NordPass vs Dashlane: which one is better?

NordPass and Dashlane are both reliable password managers with useful features and a free version. While they do share some similarities, such as easy password sharing with adjustable permissions and password maintenance, they also have key differences. Dashlane has a built-in VPN, while NordPass offers email masking, allowing you to generate alternative email addresses. NordPass also stands out as the more affordable provider.

In this article, the Cybernews research team and I tested both providers’ features, functionality, and user experience to determine the better option. You will find comparisons and other valuable information to help you decide. If you're exploring more options, check out our guide to the best password managers.

Dashlane vs NordPass – comparison overview

Both Dashlance and NordPass offer free versions, broad platform compatibility, and strong encryption protocols. However, NordPass is the more affordable option and supports more web browsers. Here’s a quick comparison of both providers:

	NordPass	Dashlane
⭐ Rating:	4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
🥇 Overall rank:	#1 out of #20	#5 out of #20
🔥 Coupons:	NordPass coupon 53% OFF	Dashlane coupon 25% OFF
💵 Price:	From $1.38/month	From $3.75/month
✂️ Free version:	Yes, plus it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee	Yes, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
🔒 Encryption:	XChaCha20	AES-256
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
🌐 Browser extensions:	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari	Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, DuckDuckGo

NordPass vs Dashlane: which one is more secure?

I reviewed and tested NordPass and Dashlane’s security features to determine which password manager offers more security guarantees. I compared their encryption, multi-factor authentication options, password limits, privacy policy, and independent audits.

Security features	NordPass	Dashlane
Data encryption	xChaCha20	AES-256
MFA/2FA	MFA	MFA (mostly 2FA)
Password storage limit	Unlimited for free and paid plans	25 for the free plan, unlimited for paid plans
Zero-knowledge policy	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Latest independent audit	SOC 2 Type 2 attestation in 2023	No independent audits, ISO-certified since 2022

Encryption

Both Dashlane and NordPass have equally secure yet very slightly different encryption protocols. Dashlane employs a 256-bit AES algorithm to encrypt data directly on your device. This cipher is an industry standard and is widely used by many password managers for strong protection.

However, NordPass selected a more modern encryption algorithm (xChaCha20) that is as reliable as the one used by Dashlane. In fact, according to 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, 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

NordPass, compared to Dashlane, has a wider variety of authentication options. It supports confirmations via email, a dedicated authenticator app, and 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 uses two-factor (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA). You have the 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

Unlike Dashlane, NordPass does not limit the password storage depending on paid or free subscription. Dashlane allows users to store up to 25 passwords for free but offers premium subscription plans with no password storage limitations. However, if you want to upload encrypted files to secure notes, like documents or passport scans, you get 1GB of storage space with a premium plan.

NordPass doesn’t limit password storage in its free version or premium packages. Similarly, you can secure an unlimited number of notes and credit card details. The only inconvenience is that the File Attachment feature is available with Premium or Family plans. There’s also a limit of 50 attached files per item, with a maximum file size limit of 50MB.

Everyone else can upload or download data files through a 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.

Privacy policy

If you’re concerned about your privacy, both NordPass and Dashlane operate under the zero-knowledge policy. In simple terms, they cannot obtain your master password or access secured data within your vault. This means the provider has no access to your stored information and only you can see your sensitive data.

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

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

Security audits

Independent security audits are essential for confirming the information that providers claim, but out of the two, only NordPass has been independently audited. Dashlane has only conducted its own internal audits. However, Dashlane has been ISO-certified since 2022, so it does meet strict security standards. Besides, Dashlane has never had a security incident.

Overall, NordPass had four major independent audits, one each year since 2020. The first two were performed by Cure53, and NordPass passed them both. The remaining two were SOC 2 audits. SOC 2 Type 1 was performed in 2022 and ensures that the organization and its system comply with trust principles. This also resulted in NordPass receiving an ISO certification. The latest audit was in 2023 and resulted in SOC 2 Type 2 certification that confirms the operational efficiency of the organization’s systems. Just like Dashlane, NordPass has never had a security incident.

