1Password vs LastPass: which one to choose?

1Password and LastPass are well-known password managers on the market. Both products are highly advanced password management solutions. If you’ve been wondering which one is better for you – 1Password or LastPass – we’re here to help you make the decision.

After conducting thorough research and putting both password managers to test, we found that 1Password might be more trustworthy in some aspects, as LastPass has been exposed to a data breach and lacks in other areas. 1Password also provides uncrackable encryption, has had multiple third-party audits, and offers less restrictive functionalities. However, by comparing both of the password managers’ features, security, pricing, apps, and other functionalities, we’ll make it easier for you to decide which one of them fits your needs better. Let’s find out.

Features overview

Winner

Get 1Password, now 50% OFF!

1Password vs LastPass: feature overview

Both 1Password and LastPass have all the essential features in their arsenal, such as a password generator, secure vault, dark web monitoring, and autofilling. Also, both of them offer some unique features – 1Password uses Travel mode, while LastPass provides you with recovery options.

Common features

Both providers come with essential features that are common with most password managers. This includes a password generator for creating secure and unbreakable passwords as well as autofilling for quick logging in.

Both providers come with monitoring tools to alert you about data breaches. 1Password has a feature called Watchtower, which alerts you about your password breaches and whether it has been compromised. It has an integrated Have I Been Pwned function. It checks for password strength, vulnerable passwords, and compromised websites.

Meanwhile, LastPass has a similar feature, called Dark Web Monitoring. If your credentials have been breached, you get a notice via email.

Moving on, 1Password and LastPass also both offer secure vaults. However, they have different storage resources and file size limits. You can compare the vaults below:

When we stack paid LastPass and 1Password data storage options, 1Password is undoubtedly less restrictive. With it, you could store personal videos that would exceed 50 MBs pretty quickly. LastPass, in this sense, is just inferior. Its key being file size limit, LastPass’ free version is very limited and inconvenient to use with advanced devices and high quality files.

Unique features

One of the unique features that 1Password has is Travel mode – it removes vaults from your devices except the ones that you select as available or safe for traveling. LastPass doesn’t have a travel mode but offers multisteps for traveling. This includes restricting access to specific countries, enabling offline access, or saving digital copies of most important documents.

Meanwhile, the unique feature of LastPass includes account recovery. If you lose or forget your master password, you can reset your password using email, SMS recovery, or even biometrics (on your mobile device). As for 1Password, you can only recover your account if you’re a family or team member – otherwise, you can forget getting your account back.

Overall, both 1Password and LastPass have all the core features covered and offer some unique ones as well. However, while the former has strengths in one area, the latter covers better another area – so we have to call it a tie. While 1Password doesn’t offer account recovery options, LastPass doesn’t give much storage resources in the secure vault. So, the ultimate choice depends on your personal needs.

1Password or LastPass: which one is more secure?

1Password and LastPass are on point when it comes to security. Both password managers send only encrypted data to the provider’s servers. Multi-factor security slightly tips in the LastPass favor. However, privacy and third-party audits are areas in which 1Password wipes the floor with LastPass. Overall, the champion in the security category is undoubtedly 1Password.

Winner

Visit 1Password

Security breaches

First off, to ensure the security of both 1Password and LastPass security, we checked whether any of the two ever been hacked, breached, or otherwise compromised.

Unfortunately, LastPass confirmed a data breach in August 2022. It was reported that the incident didn’t compromise any of the users data and that the attacker exfiltrated portions of internal data back then. However, in late November of 2022, LastPass confirmed another breach. After this breach, it was admitted by LastPass that the attacker gained access to certain elements of the customers data. Moreover, in 2015, threat actors managed to access their network and LastPass asked users to change their Master passwords.

Regarding 1Password, it has never been reported to be hacked or breached. Therefore, this one’s a winner in terms of security matters.

Encryption

Since both 1Password and LastPass are market leaders, there are no real surprises in encryption. During our 1Password review, we discovered that it uses industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption with PBKDF2 password hashing for the master password to make it resilient against brute force attacks. The provider even takes it one step further and adds a 128-bit secret key on top of the master password. The forced secret key on login might seem like overkill, but the fact remains that it’s the most secure setup you could find among password managers.

