1Password vs Dashlane
1Password is password manager for individuals and teams with secure sharing and developer tools, while Dashlane is password manager with dark web monitoring, VPN, and automatic password changer. 1Password comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. 1Password is built for teams and families that want polished, secure password management, whereas Dashlane targets individuals wanting a polished password manager with vpn.
At a glance
|
1Password
|
Dashlane
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Teams and families that want polished, secure password management | Individuals wanting a polished password manager with VPN |
| Starting price | $2.99/mo | $4.99/mo |
| Free tier | — | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Free tier available | — | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Autofill | — | ✓ |
| Dark Web Monitoring | — | ✓ |
| Passkeys | ✓ | — |
| Password Generator | — | ✓ |
| SSH Keys | ✓ | — |
| Travel Mode | ✓ | — |
| VPN | — | ✓ |
| Vault Sharing | ✓ | — |
| Watchtower | ✓ | — |
1Password
Strengths
- Excellent UX across all platforms
- Watchtower alerts for breached passwords
- Developer tools (SSH keys, CLI)
- Strong team and family sharing
Weaknesses
- No free tier
- More expensive than some alternatives
- Not open source
- Subscription-only — no lifetime purchase
Dashlane
Strengths
- Password generator creates strong, unique passwords for every account
- Includes Dark Web Monitoring as a core feature, purpose-built for password manager workflows
- Free for 25 passwords on 1 device — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
- Established product with 14+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- If you forget your master password, recovery options are limited by design
- Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up
The bottom line
Pricing: 1Password starts at $2.99/mo. Dashlane starts at $4.99/mo. 1Password is the more affordable option.
Feature gaps: 1Password offers Passkeys, SSH Keys and Travel Mode that Dashlane lacks. Dashlane brings Autofill, Dark Web Monitoring and Password Generator that 1Password does not have.
Team fit: 1Password is geared toward any size teams, while Dashlane is aimed at individual users and small setups. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Where each tool shines: 1Password's biggest strengths are: excellent ux across all platforms. watchtower alerts for breached passwords. Dashlane's biggest strengths are: password generator creates strong, unique passwords for every account. includes dark web monitoring as a core feature, purpose-built for password manager workflows.
Watch out for: With 1Password, users commonly note that no free tier. With Dashlane, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
Choose 1Password if...
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams and families that want polished, secure password management
- You want to save on per-user costs — 1Password is $2.00/user/mo cheaper
- You specifically need Passkeys and SSH Keys
- You care about watchtower alerts for breached passwords
- Your team size fits the any size profile 1Password is designed for
Choose Dashlane if...
- You need a tool built for individuals wanting a polished password manager with vpn
- You specifically need Autofill and Dark Web Monitoring
- You care about includes dark web monitoring as a core feature, purpose-built for password manager workflows
- Your team size fits the individuals profile Dashlane is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for 25 passwords on 1 device
Looking for more options?
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