Bitwarden vs. 1Password vs. Dashlane: A Comparison of Password Managers

Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane are vying for the top spot among password managers in 2026. Bitwarden remains the only one to offer a truly unlimited free plan, and its Premium plan costs $19.80/year (following a price increase in January 2026). 1Password focuses on a premium user experience and offers a Family plan for €69/year (excluding tax). Dashlane includes a Hotspot Shield VPN with its Premium plan at €3.68/month (excl. tax). The right choice depends on your profile: budget-conscious, family, or mobile professional. Here is the detailed comparison.

Key points to remember

• Bitwarden Free is the only truly unlimited free option on the market (passwords, devices, platforms).
• Bitwarden Premium will increase to $19.80/year in January 2026 (a 98% increase from $9.99), which is approximately €1.41/month.
• The price of 1Password Individual has been €43.80 per year (excluding tax) since March 27, 2026 (+38%); Family costs €69 per year (excluding tax) for 5 people.
• Dashlane Premium costs €3.68 per month (excluding tax; annual subscription only), with Hotspot Shield VPN included.
• Bitwarden is open-source, auditable, and can be self-hosted.
• 1Password focuses on features like Travel Mode and Watchtower, with a user experience that is often considered more polished.

Why choose a password manager in 2026?

The question hardly even comes up anymore. With an average of more than 100 online accounts per adult internet user in France, it’s impossible to remember all those passwords without reusing them. Yet password reuse is the leading cause of account takeovers through credential stuffing.

Three qualities define a responsible manager:

• Encrypted vault — your passwords are stored locally in encrypted form, and only your master password can unlock them.
• Multi-device synchronization — access from PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, and web browser.
• Generating strong passwords — creating unique random strings for each service.
• Autofill — automatic form filling on websites and apps.
• Security audit — detection of weak, reused, or compromised passwords.
• Data breach alerts — notifications in the event of a breach involving a service you use.

The three market leaders in the consumer sector are Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane. They share most of the same features, but differ in terms of pricing, philosophy (open-source vs. Owner), target audience (individuals, families, businesses), and additional services.

How much do Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane cost in 2026?

Rates changed in 2026 for all three services. Here is the updated rate schedule:

• Service|Free|Individual Premium|Family
• Bitwarden|Unlimited (truly free)|$19.80/year (~€1.41/month)|$47.88/year, 6 users (~€3.40/month)
• 1Password | 14-day trial | €43.80 excl. tax/year (~€3.65 excl. tax/month) | €69 excl. tax/year, 5 users (~€86 incl. tax)
• Dashlane | Limited free account | €3.68/month (excl. tax) | €5.55/month (excl. tax), 10 accounts

Bitwarden is by far the most affordable option in the Premium segment, at around €1.41/month following the price increase in January 2026. This price hike was met with some grumbling (from $9.99 to $19.80, a 98% increase), but the price remains very competitive compared to 1Password (almost three times as expensive) and Dashlane (2.5 times as expensive).

1Password raised its Individual plan price on March 27, 2026, from €31.80 (excl. tax) per year to €43.80 (excl. tax) per year (+38%). It is also the most expensive option for individual users, a move justified by 1Password based on user experience, ongoing development, and the ecosystem (Watchtower, Travel Mode, advanced Secure Notes).

Dashlane falls somewhere in between, with one major selling point: the Hotspot Shield VPN included with the Premium plan. For users who want a VPN without having to sign up for a separate service, this represents an indirect savings.

Want to enjoy a family password manager without paying the full price? With a shared subscription, you can split the cost by legally sharing your subscription with other verified users. Find out how it works on spliiit

Bitwarden: Why is it the favorite among tech-savvy users?

Bitwarden offers several unique features not found elsewhere on the market. The first is its open-source philosophy: Bitwarden’s source code is public and can be audited by anyone, and the service is regularly audited by independent security firms.

• Open-source — the code is publicly available and hosted on GitHub.
• Cure53 audits — four documented audits since 2018 (2018, 2020, 2023, 2025).
• Official self-hosting — you can host your own Bitwarden instance on a server or NAS.
• Truly unlimited —no limits on passwords, devices, or platforms. The only truly free option on the market.
• Fair pricing — $19.80/year remains very low despite the recent increase.
• Active community — third-party extensions, integrations, and plenty of user feedback.

Bitwarden is particularly well-suited for users who want to control their data. The option to self-host means that your vault is stored only on your own servers, without relying on a cloud provider. This ensures data sovereignty, which appeals to privacy-conscious users.

The main drawback: the user experience isn't as polished as that of 1Password or Dashlane. The interface is functional and clear, but it lacks the "magazine-style" look of its competitors. For mainstream users who are particular about design, Bitwarden may seem a bit austere.

1Password: Why do we pay so much for it?

1Password is the most versatile tool in terms of user experience. The company (based in Canada) specifically targets families and Apple professionals, with an interface that seamlessly integrates into the macOS and iOS ecosystems.

• Watchtower — an integrated service that monitors the health of each password (strength, reuse, known breaches).
• Travel Mode — temporarily hides certain chests while traveling abroad.
• Family Plan for 5 people — €69 per year (excluding tax), with dedicated storage lockers shared among members.
• Advanced Secure Notes — storage of documents, credit cards, IDs, and licenses.
• Native integration with macOS and iOS — Touch ID, Face ID, Apple Watch, and shortcuts.
• SSO and 1Password Business — for businesses, integration with Okta and other SSO providers.