NordPass vs Dashlane: features overview

Features	NordPass	Dashlane
Autofill	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Password importing	LastPass, 1Password, Keeper, Dashlane, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, or as a CSV file on all platforms	RoboForm, LastPass, PasswordWallet, or as a CSV file on the web or Android app only
Account recovery	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Customizable password generator	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Customizable password sharing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Data leak protection	✅ Yes, NordPass Data Breach Scanner monitors your email and payment details for breaches. Users can select specific emails and credit cards, manage the status of each breach, and overview insights about each breach	✅ Yes, dark web monitoring and real-time phishing alerts
Email masking	✅ Yes, NordPass provides alternative email addresses that forward the emails to your actual email address for increased privacy	❌ No
VPN included	❌ No	✅ Yes (partnered with Hotspot Shield)
Weak password monitoring	✅ Yes, Password Health detects weak passwords and prompts you to update them. In addition, NordPass recently added the Exposed Passwords feature that scans the dark web for your passwords	✅ Yes
Passkeys	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Autofill

Autofill is a pretty basic feature that's included in every password manager. It allows you to quickly fill in your login details and other information. However, NordPass has recently updated this feature to improve the process and make it more seamless. NordPass's Instant Login allows users to log in with one click. It's on by default but can be disabled in the settings menu. You can also choose the websites for which NordPass autofills your information. In addition, NordPass allows users to add more websites to the vault, which helps avoid duplicates.

Password importing

NordPass has slightly more password-import options than Dashlane despite both password managers having convenient methods. 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 the 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, as well as bulk uploads with a CSV file, but it is limited to Android and web platforms. There’s no option to import passwords via iPhone, iPad, or macOS. Thus, when comparing the two password managers, NordPass has a better password-importing function.

Account and password recovery

Compared to NordPass, Dashlane definitely makes it easier to recover your account. While many password managers generally have very limited password recovery methods, Dashlane offers some useful solutions. If you forget your master password, you can reset it using a recovery key or biometric data if you've enabled it. However, Dashlane no longer provides an emergency contact option for vault access, which was a helpful and easy solution.

NordPass is slightly stricter with account recovery in order to maintain the highest security standards. The main way to regain access to your vault is to use the unique recovery key, which is given during the account registration process. However, you can now contact NordPass support if you lose it, and they will attempt to help you regain access.

Overall, Dashlane provides easier and more effective account recovery methods.

Password generator

Both NordPass and Dashlane have password generators that can help you create robust passwords to protect your accounts. You can customize them easily by choosing the password length and selecting whether to include capital letters, numbers, and symbols.

Even though Dashlane is pre-set to generate 12-character passwords, you can change that and get longer (40 characters) or shorter (4 characters) passwords. NordPass 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.

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

Overall, NordPass has a more detailed password generator, but both password managers are great for creating strong passwords.

Password sharing

Both NordPass and Dashlane have a password-sharing feature with adjustable permissions. Easy and secure password sharing is essential as most of us encounter situations where we might need to give another person access to one of our accounts. 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 it reaches the person safely. There are four permission types, too. Whoever you share the password with can have the right to edit the login details, share with others, view, or autofill. You can also create Shared Folders and share them with others. This is a feature for Enterprise users that also includes Items Transfer.

NordPass recently updated its sharing feature and introduced new sharing permissions. Users can now set the shared items to Can Share and Can View. Moreover, you can now select a timeframe for which the shared item will be available to view.

Dashlane also operates in a similar manner, and you have the option to give full or limited access to your account, which gives you more flexibility.

Even though I would say that both password managers have excellent password-sharing features, with NordPass being slightly more detailed, there’s one catch – the recipient must register with at least a free account in order to access a shared password.

So, while both password managers share similar features, NordPass showed better results in our tests, making it the winner in this category.

Dashlane vs Nordpass: plans and pricing

Plan	NordPass	Dashlane
Free	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Premium	$1.38/month	$3.75/month
Family	$2.58/month	$5.62/month
Business	$2.87/month	$8.00/month
	Try NordPass	Try Dashlane

Regardless of which plan you choose, NordPass is clearly cheaper. NordPass’ cheapest Premium plan is $1.38/month compared to Dashlane’s $3.75/month. While Dashlane’s Family plan covers more people (10 vs. NordPass’ 6), it’s clear that the divided subscription cost per person is still cheaper for NordPass.

Comparing Business plans proves that NordPass is cheaper, too. While Dashlane supports an unlimited number of employees, the subscription price of $8.00/month is per person. NordPass, too, has a monthly price per user, supporting from 5 to 250 employees, but costs only $2.87/month. Furthermore, you can get the NordPass Enterprise plan for $5.39/month per person, which has an unlimited number of supported users and is still cheaper than Dashlane.

