The 9 Best Dashlane Alternatives for Secure Password Management
Dashlane is one of the most popular and highly-rated password managers on the market today. It offers an impressive array of features to help you generate, store, and autofill strong passwords across all your accounts and devices. Notable features include:
- Automatic password generation and autofill
- Secure sharing of passwords and notes
- Dark web monitoring for data breaches
- VPN for anonymous browsing
- Support for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
Dashlane offers a limited free plan for up to 50 passwords on a single device. The Premium plan costs $6.49/month (billed annually) and unlocks sync across unlimited devices, secure file storage, and more. Dashlane also offers a Family plan ($8.99/month for 6 users) and Business plans for teams.
While Dashlane is an excellent choice for many users, it‘s not the only option. You may be looking for a cheaper or free alternative, more advanced security features, or support for less common platforms like Linux or self-hosting. Fortunately, there are several great Dashlane alternatives that cater to different needs and preferences.
Why Use an Alternative to Dashlane?
There are a few key reasons why you might want to consider an alternative password manager:
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Cost. Dashlane Premium costs $6.49/month, which can add up over time. If you‘re on a tight budget, you may prefer a cheaper or free alternative.
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Platform support. While Dashlane supports Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, it lacks support for Linux and self-hosting. If those are important to you, you‘ll need to look elsewhere.
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Security model. Dashlane uses strong AES-256 encryption and has a zero-knowledge policy, but some users may prefer open source alternatives that can be audited by third parties.
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Unique features. Dashlane offers an excellent array of features, but it may lack some specific functionality that you need, such as KeePass‘ support for portable USB drives or Blur‘s masked credit cards.
So which password managers offer compelling alternatives to Dashlane? Let‘s dive in and compare the top 9 options.
The 9 Best Dashlane Alternatives
1. LastPass
Founded in 2008, LastPass is one of the most established and popular password managers available. It offers a comprehensive array of features for free, making it our top pick for a Dashlane alternative overall.
LastPass matches Dashlane in all core areas: secure password generation, autofill, password sharing, security audits, and multi-device sync. But amazingly, LastPass offers all of these features for free for individuals. You can optionally upgrade to LastPass Premium ($36/year) for 1 GB encrypted file storage, enhanced MFA options, and priority tech support.
LastPass‘ free plan is leagues ahead of Dashlane‘s 50-password limited free offering. You get access to all of LastPass‘ core features on unlimited devices. This makes LastPass Free the best alternative for anyone who wants a full-featured password manager without the cost.
Encryption and Security
LastPass uses AES-256 encryption to protect your vault, with PBKDF2 SHA-256 for key derivation and salted hashes to ensure brute force cracking attempts are impractical. Your master password is never sent to LastPass‘ servers. All encryption and decryption happens locally on your device.
LastPass has suffered a few security breaches over the years (2011, 2015, 2016, 2022), but none exposed customer vault data thanks to LastPass‘ strong encryption model. The company has been transparent about these incidents and continues to strengthen its protections.
Standout Features
- Offline access to password vault
- Credit card & address autofill
- Username/password autofill on apps (Android & iOS)
- Password generator integrated into web browser
- Security dashboard to audit passwords
- Dark web monitoring for data breaches
- Emergency access to share vault with trusted contact
- Support for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux
Pros:
- Free plan offers unlimited passwords & devices
- Simple, intuitive web and mobile interfaces
- Wide compatibility across devices and browsers
- Robust autofill for websites and mobile apps
- Actionable, user-friendly security audits
- Affordable $36/year premium plan adds file storage & MFA
Cons:
- No fully offline storage option (except Android)
- Experienced a few security incidents (but no password vaults breached)
- Free plan lacks 1 GB storage & emergency access
2. 1Password
1Password is a popular, polished password manager that goes head-to-head with Dashlane‘s premium plans. It matches Dashlane in core functionality while adding some unique extras, making it our top pick for a paid Dashlane alternative.
Feature-wise, 1Password checks all the boxes: secure password generation, autofill, encrypted syncing across devices, secure password sharing, and security auditing. It offers native apps for Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Chrome OS, along with browser extensions and a command-line tool.
1Password stands out with its unique Secret Key system, which enhances encryption by combining your master password with a randomly generated 128-bit key. Your Secret Key is stored locally on your devices and never sent to 1Password‘s servers. This provides an extra line of defense even if 1Password‘s servers were compromised.
