Bitwarden vs Dashlane: which one should you choose?
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In this Bitwarden vs Dashlane comparison, I look at two of the most trusted password managers available today. Both offer strong encryption, reliable autofill, and secure storage for sensitive data, but they take slightly different approaches to usability, pricing, and additional features.
To give you a clear and fair comparison, I evaluated each provider based on the factors that matter most in everyday use. That includes security, features, ease of use, cross-device compatibility, and overall value for money. I focused on how each tool performs in real-world scenarios, not just on paper.
If you’re trying to decide between Bitwarden and Dashlane, this guide will help you understand where each one stands. Keep reading to see how they compare and which option is the better fit for your needs.
Dashlane vs Bitwarden – an overview
When comparing Dashlane vs Bitwarden, Dashlane stands out with a more polished, user-friendly experience and built-in extras like VPN and dark web monitoring, while Bitwarden focuses on open-source transparency, flexibility, and lower pricing, with a more minimal, no-frills approach.
| Top choice | |||
| NordPass | Dashlane | Bitwarden | |
| ⭐ Rating: | |||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #20 | #5 out of #20 | #6 out of #20 |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordPass coupon 53% OFF | Dashlane coupon 25% OFF | Cybernews Password Manager Coupons |
| 💵 Price: | From $1.38/month | From $4.07/month | From $1.65/month |
| ✂️ Free version: | Yes, plus it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee | No, but there's a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee | Yes |
| 🔒 Encryption: | XChaCha20 | AES-256 | AES 256-bit |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| 🌐 Browser extensions: | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Brave, Vivaldi | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, DuckDuckGo | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Vivaldi, Brave, Tor, DuckDuckGo |
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Key differences between Bitwarden and Dashlane
Bitwarden and Dashlane both provide secure password management, but offer slightly different features. Bitwarden focuses on affordability and strong core functionality, while Dashlane offers a more feature-rich and beginner-friendly experience with additional security tools included in the subscription.
Choose Bitwarden if:
- You want the best value for money. Bitwarden is significantly cheaper than Dashlane, while still offering unlimited password storage, unlimited devices, and strong security features.
- You need a truly free password manager. Unlike Dashlane, Bitwarden still offers a full-featured free plan instead of a limited-time trial.
- You prefer simple password management without extra tools. Bitwarden focuses heavily on core password management features without bundling extras you may never use.
- You use Linux. Bitwarden supports Linux desktop apps, while Dashlane does not.
For a deeper look at its features, check out our full Bitwarden review.
Choose Dashlane if:
- You want more than just a password manager. Dashlane includes extra security tools like a VPN, dark web monitoring, and AI-powered scam protection.
- You value ease of use and a polished interface. Dashlane has a more intuitive interface and delivers a consistent experience across apps and browser extensions.
- You need better password sharing and recovery options. Dashlane makes it easier to securely share credentials and recover your account if you lose access.
- You want faster customer support. Dashlane offers 24/7 live chat support, while Bitwarden mainly relies on email, forums, and guides.
If you want all the details, read our complete Dashlane review.
Bitwarden vs Dashlane: plans and pricing
Another important aspect when comparing the two password managers is the value you get for the price paid. Firstly, both products have multiple subscription options, which are priced according to the included features and the number of accounts you get.
Here is the table with relevant pricing information based on subscription packages for both Bitwarden and Dashlane:
| Version | Bitwarden | Dashlane |
| Free | $0.00 | $0.00 for 14 days |
| Premium | $1.65/month | $4.07/month |
| Family | $3.99/month | $5.62/month |
| Check pricing | Check pricing |
It is evident that out of the two password managers, Bitwarden offers significantly lower overall prices than Dashlane. Both of its subscriptions, including the Premium and Family plans, are cheaper by almost $30.00 and $20.00, respectively, if you pay annually.
The biggest difference is between the Premium subscription plans, where you can get Bitwarden for $1.65/month in comparison to the $4.07/month of Dashlane. It’s important to mention that the Bitwarden Families package costs less than Dashlane Premium, but you get 6 accounts for unique users, compared to the 10 offered by Dashlane.
