Password managers · Head to head
1Password vs Dashlane
Two premium-priced veterans. One has kept justifying its price; the other increasingly has to argue for it.
1Password
9.0/10vs
Dashlane
8.2/10| 1Password | Dashlane | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | All-round excellence, families + business | Polished individual experience with extras |
| Security model | AES-256 + Secret Key | AES-256, Argon2, zero-knowledge |
| Individual price | ~$2.99/mo | ~$4.99/mo |
| Free tier | No | Yes — very limited items |
| Extras | Travel Mode, Watchtower | Dark web monitoring, VPN (higher tiers) |
| Business admin | Mature and deep | Capable, second-tier |
| Passkeys | Full support | Full support — early mover |
Where 1Password wins — and where Dashlane wins
1Password
- More security architecture for less money
- Deeper family and business administration
- Secret Key model is a genuine differentiator
Dashlane
- Bundled VPN and monitoring appeal to some buyers
- Polished browser extension with strong phishing alerts
- Generous family headcount (10 members)
Our verdict
At Dashlane's price point it competes directly with 1Password, and 1Password wins on architecture, admin depth and price. Dashlane remains a fine manager — particularly if the VPN bundle appeals — but it is the second-best argument in its own price bracket.
How we compare: assessments draw on vendor documentation, published pricing, product testing where noted, and our published methodology. Prices are indicative entry-level figures — confirm current plans with vendors. We may earn commission from links on this page; it never affects our verdicts.