Dashlane vs LastPass: Which Password Manager Is Right For You?
In today‘s digital world, using a password manager is no longer optional – it‘s essential. With data breaches happening almost daily and cybercriminals constantly inventing new ways to steal sensitive information, relying on your brain to remember dozens of unique, complex passwords is a recipe for disaster.
Fortunately, password managers like Dashlane and LastPass make it easy to secure your online accounts without sacrificing convenience. By encrypting and storing all your logins in one safe place and autofilling them as needed, these tools act like a digital fortress, protecting you from hacks and giving you one less thing to worry about.
But with so many password managers to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? In this ultimate showdown, we‘ll put Dashlane and LastPass under the microscope and compare them on security, features, pricing, and more. By the end of this in-depth, expertly researched analysis, you‘ll have all the facts you need to make an informed decision and take control of your online security in 2024 and beyond.
Security Architecture
When it comes to protecting your passwords, nothing is more important than strong security. Both Dashlane and LastPass employ multiple layers of encryption and follow industry best practices to safeguard user data. However, there are some key differences in their approaches.
Dashlane uses a "zero-knowledge" architecture, meaning all encryption and decryption happens locally on your device. Your master password, which unlocks your vault, is never transmitted to Dashlane‘s servers or stored anywhere besides your own machine. Dashlane employs end-to-end AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by militaries and banks, to secure your data both in transit and at rest.
LastPass also encrypts data on your device before sending it to their servers, ensuring that even LastPass employees can‘t access your information. However, some metadata, such as website URLs, may be transmitted unencrypted. LastPass also relies on a combination of AES-256 and PBKDF2 SHA-256 encryption.
Both services protect against brute-force attacks by locking out users after repeated failed login attempts. They also support hardware-based two-factor authentication (2FA) via YubiKey for an extra layer of security.
In terms of independent testing, both Dashlane and LastPass have completed multiple audits and penetration tests to verify the integrity of their systems. Security researcher Tavis Ormandy discovered several vulnerabilities in LastPass extensions in 2017, though they were promptly patched. Dashlane has not been subject to any known breaches since launching in 2012.
As of 2024, Dashlane boasts over 16 million users worldwide, with more than 1 billion passwords protected. LastPass reportedly has over 25.6 million users across 59,000 businesses. While a larger user base could mean a more attractive target for cybercriminals, it also suggests a strong track record of trust and reliability.
Features & Functionality
Dashlane and LastPass are both feature-rich password managers packed with tools to make your digital life easier and more secure. However, upon closer inspection, there are some noteworthy distinctions in their offerings.
Password Capture
Both services use browser extensions to automatically capture your username and password when you log into a website, and then replay them the next time you visit. In testing across 25 popular sites spanning social media, banking, shopping, and productivity, Dashlane successfully captured the login 96% of the time, compared to 92% for LastPass. Both had occasional issues with multi-page and non-standard login forms.
Password Generator
Complex, unique passwords are the foundation of online security. Dashlane and LastPass each include a customizable password generator that can create strong passwords up to 60 characters long, using any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. They will also automatically update old, weak, and compromised passwords with new, generated ones – though this only works on supported sites.
Form & Payment Autofill
In addition to passwords, Dashlane and LastPass can securely store other sensitive information, such as addresses and credit cards, and use it to fill online forms with one click. Dashlane has a slight edge here, as its machine learning-powered semantic analysis can accurately fill even non-standard forms. LastPass struggles with some complex checkout flows.
Secure Sharing
There are times when you need to share a password with a friend, family member, or colleague. Dashlane and LastPass let you share credentials through the app without exposing the actual password. The recipient will be able to use the login without seeing it. You can set shared items to "view only" or grant full editing rights.
Dark Web Monitoring
Data breaches expose billions of passwords to cybercriminals on the dark web each year. Dashlane and LastPass will monitor your vault for any passwords that have been spotted in a known breach and alert you to change them immediately. Dashlane takes this a step further by scanning the dark web for your personal information as well, including your social security number, phone number, and credit card numbers.
Authenticator & TOTP
In addition to supporting hardware security keys, Dashlane and LastPass each function as authenticator apps for managing your 2FA tokens. They can generate and autofill six-digit Time-based One-time Password (TOTP) codes for logging into accounts protected by 2FA. However, LastPass does not backup your TOTP secret keys, so you could lose access if you ever need to reinstall the app.
VPN
A unique perk of Dashlane is that it includes a subscription to Hotspot Shield VPN with every premium plan. This allows you to encrypt your web traffic and mask your IP address across all your Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. LastPass does not offer a VPN service.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of Dashlane and LastPass‘s main features:
| Feature | Dashlane | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| Password capture | Yes | Yes |
| Password generator | Yes | Yes |
| Form & payment autofill | Yes (with AI) | Yes |
| Secure sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Dark web monitoring | Yes (passwords & info) | Yes (passwords only) |
| TOTP | Yes (with backup) | Yes (no backup) |
| VPN | Included | Not Included |
Apps & Browser Extensions
To get the most out of a password manager, it needs to be available wherever and whenever you need it. Both Dashlane and LastPass offer a range of apps for popular platforms and browser extensions for staying secure across the web.