Platforms, interface and ease of use

Both NordPass and Dashlane support various operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS) and web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari). To determine how each password manager looks and operates on different platforms, our research team and I tested them on a Lenovo ThinkPad T14s with Windows 11, a MacBook Air M2 with macOS 14.5 Sonoma, an iPhone 7 with iOS 15.7.1, and a Nokia 6.2 with Android version 11.

	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	Up to 6 users	Up to 10 users

Desktop apps

NordPass has a quick installation process that only takes a few minutes to complete. Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma desktop apps are user-friendly and intuitive. Additionally, NordPass offers Linux compatibility, making it a solid choice for users on all major operating systems.

Dashlane, on the other hand, has discontinued its desktop app, and only its web and mobile versions are available. Those who prefer a dedicated desktop application might find NordPass the better option.

As for the interface, NordPass has a clean and streamlined design, with login items at the center and a clearly listed menu of features on the left side of the screen. I’d say NordPass is a good fit for casual users because of its larger item icons and simple layout.

Browser extensions

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

However, extensions of 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. I investigated the compatibility using Android Nokia and iOS iPhone devices. What’s worth mentioning is that both of them are equally rich in features with almost no limitations. Other than more minimalist and phone-adapted design, there are no notable differences from the desktop app, 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 intuitive to use. You can use the autofill feature, secure notes, or the built-in VPN.

Dashlane vs Nordpass: customer support

	NordPass	Dashlane
Email support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
24/7 live chat	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Phone support	❌ No	❌ No
Community support (forum)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
How-to guides/Knowledge base	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Social media support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

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 the possibility of submitting questions via email.

Personally, I prefer to use live chat, as it’s the fastest way to find a resolution without having to read through countless articles or materials. While both Dashlane and NordPass use chatbots to answer questions, only connecting you with a person if your issue is not resolved, I found both very helpful and rapid.

My entire interaction with Dashlane’s live chatbot lasted about 3 minutes. I asked a question about setting up an account, was presented with a few suggested options, selected the one that matched my intentions, and received an instant and detailed response. The instructions provided to me were very clear, and I did not miss human contact at all, as my inquiry was effectively and rapidly resolved.

With NordPass, the whole interaction took slightly longer, as I was connected to a person almost instantly. The responses were polite, short, and to the point. I also got the answers I was looking for, so I think if you encounter any issues, you can freely contact customer support via live chat and get assistance.

NordPass vs Dashlane – final verdict

Overall, both NordPass and Dashlane are solid options. NordPass leads in categories like platform compatibility and desktop app support, and Dashlane stays fairly close in comparison. Both of these providers have a free version, but when it comes to paid plans, NordPass simply offers a better value for money.

Category	NordPass	Dashlane
Features	✅ NordPass has an abundance of features, many of which are the same as Dashlane’s, but it stands out with its secure email masking feature	✅ Dashlane shares a lot of features with NordPass, such as adjustable password sharing, but supports easier account recovery and a free partner Hotspot Shield VPN
Pricing and plans	✅ All NordPass plans are cheaper than Dashlane’s, even when divided per user and for the same duration	❌ While also having a free plan like NordPass, Dashlane is simply more expensive, even though it covers more users
Security	✅ NordPass has multiple security features, such as MFA, secure sharing, vulnerabilities detector, and xChaCha20 data encryption	✅ Dashlane is just as secure as NordPass, with AES-256 data encryption, MFA/2FA options, and a password vulnerabilities detector
User-friendliness	✅ NordPass has a very clear user interface and easy-to-use features	✅ Dashlane has a very similar, user-friendly interface to NordPass and simple app navigation
Compatibility	✅ NordPass covers more operating systems than Dashlane, offering an additional Linux compatibility	❌ Despite covering the same web browsers as NordPass, Dashlane does not have a desktop app

How I tested NordPass vs Dashlane

To accurately evaluate and compare NordPass vs Dashlane, I worked with our research team to test both password managers based on our trusted methodology. Together with our team, I investigated the functionality of NordPass and Dashlane features, security and privacy policies, pricing, app and extension usability, platform compatibility, and customer support responsiveness.

I investigated the security guarantees, such as encryption types, independent audits, and overall reputation (like lack of past safety incidents), to determine their safety. I also checked the functionality of features, how accessible they are, and how easy they would be to use for a complete beginner to determine which provider offers more to its users. Finally, I reviewed the apps, browser extensions, and pricing and contacted customer support to determine if NordPass or Dashlane is more user-friendly and has a better value for money.

Having collected enough data about each password manager in the same categories, I was able to compare the two, present you with accurate and up-to-date information, and determine which one is better and more worth your money overall.

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