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Proton Pass vs 1Password comparison in 2025


Our verdict

As of January 2025, after comparing Proton Pass vs 1Password, we believe 1Password remains the superior choice for most users. Its advanced features like Watchtower, Travel Mode, and seamless integration across devices give it an edge in functionality and security. That said, Proton Pass is rapidly evolving, offering robust encryption and a growing set of tools that make it a password manager to watch. If you're looking for a feature-packed, time-tested solution, 1Password is the way to go – but Proton Pass is steadily closing the gap.

Proton Pass and 1Password are two of the most popular password management solutions available. Both utilize strong encryption and zero-knowledge architecture to ensure user vaults remain completely secure and hidden from prying eyes, including each provider's. Moreover, besides the typical password manager tools like autofill and password generation, these services offer unique extras that appeal to different needs.

For example, 1Password has been around since 2006, meaning it had plenty of time to refine its features and user experience. Due to its effectiveness and ease of use, it is trusted by millions of users. On the other hand, it doesn’t have a free version, which is a great perk of its competitor.

Speaking of which, Proton Pass was released in 2023, making it less appealing overall due to its alleged lack of refinement. However, the service has greatly improved during its lifespan, adding great features like passkey support and dark web monitoring after release.

Overall, this Proton Pass vs 1Password comparison will cover many topics to determine each provider's strengths and weaknesses. I’ll go over categories like pricing, features, and ease of use to give you all the details to decide which provider better suits your needs.

1PasswordProton Pass
⭐ Rating:
4.8
4
🥇 Overall rank:#2 out of #19#12 out of #19
🔥 Coupons:1Password starting from $2.99ProtonPass coupon 60% OFF
💵 Price:From $2.99/monthFrom $1.99/month
✂️ Free version:14-day trialYes, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
🔒 Encryption:AES-256AES-256
🖥️ Platforms:Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
🌐 Browser extensions:Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, SafariChrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, Safari, Web App

Proton Pass vs 1Password: pricing

Proton Pass and 1Password are almost identical regarding price, although Proton Pass is slightly more budget friendly. Their premium and family plans cost practically the same, but Proton Pass’ business plan is cheaper on a per-user basis. Plus, it offers a completely free plan, while 1Password doesn’t. Below is a table summarizing each provider’s starting prices.

VersionProton Pass1Password
Free version✅ Yes❌ No
PremiumFrom $1.99/month (1 user)From $2.99/month (1 user)
FamilyFrom $4.99/month (6 users)From $4.99/month (5 users)
BusinessFrom $1.99/month (per user)From $7.99/month (per user)
Try Proton PassTry 1Password

Both providers' paid personal plans cost practically the same when signing up for one year. The same applies to family plans, meaning features are the primary difference between the two. Meanwhile, Proton Pass offers significantly cheaper business plans when choosing the option for multiple users.

That’s just the general overview, of course. Details will vary when diving deeper into the specifics. So, let’s do that in the following sections.

1Password personal and family plans

1Password keeps things simple and has one plan each for individual and family needs. The only selection criterion with either plan is whether you want to pay monthly or annually. Unsurprisingly, the annual option is more affordable. Check the details in the table below.

PlanAnnual priceMonthly price
Individual$2.99/month$3.99/month
Families$4.99/month$6.95/month

As the name suggests, the Individual plan supports 1 user and includes all the necessary features for secure and convenient password management. The monthly plan costs $3.99/month, while the annual subscription includes a 0% discount and costs merely $2.99/month, making it a much more sensible option.

The second option is the Families plan, which has a few additional features over the Individual option. Namely, it supports 5 different users and enables administrative controls for managing shared vaults. The monthly cost for this plan is $6.95/month but goes down to $4.99/month if you pay annually.

The pricing situation is pretty similar with Proton Pass, although it has more plan options than 1Password. The most notable difference is the inclusion of a free plan, making Proton Pass more appealing than 1Password to budget-conscious users. At least 1Password offers a 14-day free trial for testing the service beforehand. The other difference is the Unlimited plan, which includes all Proton products. Meanwhile, premium subscription prices are practically the same across the board.

