RoboForm vs 1Password: which is the best password manager?

If you’re making a list of the best password managers, both RoboForm and 1Password deserve to have a spot high on the list.

RoboForm ticks all the boxes with strong security, generous features, and excellent usability. A free version and 24/7 live chat are also included. 1Password has great security and ample features as well. However, it has no free plan, and its interfaces are slightly clunky.

So, is RoboForm always a step ahead of 1Password? This RoboForm vs 1Password comparison will answer that question. Let’s find out which comes with better security, features, pricing, usability, and more.

RoboForm vs 1Password – an overview

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Which one is more secure?

In the 1Password vs RoboForm security battle, both quality password managers have their respective pros and cons, so it’s only fair to call it a draw. To start, the duo offers robust encryption in the form of 256-bit AES encryption. Plus, their privacy policies are quite reasonable and up to par with the industry’s standard.

That said, RoboForm has more flexible multi-factor authentication (MFA) but doesn’t offer data storage. It’s also pretty silent when it comes to independent security audits. Meanwhile, 1Password lacks MFA options but offers data storage – albeit with limited capacity – and is very upfront about its third-party security audits.

Encryption

Both RoboForm and 1Password bring their A-game regarding encryption, opting for top-grade 256-bit AES encryption. This is one of the most secure encryption methods out there.

During RoboForm’s review, we found that all data is encrypted at every stage using 256-bit AES with PBKDF2 SHA256 to protect against all sorts of attacks, including dictionary and brute force. Plus, its adherence to the zero-knowledge policy also means that all encryption/decryption is done locally, and only you have access to the master password.

Likewise, 1Password review has shown that it guards your data with 256-bit AES encryption and PBKDF2 password hashing. And, of course, its end-to-end encryption makes it impossible for someone to intercept or access your data without authorization.

To top it all off, you also get a 128-bit Secret Key, which is used in combination with the account password to protect your data. With its 128 bits of entropy, your account password is virtually unguessable.

Overall, RoboForm and 1Password absolutely make the cut with their robust encryption.

Multi-factor security

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds another layer of security by requiring identity verification using two or more ways before granting access to your vault.

If you’re on RoboForm’s free or paid tier user, it supports various two-factor authentication (2FA) methods. The only major exceptions are hardware keys like YubiKey. That caveat aside, you still have quite a few options, including Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Authy.

You can also opt for a one-time password (OTP) sent via email or SMS. However, these methods aren’t recommended as they’re significantly more vulnerable to hacking than authenticator apps.

1Password, meanwhile, allows 2FA with authenticator apps Authy and Microsoft Authenticator. Alternatively, push notifications to confirm sign-in requests using Duo Security are also supported. Unfortunately, that’s about all you get with 1Password.

Overall, I’d call a tie to this round of 1Password vs RoboForm. Both password managers support 2FA, which is great, but compatibility with more authentication methods is even better.

Data storage

Beyond storing and managing credentials, many password managers also act as a secure cloud storage vault for other sensitive files, and that’s exactly what you get with 1Password. Meanwhile, RoboForm takes a different path.

RoboForm offers Safenotes, which is sort of an encrypted digital notebook. You can use it to store information like Wi-Fi passwords, ATM codes, alarm combinations, insurance policy details, and more. However, you’d need another solution for things like videos and photos, as those aren’t supported. In this case, RoboForm recommends that you turn to GoodSync instead.

On the other hand, 1Password provides data storage, but it places a number of limitations on the feature. Personal and Families plans’ users get 1GB of storage, while Business users get 5GB of storage. Either way, each file must be under 2GB in size. That might be enough for things like passwords, documents, and financial statements, but it’s a tight fit – if not downright impossible – for resource-heavy items such as photos and videos.

Privacy policy

Both RoboForm and 1Password were built on zero-knowledge architecture, which means that they can’t access your vault and its content. However, password managers do still collect certain personal data. The good news is that their privacy policies are in line with industry standards, and they’re transparent about how as well as what they log.

With RoboForm, you can expect it to collect your name, email, phone number, operating system used, and more. The provider is also clear about the fact that it will not send personal data stored on its servers to other parties except when the data is necessary for its business processes.

1Password, on the other side of the comparison, collects account and usage information as well as personally identifiable information. So, things like payment methods, logins, number of vaults, number of items in vaults, IP addresses, names, email addresses, and profile pictures are all fair game.

Third-party security audits

Independent audits reveal a lot about a password manager’s commitment to its products and services. Both – RoboForm and 1Password have undergone an independent audit by third-party firms that prove both providers' reliability and focus on privacy.

