I’ve used three major password managers over the past decade: 1Password, Dashlane, and now Proton Pass. Each switch came with trade-offs, and I’ve learned that the “best” password manager depends entirely on your priorities.

1Password has excellent user experience—probably the best among password managers. It’s so polished that switching away from it felt like a downgrade. But sometimes the best UX isn’t the best choice for your overall digital strategy.

Here’s what I learned from using these password managers, plus research on other options including self-hosted solutions.

The password manager landscape: what’s actually available

Password managers fall into three main categories: cloud-based services, self-hosted solutions, and browser-based options. Each has different trade-offs for security, convenience, and cost.

Cloud-based services (the big players)

These are the most popular options, offering convenience and cross-platform sync at the cost of trusting a third party with your data.

1Password

The gold standard for user experience. 1Password is what every other password manager wishes it could be.

What makes it special:

• Incredible UX: The interface is intuitive, fast, and beautiful
• Robust security: AES-256 encryption, zero-knowledge architecture
• Excellent browser integration: Works seamlessly across all browsers
• Advanced features: Secure sharing, travel mode, breach monitoring
• Family accounts: Up to 5 family members for $4.99/month

Pricing: $2.99/month for individuals, $4.99/month for families

The catch: You’re trusting 1Password’s servers with your encrypted data. While they have a strong security track record, it’s still a third-party service.

Dashlane

The one with VPN partnership. Dashlane offers a comprehensive security suite.

What makes it special:

• VPN partnership: Includes Hotspot Shield VPN (adequate for basic needs, but not as feature-rich as dedicated VPNs)
• Password changer: Can automatically change passwords on supported sites
• Dark web monitoring: Scans for compromised credentials
• Secure sharing: Easy sharing with family and team members

Pricing: $3.33/month for individuals, $4.99/month for families

The catch: The VPN is a nice bonus but not a selling point. The interface isn’t as polished as 1Password.

Proton Pass

Privacy-focused from the Proton ecosystem. Proton Pass launched in 2023, built by the same team behind Proton Mail.

What makes it special:

• Zero-knowledge architecture: Even Proton can’t access your data
• Proton ecosystem integration: Shares login with Proton Mail account
• Open source: The client code is open source and auditable
• Swiss privacy laws: Subject to strict Swiss privacy regulations

Pricing: Free tier (unlimited passwords for 1 user), €1/month for Proton Pass Plus, €9.99/month for Proton Unlimited bundle

The catch: The user experience isn’t as polished as 1Password yet, though it’s improving rapidly.

Bitwarden

The open-source alternative. Bitwarden offers both cloud and self-hosted options.

What makes it special:

• Open source: Full transparency in the codebase
• Self-hosted option: Can run your own server
• Free tier: Unlimited passwords, sync across devices
• Cross-platform: Works on all major platforms

Pricing: Free for individuals, $10/year for premium features (TOTP, vault health reports, emergency access, file attachments)

The catch: The interface is functional but not as polished as commercial options.

Self-hosted solutions

For those who want complete control over their data. Self-hosted password managers require more technical setup but offer maximum privacy and control.

Bitwarden (Self-hosted)

The open-source alternative with self-hosted option. Bitwarden can be run on your own server.

What makes it special:

• Open source: Full transparency in the codebase
• Self-hosted option: Can run your own server
• Free tier: Unlimited passwords, sync across devices
• Cross-platform: Works on all major platforms

Pricing: Free for individuals, $10/year for premium features (TOTP, vault health reports, emergency access, file attachments)

The catch: The interface is functional but not as polished as commercial options.

Passbolt

Open-source team password manager. Passbolt is designed for teams and organizations.

What makes it special:

• End-to-end encryption: Uses OpenPGP for encryption
• Team collaboration: Built for sharing credentials securely
• Self-hosted: Complete control over your data
• API access: Can integrate with other tools

Pricing: Free (Community Edition), $3/user/month for Pro features

The catch: Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain. The interface is more functional than beautiful.

KeePass

The original open-source password manager. KeePass has been around for decades.