Proton Pass personal and family plans

PlanAnnual priceMonthly price
FreeN/AN/A
Plus$1.99/month$4.99/month
Family$4.99/month$6.99/month
Unlimited$6.49/month$12.99/month

Proton Pass’ free plan includes just the essentials for storing your online credentials securely. It supports unlimited items, 10 email aliases, passkeys, and alerts you about weak or reused passwords. It includes easy password import if you’d like to test the provider before committing to a paid subscription.

Upgrading to Plus unlocks extra features for greater protection. For example, you gain Dark Web Monitoring, an integrated 2FA authenticator, secure link sharing, and advanced account protection. Normally, this plan costs $4.99/month, but you get a 60% discount and pay $1.99/month when paying annually.

As expected, the Family plan includes everything from Plus with the added benefit of supporting six accounts in total. There’s also an admin panel to manage shared vaults and other details. The monthly price for this subscription is $6.99/month, while the annual price is $4.99/month.

Lastly, there’s the Unlimited option, which includes everything Proton has to offer. More precisely, it includes premium versions of Proton Pass, Mail, Calendar, VPN, and Drive. Paying monthly will set you back $12.99/month, while the annual subscription costs $6.49/month.

Regarding refunds, Proton Pass clearly indicated a 30-day money-back guarantee on its webpage. Meanwhile, 1Password only offers the 14-day free trial, and the terms of service claim that refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Wrapping up
1Password and Proton Pass have similarly priced personal plans. However, Proton Pass gains the advantage by offering a completely free tier and a 30-day money-back guarantee, while 1Password only includes a 14-day free trial for testing. Therefore, Proton Pass wins in the pricing category.

1Password business plans

1Password offers three business-oriented plans to accommodate companies of different sizes. The subscriptions differ in terms of price and included features.

PlanAnnual priceMonthly price
Teams Starter Pack$19.95/month (10 users)$19.95/month (10 users)
Business$7.99/month (per user)$9.99/month (per user)
EnterpriseCustomizedCustomized

The base tier is the Teams Starter Pack, which has the same price regardless of your payment frequency. It’s an excellent choice for smaller teams (up to 10 members) that need just the basics and none of 1Password’s business-specific features.

The second option is Business, which supports anywhere from one to unlimited members. This tier is significantly pricier than the first option, costing $9.99/month per user when paying monthly or $7.99/month per user when paying every year. Naturally, the price increase adds extra features that are unavailable in any other plan. For example, users gain SSO (single sign-on) integrations, a customer support phone line, custom usage reports, and much more.

Lastly, there’s the Enterprise plan, which doesn’t indicate prices since the details will depend on your company’s specifics. It accommodates anywhere from 75 to unlimited users and includes the greatest feature selection of all 1Password plans. Notable highlights include a dedicated account manager, tailored onboarding, and priority access to new business features.

Proton Pass business plans

Conversely, Proton Pass offers four business plan variants at different prices and with different feature packages. Like 1Password, it provides a flexible Enterprise plan for large companies needing a custom solution.

PlanAnnual priceMonthly price
Pass Essentials$1.99/month (per user)$4.99/month (per user)
Pass Professional$2.99/month (per user)$6.99/month (per user)
Proton Business Elite$12.99/month (per user)$14.99/month (per user)
EnterpriseCustomizedCustomized

The first and cheapest tier is Pass Essentials, which is advertised for entrepreneurs. It costs $4.99/month per user when paid monthly, while the annual plan reduces the price to $1.99/month per user. This plan is pretty basic and includes unlimited logins, email aliases, and the integrated 2FA authenticator.

The middle option is Pass Professional, which should suit midsized teams. It costs $6.99/month per user when paying every month, while the annual approach costs merely $2.99/month per user. It expands on the previous plan’s benefits by adding enforced 2FA, advanced account protection, and a VPN for one device per user. I think it’s a well-balanced plan with the right amount of benefits for secure daily use.

