Dashlane quick factsOur score: 4.4 stars out of 5
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Dashlane has emerged as one of the most favored password management tools available — and for valid reasons. It features top-quality zero-knowledge encryption for its password repository, numerous practical ease-of-use aspects, and a very user-friendly interface.
Although there are more budget-friendly alternatives out there, Dashlane’s feature-rich approach to password management positions it as one of the top choices in this field.
Is the Free Version of Dashlane Offered?
Indeed, Dashlane does present a free package. Nevertheless, it comes with significant limitations allowing only a maximum of 25 passwords to be stored in user vaults. This could make it impractical for individuals intending to rely on a free password manager for an extended period, especially considering most users have more than 25 passwords.
If you are seeking a no-cost password manager to serve as your primary solution, Bitwarden and NordPass stand out as two password management tools I would endorse, given their free plans with unrestricted password storage.
In May 2024, Dashlane also disclosed that Dashlane Free users exceeding the 25-password quota would be transitioned to read-only mode without autofill capabilities unless they opt for an upgrade. It seems Dashlane predominantly focuses on its paying clientele and likely treats its free scheme as a trial tool. Hence, for those searching for a viable, no-cost password manager, superior alternatives exist.
While this development is unfortunate, Dashlane does offer a 30-day trial for its Premium offering. This enables users to gain a comprehensive understanding of Dashlane’s premium features and user experience without the constraints posed by the free plan.
For additional details, we present a comparison between Dashlane’s Free and Premium packages that explores the disparities between them extensively.
Pricing of Dashlane
Dashlane provides two subscription levels for individual customers and businesses, namely Personal and Business.
Personal:
| Personal plans | Free plan | Premium | Friends & Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $4.99 monthly (annually billed) | $7.49 monthly for up to 10 members (annually billed) |
| Number of devices | 1 device | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Discrepancies in features | Maximum of 25 passwords, password sharing | Unlimited passwords and passkeys, password sharing, dark web monitoring, VPN, real-time phishing alerts | All Premium features (VPN exclusively for plan administrator) |
Dashlane’s prices lean towards the higher side compared to other password managers. Regrettably, its Premium package has seen a price hike to $4.99 per month from the prior $3.33 monthly rate in 2023. This makes it relatively costly when measured against alternatives like Bitwarden and Roboform, which initiate plans at $0.83 and $1.66 monthly respectively.
However, this doesn’t imply Dashlane lacks the features to justify its monthly fee. In reality, its base plan is feature-rich with support for unlimited devices, passwords, and passkeys, dark web monitoring, and even an integrated VPN.
The inclusion of a bundled VPN is an uncommon feature among password managers and provides Dashlane users with additional security. Moreover, the Friends and Family plan, at $7.49 per month, falls on the pricier side. Nevertheless, it’s noteworthy that this is among the few family password manager subscriptions covering 10 individuals in one plan. Most other family plans usually cater to 5-6 members at around $3-6 per user per month. Thus, in this context, Dashlane’s Family subscription fits in midway among similar offerings.
Business:
| Business plans | Standard | Business | Business Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $20 for 10 users (annually billed) | $8 per user, per month (annually billed) | $5 per employee, per month (annually billed) Starts at 100 employees |
| Number of devices | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Variations in Features | Monitoring of Dark web, Dashboard of password health, Insights of Dark web | Inclusion of VPN, Integration of SSO, Provisioning of SCRIM, Integration of SIEM along with all Standard features | In addition to all Business features, there is Credential Risk Detection |
When considering the business subscriptions, the Standard plan of Dashlane priced at $20 per month for 10 seats aligns with similar subscriptions offered by other password managers. This plan is suitable for small teams seeking a centralized solution for password management. For a more cost-effective choice, NordPass provides a Teams option at $1.79 per user per month, catering to a maximum of 10 users over a two-year period.
For enterprises, the Business tier of Dashlane offers a competitive price of $8 per seat per month, which includes all features of the Standard plan as well as single-sign-on and SIEM integration. If the higher cost is beyond your budget, Dashlane now introduces a Business Plus plan priced at a more affordable $5 per seat, per month, provided the company has a minimum of 100 users. Both plans offer on-demand phone support, real-time alerts for phishing attempts, and an integrated VPN.
Is Dashlane Secure?
Given its handling of highly confidential password data, confirming the safety and security of using Dashlane becomes crucial. It is satisfying to confirm that Dashlane meets all security requirements.
Dashlane operates on a zero-knowledge architecture, ensuring that only the user has knowledge of their Master Password and the data contained within their vault. All passwords and credentials within the vault are encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption, an industry-standard algorithm. Data is locally encrypted on the device before transmission to Dashlane servers, denying the password manager access to unencrypted data.
Highlighting the critical aspect that even Dashlane does not have access to Master Passwords, as they are not stored on their servers or systems. This significantly reduces the risk of compromising Dashlane users’ credentials, especially since a user’s master password can potentially unlock all sensitive credentials and items stored within their password manager.
As of February 2025, there have been no reported data breaches involving Dashlane. Although perfection cannot be guaranteed, the absence of such incidents since Dashlane’s initial password manager release in 2012 reflects positively on its security measures.
Key Aspects of Dashlane
In addition to standard features like vault encryption and multi-factor authentication, Dashlane offers a convenient password history feature, a page dedicated to password health, and dark web monitoring.
Password Archive
Among Dashlane’s standout features is the Password Archive. This feature stores any created or updated passwords in Dashlane, even those not saved as logins. It serves as a lifesaver in situations where a site or app was accidentally closed during a new login creation.
During my testing, the Password Archive feature successfully retained passwords generated for a HubSpot account, even when login saving was not possible.
