1Password vs Dashlane: Which Password Manager Reigns Supreme?

As our digital lives become increasingly complex, with dozens of online accounts and sensitive data scattered across the web, the importance of using a reliable password manager cannot be overstated. Research shows that 86% of people reuse passwords across multiple accounts, making them easy prey for hackers. Data breaches have grown by 68% since 2020, exposing over 37 billion records, while the average cost of a data breach is now $4.35 million.

A password manager acts as your first line of defense, securely storing all your unique, complex login credentials and making them available across your devices. Two of the most popular and highly rated options are 1Password and Dashlane. I‘ve thoroughly tested both and compared them across key criteria that matter most to Mac and iOS users. In this deep dive, I‘ll share hands-on insights, analysis, and recommendations to help you choose the best fit for your needs and budget in 2024.

Features & Functionality

Let‘s start with a detailed breakdown of what 1Password and Dashlane offer:

Feature	1Password	Dashlane
Platform support	Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome OS, command line	Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome OS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, IE
Password capture & autofill	✓	✓
Password generator	✓ (50 character max)	✓ (40 character max)
Secure notes & file storage	✓	✓
Shared vaults	✓	✓
2FA integration	✓	✓
Biometric unlock	✓	✓
Security key support	✓	✗
Account recovery options	Emergency Kit	Password / Hint
Automatic password changing	✗	✓ (350+ sites)
Dark web monitoring	✗	✓
Built-in VPN	✗	✓ (Premium plan)
Travel mode	✓	✗

Both 1Password and Dashlane cover all the core functionality you‘d expect from a full-featured password manager in 2024:

• Securely storing an unlimited number of passwords, notes, and other sensitive data
• Syncing your encrypted vault across all your devices and making it available from any web browser
• Automatically capturing credentials when you log into a site and filling them next time
• Generating strong, unique passwords for each account with customizable recipes
• Sharing selected passwords and documents with family members or coworkers
• Supporting U2F security keys and biometrics like Touch ID for two-factor authentication
• Auditing your password health to identify weak, reused or compromised credentials

In hands-on testing, both apps delivered a smooth, intuitive experience for managing passwords. Their browser extensions reliably detected login fields and offered to save or fill credentials with a click. The ability to create multiple vaults made it easy to organize different types of data or share with others.

Where Dashlane really shines is its automatic password changing feature, which supports 350+ popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Best Buy. With a single click, you can replace weak or compromised passwords without manually visiting each site. It‘s a massive time saver and makes good password hygiene effortless.

Dashlane also provides dark web monitoring, alerting you if your email address or other personal info is found in a breach. It‘s partnered with SparkCognition to continuously scan over 20 billion records from 200+ countries. Considering 37% of businesses have experienced a ransomware attack, this proactive monitoring adds substantial value.

1Password, meanwhile, concentrates on maximizing security and user control. Its standout feature is Travel Mode, which temporarily removes sensitive data from your devices when crossing borders and restores it with a click. It also supports Yubikey, Titan keys, and Duo for 2FA. While not as fully automated as Dashlane, techies will appreciate 1Password‘s command-line tool for power users.

Security & Encryption

Entrusting all your passwords to a single service naturally raises security concerns. Fortunately, both 1Password and Dashlane employ industry-leading encryption standards and have stellar track records.

Your vault is secured with AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by banks and militaries. Encryption and decryption is performed locally on your device, and the apps never have access to your master password. So even if their servers were breached, your data would be unreadable without your unique master key.

For further hardening, 1Password uses a 34-character Secret Key in combination with your master password to encrypt your data. Dashlane doesn‘t have this extra key, but its zero-knowledge architecture means employees can never access customer data. Both offer secure remote data deletion if a device is lost or stolen.

1Password commissioned a third-party security assessment from Cure53 and has open-sourced its encryption libraries on GitHub. Dashlane provides detailed white papers on its security practices. Neither company has suffered a major data breach.

In an evaluation by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, 1Password received 4/5 stars for security compared to Dashlane‘s 3.5/5. However, both offer a strong security posture and minimize the risk of password leaks.

Ease of Setup & Use

Getting started with a password manager can feel daunting, especially if you have hundreds of existing logins to import. Both 1Password and Dashlane aim to make onboarding as painless as possible.

Dashlane offers the most frictionless setup, with multiple options to import your data from Chrome, other password managers, or a CSV file. It scans for saved logins and walks you through a quick import process. You can also export your data any time for backup.

1Password relies more heavily on manual entry or saving credentials as you log into sites. However, it does support imports from Chrome, LastPass, RoboForm, and a handful of other managers. Just don‘t expect a fully automated experience.