Then there’s Proton Business Suite, which is the priciest and most comprehensive plan available. I believe it’s the business alternative to the Ultimate personal plan, which includes all products developed by Proton. It costs $14.99/month per user when paying monthly, while the annual option isn’t too different, costing $12.99/month.

Lastly, we have the Enterprise plan. Like with 1Password, it doesn’t mention pricing details since it's a customized plan that depends on your company’s specific needs. It’s similar to the Proton Business Suite yet also adds a dedicated account manager.

Overall, I think it’s clear that Proton Pass is cheaper than 1Password in practically every situation. Additionally, Proton Pass has a free tier and a 30-day money-back guarantee, while 1Password only offers a 14-day free trial.

Wrapping up
Proton Pass offers four business plans, which includes two budget-friendly options, one pricey but comprehensive tier, and one customized plan. Meanwhile 1Password has only three options, all of which are pretty expensive. Therefore, Proton VPN is the winner in the business pricing category.

Proton Pass vs 1Password: which is more secure?

Proton Pass and 1Password are undeniably some of the best password managers available. They include all the password management essentials to safeguard your credentials reliably and provide some extra features to distinguish themselves from other providers. In fact, my analysis showed that these unique perks are precisely what separates the two providers because otherwise they’re pretty much the same.

Security measuresProton Pass1Password
Encryption protocolAES-256AES-256
Zero-knowledge architecture✅ Yes✅ Yes
Multi-factor authentication✅ Yes (2FA)✅ Yes (2FA)
2FA authenticator✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Biometrics✅ Yes (fingerprint)✅ Yes (facial and fingerprint recognition)
File storage✅ Yes (5GB via Proton Drive)✅Yes, up to 1GB for individuals and 5GB for businesses
Secret key❌ No✅ Yes
Third-party audits✅ Yes✅ Yes
Wrapping up
Proton Pass and 1Password offer excellent security fundamentals that ensure top-tier customer vault protection. Minor differences exist in the details of certain features, such as file storage space and audit numbers. But overall, I think both providers are on par regarding security.

Encryption

Proton Pass and 1Password utilize AES-256 encryption to secure your vault, which is the gold standard for overall effectiveness. It offers an ideal balance between protection and performance, meaning it keeps your vault impenetrable without negatively impacting the service’s load times. Besides that, both providers utilize zero-knowledge architecture to fundamentally ensure that your data is accessible only by you.

Proton Pass emphasizes that it uses the same end-to-end encryption standards as other Proton services. Additionally, E2E encryption means the provider can’t decipher your password data since all cryptographic operations are performed locally on your device. This ensures that Proton Pass can’t access your vault data and thus can’t share it with third parties.

Similarly, 1Password also uses end-to-end encryption to guarantee your vault’s confidentiality. On top of that, it further encrypts your data with a 128-bit secret key, which is created on your device. It ensures your personal data remains encrypted if someone breaches 1Password’s servers.

Multi-factor security

1Password and Proton Pass offer a few multi-factor authentication methods as extra security layers for your account. Additionally, both have the exceptional ability to provide 2FA authentication using TOTP (time-based one-time password) codes for your online accounts. This is an excellent perk because you no longer need a third-party authentication app. However, note that you must use a different 2FA authentication app for your password manager account.

As expected, you can secure your Proton account and, by extension, your Proton Pass vault, using two-factor authentication. The most obvious choice is a third-party authentication app that will handle TOTP codes. Alternatively, you can use physical security keys like YubiKey as an extra protection layer.

Unsurprisingly, 1Password also supports multi-factor authentication. However, unlike Proton Pass, it only works with authentication apps and doesn’t support security keys. I don’t think this is a huge issue, but it could be a drawback if you’re a fan of using security keys.

Data storage

1Password and Proton Pass provide adequate encrypted cloud storage to safeguard your most precious files. The exact amount will depend on your chosen subscription plan. However, since Proton Pass has a free tier that comes with 5GB of cloud storage, I think it’s clear that it’s the better choice in this regard. Meanwhile, 1Password’s cheapest plan includes merely 1GB.