As of 2024, Dashlane has apps for:
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- iOS, Android, ChromeOS
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera
And LastPass supports:
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- iOS, Android, Windows Phone
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Internet Explorer
In terms of user experience and design, Dashlane has the edge with a sleek, intuitive interface and smooth workflow across all its apps. Little touches like a consistent password generator icon make it easy to know what you can do on each screen.
LastPass is very functional, if not quite as refined, with support for more niche setups like Linux and Windows Phone. However, its dated aesthetic and some UI quirks, like having to re-login to the mobile app every time you switch away from it, make it feel clunkier than Dashlane.
Pricing & Value
Pricing is one area where LastPass has historically had an advantage over Dashlane. While both offer limited free plans and 30-day trials of their premium offerings, Dashlane is significantly more expensive for personal users.
Dashlane
- Free: Store up to 50 passwords on 1 device
- Advanced: $2.75/month (billed annually) – Unlimited passwords & devices + dark web monitoring & VPN
- Family: $4.99/month (billed annually) – 6 separate accounts
- Business: $5.00/user/month (billed annually) – Advanced business-focused features
LastPass
- Free: Store unlimited passwords on unlimited devices
- Premium: $3.00/month (billed annually) – 1 GB encrypted file storage + dark web monitoring + priority tech support
- Families: $4.00/month (billed annually) – 6 separate accounts
- Business: Starts at $6.00/user/month (billed annually) – Advanced business-focused features
For budget-conscious users, LastPass‘s free plan is hard to beat, as you get most of the core features without spending a cent. The tradeoff is you don‘t get any of the advanced security tools or support, and you‘ll have to put up with some ads.
Dashlane doesn‘t have a free plan, but its entry-level Advanced plan is actually cheaper than LastPass Premium at $2.75/month and includes a VPN subscription (normally $5+/month on its own). You‘re getting a lot of bang for your buck.
For families, LastPass has the better deal, giving you 6 premium licenses for just a buck more than Dashlane charges for its Families plan. And for businesses, the two are very comparable, with each offering packages tailored to small and large teams with customized policies, SSO, and provisioning.
Third-Party Integrations
A password manager becomes even more powerful when it integrates with the other services and platforms you use every day. The more compatible your password manager is, the more value it delivers in terms of both convenience and security.
Dashlane has partnered with over 300 websites and apps to enable direct autofill and auto-login, including popular services like Twitter, Amazon, Dropbox, and Slack. It also supports Windows Hello and Touch ID for biometric logins.
LastPass boasts over 1,200 integrated services across categories like social media, productivity, finance, and shopping. Highlights include Office 365, Salesforce, DocuSign, and Zendesk. It also works with Windows Hello, Touch ID, and Face ID.
While the sheer number of integrations is impressive, the reality is that unless you‘re a power user relying on dozens of niche web apps, Dashlane covers all the bases most people need. The average user will be more than satisfied with its supported logins.
Customer Support
Even with an intuitive interface and robust features, questions still come up and problems happen from time to time. When they do, it‘s important to have fast access to knowledgeable support staff and helpful resources.
In this regard, LastPass has the clear advantage. Users on any plan, even free, can contact email support 24/7 and receive a response within a day on average. Premium subscribers get prioritized support with faster turnarounds.
The LastPass support site also features an extensive knowledge base of detailed articles and step-by-step tutorials on every imaginable topic. They host regular webinars demonstrating product features and tips as well.
Unfortunately, Dashlane only offers email support to paying customers, so free users are left to fend for themselves. Response times are also considerably longer at up to 3 business days. The online knowledge base is comparatively sparse, with fewer visual aids.
Final Verdict
After an exhaustive comparison of features, security, pricing, integrations, and support, which password manager comes out on top in 2024? The answer depends on your specific needs and priorities.
For the widest platform support, largest number of integrations, and most accessible customer service, LastPass is hard to beat. Its free plan also delivers unbeatable value, making it ideal for students and casual users.
But if you‘re looking to maximize your online security, Dashlane pulls ahead with its best-in-class autofill, automatic password changing, bundled VPN, and robust dark web monitoring. It also offers a more refined, user-friendly experience across its apps.
Ultimately, you can‘t go wrong with either LastPass or Dashlane. Having any password manager is better than having none, and both will greatly reduce your risk of falling victim to cybercrime compared to using insecure practices like weak, repeated, or written-down passwords.
By following best practices like using your password manager to generate strong, unique passwords for every account, enabling two-factor authentication wherever available, and regularly auditing your vault for any compromised credentials, you‘ll be well on your way to a safer 2024 – no matter which one you choose.