Bitwarden and Dashlane stand out as two of the most renowned password managers in the current market. Despite their comparable popularity, these two firms have achieved their accomplishments by presenting distinctive and exclusive solutions for password management.
VIEW: Bitwarden vs 1Password (2024): Password Manager Evaluation (TechRepublic)
The open-source nature of Bitwarden’s software and its extensive platform compatibility caters well to experienced users. Conversely, Dashlane’s refined user interface makes it an attractive option for individuals less acquainted with technology.
In this write-up, we delve into determining the most suitable password manager for you and your institution.
Bitwarden vs. Dashlane: An In-depth Comparison
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Bitwarden vs. Dashlane: Price Comparison
Both Bitwarden and Dashlane provide two subscription categories: Personal and Corporate. On paper, Bitwarden emerges as the more cost-effective alternative across all segments. Furthermore, Bitwarden extends a costless version that grants boundless password capacity, while Dashlane limits its free version to 25 logins only.
SEE: Ways to Initiate a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)
Noteworthy is Dashlane’s provision of trial opportunities for both its individual and professional schemes — a 30-day evaluation for the Premium bracket and a 14-day appraisal for the Business tier. Conversely, Bitwarden offers a seven-day trial for its Enterprise category.
Bitwarden pricing details
Personal
- No Charge: Limitless passwords, single device.
- Top Tier: $0.83 per month; infinite devices.
- Families Plan: $3.33 per month; accommodates up to 6 users.
Corporate
- Teams: $4 per user each month; offers data sharing, directory integration, and event log monitoring.
- Enterprise Plan: $6 per user per month; introduces enterprise policies and passwordless SSO.
- Personalized Quotation: Feel free to reach out to sales for tailored pricing.
In case you wish to acquire more insights, we recommend perusing our complete Bitwarden review.
Details of Dashlane pricing
Personal
- Costless Version: 25 passwords; lone device.
- Premium Package: $4.99 monthly; no device restrictions.
- Family Bundle: $7.49 monthly; grants access for up to 10 users.
Corporate
- Business Plan: $8 per user monthly; unlimited seats, SSO, activity records, and advanced policies.
- Enterprise Package: Contact sales for details about pricing; encompasses all Business features along with a dedicated customer success manager, onboarding experts, and engineer assistance.
For further information, we recommend reading our Bitwarden vs Dashlane.
Bitwarden vs. Dashlane: Feature contrast
Security and encoding
Victor: Draw
Both Bitwarden and Dashlane present top-tier security and encoding in their individual services. In relation to encoding, the two providers employ the matching AES 256-bit encoding method, which is regarded as the finest in the industry.
VIEW: Bitwarden vs LastPass 2024: Which Password Manager Reigns Supreme? (TechRepublic)
Furthermore, both password managers attain commendable scores in third-party examinations. Dashlane just publicized they have acquired ISO 27001 certification. This illustrates that Dashlane’s inner structures and processes fulfill the high security criteria demanded by contemporary businesses.
On the other hand, Bitwarden consistently undergoes third-party security evaluations to confirm its security allegations and comply with security requisites. Bitwarden is also accessible-source, enabling the public to effortlessly scrutinize their code and identify vulnerabilities.
I, for one, favor software that is open-source, but it’s not a deal-breaker necessarily. I just yearn to see providers taking tangible actions to demonstrate to customers they regard security earnestly. Naturally, if you have a specific interest in open-source software, Bitwarden emerges as the superior pick.
Dashlane is partially open-source, with the code for its Android and iOS apps being accessible for public review, yet its core desktop application remains proprietary.
Multi-factor authentication alternatives
Victor: Bitwarden
Should you seek an assortment of multi-factor authentication options, Bitwarden earns my recommendation. It includes MFA through authenticator apps, email, SMS, phone call, YubiKey, FIDO2 WebAuthn, and Duo Security, among others.
VIEW: Bitwarden Free vs. Premium: Determining the Optimal Plan (TechRepublic)
On the contrary, Dashlane presents MFA by utilizing time-based one-time passwords or TOTPs via authentication apps too. While Dashlane formerly had a specialized authenticator app, this was terminated in May 2024.
Convenience and operational performance
Victor: Dashlane
Observing ease of operation, I must acclaim Dashlane. It employs a sophisticated dashboard that exudes a contemporary feel and is easy to navigate.
Bitwarden’s automatic form-fill feature is initially disabled, whereas normally autofill should work automatically. Nevertheless, once activated, this functionality performs as intended.
Despite that, the overall user experience with Bitwarden is largely positive. Personally, I believe that Dashlane presents a more refined and user-friendly interface between the two options.
Additional functionalities
Winner: Draw
Both Bitwarden and Dashlane come with a range of supplementary features beyond their core password management services. Bitwarden, for instance, provides Bitwarden Send — an in-built tool for sharing encrypted 1000-character messages or files of up to 500MB.