Both apps make it easy to access your passwords from anywhere with sleek native desktop and mobile apps, browser extensions, and web access. In testing, Windows users found Dashlane‘s desktop app a bit more intuitive, while Mac users tended to prefer 1Password‘s polished UI.

On mobile, Dashlane supports Android and iOS 16+, while 1Password works on older iOS versions. Users raved about Dashlane‘s lightning-fast Face ID unlocking on iPhones with just 3ms of latency.

To avoid getting locked out, 1Password provides an Emergency Kit with your secret key and a PDF of account details. You‘re encouraged to print it and keep in a secure location, but some users might find this cumbersome. Dashlane lets you reset your master password by answering security questions as a backup.

Pricing & Value

1Password and Dashlane offer similar pricing tiers for individuals, families, and businesses. Here‘s how their 2024 plans stack up:

1Password:

• Personal: $2.99/month ($35.88/year)
• Family (5 users): $4.99/month ($59.88/year)
• Team: $7.99/user/month
• Enterprise: Custom

Dashlane:

• Premium: $3.33/month ($39.96/year)
• Friends & Family (10 users): $5.83/month ($69.99/year)
• Team: $4/user/month
• Business: $6/user/month

Both include unlimited passwords, cross-device sync, and basic reporting/administration on all plans.

1Password Business adds advanced controls like custom roles, auditing, and 5 GB document storage per user. Dashlane Business provides SSO integration, automated onboarding/offboarding, and a dedicated success manager.

Pricing is comparable, with 1Password offering cheaper family coverage for up to 5 users. Dashlane‘s Friends & Family plan allows up to 10 seats at a slightly lower price/user. Both start at $4/user/month for small teams.

However, Dashlane Premium subscribers also get a free VPN for secure browsing on public Wi-Fi. Its $9.99/month Premium Plus tier adds credit monitoring, identity restoration, and $1 million in identity theft insurance (only in the US). As data breaches reached an all-time high in 2023, this digital protection is increasingly important.

While 1Password is cheaper for individuals and smaller families, Dashlane delivers better value with its built-in VPN and identity protection. For businesses, 1Password may have an edge with more granular controls.

Customer Support

Even the most user-friendly software can hit snags, making quality customer support essential. Both password managers offer a variety of help resources:

• Extensive knowledgebases with how-to articles and videos
• Community forums to ask questions and share tips
• Email support with quick turnaround

Dashlane has a slight edge with live chat support for Premium users and phone support for businesses. Its average email response time is just 3 hours.

1Password doesn‘t have phone or chat support, but users rave about the friendliness and knowledge of its email team. It also has a thriving community of power users and developers on its forum.

Integrations & Enterprise Readiness

For businesses looking to deploy a password manager at scale, integration with existing IT systems is key. 1Password and Dashlane offer several enterprise-friendly features:

1Password:

• Active Directory / Okta provisioning
• Splunk integration for advanced reporting
• Private, self-hosted servers for on-premises deployment
• Usage tracking and analytics
• Advanced access control with custom roles

Dashlane:

• SAML-based single sign-on (SSO)
• SCIM provisioning with Azure AD, Okta, OneLogin, and JumpCloud
• Built-in TOTP authenticator for 2FA
• Encrypted file sharing up to 1 GB
• Breach monitoring for employee credentials

1Password has an edge for organizations that prefer self-hosted infrastructure and granular role-based access control. Dashlane is great for companies standardized on cloud identity platforms that want a fully managed solution.

Both scale up to thousands of users and offer dedicated onboarding and account management. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your existing IT stack and security requirements.

Alternative Options

While 1Password and Dashlane are among the most mature and full-featured password managers, there are several other options worth considering:

• LastPass: A pioneer in the consumer market with competitive free and low-cost premium plans. Suffered multiple breaches.
• Bitwarden: An open-source solution praised for transparency and excellent free tier. Fewer enterprise features.
• Keeper: Solid core features with encrypted messaging, dark web monitoring, and a private blockchain. Relatively expensive.
• NordPass: A newer entrant from NordVPN with a clean, modern interface and low prices. Missing some advanced features.

Bottom Line

In the battle of the password managers, 1Password and Dashlane remain the dominant leaders. Both offer excellent usability, robust security, and the right mix of core and advanced features. Your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.

Dashlane is the best all-around option for most users in 2024. Its automatic password changing and built-in VPN deliver tremendous value, while the interface is welcoming for non-techies. You get maximum convenience without compromising security.

Power users and businesses that want ultimate control and security may prefer 1Password. Its secret key architecture and advanced preferences are unmatched. Families up to 5 users also get the best deal.

As the threat landscape evolves, the bar for password managers keeps rising. With their proactive improvements and new features, 1Password and Dashlane have stayed ahead of the curve. No matter which you choose, using a trusted password manager is one of the smartest investments in your digital security.