However, the reason behind such price differences might also be the extra security features Dashlane offers. For example, it includes a VPN in its subscription, which is typically offered as a separate paid product by other password managers. So, the price reflects the additional useful features it provides.
Bitwarden or Dashlane: free vs premium plans
Bitwarden offers a full free version, while Dashlane has discontinued its free plan and now offers a 14-day free trial. That said, let’s look at what specific features they offer. Here is a detailed table comparing the free and premium versions of these password managers:
| Bitwarden | Dashlane | |
| Free |
|
|
| Premium | Everything as in the Free version, plus:
|
|
The Bitwarden free password manager is a truly great option if you don’t want to pay for the product at all. It saves an unlimited number of passwords, and you can use it on as many devices as you want.
Dashlane, in this case, offers all features available in its paid plan free for 14 days. The provider has discontinued its free plan for both new and existing users on September 16th, 2025.
However, if it comes to the Premium plans, Dashlane offers a wider range of features than Bitwarden. You not only get everything almost any password manager would offer, but also a VPN to secure your browsing activities, a dark web monitoring feature to protect your data in case it’s been leaked, and even AI-powered scam protection.
Therefore, when comparing the two possible subscription options, it really depends on what you’re looking for. Bitwarden has a great free version, which gives a lot of freedom without even opening your wallet. Yet, if you decide to pay, Dashlane can provide you with features that not many password managers would.
Bitwarden or Dashlane: security comparison
From the standpoint of security, both Dashlane and Bitwarden are highly secure password managers. They employ strong encryption, support two-factor authentication (2FA), and collect only minor pieces of information. Therefore, with either one, your data is protected under multiple layers of security.
Encryption
When it comes to password managers, one of the most important parts is the strong encryption solution that protects your data at all times. Both Dashlane and Bitwarden use identical technology – the AES-256 cipher, along with an individual key that is derived from your master password to encode your passwords.
Keep in mind that these password managers never store your private information in plaintext, so no one, not even the employees, can access it. Additionally, this combination of encryption with a unique key can protect your information even in a rare case of data breach. It’s impossible to reverse-engineer the stored passwords on both vaults, so malicious hackers don’t have the slightest chance of stealing your data.
Multi-factor security
Multi-factor security is an additional measure to ensure all-around protection of your information. In simple terms, this technology requires you to prove your identity even once you provide your login credentials.
Bitwarden provides 2FA via multiple methods, with email and authentication app among the most popular ones. However, if you desire an even more advanced protection, it also supports YubiKey, FIDO2, and Duo security keys.
In terms of 2FA, Dashlane doesn’t fall behind as it also supports the same methods, such as email, authentication apps, the YubiKey security key, and some extra ones. For example, you can even verify your identity with a PIN code or a fingerprint sensor.
While the basic multifactor security solutions are present in both password managers, Dashlane goes an extra mile to provide even more security options for its users.
Data storage
One of the perks that you get with the password management services is the secure storage of your data. Bitwarden offers unlimited item storage within the vault in free and paid versions. Apart from that, users with premium versions get 1GB to keep encrypted file attachments for personal usage. In comparison, the family plan gives an additional 1GB for organizational usage as an extra.
Dashlane also provides secure data storage solutions. The provider allows for unlimited passwords in the vault. You can also get the Dashlane premium or Friends & Family subscription, which has no limitations on password storage, vault items, and provides 1GB of free space for storing files.
It’s also important to note that Bitwarden stores your information in the Five Eyes country, which is not exactly privacy-friendly. Despite that, the provider is very transparent about it and uses end-to-end encryption at all times to ensure this password manager is safe to use.
Privacy policy
When reviewing the privacy policy of Bitwarden, I discovered that it collects the following information:
- Your name (if you provide it)
- Your email address
- Your IP address
- Device type
- Operating system model
- Information you enter via Bitwarden’s forms
However, Bitwarden complies with GDPR and CCPA regulations, which means that your private information is handled as specified by the privacy laws.
Dashlane also collects small amounts of information, which are primarily focused on usage. The collected data includes the following:
- Usage and aggregated data
- Cookies
- Data received from third parties
- Registration details and billing information
- Support and correspondence
- Feedback
- Device and browser-related data
It is evident that Bitwarden goes further with collecting data than Dashlane. However, both password managers only store information in a heavily encrypted form. This way, even if anyone tries to access it, the data would be useless to them.
