NordPass vs Dashlane: Which One's Better?

NordPass and Dashlane are the two industry leaders which provide top-notch password management services for users all around the world. Dashlane subscribers get an in-built VPN while NordPass has no limitations on password storage even with the free plan.

Since both of them offer excellent features to help you secure and be in charge of your sensitive information, the battle of NordPass vs Dashlane is tough. So, in this article we’ll try to make the comparison between these two password managers as fair as it gets to find out which one’s better.

Although it might seem silly to compare the two (as they’re actually both really good), we discovered some interesting differences that might help you to make up your mind when shopping for a password manager.

Dashlane vs NordPass - an overview

	NordPass	Dashlane
⭐ Rating:	4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
🥇 Overall rank:	#1 out of #16	#5 out of #16
🔥 Coupons:	NordPass coupon 42% OFF	Dashlane coupon 25% OFF
💵 Price:	From $1.72/month	From $3.75/month
✂️ Free version:	Yes	Yes, +30 days trial
🔒 Encryption:	XChaCha20	AES-256
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
🌐 Browser extensions:	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari	Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge

NordPass or Dashlane: which one is more secure?

Strong security is a number one priority when keeping all of your sensitive information in one place. Luckily, these quality password managers employ advanced protection solutions to take the best care of your private data.

Both Dashlane and NordPass use military-grade encryption, support multi-factor authentication, operate under zero-knowledge policy, and stores not only passwords, but notes and documents. They truly aim to provide all-round security for the users and offer robust protection for sensitive information.

Winner: draw

Encryption

Dashlane employs a 256-bit AES algorithm to encrypt your data directly on your device. So no one and even their staff can’t access it. This cipher is an industry standard and widely used by many password managers for strong protection.

However, NordPass selected a more modern encryption algorithm – xChaCha20 – yet, no less reliable than the one used by Dashlane. According to the experts, it’s not only as safe as AES-256, but also up to three times faster.

Comparing the encryption solutions chosen by the two password managers, I would say that both of them provide reliable and secure options. Just keep in mind that NordPass encrypts data in a more efficient way and has less impact on your device’s system.

Multi-factor security

Recently, NordPass has expanded its multi-factor authentication options. Now, it not only supports confirmations via the email or a dedicated authenticator app, but also security keys. You can get one of the FIDO approved U2F devices, like Yubikey, iePass, BioPass, MultiPass, ePass and others. All of these options are available in both free and premium versions.

Dashlane also gives the possibility to use two-factor (2FA) and multi-factor authentication. You have an option to use different authenticator apps, like Google Authenticator or Authy, and even your Apple Watch. Additionally, it supports U2F with the Yubikey security key as well. Yet, it is only available for premium Dashlane subscribers.

Data storage

Dashlane allows users to store unlimited passwords for free and offers premium subscription plans with no password storage limitations as well. However, if you want to upload encrypted files to secure notes, like documents or passport scans, you get 1 GB of storage space with a premium plan.

NordPass also doesn’t limit password storage neither in its free version nor in the premium packages. Similarly, you can secure an unlimited number of notes, credit card details, etc. The only inconvenience is that data files can only be uploaded if you download a separate NordLocker app.

Even though you have to install it individually, it operates under the same Nord account you have for the NordPass. So, you don’t have to purchase any other subscriptions.

All in all, Dashlane is great for people who want an all-in-one solution for data storage. So is NordPass if you don’t mind using two separate apps.

Privacy policy

If you’re concerned about your privacy, both NordPass and Dashlane operate under the zero-knowledge policy. In simple terms, they are unable to obtain your master password or access secured data within your vault. So, the only person who can see your sensitive information is you.

However, there is other private data that you might be asked to provide yourself when using the password manager. For example, Dashlane collects your email when you register and keeps a track of your IP address. Yet, you can easily hide your location with a VPN to minimise the amount of data shared with it.

Keep in mind that NordPass allows you to use it’s free version without entering credit card details, so it might be an excellent option for privacy-conscious users. Apart from that, it still collects some data just as Dashlane when opting for premium subscription packages.

NordPass vs Dashlane: features overview

Both password managers offer useful features to help you with password importing, generating, and sharing. Yet, one of them is slightly more advanced and provides extra functionality for the users.

While the NordPass password management features are top-notch, Dashlane provides a few unique ones, like a VPN and a password changer. Keep in mind that these perks are not common in the industry and thus, and adds extra value to Dashlane.