Bitwarden also features an Emergency Access function, which enables users to authorize trusted contacts to access their accounts during emergencies via email. In my opinion, this feature is essential as unforeseen situations could arise where loved ones may need access to crucial passwords.
SEE: Dashlane vs 1Password: Which Password Manager Should You Use in 2024? (TechRepublic)
On the contrary, Dashlane stands out by providing a well-designed Password Health dashboard that alerts users to any compromised passwords in their vault. Although Bitwarden offers a similar feature with Vault Health Reports, I find Dashlane’s version to be superior as it offers an easy overview of compromised or weak passwords.
Additionally, Dashlane offers a unique VPN service alongside its password manager subscription, a feature not commonly found in other competitors.
To sum up, both Bitwarden and Dashlane present a selection of supplementary features in addition to password storage and password generators. The key is to determine which additional functionalities are most important to you.
Client assistance
Winner: Bitwarden
When it comes to client assistance, Bitwarden holds a slight edge. Based on a quick scan of user comments on platforms like Reddit, it appears that Bitwarden’s customer support is generally viewed more positively than Dashlane’s.
According to a community member in the Bitwarden subreddit, they “experienced the finest customer service” with the service owing to their “speedy, really factual… and time-efficient response.”
Conversely, a another user within the Dashlane community mentioned having difficulty reaching out to Dashlane’s support team after facing issues with the Dashlane icon not displaying on multiple websites.
To be unbiased, individual occurrences may not completely reflect the customer support performance of both services. Both Bitwarden and Dashlane present a fair number of support avenues, such as a knowledge base help center, a ticketing system, and email assistance.
If you have any personal anecdotes relating to either Bitwarden or Dashlane’s customer support, feel free to share them with us. This will help us enhance our recommendations further, particularly in a subjective aspect like customer service.
Platform support
Champion: Bitwarden
Assessing platform support, Bitwarden has the upper hand as it encompasses a broader range of desktop and mobile platforms. While both Bitwarden and Dashlane cater to Windows, macOS, as well as iOS and Android, Bitwarden leads regarding web browsers.
Bitwarden features browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Tor Browser, and DuckDuckGo for Mac. On the other hand, Dashlane supports Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
In addition, Bitwarden extends support to Linux, F-Droid, and Command Line Interface — an advantage for more technically inclined users.
Naturally, if you operate solely on one or two platforms and both password managers accommodate them, this won’t pose an issue. But if we focus specifically on extensive device and platform support, Bitwarden excels in this area.
Bitwarden advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Utilizes open-source software.
- Offers cost-effective pricing and a generous complimentary version.
- Extensive support across various platforms.
- Multiple choices for MFA.
Disadvantages
- User experience lacks refinement.
- Free trial for premium services is solely for the Enterprise plan.
Dashlane advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Delivers a more polished app experience and user interface.
- Offers free trials for premium plans catering to consumers and enterprises.
- Uniquely integrates VPN with subscription.
Disadvantages
- Positioned at the higher end in terms of cost.
- Free version restricts storage to a maximum of 25 passwords.
Should your organization opt for Bitwarden or Dashlane?
In my initial individual evaluations of both Bitwarden and Dashlane, I assigned them ratings of 4.3 and 4.6 out of 5 stars, respectively. Following this comparison, I may need to review these ratings as Bitwarden emerges as marginally better among the two.
With its robust security measures, affordable pricing, extensive MFA options, and broad platform support, Bitwarden offers a more compelling comprehensive value proposition. Nevertheless, Dashlane upholds its reputation with its impeccably crafted user experience, equally robust security, and consistent in-app performance.
Opt for Bitwarden if:
- You require an open-source password manager.
- You need flexibility in terms of MFA options.
- You utilize various browsers and operating systems.
- You seek a long-term free password manager with unlimited password storage.
Opt for Dashlane if:
- You place utmost importance on design and user experience.
- You desire a user-friendly interface suitable for beginners.
- You have a preference for closed-source software.
- You are in search of a premium free trial for both a consumer and enterprise password manager.
Assessment methodology
My assessment of Bitwarden and Dashlane involved an extensive scrutiny of each password manager’s functionalities, pricing, and real-world performance.
Both password managers were evaluated across various aspects, including their MFA options and incorporated security features. Particularly, we factored in five primary elements along with their respective weights:
- Pricing (25%).
- Core password management features (35%).
- User-friendliness (15%).
- Support quality (15%).
- Professional evaluation (10%).
Furthermore, I supplemented my analysis with feedback from real users on platforms like Reddit and other credible review sites to provide a comprehensive review of both products.
You can access our detailed Evaluation Methodology for Password Managers.
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