Meanwhile, the LastPass review shows that it is no slouch when it comes to encryption standards. They use the same 256-bit AES encryption with PBKDF2 SHA-256 for master passwords. They also work similarly, never sending unencrypted data outside your device and decrypting it only on a device level.

LastPass is by no means an insecure password manager, it should do the job just fine in most cases. However, the necessary secret key makes a major difference in the service’s security status. So 1Password is ultimately the superior choice because it locks your data behind more doors.

Multi-factor security

In 1Password’s case, multi-factor security is built into the client because it requires two passwords on every new device. Aside from this secret key, it’s possible to set up two-factor authentication via authenticator apps like Authy or Microsoft Authenticator. There’s an option to send push notifications to confirm login requests via Duo Security. It’s also possible to use Windows fingerprint or Apple’s FaceID. However, that’s about it. You won’t find third-party authenticators or USB tokens. Those two might be vital if you’re a business owner.

What LastPass does well are their multi-factor authentication options (you can see them in the image above). Ultimately, they have the most of all password managers. The list includes TOTP (time-based one-time password) apps, physical authenticators, smart cards, and more. The kicker is that you can use several authentication options. You can even enable them all and require to use the TOTP app, biometrics, PIN, and smart card – all at the same time.

On the other hand, from multi-factor authentication options, there are many reports that FaceID sometimes doesn’t work well with 1Password. In this case, LastPass is a winner, as it allows you to create several layers of protection. It would be tough for any hacker to jump through that many hoops. LastPass is the ultimate winner because of more supported authentication methods and the possibility to combine them.

Privacy policy

Even though 1Password is a closed source project, its developers are upfront about how everything works under the hood. Your data is stored in encrypted form only, and there is no selling of customer information. It does make sense, considering that 1Password is paid-only and doesn’t have a free version. Naturally, there cannot be any capitalizing on free users' data because there are no free users.

1Password has been recently acquired by Accel company, which invested $200 million into the company: products and services, with a focus on safety.

LastPass is certainly less considerate for its customers' privacy. Their privacy policy is on the website of their parent company LogMeIn – it doesn't discriminate between different products. As such, it’s ambiguous which data LastPass collects. What is clear is that they state that they may use your data for marketing purposes. Also, LogMeIn is based in the US, adding other possible privacy concerns.

Overall, 1Password distinguishes itself with a no-nonsense attitude towards your privacy. The same doesn’t apply to LastPass, who will happily collaborate with marketers to keep their free version afloat. It’s something that should be taken into consideration and makes LastPass an inferior choice.

Third-party security audits

When it comes to third-party security audits, there’s only one thing that you should know. 1Password has undergone several security audits. You can familiarize yourself with each of them, including the detailed audit reports on this page. The most noteworthy are:

• Service Organization Control Type 2 certificate
• Private bug bounty program for Bugcrowd, Inc.
• Independent Security Evaluators penetration and code test

That’s a feat of strength that few password managers can boast. In contrast, LastPass has only one of them. What’s even worse than the lower total number is that this was an audit of their internal compliance to the security and privacy regulations. It should mean to you that they passed their staff compliance audit, rather than thorough penetration testing of their software. LastPass pales in comparison in this sense. They are making 1Password a clear winner.

1Password and LastPass: which one offers better value for money?

Although LastPass has a free version available, unlike 1Password, its past security breaches and lack of security audits make it a less viable option. Plus, while the prices of both services are fairly similar, 1Password ensures much better value for your money.

Neither of the services offer money-back guarantees, making it harder to pick one as you’re committing long term. However, 1Password does come with a free 14-day trial while LastPass offers a 30-day trial, so you have some time to decide whether you want to stick with it or not.

Overall, 1Password is a better password manager than LastPass in terms of pricing as it provides you with a better bang for your buck considering its security, feature array, and more.

Winner

Visit 1Password

1Password or LastPass: Free vs Premium plans

While 1Password doesn’t have an unlimited free version available, LastPass does. With it, you get unlimited password storage in your vault, support for any device type, a password generator, multi-factor authentication, and 50 MB of data storage. This kind of data storage is rather limited.

Plus, you’ll be restricted to one device – desktop or mobile. So, accessing the same vault on your mobile and your PC is out of the question. You'll need a Premium or Family plan for that.

Speaking of premium plans, both providers have quite a lot in their arsenal. They allow unlimited passwords and devices, both offer 1GB of storage, and two-factor authentication. Only 1Password has the Travel mode feature and doesn’t have a history with data breaches.