To be precise, all Proton users get 5GB of secure cloud storage thanks to Proton Drive’s free tier. Technically, it’s not part of the Proton Pass app, but I think that’s an irrelevant distinction. You can use the same Proton account to access your Proton Drive anywhere, which is convenient enough in my book. If you need more storage, simply choose the Proton Unlimited subscription plan or another one of Proton Drive’s paid tiers.

Things are simpler with 1Password since its cloud storage is integrated with the app, but its overall size is underwhelming. Individual accounts get only 1GB of storage, while Families and Teams subscribers get 1GB per person. On the other hand, Business plan subscribers get 5GB per person, the same as Proton users get for free. Moreover, there’s no way to expand the storage capacity if you have more significant needs. Another noteworthy limitation is that files can only be up to 2GB with 1Password.

Privacy policy

The privacy policies of Proton Pass and 1Password are pretty standard, although I prefer Proton Pass in this regard. For starters, Proton is based in privacy-friendly Switzerland, while 1Password is located in Canada, which is part of the Five Eyes Alliance. Another point for Proton is that it isn’t a for-profit company. Thankfully, since both providers utilize zero-knowledge architecture, they cannot share excessive data about your vaults with third parties.

Proton has a comprehensive privacy policy detailing the entire organization’s practices, plus separate documents covering specific details for each product. As such, the Proton Pass privacy policy is relatively short, meaning anyone can read it in a few minutes. Basically, it reiterates that all your information is end-to-end encrypted (including metadata), meaning the service can’t share any useful information with outside parties. However, the main privacy policy mentions that some data is stored temporarily to provide the service. The document isn’t too complicated, so anyone interested in this topic should skim through it.

On the other hand, 1Password has only one extensive privacy policy with all the necessary details. It’s longer than Proton’s document, making it a bit more difficult to fully comprehend. As expected, 1Password collects some service data to provide you with its services, which is pretty standard. The data includes account information, payment information, and support data. My main concern is that the service automatically collects some data to market other 1Password products and services to you.

Third-party security audits

Proton Pass and 1Password are regularly audited by independent third parties to ensure robust security practices.

Firstly, Proton Pass’ apps are open source, meaning anyone with time and necessary expertise can evaluate the service’s technical implementation. However, while that’s an excellent sign of trustworthiness, it doesn’t mean independent audits aren’t needed. As such, Proton Pass was audited in May 2023 by Cure53, a reliable cybersecurity company that has evaluated many other reliable services like NordPass. It also audited 1Password on numerous occasions.

Besides Cure53, 1Password was audited multiple times by companies like Secfault Security, Recurity Labs, and Quaxio/Zxs. The company’s security assessments page also details the provider’s ISO and SOC certifications, numerous penetration tests, and a bug bounty program. So, since 1Password has been on the market longer, it’s no surprise that it was audited more times than Proton Pass.

Proton Pass vs 1Password: features overview

Proton Pass and 1Password offer all the standard features you’d expect from a worthwhile password manager, such as password generation, autofill, and monitoring. Both providers also include top-tier cybersecurity perks like dark web monitoring and secure password sharing, which aren’t so common. Moreover, they include a few unique extras to differentiate themselves from the competition.

However, there are a few things that Proton Pass lacks that gives 1Password the win in this category. For example, Proton Pass can’t autofill payment details, although this feature is on the provider’s update roadmap. Our tests also showed that the provider’s autofill feature isn’t as refined as with 1Password.

FeaturesProton Pass1Password
Browser extensions✅ Yes (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave)✅ Yes (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave)
Self hosted❌ No❌ No
Password generator✅ Yes✅ Yes
Password autofill✅ Yes✅ Yes
Weak password monitoring✅ Yes✅ Yes
Password sharing✅ Yes✅ Yes
Payment detail autofill❌ No✅ Yes
Encrypted file storage✅ Yes (5GB using Proton Drive)✅ Yes (1GB for individuals and 5GB for businesses)
Travel mode❌ No✅ Yes
Email aliases✅ Yes❌ No
Dark web monitoring✅ Yes✅ Yes

Password generator

A password generator is an essential feature of any password management system since it ensures the accounts you create use strong and unique passwords. It should also be customizable so you can adjust the output to suit the online service’s password requirements.