Encryption and Security
All of your 1Password data is protected with AES-256 encryption, using your Master Password and Secret Key to derive a 256-bit encryption key. 1Password employs a unique "two secret key derivation" (2SKD) system, which combines your Master Password and Secret Key using secure remote password (SRP) protocols. Your Master Password and Secret Key are never sent to 1Password‘s servers.
1Password has never suffered a data breach. The company hires independent security firms to conduct audits and penetration tests, and it publishes detailed security whitepapers explaining its encryption model.
Standout Features
- Support for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome OS
- Unique Secret Key enhances encryption security
- "Watchtower" tool audits passwords and alerts to breaches
- Large-type mode for easy readability
- "Travel Mode" temporarily removes vaults from devices
- 365-day item history to restore deleted/changed items
- Command-line tool for advanced management
Pricing
- Personal: $2.99/month for unlimited passwords, 1 GB document storage, 2FA
- Families: $4.99/month for 5 users, unlimited shared vaults, 1 GB storage per user
- Business: $7.99/user/month for 20 GB storage, 5 guest accounts, activity logs
Pros:
- Intuitive, well-designed apps across all major platforms
- Advanced encryption with unique Secret Key
- Wide browser support including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave
- Robust family and business plans with many admin tools
- Useful extras like Travel Mode, large type mode, and command line access
Cons:
- No free plan; 30-day trial requires credit card
- Slightly more expensive than some alternatives
- Lacks a few Dashlane features like automatic password changing and VPN
Dashlane Alternatives Comparison Table
Here‘s a quick comparison of key features across the top 5 Dashlane alternatives:
| Dashlane | LastPass | 1Password | BitWarden | KeePass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Limited | Robust | No | Robust | Yes |
| Premium Cost | $6.49/mo | $3/mo | $2.99/mo | $10/yr | N/A |
| Password Audit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on |
| Password Changer | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Local Storage | No | Android | No | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypted Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on |
| Open Source | No | No | No | Clients | Yes |
| Masked Emails | Add-on | Add-on | No | Add-on | No |
As you can see, each alternative offers a unique mix of features and pricing. LastPass is the only option that comes close to Dashlane‘s feature set for free. 1Password is slightly cheaper than Dashlane and offers a similar premium experience. BitWarden and KeePass cater to users who prioritize open source and local storage.
How to Switch from Dashlane to an Alternative
Once you‘ve chosen your preferred Dashlane alternative, here are the key steps to make the switch:
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Export your Dashlane data. Open the Dashlane desktop app, go to "File > Export Data", select "Unsecured archive (readable)", and save the exported ZIP file. This will contain CSV files with your logins, notes, etc.
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Import your data into your new password manager. Each app has a slightly different import process, but most support importing from CSV files. Here are guides for a few popular options:
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Install the browser extensions for your new password manager. This step is crucial to enable autofill functionality in your web browser. Just visit your password manager‘s website and follow the prompts to add their official extension to Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
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Download and log into mobile apps. Grab the iOS or Android app for your new password manager and log in using your account details. Your password vault will automatically sync, giving you access across devices.
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Disable Dashlane. Once you‘ve confirmed that your data is available in your new password manager, you can safely remove the Dashlane browser extension and desktop/mobile apps.
The export/import process for most password managers is quite smooth, but don‘t hesitate to reach out to their support teams if you have any issues. Each app has robust help documentation and responsive support staff to help you make the switch.
Final Thoughts
While Dashlane is an excellent password manager, it‘s far from your only option. Whether you‘re looking for a cheaper alternative, more advanced features, or a specific security model, there‘s sure to be a suitable replacement among the options covered here.
To recap, our top picks for Dashlane alternatives are:
- LastPass Free for anyone who wants a robust free password manager.
- 1Password for those willing to pay for premium features and slick apps.
- BitWarden for an open source solution with the option for self-hosting.
That said, we‘ve only scratched the surface of available options. Depending on your specific needs, you may also want to consider niche password managers like KeePassXC (fully offline), Encryptr (zero-knowledge encryption), or Blur (privacy-focused).
Whichever you choose, the most important thing is that you use a password manager, period. Dashlane is excellent, but it‘s not the only game in town. By exploring these alternatives and weighing their unique feature sets, you can find the best fit for securing your digital life.