Password Wellness
A commendable feature of Dashlane is its prioritization of critical accounts in evaluating password health, such as banking and email services, given the urgency of securing these credentials compared to less vital accounts like forums or book clubs.
Monitoring the Dark Web
Another beneficial security feature is the Dark Web Monitoring service, which scans the dark web to verify if any personal credentials have been illicitly accessed.
If any such details seem to be involved in an illegal act or a breach, the user is notified.
When I put one of my emails to the test, Dashlane’s Dark Web Monitoring provided me with a thorough report on potential breaches.
Security and access methods offered by Dashlane
For identity verification, Dashlane supplies two-step authentication, which demands a six-digit code for every new device. 2FA can also be imposed for particular logins or for the entire account. Dashlane is also compatible with facial and fingerprint recognition systems. During the trial, I linked my phone and successfully used facial recognition to access Dashlane.
Dashlane asserts that it does not retain the Master Key, enhancing security as not even Dashlane has entry to the most important password. If the Master Key is forgotten, Dashlane provides various recovery methods.
One of the recovery options is a decrypt key that can be created prior to access your vault without the master key. Even with the decrypt key, Dashlane demands either email validation or 2FA codes from an authenticator app — a measure against malicious entities who may also possess the key.
Another recovery solution is a biometric verification that’s specific to the device and only accessible through the Dashlane mobile app.
Dashlane makes it explicit that it does not save users’ main passwords, and if a recovery method is not established and the main password is forgotten, the account may need to be reset and all data could be lost. This approach to safeguarding data mirrors my thoughts on how password managers should operate, drawing on the worst-case scenario.
Dashlane functionality and design
Dashlane’s primary web interface is both user-friendly and visually appealing. It boasts a minimalistic dashboard that functions smoothly and organizes menus and content intuitively.
In my examination, I was pleasantly impressed by the application’s smooth operation. I appreciated Dashlane’s format, which utilized ample space and clear fonts in menus, contributing to an uncluttered app experience.
Regarding its autofill functionality, Dashlane functioned flawlessly. It reliably populated my saved passwords on login pages and consistently generated new passwords when required. Updating existing login details for various accounts also presented no challenges.
Dashlane mobile app
The mobile app of Dashlane presents a user interface that is both intuitive and visually appealing, just like its web counterpart.
One positive aspect is its default restriction on taking screenshots, which requires intentional activation. This added layer of security prevents potential unauthorized access to your login credentials.
During my initial login attempt on the Dashlane mobile app on my Android device, I encountered a peculiar issue. Following the input of email and password, the app necessitated a 2FA code sent to my email for verification. However, I faced difficulties with the code submission, as the app kept rejecting it and sending new codes that were invalid.
Fortunately, uninstalling and reinstalling the app enabled a successful login, suggesting a probable bug. Such occurrences are noteworthy for potential users facing similar challenges.
SEE: Penetration Testing and Scanning Policy (TechRepublic Premium)
Dashlane advantages
- Robust encryption for secure password storage.
- User-friendly and attractively designed interface.
- Convenient password history tracking.
- No history of data breaches.
- Premium subscription includes VPN services.
Dashlane disadvantages
- Relatively high costs for individual and business plans.
- Log-in issues observed in the Android app.
- Free version limits password storage to 25 entries.
Assessing Dashlane’s Value
Dashlane’s robust password encryption, valuable security features, and user-friendly web interface position it as a reliable password management solution. Features like password history tracking, dark web monitoring, and password health assessments cater to users seeking enhanced security for critical credentials. Additionally, Dashlane stands out with its integrated VPN service.
For users prioritizing a blend of password security, additional functionalities, and an elegant app interface, Dashlane proves to be a suitable choice. While its pricing is higher compared to other options and its free plan is limited, Dashlane caters well to individuals seeking a straightforward password manager with a polished user experience.
Alternatives to Dashlane
If Dashlane doesn’t align with your requirements, exploring alternative options may be beneficial. Here are some similar alternatives worth considering:
Bitwarden
Should Dashlane’s pricing be a concern, Bitwarden emerges as a cost-effective alternative. Offering free unlimited password storage and device usage, Bitwarden also includes 2FA, strong encryption, and a transparent open-source architecture, appealing to privacy-conscious users.
Read our comprehensive Bitwarden review.
1Password
Consider 1Password as a highly secure alternative. Its end-to-end encryption guarantees user data protection, complemented by regular security assessments. With strong security measures and reliability, 1Password stands as a compelling option in the password management landscape.
1Password is equipped with a handy feature for managing clipboards that allows users to automatically delete passwords from their clipboards, an auto lock function during periods of inactivity, and integrated protection against phishing.
Take a look at our comprehensive review of 1Password.
NordPass
Introducing NordPass from the creators of NordVPN. Representing Nord Security’s approach to password management, NordPass showcases an elegant user interface paired with robust security powered by XChaCha20 encryption. It boasts a data breach scanner to keep your login information under scrutiny and detect any potential compromises. Additionally, it offers seamless synchronization of passwords across various devices thanks to its compatibility with multiple browsers and devices.
Discover more in our complete NordPass assessment.
Review Methodology
My evaluation of Dashlane involved an in-depth analysis of its security functionalities, pricing structure, and real-world performance. I actively interacted with Dashlane utilizing its free version and explored premium features during their trial period. Additionally, I considered user feedback and reviews from reputable sources to enrich my insights.
For assessing Dashlane, I engaged with their web platform on a Windows laptop and their mobile application on a Google Pixel 6 device.
I assigned a rating to Dashlane encompassing aspects such as password management capabilities and pricing, resulting in a score of 4.4 out of 5 stars following an internal assessment process. This evaluation was conducted both independently and in comparison to alternative password managers.
This piece originally went live in November 2023. Refined updates were made by the original author in February 2025.
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