However, if you’re in need of a password manager for multiple users, 1Password and LastPass offer almost identical family plans. Unlimited devices, private user accounts, password sharing, account recovery – you name it, they have it all.

However, LastPass allows more users than 1Password. Yet again, we have to keep in mind that LastPass is less secure considering the previous data breaches.

All in all, both 1Password and LastPass are great in terms of pricing. They offer all of the essential features and are in a similar price range. Yet, while 1Password also offers unique features like Travel mode, LastPass allows a bigger number of users on the Families plan.

1Password vs LastPass: ease of use and setup

Both password managers have created a wide array of options for their users. You can pick between the usual set of apps and clients. The main difference points include browser add-ons. 1Password is lacking in this department, forcing its users to install a desktop app if they want the browser add-on to work. However, 1Password is noticeably superior when it comes to mobile apps, especially its iOS variants. It allows you to store items even on your Apple Watch. Overall, 1Password still comes off as the superior choice compared to what LastPass has to offer.

Winner

Visit 1Password

Web client

It’s most likely that your journey with either service will start via a web client. When you create a 1Password account, you’ll be able to manage your vault right off the bat. The sign up procedure not only requires you to confirm your email with a confirmation code, but it will also enforce a randomly generated 34-character Secret Key. Plus, your login might belong in 3 different regions: 1Password.ca, 1Password.eu, ent.1password.com, or 1Password.com. Although it might seem confusing, it works to your safety advantages. There is much more variation than just your email/master password combination. The redeeming aspect is that you only have to type in these things once. Your browser or app will remember the data. You’ll only need to confirm your identity with a master password. 1Password’s web client offers more or less the same vault management options as those available on the apps. There’s also an option to use a QR code to setup or retrieve your account.

LastPass has a slightly different take on their web client. While 1Password limits some features to the web and adds others to the downloadable apps, LastPass is doing the opposite. They are trying to provide identical functionality regardless of login method.

Desktop apps

1Password apps come in different versions. If you have a newer computer, you’ll be able to download 1Password Version 7. If you have an older computer, you can use 1Password 4. It’s rare that a password manager willingly extends support for older machines. With that said, they are no longer supported as fully and only receive the most critical security updates. All the current apps are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

You can manage your vault in 1Password desktop the same way you would on the web client. The difference is that the apps add advanced options. For example, on Mac, you can enable Spotlight and 3rd party app integrations. This allows searching the data stored in the items and more.

In contrast, LastPass creates zero initiative to switch to a desktop app. Everything you can do on your web client, you can also do on their desktop app. In reality, you can better manage multi-factor authentication options via web client, expand your plans, and more. It raises the question about the purpose of the app. 1Password easily overpowers LastPass when it comes to their desktop apps.

Browser extensions

If you think that 1Password’s browser extension will provide convenience, prepare for confusion. There are actually two separate versions that you can find: 1Password X and an extension that requires a desktop app. The latter was the first introduction, so it worked with Mac and Windows. Then 1Password X was released for ChromeOS and Linux users. 1Password X is newer but it is underdeveloped at this point and doesn't support biometrics authentication.

The simple extension works only as a supplement to the app, not as a substitute. This begs the question why you should bother installing both: the app and the extension when there's 1Password X?

Well, 1Password now supports Safari. So, you can enjoy the new version with all the features for your extension.

You can use their browser extension separately from the apps. This is the right way to do it. You get much more flexibility as a user. The extensions are available to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Edge Legacy, Opera, and even Safari. So, ultimately not only do you get more fleshed-out browser add-ons, but you also get more supported browsers.

Mobile apps

1Password apps are available for iOS and Android devices. Both are identical from the features perspective: you can set up both apps to autofill passwords not only on the web but on apps as well. In the iOS case, everything is rather straightforward. You’re asked to switch to 1Password in place of the iCloud Keychain. If you’re using Android, it depends on your version. Currently, 1Password supports autofill on apps and browsers from Android version 5 to the current 12^th. So, 1Password pretty much covers all bases.

Feature-wise, the most noteworthy addition on iOS is the possibility to add items to the Apple Watch keychain. That way, you can store passwords in the storage on your watch. It protects your items with your Apple Watch rather than your master password. Android devices don’t have an equivalent feature.