Proton Pass’ password generator has two modes with different adjustable settings. Firstly, you choose whether you want a memorable (composed of words and other symbols) or a completely random password. The first option allows adjusting the word number, capitalization, what symbol separates the words, and whether to include numbers. Conversely, the random approach allows customizing the character number and the inclusion of special characters, capital letters, and numbers. I think it’s an excellent system, and it worked smoothly during my tests.

Proton Pass password generator image
Proton Pass password generator

1Password’s password generator offers the same functionality and customization options, plus a few settings that are unavailable with Proton Pass. For example, there’s a third password type called PIN that generates number sequences. Moreover, the memorable password option allows you to choose if you want complete words or not. Besides these extra perks, 1Password’s password generator works just as well as Proton Pass’.

1Password password generator image
1Password password generator

Autofill

Proton Pass and 1Password offer autofill to quicken the process of filling in your credentials in online login forms. With 1Password, you can also fill in credit card details using autofill, while Proton Pass doesn’t have this functionality yet.

Our hands-on tests showed that Proton Pass’ autofill feature has some room for improvement. For example, the app didn’t always suggest saving the credentials we used when creating new accounts. Thankfully, the feature worked smoothly across all platforms with pre-saved credentials. Plus, autofill is user initiated, meaning the service doesn’t automatically enter your credentials unless you explicitly ask it to.

1Password autofill on Pinterest
1Password autofill on Pinterest

The situation was basically the same with 1Password. Occasionally, it didn’t automatically save new account credentials into the vault, thus requiring manual entry. Otherwise, autofill was seamless and accurately suggested stored credentials.

Password importing and exporting

1Password and Proton Pass offer effective and convenient password import and export options to accommodate transfers between other password managers. It’s an essential feature because customers shouldn’t be constrained to a single provider.

Proton Pass allows importing and exporting via its desktop app, web app, and browser extension. You can access these tools in the settings menu, which is in the bottom right corner of the desktop menu. You can import passwords from many popular providers and web browsers using JSON, CSV, ZIP, or XML file formats. As for exporting, Proton Pass recommends PGP-encrypted JSON, but you can also use regular JSON and CSV formats.

Proton Pass import settings menu
Proton Pass import settings menu

With 1Password, you can only import and export password data using the desktop app. For me, this isn’t a huge problem since I prefer managing my passwords on desktop devices. Like with Proton Pass, you can import passwords from many popular apps and browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Bitwarden, Dashlane, etc. Supported file formats include CSV, JSON, XML, 1PUX, and 1PIF. As for exporting, 1Password supports 1PUX and CSV file formats.

1Password export settings menu
1Password export settings menu

Account and password recovery

As expected, 1Password and Proton Pass include several account recovery methods in case you forget your master password.

With Proton Pass, you can access account recovery settings on the web app. I suggest adding an email address and phone number as they can come in handy during account recovery. Besides that, the primary recovery methods are a recovery phrase, device-based recovery, and a recovery file. Personally, I would choose the recovery phrase option and use it as a password backup in case I forget my initial one.

On the other hand, 1Password offers the Emergency Kit, which is a PDF file containing all the information you need to recover your account. More precisely, it includes your sign-in address, email address, secret key, setup code, and a blank text box to fill in your password. The service recommends keeping physical and digital copies of your Emergency Kit just in case.

Password sharing

Proton Pass and 1Password include multiple password-sharing methods in case you need to share your credentials with others without compromising security.

Proton Pass includes two primary methods of sharing passwords. The first is generating a link with an option of adding expiration dates or limiting the number of views. Alternatively, you can share an entire vault using the recipient’s email address, although they’ll need a Proton account to access the vault. Note that any changes to the vault will apply to both users, and you can revoke access at any time.

With 1Password, you can share any item you want using the link-sharing method. Additionally, the recipient doesn’t require a 1Password account to access the item. You can set the expiration date and input an email address to ensure the item is accessible to specific people.