Third-party security audits
Another great way to evaluate how secure a password manager is – check whether independent auditors have examined it.
Bitwarden has been audited numerous times by reputable firms such as Cure53, Insight Risk Consulting, and others. This password manager has been audited in terms of its source code, penetration testing, and even cryptographic analysis. No major security flaws were found, so it’s definitely safe to use.
Dashlane, on the other hand, has undergone several security audits and received a SOC 2 Type II compliance report, while also earning ISO 27001 certification.
Bitwarden vs Dashlane: features overview
There are two ways you can compare the features of the two password managers: either by simply looking at the number of features or evaluating their overall performance. In this comparison, I aim to provide a comprehensive overview of not only how many perks you get but also how functional they actually are.
Password importing
Bitwarden supports imports from multiple sources, such as other password managers, most popular browsers, or just simple CSV files. For example, you can quickly switch from LastPass, Keeper, or RememBear to Bitwarden without manually importing the saved information.
Similarly, Dashlane also supports uploads from other tools, like 1Password, RoboForm, or Zoho Vault. Additionally, you can extract your data from Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Opera without any issues.
I would definitely say that both of these password managers give a lot of flexibility in terms of importing passwords.
Account and password recovery
Keep in mind that the master password is your main way to access the stored passwords. Losing a password could lock you out of your accounts. Luckily, great password managers offer secure and effective methods to help with account recovery.
To recover your password with Dashlane, you can use your account recovery key, admin-assisted recovery (if you’re using a Professional plan), or biometric recovery options.
With Bitwarden, you can use your recovery key or use an emergency contact.
Password generator
The number one security measure you should take when trying to protect your data is to use strong passwords and, most importantly, never reuse them on multiple accounts. For this reason, Dashlane and Bitwarden offer password generators that can automatically create unique passwords for you.
Dashlane allows you to customize the generated password length and which symbols or characters to include. You can opt for capital letters, digits, and symbols to strengthen the password. Even though it’s preset to generate 12 characters, you can make it shorter or longer depending on your needs.
Bitwarden also has a useful password generator. You can also customize it in terms of the length and included symbols, letters, or digits. However, the only difference is that it’s preset to create 14-character-long passwords, but you can easily alter that as well.
Password sharing
It’s clear that you should never share your passwords through unprotected networks. One of the greatest features that password managers offer is secure sharing.
With Dashlane, you can share your sensitive information securely with anyone.
Bitwarden, on the other hand, is far more restrictive in terms of password sharing. This feature is only available for premium users, and even then, you’ll be able to share passwords with one other user. The only way to increase the limit is to go for the Family package, which provides secure sharing among 6 users.
The password sharing feature is an extremely important aspect when choosing a password manager. Dashlane definitely outperforms Bitwarden in this case.
Autofill
What is so great about the autofill feature is that it significantly reduces the time needed to access your social media accounts or complete online payments. In simple terms, it fills out all the necessary credentials whenever it detects a relevant web form.
Dashlane operates in a very smooth manner, as it can fill your name, email, credit card details, phone number, or company name almost instantly. It’s great at identifying web forms and doesn’t require any additional actions to complete the login or payment process.
Bitwarden also lets you fill out forms, and its autofill has improved dramatically over the years. It works seamlessly in the browser.
Platforms, interface, and ease of use
Dashlane and Bitwarden both support all of the most widely used platforms. They not only have desktop and mobile apps, but also dedicated browser extensions that help you autofill forms while browsing online.
Here is the detailed information about the compatibility of Bitwarden and Dashlane:
| Bitwarden | Dashlane | |
| Supported OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Brave | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Brave, Vivaldi, Tor, DuckDuckGo |
| Number of users | 1, 2, or 6 | 1 or 10 |
What’s even better is that the download and installation process of these password managers is very simple. You can easily navigate to the official website and download the application. The installation wizard guides you through the further steps, and you’ll set up the program within a few minutes.
It’s evident that the developers of Dashlane and Bitwarden definitely aimed to make these products as easy for their customers to use as possible. It was hard for me to choose which one’s better since they’re both extremely intuitive in terms of their usage.
