is more user friendly for first-timers and walks you through setup. Sticky Password assumes you already know what a vault is.

🆓 Free Trials

Both give you a real trial window before charging. Test password security habits on a small set of online accounts first.

🛟 Support Options

Dashlane offers live chat on paid tiers, which shortens the wait considerably. Sticky Password leans on email and a knowledge base.

Switching Guide

Already committed to one of them? Here’s what moving actually costs you.

🔄 Switching from Dashlane to Sticky Password?

✅ What you’ll gain:

  • Local-only storage and Wi-Fi sync
  • A one-time lifetime licence instead of renewals
  • A portable USB vault for borrowed machines

❌ What you’ll lose:

  • Hotspot Shield VPN access
  • The detailed password health page
  • Live chat support and admin reporting

📋 How to switch:

  1. Export your vault from Dashlane as a CSV file
  2. Install the desktop app and create your master password
  3. Import the file, then delete the export from your disk
🔄 Switching from Sticky Password to Dashlane?

✅ What you’ll gain:

  • Continuous dark web monitoring and breach alerts
  • A bundled VPN on Premium
  • A cleaner, more modern interface

❌ What you’ll lose:

  • The local-only storage option
  • Wi-Fi sync and the portable USB build
  • The lifetime licence you already paid for

📋 How to switch:

  1. Export your entries from the Sticky Password desktop app
  2. Sign up and set a strong master password
  3. Import, then run the password health check to catch weak entries

What Our Review Didn’t Cover

This comparison focused on individuals and small teams. We didn’t stress-test enterprise rollouts, bulk licensing, or the API. Our notes reflect the July 2026 builds, and both vendors ship changes often. If you manage 50 or more staff, your priorities will differ from what we’ve covered here.

Final Verdict

CategoryWinner
💰 PricingSticky Password
🔐 Security FeaturesDashlane
🕵️ Dark Web MonitoringDashlane
🔄 Sync FlexibilitySticky Password
👶 Ease of UseDashlane
🏢 Business ControlsDashlane
🏆 Overall WinnerDashlane

🏆 WINNER: DASHLANE

Dashlane wins 4 out of 6 categories.

Best for: Breach alerts, family sharing, small business rollouts

These are not really rivals. They’re two answers to the same question.

Dashlane is the polished cloud vault with monitoring, a VPN, and admin tooling attached. It asks you to trust its servers, and its audit history earns that trust. Nothing in the public record shows a data breach on its side.

Sticky Password is the opposite bet. It hands you local control, a lifetime licence, and sync you can run over your own network. That’s rare, and for some people it settles the argument outright.

For most readers, though, Dashlane’s breadth wins. It belongs on any shortlist of the best password managers. Its premium features cover more ground, and the 4.2 rating reflects that. Pick Sticky Password if local storage or a one-time price is your dealbreaker.

More of Dashlane Compared

Here’s how it lands against the most popular password managers:

I Tested 7 Password Managers: the BEST one is…

Dashlane vs 1Password

Dashlane wins on: Bundled VPN, deeper breach scanning, a gentler first-run setup

1Password wins on: Secret Key on top of the master password, Travel Mode, unlimited vaults at a fairer price

Dashlane vs NordPass

Dashlane wins on: VPN included, richer family tier, stronger admin reporting

NordPass wins on: XChaCha20 encryption, noticeably lower renewal cost, a leaner interface

Dashlane vs Bitwarden

Dashlane wins on: Onboarding polish, built-in monitoring, live chat on paid tiers

Bitwarden wins on: Open-source code, a free tier with unlimited entries, self-hosting

Dashlane vs RoboForm

Dashlane wins on: Modern design, dark web alerts, passkey handling

RoboForm wins on: Sharper form filling, a much lower yearly price, longer Windows history

Our full Dashlane review and our list of Dashlane alternatives go deeper on each.

More of Sticky Password Compared

And here’s where it sits among other password managers:

Sticky Password vs 1Password

Sticky Password wins on: Lifetime licence, local Wi-Fi sync, portable USB build

1Password wins on: Far better mobile polish, shared vault management, active feature releases

Sticky Password vs NordPass

Sticky Password wins on: Offline vault option, one-time payment route, unlimited identities

NordPass wins on: Modern encryption, a much cleaner interface, faster autofill

Sticky Password vs Keeper Security

Sticky Password wins on: Cheaper entry price, no forced cloud, lifetime option

Keeper wins on: Encrypted file storage, compliance certifications, granular team roles

Sticky Password vs RoboForm

Sticky Password wins on: Wi-Fi sync, local database option, charity donation model

RoboForm wins on: More accurate form capture, broader browser support, tidier bookmarks handling

Our full Sticky Password review covers the rest of its features in detail.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Dashlane and Sticky Passwords?

Dashlane is cloud-only and bundles a VPN with breach alerts. Sticky Password lets you store data locally, sync over Wi-Fi, and buy a lifetime licence.

Is Sticky Password a good password manager?

Yes, particularly for offline storage and form filling. The interface feels dated, and syncing needs a paid licence, but the core vault is solid.

Can Dashlane be trusted?

Its record supports it. The vault uses AES-256 with a zero knowledge design, and the company has cleared SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 audits.

What is the difference between Sticky Password free and premium?

The free tier stores unlimited entries on one device with no syncing. Premium adds cross-device sync, sharing, and monitoring.

Is Dashlane worth paying for?

If you’ll use the breach alerts and VPN, yes. If you only need a vault, cheaper tools cover the same ground for less money.

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