Features, Pricing, Security, Pros & Cons

Dashlane has become one of the most popular password managers available — and for good reason. It has top-tier zero-knowledge encryption for its password vault, a ton of convenient usability features, and a very intuitive user-interface.

While there are more affordable options available, Dashlane’s feature-packed take on password management makes it one of the best all-around choices in the space.

Does Dashlane have a free version?

Yes, Dashlane has a free plan. However, it is very limited as it only allows for a maximum of 25 passwords stored in user vaults. This makes it an unrealistic option for people looking to use a free password manager long term, especially since I expect the average user to have more than 25 passwords.

If you’re looking for a free password manager to use as your main solution, Bitwarden and NordPass are two password managers I recommend, as they both have free plans that offer unlimited password storage.

In May 2024, Dashlane also announced that Dashlane Free users who exceeded the 25-password limit would be converted to read-only and would no longer have autofill capabilities unless they upgrade. In my view, this shows that Dashlane is primarily focusing on their paid users and probably have their free plan set up as a test drive tool only. Again, for people looking for a viable, free password manager, there are quality alternatives out there.

While this is unfortunate, Dashlane does offer a 30-day trial for its Premium plan. This way, you get a clearer picture of Dashlane’s paid features and user experience, without the limitations that come with the free plan.

For more info, we have a Dashlane Free vs Premium feature that dives more extensively into the difference between the two plans.

Dashlane Pricing

Dashlane has two subscription tiers for individual and business customers, namely Personal and Business.

Personal:

Dashlane’s costs are on the pricier side compared to other password managers. Unfortunately, its Premium plan has raised in price to $4.99 per month compared to its $3.33 monthly price back in 2023. This makes it a fairly pricey option compared to the likes of Bitwarden and Roboform, which have starting plans at $0.83 and $1.66 per month respectively.

That’s not to say that Dashlane doesn’t include features to back up its monthly fee. In fact, its starting plan is fully-featured as it includes unlimited device support, unlimited passwords and passkeys, a dark web monitor, and even a built-in VPN.

Having a bundled VPN is not something often seen with password managers and a convenient tool that gives Dashlane users additional security. Meanwhile, its Friends and Families plan is also on the expensive end at $7.49 per month. However, it’s important to mention that it’s one of the only password manager family subscriptions that covers 10 people in a single plan. Most other family plans cover 5-6 people, at around $3-6 per user, per month. So in this aspect, I think Dashlane’s Family subscription falls right in the middle compared to other similar offerings.

Business:

Looking into its business subscriptions, Dashlane’s Standard plan at $20 per month for 10 seats is on trend with other password managers’ similar subscriptions. This plan is ideal for small teams that want a centralized password management solution. If you want a more affordable option, NordPass offers a Teams option of $1.79 per user per month, max 10 users, that’s good for two years.

For businesses, Daslane’s Business tier of $8 per seat per month is a good choice, with all Standard plan features plus single-sign on and SIEM integration included. If the higher price tag is out of your budget, Dashlane now offers a Business Plus plan that’s more affordable at $5 per seat, per month, provided your company has a minimum of 100 users. Both plans provide on-demand phone support, real-time phishing alerts, and their built-in VPN.

Is Dashlane safe?

As it deals with highly sensitive data in passwords, it’s important to know if Dashlane is actually a safe and secure service to use. I’m happy to report that Dashlane checks all of the boxes in terms of security.

Dashlane operates on zero-knowledge architecture, which means only the user knows their Master Password and the data stored within their vault. It utilizes AES 256-bit encryption, the industry standard encryption algorithm, to encrypt all passwords and credentials in the vault. It even encrypts all the data locally on your device before sending it to Dashlane servers, meaning the password manager doesn’t have access to the unencrypted version of your data.

I want to reiterate how important it is that even Dashlane itself doesn’t have access to Master Passwords, — as they’re not stored on any of their servers or systems. This reduces the likelihood that Dashlane users’ credentials get compromised, especially since a user’s master password can theoretically unlock all sensitive credentials and items stored in their password manager.

As of February 2025, it also appears that Dashlane has not been involved in or had any form of data breach. While we don’t expect companies to be perfect, it’s a good sign for security that Dashlane hasn’t had any such problems since its first password manager release in 2012.

Key features of Dashlane

Outside of the usual password manager features like vault encryption and multi-factor authentication, Dashlane comes with a convenient password history feature, a password health page, and dark web monitoring.

Password History

One of Dashlane’s best features is Password History. This saves any password that’s been generated or changed in Dashlane, even if you weren’t able to save it as a login. This can be a lifesaver if you’ve ever accidentally closed a site or app when making a new log in.

In my testing, the Password History feature was able to save passwords I made for a HubSpot account, even if I wasn’t able to save the login.

Password Health

I like that Dashlane prioritizes more important accounts in assessing password health, such as banking services and email, as these are more urgent credentials compared to things like a forum or book club account.

Dark Web Monitoring

This is another useful security feature that scans the dark web to check whether anyone has illegally accessed any of your personal credentials.

It alerts the user if any such information appears to be used for unlawful purposes or is involved in a data breach.