The price increase in 2026 (+38% to €43.80/year, excluding tax) continues to be met with resistance by some users, but 1Password justifies this change by citing investments in R&D and ongoing development. The Family plan at €69/year (excluding tax) remains competitive if there are actually five people in your household, which works out to less than €14/year (excluding tax) per person.

For families looking for a balance between a premium user experience and a reasonable price, 1Password Family is often recommended. See also our comparison of Dashlane vs. 1Password.

Dashlane: Why does it include a VPN?

Dashlane stands out for including a Hotspot Shield VPN in its Premium subscription. This is unique in the password manager industry, which partly explains why it costs more than Bitwarden.

• Hotspot Shield VPN included — protection for public Wi-Fi connections, at no extra cost.
• Dark Web Monitoring — Monitoring for Data Breaches.
• Premium for €3.68/month (excluding tax ) — available only as an annual plan.
• Friends & Family for €5.55/month (excl. tax) — 10 accounts (vs. 5 or 6 with other providers).
• No native desktop app — since 2022, Dashlane has been available exclusively as a browser extension.
• No monthly plans —annual commitment required.

The lack of a native desktop app since 2022 has divided users. For many, the browser extension is sufficient. For others, who use their file manager outside the browser (desktop software, scripts), this absence is a hindrance.

Hotspot Shield VPN is more of a convenience than a high-end VPN. For everyday use (public Wi-Fi, basic browsing), it gets the job done. For heavy use (geo-restricted streaming, torrenting), a dedicated VPN like Mullvad or ProtonVPN is still the better choice. See our Mullvad VPN review.

Save up to 70% on your subscriptions with subscription sharing. spliiit verified users so they can legally share their subscriptions. See how it works.

Which password manager should you choose based on your needs?

Here is our summary verdict by use case:

• Profile|Recommendation|Why
• Cost-effective / Technical / Privacy | Bitwarden (Free or Premium) | Open-source, self-hosted, unbeatable pricing
• Apple Family / Ecosystem | 1Password Family | Premium UX, Travel Mode, 5 users for €69/year (excl. tax)
• Mobility / Frequent public Wi-Fi|Dashlane Premium|Hotspot Shield VPN included, dark web monitoring
• Freelancer / Digital Nomad | Bitwarden Premium | Self-hosting available on VPS, full control
• Company / Team | 1Password Business or Bitwarden Teams | SSO, advanced sharing
• Large families (6+ members)|Bitwarden Families|6 users for $47.88/year—the best value

Legal co-subscription does apply to family plans. On spliiit, you can share a Family plan with other verified users, subject to the terms set by each provider. This approach turns a Family subscription costing €69/year (excluding tax) (1Password) into about €14/person (excluding tax), or a Bitwarden Families subscription costing $47.88/year into less than $8/person for 6 people.

For more information, check out our dedicated pages: Bitwarden sharing, 1Password sharing, Dashlane sharing, and our list of the best password managers.

What are some alternatives to Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane?

There are other options worth considering, especially for specific roles.

• NordPass — a competitive option since 2022; see our NordPass vs. LastPass comparison.
• Proton Pass — an emerging alternative to the Proton suite, with a strong focus on privacy.
• pCloud Pass — part of the pCloud ecosystem; see the comparison between pCloud Pass, 1Password, and Bitwarden.
• iCloud Keychain — free for Apple users only.
• Google Password Manager — free, built into Chrome and Android, basic.
• LastPass — History of Data Breaches in 2022: Avoid for New Sign-Ups.

iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager are free, but their value depends heavily on whether you stick to a single ecosystem. If you switch between Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, a standalone password manager is still the better choice. If you’re 100% Apple, iCloud Keychain may be enough.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bitwarden Free really enough for personal use?

Yes, for most users. Bitwarden’s Free plan includes unlimited storage, synchronization across all devices, simple sharing (between two accounts), and password auditing. The Premium features (built-in TOTP, file attachments, and advanced breach alerts) are useful but not essential for basic personal use.

Why did Bitwarden nearly double its pricing in 2026?

Bitwarden’s price increased from $9.99/year to $19.80/year in January 2026 (a 98% increase), citing investments in security, infrastructure, and new features. This is the first significant price increase in several years, and the price remains competitive compared to 1Password (about three times more expensive) or Dashlane (about 2.5 times more expensive).

Is 1Password really better than Bitwarden?

1Password offers a more polished user experience, exclusive features (Travel Mode, Watchtower), and deeper integration with the Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, it costs nearly three times as much and is not open-source. The choice depends on your budget and how much importance you place on user experience versus control over the code.

Is it really a problem to use Dashlane without the desktop app?

Not for most users, who are satisfied with the browser. But if you use your password manager outside of a browser (desktop software, scripts, command line), the lack of a native app can be a deal-breaker. Dashlane works via extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Can you share a password manager account?

Yes, but it depends on the terms of each service. Family plans are designed for sharing among members of the same household. Sharing outside the household is permitted by some services (Bitwarden, Dashlane Friends & Family) and regulated by others. Legal co-subscription through a platform like spliiit to each provider’s terms of service, which should be checked on a case-by-case basis.

Which manager is the safest in the event of a breach?

All three (Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane) encrypt vaults using AES-256 or an equivalent algorithm, and do not have access to the user’s master password. In the event of a server breach, the vaults remain encrypted and secure if your master password is strong. Bitwarden has the advantage of being open-source, and 1Password has an additional Secret Key that enhances security.

How do I switch from LastPass to another password manager?

All reputable password managers support importing from LastPass. Export your LastPass vault as a CSV file, then import it into Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane. Take advantage of the migration to perform an audit: change all passwords stored in 2022 (due to the LastPass breach), enable 2FA everywhere, and delete your LastPass account when you’re done.