Weak password monitoring

As expected, 1Password and Proton Pass will automatically monitor your vaults for weak and reused passwords.

With Proton Pass, you’ll find the Password Health feature by clicking the Pass Monitor menu. Here, you’ll see which accounts have weak or reused passwords and which don’t have active 2FA authentication. You can quickly fix these issues from here because clicking on these menus will redirect you to the faulty accounts.

Proton Pass Pass Monitor feature
Proton Pass Pass Monitor feature

Meanwhile, 1Password checks for vulnerabilities, including weak passwords, using Watchtower. When I tested the feature, it took a while to generate the report, probably because it also checks for data breaches. Once the report is ready, it gives a score on your overall results, which is an interesting approach since it essentially gamifies your cybersecurity. I think there’s nothing wrong with this if it encourages you to change your passwords regularly to keep a high score.

1Password Watchtower settings menu
1Password Watchtower feature
Wrapping up
1Password and Proton Pass have excellent feature packages that ensure security and convenience on a daily basis. However, Proton Pass’ lackluster autofill capabilities during our tests led to 1Password winning in the feature category.

Compatibility and ease of use

Proton Pass and 1Password are practically the same regarding device compatibility. You can install both on the most popular desktop operating systems, smartphones, and web browsers. The only notable difference is that Proton Pass’ family plan supports up to six accounts, while 1Password’s equivalent permits five. However, this isn’t what I would consider a meaningful advantage that would give Proton Pass the win in this category.

Proton Pass1Password
Supported OSWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Browser extensionsChrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave)Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave)
Number of usersUp to 6Up to 5

Desktop apps

1Password and Proton Pass desktop apps work on Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. The installation process was straightforward with both, and I had no issues setting up my vaults.

The Proton Pass desktop app looks identical on Windows and Mac, which improves cohesion. The app’s left side includes menus for navigating between vaults and enabling various settings. Meanwhile, the middle shows the saved items, while each item’s specific details are further on the right. It looks good overall, although it took me a while to get used to it. For example, I couldn’t find the password generator anywhere and only later realized that it became available when creating a new entry.

Proton Pass interface on desktop
Proton Pass interface on desktop

The 1Password desktop app layout is very similar to Proton Pass’ since you have various menus on the left, saved items in the middle, and their details on the right. However, I find its implementation a bit better, which leads to a more pleasant user experience. Something about the design and color scheme makes it more appealing. As for downsides, the desktop app doesn’t include the Travel Mode feature.

1Password interface on desktop
1Password interface on desktop

Browser extensions

Password managers require installing browser extensions to provide autofill functionality on desktop devices. Proton Pass and 1Password are no exception in this regard.

Proton Pass’ browser extension is visually similar to its desktop counterpart, albeit smaller. You can easily scroll through your vault and copy your desired credentials to the clipboard with a single click. Meanwhile, most other settings are available by clicking the button in the top right corner. You’ll even find a button to open the web app if you feel the extension is too small.

Once again, the situation is similar with 1Password. The browser extension has the same appearance and functionality as the desktop version in a smaller form. I had no trouble utilizing the extension to speed up my account creation processes.

Mobile apps

As expected, I had no issues installing Proton Pass and 1Password on mobile devices. The services are available on the Google and Apple app stores, which makes the installation process straightforward.

Proton Pass’ mobile app is visually uniform across Android and iOS. The interface appears more minimalistic than on desktop, leading to a better user experience in my opinion. It’s much easier to navigate and less overwhelming overall. However, note that this version doesn’t include password importing and exporting.

Proton Pass interface on mobile
Proton Pass interface on mobile

With 1Password, its mobile interface is initially similar to the desktop version. However, what impressed me was that you could customize the menus to suit your needs. For example, you can limit the app only to show relevant vaults when using your phone. This app version also allows you to enable Travel Mode to ensure some items remain invisible no matter what. The only problem during testing was that the app disallows taking screenshots of the interface, forcing the research team and me to take pictures of the phone to show 1Password’s interface.