What makes it special:

• Completely offline: No cloud dependencies
• Highly customizable: Extensive plugin ecosystem
• Free forever: No paid tiers or subscriptions
• Cross-platform: Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile

Pricing: Free

The catch: No automatic sync (you need to manually sync files or use cloud storage with sync plugins), less user-friendly than modern alternatives.

Other cloud-based options

Additional password managers worth considering. These don’t fit neatly into the major categories but offer interesting alternatives.

NordPass

The one YouTubers talk about. NordPass is from the same company behind NordVPN.

What makes it special:

• NordVPN integration: Works with NordVPN ecosystem
• Zero-knowledge architecture: Nord doesn’t have access to your data
• Breach monitoring: Alerts when credentials are compromised
• Password health checker: Analyzes password strength

Pricing: $1.49-1.99/month for individuals, $2.79-4.99/month for families (varies with billing cycle)

The catch: Relatively new compared to established players, limited features compared to 1Password.

My journey: from 1Password to Proton Pass

I started with 1Password and was immediately impressed. The interface was intuitive, the browser integration was seamless, and everything just worked. It’s the kind of software that makes you wonder why other applications can’t be this good.

Then I discovered the free family plan perk. Many companies offer free family accounts when you use their enterprise version at work. This is a great perk—you get the full service for your family at no cost.

The catch: If you change jobs, you lose access to the free family plan. You’ll need to either pay for it yourself or migrate to a different solution. I’ve switched between 1Password and Dashlane as jobs changed, but eventually stuck with Dashlane for the VPN—though I only used it sparingly to bypass region locks.

Dashlane was solid but not spectacular. The interface was good but not as polished as 1Password. The VPN partnership was a nice bonus, but it wasn’t very good compared to dedicated VPN services. I found myself using a separate VPN anyway.

The switch to Proton Pass was strategic, not because of dissatisfaction. I wanted to move my email to Proton Mail and decided to go all-in on the Proton ecosystem. Their Ultimate plan includes Proton Mail, Proton Pass, Proton VPN, and Proton Drive for $9.99/month.

Proton Pass is improving rapidly. The user experience isn’t as polished as 1Password yet, but it’s getting better with every update. The integration with Proton Mail is seamless, and the zero-knowledge architecture gives me peace of mind.

The enterprise perk: free family accounts

Many password managers offer free family accounts when your employer uses their enterprise version. This is a significant perk that can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

How it works:

• Your company pays for enterprise licenses
• You get free family accounts as a benefit
• Your family gets the full service at no cost
• You can add 5-6 family members depending on the provider

The companies that offer this:

• 1Password: Free family accounts for enterprise users
• Dashlane: Free family accounts for enterprise users
• Bitwarden: Free family accounts for enterprise users

My advice: Take advantage of the free family accounts while you can, but have a migration plan ready. Consider whether you’d be willing to pay for the service if you had to.

The reality check: If you change jobs, you lose access to the free family plan. You’ll need to either pay for it yourself (which can be expensive for families) or migrate to a different solution.

Self-hosted options: when control matters more than convenience

Self-hosted password managers offer maximum privacy and control. You own your data, you control the infrastructure, and you’re not dependent on any third-party service.

When self-hosted makes sense:

• Privacy is paramount: You don’t want any third party to have access to your data
• Compliance requirements: Some organizations require self-hosted solutions
• Cost for large teams: Self-hosted can be cheaper for large organizations
• Integration needs: You need to integrate with other self-hosted tools
• Small teams or individuals: Some people find the setup worth it for complete control

When self-hosted doesn’t make sense:

• Limited technical expertise: Self-hosted requires ongoing maintenance
• Mobile-heavy usage: Self-hosted solutions often have limited mobile support
• Time constraints: Setup and maintenance takes time and effort

Passbolt is the best self-hosted option for teams. It’s designed for collaboration, has good security features, and is actively maintained. The Community Edition is free, and the Pro version adds features like SSO integration and advanced reporting.

KeePass is the best option for individuals. It’s completely offline, highly customizable, and free forever. The main downside is the lack of automatic sync, but there are ways to work around this.

