Bitwarden vs Dashlane: which one should you choose?

This Dashlane vs Bitwarden comparison proves that they both are strong password management suites developed to help you secure your passwords and protect sensitive information. They allow you to save passwords, autofill web forms, keep encrypted file attachments, and so much more.

However, if you’re tackling the question which one’s better, let us assist you. In this Bitwarden vs Dashlane comparison, I review their security solutions, available features, and pricing plans to help you choose the best one for you.

Dashlane vs Bitwarden – an overview

Both Dashlane and Bitwarden are well-known providers in the password manager market. However, I found that Dashlane is slightly better than Bitwarden, offering more features and a more user-friendly experience overall.

	Dashlane	Bitwarden
⭐ Rating:	4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
🥇 Overall rank:	#5 out of #20	#6 out of #20
🔥 Coupons:	Dashlane coupon 25% OFF	Cybernews Password Manager Coupons
💵 Price:	From $3.75/month	From $0.83/month
✂️ Free version:	Yes, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee	Yes
🔒 Encryption:	AES-256	AES 256-bit
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
🌐 Browser extensions:	Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, DuckDuckGo	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Vivaldi, Brave, Tor, DuckDuckGo

Bitwarden or Dashlane: which one is more secure?

From the standpoint of security, both Dashlane and Bitwarden are highly secure password managers. They employ next-gen 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 next-gen 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.

As discussed in our Bitwarden review, the password manager provides 2FA via multiple methods, such as the email and authentication app being 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 along 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, while the family plan gives an additional 1GB for organizational usage as an extra.

As explained in our Dashlane review, the password manager also provides great and secure data storage solutions. The free plan allows you to save 25 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 the safety of your passwords.

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, Privacy Shield, 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
• Master password
• 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, so 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 it has been examined by independent auditors. In this case, Bitwarden has been audited by two firms, the Cure53 and the Insight Risk Consulting.

This password manager has been audited in terms of its source code, penetration testing, and even the cryptographic analysis. No major security flaws were found, so it’s definitely safe to use.

Unfortunately, Dashlane has not yet been audited by any independent firms. The provider claims that it constantly audits its products, but there is no information on who performs the audits.

Bitwarden vs Dashlane: features overview

There are two ways of how 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. Likewise, 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 the Secure Notes feature. It provides dedicated persons with access to your passwords, so they can help you during an emergency.

Bitwarden also offers one way to recover your account. Once you register, you’ll receive a unique code which should be kept in a safe place and used to regain access to your account. If you lose it, your data will be lost along with it.

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 send your sensitive information to up to 5 other users in the Free version. If you need more sharing capabilities, you can remove all limitations by getting a Premium version.

Bitwarden on the other hand is far more restrictive with 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. Likewise, 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 comple online payments. In simple terms, it fills 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.

While Bitwarden is also great at filling out forms, it does require you to manually click on a dedicated icon and select which details you want to enter. Likewise, I would say that Dashlane just makes the process much more efficient.

Bitwarden vs Dashlane: which offers better value for money?

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
Premium	$0.83/month	$3.75/month
Family	$3.33/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 $0.83/month in comparison to the $3.75/month of Dashlane. It’s important to mention that the Bitwarden Families package costs exactly the same as Dashlane Premium, but you get 6 accounts for unique users instead of one.

However, the reason behind such price differences might be the extra security features that Dashlane offers. For example, it includes a VPN in both subscriptions which is often 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

Since Dashlane and Bitwarden both have free versions and premium subscription plans, 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	Unlimited password storage Unlimited number of devices Secure notes 2FA Password generator	Store 25 passwords Password health Password generator Secure notes Account for 1 device only
Premium	Everything as in the Free version, plus: 1GB of encrypted file storage 2FA with security keys Vault health reports Emergency access Priority customer support	Unlimited password storage Unlimited number of devices Secure notes 1GB of encrypted file A VPN Automatic password changer Dark web monitoring

The Bitwarden free version 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, is not so generous – you still get space for 25 passwords to store and on 1 device only. Thus, when comparing the free packages, I would choose Bitwarden.

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 and the dark web monitoring feature to protect your data in case it’s been leaked.

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.

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 devices	1, 2, or 6 users	1 or 6 users

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 respective developers of Dashlane and Bitwarden definitely aimed to make these products as easy to use for their customers as possible. I couldn’t 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 which 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 easier. 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, the former one 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. Likewise, 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’s 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 would be the first place you would go to in case 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. Likewise, 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 wins?

If you ask me, both Bitwarden and Dashlane are truly great password managers. Yet, Dashlane just goes an extra mile with its additional features and definitely wins this battle. After all, it’s categorized among the best password managers for a reason – one of the most feature-rich tools that you can currently get.

However, the pricing is quite steep, so evidently it’s suitable for people who want to get it all and are not reluctant to pay for high-quality services.

Category	Bitwarden	Dashlane
Features	❌	✅
Pricing & Plans	✅	❌
Security	✅	✅
User-friendliness	❌	✅
Compatibility	✅	✅

If your goal is to save up money but still enjoy the basic password management services, you should definitely consider Bitwarden. It’s still a great tool, but when it comes to the comparison – with Dashlane you get so much more.

FAQ