1Password vs. LastPass 2024: Read This If You’re Concerned About App Security (2024)

If you’re concerned about data breaches, you’ve probably heard about LastPass’s reported data breach, where hackers obtained information from user accounts.[1] For that reason alone, you might be considering swapping to 1Password because it’s never been breached. Still, LastPass has some features that make it a good choice, such as strong security that makes it difficult for cybercriminals to guess your master password, even during a breach.

Because a password manager secures your login info, you may want to compare some programs and features. We will review both of these products to help you determine which one might best meet your needs. Let’s look at what these password managers can offer.

1Password vs. LastPass

1Password works well for those who want to directly import their passwords, even from other password managers, into a 1Password desktop app. You can also save unlimited passwords and 1 GB of file storage if you’re looking for secure space.

LastPass is great for users who want to bring their passwords to any platform, whether it be a desktop or mobile device. The password manager is also compatible with numerous operating systems, including Linux.

• 1Password: Best overall
• LastPass: Best for universal installation

1Password vs. LastPass review at a glance

Data as of 3/23/2023.

The costs for these two password managers are about the same, but LastPass does offer a free version. 1Password does not. With 1Password, you can use anywhere from one to five different devices, but LastPass offers unlimited device coverage. Before you get too excited about that, there is a caveat. If you’re using the free version, you must choose a specific device type you’ll be using, such as a computer or mobile phone. However, the premium plan does come with access to all your devices.

As we mentioned, LastPass did have a security breach. So far, 1Password hasn’t. To be fair, LastPass was upfront about the issue and addressed the concerns customers might have. From our viewpoint, it did everything right, including sharing information with law enforcement. Having inadequate passwords can cause data breaches, so passwordless authentication works to resolve that issue.

LastPass offers one-to-many sharing, where users can share credentials with multiple trusted people for convenient account access. 1Password also has this feature, and you can set the time limit to expire whenever you wish. For example, suppose you have friends staying at your house and you want to share your Wi-Fi password with them. You can set the limit to the number of days they’ll be over, then restrict it after that time.

1Password vs. LastPass: prices

Prices as of 3/23/2023.

Both password managers offer similar pricing points for their family plans, with 1Password being a little more at $4.99/mo. You can get LastPass for free with limited features, but 1Password doesn’t offer a free plan. The highest price for 1Password is $4.99/mo for the family plan, and LastPass tops out at $4.00/mo (billed annually) for the family subscription.

Neither of these password managers comes with a money-back guarantee. LastPass will give you a free trial for 30 days, but 1Password gives you only 14 days to try the product without buying a plan.

1Password vs. LastPass: features

Data as of 3/23/2023.

Both password managers stack up evenly with the features above. You get the same functions with each one. LastPass and 1Password both offer secure encryption and a family plan to provide more access for family members.

Interestingly, 1Password adds an extra layer of security by using a secret key in addition to the master password. That gives it an edge over LastPass, which only requires the master password for vault access.

You’ll get 1 GB of secure document storage with LastPass if you have the premium or family plan. The free version will limit you to 50 MB. 1Password also offers 1 GB of secure document storage for the regular and family plan.

With 1Password, you also get the Watchtower feature, which shows your overall password strength. It only takes a few seconds to see the results.

LastPass gives you the option to do this online or with the software. When you create a new account or change a password, the password strength is displayed for you. You can view your dashboard to get the security score or you can check a new password you’re considering on theLastPass website.

Which is safer, 1Password or LastPass?

As we brought up earlier, LastPass had a security breach in November 2022. Currently, 1Password has reported no security breaches for its password manager. That has made some users wary of trying LastPass.

1Password does have frequent auditing performed to test the security of the product. The password manager gets reviewed by numerous independent security firms to assess the security levels. From March 2022 to October 2022, there were eight different security audits testing things such as autofill, developer tools, web-based components, and how it performs on different platforms. 1Password’s privacy policy for 1Password shows explicitly how data is collected and processed. It also assures users that the purpose of collecting the information is for the password service only.

LastPass has a detailed privacy policy, which shows what personal data gets collected and how it’s used. It does explain that the amount of personal information collected is limited to what is necessary. Yet, it also shows that the company may combine and enrich personal data received by the users with data from other sources, such as third parties and different databases. The wording goes on to explain the only data collected is what’s necessary to provide users with world-class service.

LastPass has routine security audits performed to test the service and security of the infrastructure. There’s also an internal security test performed each quarter. The last audit was performed in July 2022, but this was prior to the October and November security breaches.

1Password vs. LastPass privacy and security

We also didn’t find much information about who performs LastPass’s security audits. According to the website, these are performed by world-class security organizations, but it didn’t report the names of these companies. In contrast, 1Password is completely upfront about the regular auditing tested on its products. The website clearly illustrates the various auditors, such as Cure53, Recurity Labs, and Secfault Security, as reviewing its services.

1Password vs. LastPass: compatibility and ease of use

Both password managers are easy to use and offer support for plenty of desktop apps, mobile apps, and browser extensions. The interfaces are intuitive and you can enter information with ease. The password vaults are simple to set up and name. From there, you can have different categories of items, such as credit cards, logins, and other items.

1Password shows your password strength when you set it up, so you can change it immediately. We tested on Amazon, and the software worked without any problems. Also, the password manager will notify you each time a password is weak — or, in our case, terrible.

LastPass is also easy to use. You can add sites to your vault, such as Netflix, Amazon, and PayPal, and have your logins autofill when accessing those browser pages. None of the settings seem difficult once you learn to navigate the vault.

1Password vs. LastPass: customer service

Customer service is crucial for any software product. No matter how good a service is, there will always be times when questions or issues arise.

Both password managers offer customer support. Neither one has a live chat feature, which some users enjoy because it’s a quick way to help resolve problems. Still, both provide support forums and instructional articles or videos to help with issues.

We didn’t need customer support with our review, but in looking at these two products, they both offer equivalent support. The one standout feature we did notice with 1Password is that it also offers YouTube video guides, which give users a more visual experience.

1Password vs. LastPass FAQs

1Password vs. LastPass: which is better?

When it comes to the best overall password manager between the two, we think 1Password is the better choice. Of course, one of the items that must come into play is that it has never been breached, unlike LastPass. Although we support how LastPass used complete transparency with its users, we know some people will be hesitant to try it based on the data breach alone.

Also, the customer support offered by 1Password simply seems better than what you get with LastPass. When users need help, they may not want to see a notice redirecting them to an article rather than a phone call for support.

Otherwise, these two password managers are similar, and both offer more security than you get without using one. All password managers are only as good as the strong passwords you have in place, so make sure you know how to create them for your security. For more password manager recommendations, check out our list of best password managers.