During my testing, I gave Dashlane’s Dark Web Monitoring one of my emails to check, and it provided me with a detailed report of possible breaches

Dashlane authentication and security options

Dashlane offers two-factor authentication that requires a six-digit token whenever you add a new device. 2FA can also be required for specific logins or for the account as a whole. Dashlane also supports face and fingerprint biometric authentication. I added my phone and was able to use facial recognition to unlock Dashlane during my testing.

Dashlane states that it doesn’t store the Master Password, which is another layer of security as even Dashlane doesn’t have access to a user’s most important password. If you forget your Master Password, Dashlane offers a few recovery options.

One of the options is a recovery key, which you can generate beforehand to access your vault without a master password. Even with the recovery key, Dashlane requires either email verification or 2FA tokens from an authenticator app — which is a good safeguard against bad actors that may have the key too.

Another recovery option is a biometric recovery that’s device-specific and available on the Dashlane mobile app only.

Dashlane makes it clear that it doesn’t store users’ master passwords and says that if you aren’t able to set a recovery method and forget your master password, your account may have to be reset and all data is lost. In my opinion, this is the way password managers should handle data, assuming the worst possible scenario.

Dashlane interface and performance

Dashlane’s main web application is both intuitive and well-designed. It’s got a simple dashboard that performs well and places menus and items where we’d expect them to be.

During my testing, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the application ran. Subjectively, I liked Dashlane’s use of large spaces and texts for its menus, which helped the app feel less cluttered.

In terms of its autofill capabilities, Dashlane worked perfectly. It was able to consistently fill in my saved passwords within log-in pages and had zero trouble generating passwords for me when I wanted to create a new account. I also didn’t encounter any issues with updating existing login credentials for some of my accounts.

Dashlane mobile app

For the most part, Dashlane’s mobile application inherits the same intuitive and aesthetic user interface of its web application.

I liked that it doesn’t allow any screenshots out-of-the-box and is something you have to intentionally turn on. This will make it harder for hackers to possibly take a screengrab of your vault and logins.

I did experience an odd issue when I tried logging in to Dashlane’s mobile app on my Android phone for the first time. After inputting your email and password, Dashlane requires you to provide a 2FA code sent to your email before logging in. When I tried to input my code, the Dashlane app wouldn’t accept it and just kept sending me new codes that didn’t work.

I was able to login after uninstalling and reinstalling the app, so it may have just been a bug. Despite that, it’s still important to note in this review, especially for users who may encounter the same thing.

SEE: Penetration Testing and Scanning Policy (TechRepublic Premium)

Dashlane pros

• Secure password vault encryption.
• Well-designed and intuitive user interface.
• Handy password history feature.
• No recorded data breaches.
• Premium plan includes a VPN.

Dashlane cons

• Individual and business plans are on the expensive end.
• Buggy Android app log in.
• Free version only allows 25 stored passwords.

Is Dashlane worth it?

Dashlane’s top-tier password encryption, useful security features, and easy-to-use web application make it a solid, all-around password manager to consider. Its password history feature, dark web monitor, and password health page are useful inclusions, particularly for those that want increased security for their most sensitive credentials. It’s also one of the few password managers with a built-in VPN.

Dashlane is the perfect choice for users who want a great balance between password security, extra features, and a sleek-looking application. While it is on the pricier side compared to other popular options — with an unfortunately very limited free plan — I feel Dashlane is perfect for users that want a no-nonsense password manager, with a polished user experience.

Dashlane alternatives

If Dashlane doesn’t seem like a good fit for your needs, I’ve listed similar alternatives that may better suit you and your business.

Bitwarden

If Dashlane is too expensive, Bitwarden is your next best choice. It offers a free version that allows for unlimited password storage and unlimited number of usable devices. It also comes with 2FA, 256-bit encryption, and a zero-knowledge architecture. Aside from that, it is fully open-source, making it a prime pick for privacy enthusiasts that value transparency from their chosen software providers.

Check out our full Bitwarden review.

1Password

1Password is another highly secure password manager to consider. It’s end-to-end encrypted, which keeps all user data safe from prying eyes, and regularly undergoes independent testing to ensure top-tier security. Features-wise, 1Password comes with a useful clipboard management feature that allows users to automatically remove passwords from their clipboards, an automatic lock during inactive periods, and built-in phishing protection.

Check out our full 1Password review.

NordPass

From the creators of NordVPN, we have NordPass. As Nord Security’s take on password management, NordPass features refined UI alongside strong security via its XChaCha20 encryption. It includes a data breach scanner that monitors your credentials and checks if any of them have been compromised. It also comes with cross-device and cross-browser compatibility, allowing for seamless syncing of passwords across different devices.

Check out our full NordPass review.

Review Methodology

My review of Dashlane involved a detailed assessment of its security features, price, and real-world performance. I had hands-on experience with Dashlane through its free version and tested premium features through their free trial. I also took into account user testimonials and reputable reviews to supplement my findings.

To test Dashlane, I used their web application on my Windows laptop and its mobile app on my Google Pixel 6.

I rated Dashlane on everything from its password management features to its pricing based on an internal algorithm to get a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. The scoring was based both on Dashlane on its own and in relation to other available password managers.

This article was originally published in November 2023. It was updated by Luis Millares in February 2025.