The security reality: they’re all pretty good

All the major password managers use strong encryption and security practices. The differences are more about features, user experience, and business model than security.

Common security features:

• AES-256 encryption: Industry standard for data encryption
• Zero-knowledge architecture: The service provider can’t access your data
• Two-factor authentication: Additional security layer
• Breach monitoring: Alerts when credentials are compromised
• Secure sharing: Encrypted sharing with family and team members

The real security risks:

• Weak master passwords: The biggest vulnerability in any password manager
• Phishing attacks: Social engineering can bypass even the best security
• Device compromise: If your device is compromised, your passwords are at risk
• User error: Accidentally sharing credentials or using weak passwords

My security recommendations:

• Use a strong, unique master password
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Keep your devices updated and secure
• Be careful about sharing credentials
• Regularly review and update your passwords

The bottom line: choose based on your priorities

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best password manager depends on your specific needs and priorities.

Choose 1Password if:

• User experience is your top priority
• You want the most polished interface
• You’re willing to pay for premium features
• You want excellent browser integration

Choose Dashlane if:

• You want a VPN included
• You have access to a free family plan through work
• You want automatic password changing
• You need dark web monitoring

Choose Proton Pass if:

• Privacy is your top priority
• You’re already using Proton services
• You want open-source transparency
• You’re willing to trade some polish for privacy

Choose Bitwarden if:

• You want open-source transparency
• You need a generous free tier
• You might want to self-host later
• You’re comfortable with a more functional interface

Choose Passbolt if:

• You need team collaboration features
• You want to self-host
• You need API integration
• You’re comfortable with technical setup

Choose KeePass if:

• You want complete offline control
• You don’t need automatic sync
• You want maximum customization
• You’re comfortable with technical tools

My advice: Start with a free trial of 1Password to see what excellent UX looks like. Then evaluate your priorities and choose accordingly. Remember that you can always migrate later—the important thing is to start using a password manager.

The LastPass warning: why reputation matters

LastPass has suffered multiple security breaches and incidents. While using any password manager is better than not using one, you need a reputable provider with proper security practices.

Recent LastPass issues:

• 2022 breach: Hackers accessed LastPass source code and customer data
• 2023 breach: Customer password vaults were compromised
• Multiple incidents: Various security problems over the years

The lesson: Even password managers can be compromised. Choose a reputable provider with a strong security track record, and practice good password hygiene regardless of which service you use.

Migration and export considerations

Most password managers make it easy to export your data. This is great for migration, but it comes with risks.

Export formats:

• CSV files: Often contain passwords in clear text
• JSON files: Usually encrypted or structured
• Proprietary formats: Specific to each password manager

The risks:

• Clear text exposure: CSV exports often contain unencrypted passwords
• Cloud sync accidents: If you have automatic cloud sync enabled, exported files might get uploaded to iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive
• File security: Exported files need to be handled carefully

My experience: I accidentally uploaded a CSV export to cloud storage once. While it wasn’t necessarily a security breach, I forced myself to change all my passwords just to be safe. The apps usually warn you about this, but it’s easy to miss.

Using built-in password managers for critical data

Consider using a free, reputable service for your most critical passwords. Apple Passwords (Keychain), Google Password Manager, or Microsoft Authenticator can be good options for storing your password manager master password and recovery keys.

Why this makes sense:

• Built-in security: These services are integrated into your operating system
• No additional cost: They’re free with your existing accounts
• Backup option: Provides a secure backup for your main password manager
• Recovery mechanism: If you lose access to your main password manager, you have a backup

What to store:

• Master password: For your main password manager (note: security experts debate this practice)
• Recovery keys: 2FA backup codes and recovery information
• Critical accounts: Banking, email, and other essential services

Security consideration: Storing your main password manager’s master password in another password manager creates a single point of failure if the OS account is compromised. However, it can be a convenient backup for very strong, unmemorizable master passwords. This is a debated practice among security experts.

The best password manager is the one you’ll actually use. Even a mediocre password manager is better than no password manager at all.