Desktop apps
You can easily download and install Bitwarden on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. The visual interface of their desktop apps is almost identical. So, if you think about using it on multiple devices running different OS, you won’t need to adjust to a new interface.
The Bitwarden desktop app has a useful left-side pane that allows you to quickly access All items, Favourites, and the Bin. Additionally, it categorizes vault items into Login, Card, Secure note, and Identity to help you find your sensitive information more easily. Apart from that, you can also create your own folders to store your passwords, which gives a lot of flexibility.
Dashlane also has dedicated apps for the same platforms, except for Linux. The applications have a clean design and categorize items into Vault, Security, and Contacts sections for easy access. However, the only drawback is that you cannot create folders to manage your items in the vault.
Browser extensions
Both Dashlane and Bitwarden have browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. Yet, Bitwarden also supports a less popular browser – Brave – which is heavily focused on online privacy.
Essentially, these extensions perform the basic functions of a password manager, such as autofilling web forms and saving credentials to help you improve your browsing experience while shopping or accessing social media websites. However, you should keep in mind that all browser extensions are inextricably linked to the web or desktop apps. So, if you would like to access your vault items, you wouldn’t be able to do that through the extension.
Additionally, the interface of Bitwarden extensions is all different depending on the browser you are using. As such, you shouldn’t expect that it will look or feel the same if you switch between two browsers.
Mobile apps
With Bitwarden and Dashlane, you can access your sensitive information wherever you go, as they both have mobile apps for iOS and Android. You can easily download either of them on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and complete the installation process within a minute.
Even though it’s quite common that mobile apps have quite a few limitations compared to the desktop versions, this is not the case with these password managers. In fact, iOS and Android versions are just as feature-rich as those for Windows or macOS.
For example, Dashlane provides all of the same features, like the VPN, a password generator, and secure notes on mobile devices and desktop apps. Bitwarden, on the other hand, even allows you to customize the user interface with amazing mobile themes. So, I am definitely impressed by both mobile solutions coming from these developers.
Customer support
Great customer support is essential as it is the first place you go to if you have any issues with the product. Both password managers have multiple help options for their users that are quite useful.
For example, Bitwarden offers the following support methods:
- FAQ
- Weekly live Q&A sessions
- Community forum
- Email support
- How-to guides
While there are the basic help options, such as the FAQ or how-to guides, Bitwarden doesn’t offer real-time support. It’s quite upsetting, as it’s one of the greatest options when you need a quick response.
Luckily, Dashlane has 24/7 live support among other options, like the following ones:
- Knowledge base
- FAQ
- Email support
- How-to guides
With Dashlane, it’s easy to find answers to your questions by yourself, as well as to get professional help from the agents. This password manager definitely offers better customer support solutions for its users.
Video review
If you want to see the comparison between Dashlane and Bitwarden in a video format, the Cybernews team has you covered.
Bitwarden vs Dashlane – which one is better?
In my opinion, both Bitwarden and Dashlane are excellent password managers, each offering strong security and reliable functionality. Bitwarden stands out for its low pricing, generous free plan, Linux support, and strong core password management features, making it the better value-focused choice. Dashlane, on the other hand, offers a more polished experience with advanced security tools, built-in VPN, scam protection, better password sharing, and 24/7 live chat support.
Overall, Dashlane is the winner of this comparison. While it costs more, its broader feature set, stronger security extras, and more user-friendly experience make it the better overall password manager for most users
More password manager comparison guides from Cybernews:
FAQ
Is Bitwarden better than Dashlane?
No, Dashlane is a better password manager than Bitwarden. The reason behind that is its additional features that come within the premium packages – a VPN, an automatic password changer, and dark web monitoring. These are the unique features that make it a better option than Bitwarden.
Which is better for Mac: Bitwarden or Dashlane?
Dashlane is better for macOS users, as it offers more security-related features in addition to the basic password management services. For example, you get a VPN to protect your online anonymity and a password changer to secure all of your sensitive data at once.
Can Bitwarden import from Dashlane?
Yes, you can import your passwords to Bitwarden from Dashlane and other password management tools. These include 1Password, LastPass, RoboForm, and others. Additionally, you can even get your sensitive data from the most popular browsers, like Chrome or Firefox.