Password importing

Importing passwords with NordPass has never been easier. It has a dedicated Import section in the Settings where you can select the most suitable import option for you. This password manager supports switches from other tools, like LastPass, 1Password, Keeper, and even Dashlane itself.

Additionally, you can quickly upload your passwords from most popular browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. There’s an option to either import them all together using a CSV file or individually.

Similarly, Dashlane supports imports from RoboForm, LastPass, and PasswordWallet, or bulk uploads with a CSV file. Thus, when comparing the two password managers, I would say that they both have equally useful import options that users can choose from.

Account and password recovery

While many password managers have very limited password recovery methods, Dashlane offers a useful solution. It allows you to create an emergency access to your vault for a dedicated person – an emergency contact. You can easily set who you want to give the access to in the settings.

So, in case you forget your master password, the emergency contact can ask for access to your vault. You will receive the confirmation email and if you don’t respond to it within the specified time, Dashlane will approve the access.

NordPass doesn’t support such account recovery solutions and in fact, is very strict to maintain the highest security standards. The only way to regain access to your vault is to use the unique recovery key which is given during the account registration process. If you lose it, your passwords will be gone with it.

While trying to ensure strict security standards is not a bad practice, everyone can end up in a situation where they forget the given passwords. Therefore, I would say that Dashlane wins in this case as it’s definitely useful to have effective account recovery methods.

Password generator

Both NordPass and Dashlane have password generators which can help you create robust passwords to protect your accounts. They are easily customizable as you can select the lengths of passwords and include (or not) the capital letters, numbers, and symbols.

Even though Dashlane is pre-set to generate 12-character passwords, you can change that and get longer (28 characters) or shorter (4 characters) passwords. NordPass in this case allows extending the password length to a maximum of 60 characters which is quite useful if you want to protect financial accounts with extra strong passwords.

Additionally, it even allows you to generate pass-phrase passwords up to 10 words. They are usually separated with your chosen punctuation and can be relatively easy to remember, such as stare-angle-cohesions-theave.

So, if you consider this feature useful, NordPass is a great option. Nevertheless, both password generators are excellent tools to create unique and strong passwords.

Password sharing

Easy and secure password sharing is essential as all of us encounter situations where we might need to give access to one of our accounts to another person. So, instead of sharing the password through unprotected networks, you can do so via the password sharing feature.

It’s very easy with NordPass – select the password and type the recipient's email address. The shared password will be encrypted to ensure that it reaches the person safely. You can also create Shared Folders and share them with others. This is a feature for Enterprise users alongside Items Transfer. Dashlane also operates in the similar manner and you get an option to either give full access or limited access to your account which gives more flexibility.

Even though I would say that Dashlane’s password sharing feature is better than NordPass, there’s one catch – the recipient must register with a free account in order to access the shared password. So, NordPass in this case provides more convenience.

Additional features

It's worth mentioning that there are a few extra features that separate these two password managers. Dashlane offers a possibility to protect your IP address with a VPN when browsing. Even though it’s only available in the premium subscription plan, it is a very useful feature that can help you remain anonymous online.

Keep in mind that nearly no other password managers provide VPN services, while Dashlane even gives unlimited bandwidth – you can encrypt an unlimited amount of traffic. Additionally, there are servers in about 30 countries that you can choose from. So, this is a truly amazing feature that you get along with the password management services.

Apart from that, Dashlane also has another unique feature – the password changer. It is designed to help you update outdated and weak passwords all at once. You can see the safety level of each password and when it was last updated. Likewise, it’s pretty easy to keep track of your data protection.

Although NordPass wins in quite a few categories, it doesn’t offer the mentioned features. Thus, Dashlane definitely has an advantage here.

NordPass vs Dashlane: which offers better value for money?

The difference in pricing of NordPass and Dashlane is not extreme at all. Both of them offer similar plans, like the Free version, as well as Premium and Family packages – all for a nearly identical price.

Version	NordPass	Dashlane
Free	$0.00	$0.00
Premium	$1.72/month	$3.75/month
Family	$2.68/month	$5.62/month
	Check pricing	Check pricing

Premium plans allow you to use the password managers on an unlimited number of devices. If you want to get protection for your relatives, the NordPass Family plan give premium subscriptions for 6 unique users, while. Daslane allows 10 users per Family & friends subscription.