LastPass also features autofill for Android and iOS. However, the difference is that LastPass will require the Android 8 framework to work. If you have a phone that runs on an older build of Android, you’re out of luck. You can also set up biometrics authentication if you don't want to use your master password.

1Password works on more Android versions and supports iOS Apple Watch integrations. These are strong selling points that make it a better overall product.

Password sharing

In terms of password sharing, with 1Password you can share items with recipients that aren’t 1Password users. The feature for that is called Psst! (Password secure sharing tool) All you need to do is just open an item to get a link, which you can share with anyone.

With LastPass you can share credentials only with other LastPast users. You can also manage the access to the login credentials. A downside is that LastPass asks you to verify your email address before letting you share anything quite frequently.

1Password definitely beats LastPass in this field, as the first one offers more functionality and versatility than LastPass and is more user-friendly. That’s something to take into consideration while making the choice between the two.

Recovery methods

Both password managers have recovery methods if you accidentally lose your private key (master password).

1Password offers a Windows Hello (biometric identification) recovery option. If you belong to a Family plan, other members can recover your account. However, it’s recommended to print out the Emergency Kit with all the login details.

LastPass provides a Recovery One-Time Password and login with it if you forgot your Master password. You can also add a recovery phone number or set up a mobile account recovery with biometric authentication.

Having compared the recovery methods that both of the password managers offer, LastPass seems to provide more choices and beats the one option that 1Password offers.

Password generator

It’s crucial to use secure passwords online. Unfortunately, a lot of users tend to reuse the same passwords over and over again or lack complexity when creating those. Therefore, password managers include a password generator, which generates you a secure, custom, and strong password. Both 1Password and LastPass have these.

1Password’s password generator has up to 100 characters. You can generate passwords from random symbols, PIN codes, or memorable phrases containing 3 to 15 words.

Meanwhile, LastPass password generator is rather simple and you can create a password containing up to 99 characters.

Both providers have good generator features but 1Password has more options to play with.

LastPass vs 1Password: customer support

Since 1Password is positioning itself as a premium password manager, it comes with more customer support options. You can contact them via Twitter, email, or community forums. Email seems like a no-brainer, but many users report that they got in touch faster by using Twitter or the forums. Live chat would be the best option, but seeing how little password manager providers can do to help you out, this is no surprise.

When it comes to LastPass, if you’re using the Free version, you’re left without customer support. You’ll only be able to read the FAQ section. Paid users can get Premium Support tickets. So, essentially, customer support in LastPass' case is left behind a paywall.

Both services look decent from a customer support standpoint. 1Password seems a little better because of their community forums, which give them a narrow edge. LastPass should be an example of how not to implement customer support. Giving this option only to paying users is cruel.

Winner

Visit 1Password

1Password vs LastPass video review

If you’re more of a visual learner, you can check out our 1Password vs LastPass comparison where we cover security, unique features, pricing, and user experience.

What do Reddit users say?

One of the best ways to choose a reliable password manager is to check what users recommend. Subreddits on password managers tend to offer honest opinions and experiences. Let’s check out which one of the password managers conquers Reddit:

Some Redditors say that LastPass won’t generate passwords for new services on Android and there are recommendations to switch to 1Password because it works better regarding this. Generally, users seem to appreciate 1Passwords’s interface, ease of use, app compatibility, password sharing, and other functionalities.

Others switch to 1Password because of it being more secure and having no concerns with data breaches or data being hacked.

Overall, users seem to prefer 1Password for its customer support as well and for the generally well-developed password management solution.

Is 1Password better than LastPass?

Winner

Visit 1Password

All things considered, 1Password is a better password manager than LastPass. Although both password managers have similar features, 1Password is cheaper, provides a better user experience, and its additional security feature Secret Key makes 1Password practically immune to hacking.

Meanwhile, LastPass has experienced two breaches close to each other, exposing user data and raising many security concerns. So if you’re looking for a safe alternative, you should opt for a more secure password manager, like 1Password.

What’s more, 1Password has better mobile apps, fewer limitations, and advanced customization options, which give it the lead in this 1Password vs LastPass comparison.

Best password manager deals this week:

4.9 /5

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Special deal

-42% OFF

Get special deal

4.8 /5

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Special deal

-50% OFF

Get special deal

4.6 /5

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Special deal

-50% OFF

Get special deal

Other password manager reviews from Cybernews:

FAQ