1Password interface on mobile
1Password interface on mobile
Wrapping up
Proton Pass and 1Password are practically identical in the device compatibility department. Both offer feature-rich apps and extensions for every popular operating system and web browser. A minor difference is that Proton Pass’ Family plan permits six users, while 1Password customers get five.

Customer support

Proton Pass and 1Password are pretty adequate in the customer support department, although they aren’t as well equipped as top-tier providers like NordPass.

For example, neither offers 24/7 live chat support to quickly solve problems. However, 1Password has an official community forum, while Proton Pass doesn’t, giving 1Password a slight edge in this category. Besides that, both services include email support and extensive knowledge bases that will answer most of your questions.

Proton Pass1Password
24/7 live chat❌ No❌ No
Email support✅ Yes✅ Yes
Phone support❌ No❌ No
Community forum❌ No✅ Yes
Knowledge base✅ Yes✅ Yes

I tested Proton Pass’ email customer support and received a swift response. The explanation was quite detailed and more than enough to solve my problem. The provider’s knowledge base is also very extensive and split by Proton products for added convenience. I was able to find many detailed guides covering the most essential topics. And while the absence of a community forum is a bit disappointing, I think the official subreddit is an acceptable alternative.

Proton Pass support tab on desktop
Proton Pass support tab on desktop

The customer support test with 1Password was a bit different because it offers a chatbot called 1Password Concierge. I gave it all the necessary information about my query, which it relayed to customer support specialists. It didn’t take long for me to receive an email response with all the details I needed to solve my issue.

1Password customer support chatbot
1Password customer support chatbot

1Password’s community forum is relatively active, and I think it is a great addition to the provider’s overall support network. It’s split into various categories, making finding relevant information easy. You’ll find threads relevant to regular users, administrators, and even developers.

Wrapping up
Both providers are subpar in the customer support category since neither Proton Pass nor 1Password has 24/7 live chat. However, 1Password gains the edge by including an official community forum, while Proton Pass only has a subreddit as an alternative.

Proton Pass vs 1Password – which one is better?

After comparing Proton Pass vs 1Password, I must admit that 1Password is objectively better, even though I personally prefer Proton Pass. The primary reason 1Password is superior is because it’s an older service that had more time to refine its feature package.

For starters, 1Password includes more security features to keep your vault safe. The secret key acts as an additional security layer, travel mode, auto-cleared clipboard, and a few other perks. Crucially, 1Password was audited more times than its competitor, although at least Proton Pass is open source.

However, Proton Pass has some compelling benefits, too. Most obviously, it offers a completely free plan and its premium subscriptions are generally more affordable as well. You also get more cloud storage space, email aliases, and the service is based in privacy-friendly Switzerland. So, your choice between 1Password and Proton Pass depends on whether you’re willing to pay extra for a more secure service.

CategoryProton Pass1Password
PricingOffers a free plan and is generally more affordableMore expensive and no free plan
SecurityStrong fundamentals but not as audited thoroughlyStrong fundamentals and was audited more times
FeaturesPassword generator, password sharing, 2FA authenticator, individual file storage up to 5GB, email aliasesPassword generator, unique password sharing features, 2FA authenticator, secret key, individual file storage up to 1GB, travel mode
CompatibilityCompatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and AndroidCompatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
Ease of use Overall easy to use but lacking in refinementIntuitive, easy to use, and customizable
Customer supportEmail and a knowledge baseEmail, knowledge base, and a community forum

How we tested 1Password vs NordPass

The Cybernews research team and I thoroughly evaluated Proton Pass and 1Password to get a clear understanding which one is superior. In general, we adhered to our extensive password manager testing process to get a comprehensive picture of how these two providers compare. Here’s a summary of the process:

  1. The first step was analyzing their overall security and privacy practices. This includes checking their encryption standards, technical implementation, privacy policy, and included features.
  2. After that, we download the desktop and smartphone apps to evaluate their overall ease of use. During this time, we take note of what the user experience is like and how well their features work in various circumstances.
  3. The last step was checking the providers’ subscription options to see whether their asking prices align with our findings.

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