So, I would say that both Dashlane and Nordpass have equally great options in terms of their pricing structure. Yet, the former one offers more flexibility when choosing the duration of the subscription and the amount of users.

Dashlane or NordPass: Free vs Premium plans

The free NordPass version allows you to save an unlimited number of passwords, protect them with 2FA, keep secure notes, and use the autofill feature. I think it’s a great option since Dashlane’s free variant has some more limitations imposed.

For example, it only allows you to save up to 50 passwords and doesn’t give access to the secure notes feature. Thus, NordPass gives a lot more freedom with its free plan which is definitely worth your attention if you seek free password management and protection services.

However, if you're ready to spend some money for a reliable password manager, both Dashlane and NordPass have a few subscription options that might suit your needs.

Premium plan	NordPass	Dashlane
1-month	–	$6.49
1-year	$2.39/month	$4.99/month
2-year	$1.72/month	–

When comparing the premium subscription plans, I would also say that NordPass gives more flexibility. It doesn’t limit dark web monitoring and has multiple yearly plan options, while Dashlane checks only up to 5 email addresses for data leaks and doesn’t apply discounts for more than 1-year subscription periods.

Similarly, NordPass has more subscription options for the Family plan as well.

Platforms, interface and ease of use

These excellent password managers are compatible with all most widely used operating systems. So, you can get either NordPass or Dashlane on almost any device. Additionally, they have dedicated browser extensions to make auto-filling and managing passwords a seamless experience.

	NordPass	Dashlane
Supported OS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari
Number of users	1 user (Premium plan) and 6 users (Family plan)	1 user (Premium plan) and 10 users (Family & friends plan)

Yet, it’s important to note that Linux users won’t have the possibility to use Dashlane’s web app simply because it doesn’t have one. Likewise, in terms of compatibility, NordPass takes the lead.

Desktop apps

You should not have any issues when getting either Dashlane or NordPass, as they have quick installation processes that only take a few minutes to complete. Desktop apps are user-friendly and pretty intuitive to use.

However, the main difference is that Dashlane doesn’t have a dedicated desktop app for Linux, while NordPass supports all systems. That includes the latter one, as well as Windows and macOS.

Nevertheless, you can set up Dashlane on Linux by using one of its dedicated browser extensions. So, theoretically there’s a way to use it on all popular platforms as well. Yet, NordPass might be a more convenient option.

Browser extensions

In terms of compatibility, Dashlane and NordPass have dedicated browser extensions for all most popular browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera and Safari. They are designed to improve the functionality of the web applications to autofill and autosave passwords while you browse.

However, extensions by both password managers are tightly linked to the web apps and you can only add and generate passwords. If you want to access other features or modify settings, you will need to use the web application with both Dashlane and NordPass.

Mobile apps

NordPass has excellent mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. What’s worth mentioning is that both of them are equally rich in features with almost no limitations. There are no notable differences from the desktop app either, so you can easily add folders, save sensitive documents, and scan credit card details.

Dashlane also supports both Android and iOS operating systems. The dedicated mobile apps are not cluttered with unnecessary visualizations and are pretty intuitive to use. You can use an autofill feature, as well as the secure notes, or the in-built VPN.

Customer support

Both service providers have professional customer support with multiple help options for you to choose from. The most popular one is an online live chat that Dashlane and NordPass offer as well. I have tried reaching out and received a quick and helpful response to my question from both providers.

Additionally, they have extensive FAQ sections with detailed how-to guides where you can find answers to the most common queries. Apart from that, there is also a possibility to submit questions via email support option.

So, when considering how good Dashlane and NordPass customer support is, I would say you can be sure that you’ll have reliable options to get help with any issues despite which provider you choose.

Winner: draw

Video review

NordPass vs Dashlane – which one wins?

NordPass and Dashlane are both listed as the best password managers that are currently available on the market. Although they provide similarly useful functionalities, NordPass offers slightly more in almost every category: you get a little bit cheaper pricing plans, more import options, and full compatibility with every device.

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

However, don’t underestimate Dashlane, as it’s also a very strong candidate if you seek a reliable password manager with amazing extra features. It has an in-built VPN, a unique password changer feature, and strong security to help you manage your sensitive data.

So, keep in mind that we’re comparing top-notch tools and the indicated differences doesn’t make the product overall useless. In fact, Dashlane is a very feature-rich product which you should try if you don't mind spending a few extra dollars.

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