What we do know is that RoboForm has SOC 2 certification on its servers. Plus, it’s also worth noting that the said servers are located in a secure Tier 1 facility in Virginia, US – surrounded by armed guards, backup generators, and connections to multiple Internet backbones.

1Password boasts a long list of security assessments. For starters, it’s SOC 2 Type 2 certified. Apart from that, it’s also regularly assessed, tested, and audited by agencies like Cure53, Secfault Security, Recurity Labs, AppSec, and Onica. Plus, 1Password engages Bugcrowd for a public, ongoing bug bounty program.

Meanwhile, RoboForm has recently undergone an independent audit that has identified and fixed vulnerabilities that arose during the audit.

RoboForm vs 1Password: features overview

RoboForm has a narrow advantage in the RoboForm vs 1Password feature comparison. It’s a down-to-the-wire match as both password managers offer some very handy features to enhance their services. Password importing, recovering, generating and sharing, as well as autofill are all included.

However, RoboForm scores a lead because its account and password recovery feature is user-friendlier compared to 1Password’s more rudimentary approach. Plus, its autofill feature is significantly more intuitive, too.

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Password importing

As expected from password managers of their caliber, both RoboForm and 1Password support bulk password importing from an extensive list of browsers, other password managers, files, and apps.

In RoboForm’s case, it allows data importing from all the popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Beyond that, it also supports easy password importing from numerous other password managers. Among them are 1Password, Dashlane, KeePass, Keeper, and EnPass. Of course, the standard CSV files make the list of supported applications, too.

You’ll see a similar case with 1Password. For browsers, it supports password importing from Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Imports from other password managers like RoboForm, Dashlane, KeePass, and LastPass are allowed as well. Alternatively, you can also opt to import data using CSV, 1pux, or 1pif files.

Overall, it’s another draw for the RoboForm vs 1Password battle – both password managers ensure that their users have convenient data-importing options.

Account and password recovery

RoboForm and 1Password both have account and password recovery options. However, RoboForm is more forgiving and accommodating of the two password managers.

First things first, RoboForm has no way to recover your master password since it’s not stored in the servers. However, if you’ve enabled biometrics on your RoboForm mobile app, you can use it to restore your master password.

Besides that, you can also have your emergency contact access your account and download your data. Just bear in mind that Emergency Access is only available for paid users, and your trusted contact must have a RoboForm account.

As for 1Password, things are more old-school, as your lifeline is the Emergency Kit – a PDF document that sets out your account details and passwords. You should have both digital and printed copies stored securely.

Things are easier for those on its Family, Teams, Business, or Enterprise plans as 1Password lets family organizers and team administrators restore access.

Password generator

All good password managers come with a secure password generator that creates unique, hard-to-crack passwords. That’s exactly what you get with both RoboForm and 1Password.

RoboForm’s password generator allows a fair bit of customization. You can tweak the settings to include/exclude characters, numbers, capitalization, and more. The default length of the generated password is 16 characters, but you can go all in and extend the number of characters up to a whopping 512.

Meanwhile, 1Password offers a Strong Password Generator, which can generate random passwords, pass-phrase passwords, and PINs. What you can customize here are the password length, capitalization, and types of characters.

Overall, both password generators are definitely up to par and would come in handy when you need strong and unique passwords quickly.

Password sharing

RoboForm and 1Password throw in the password and account-sharing features so that their users can safely share credentials with others, too.

With RoboForm, credential-sharing requires just a few easy clicks. You have full control over who has access, access level, and can revoke the access at any time. Individual item sharing aside, there’s also an option to share an entire folder with others. The only caveat here is that your recipient must have a RoboForm account, which is easy enough since it has a free plan.

1Password, similarly, allows password and other data sharing with just a link. When generating the link, you can set who gets access and when the link expires.

Additionally, those on 1Password’s Families or Team & Business plans also have the option to share a vault. In this case, the family organizer or the team administrator will be the one to manage each user’s permission and access level.

Autofill

Autofill is a crucial feature that simplifies login, payment, and other form-filling processes in a secure manner. RoboForm and 1Password both provide this feature but RoboForm’s version is significantly more intuitive and seamless.

With RoboForm, all you need to do is click on its icon beside the fields and it will automatically fill in the appropriate credentials and submit the form on your behalf. Basically, that’s all the heavy lifting taken care of by the password manager.

In contrast, 1Password’s autofill is clunkier. To access your account, you must first click on its icon and then the specific login item. If there’s more than one suggested item, you’ll need to scroll and search the list for the correct one.

Overall, while the process isn’t necessarily complicated, 1Password’s autofill feature slows down rather than speeds up the credential-filling process on some occasions.

Plans and pricing

When comparing RoboForm vs 1Password pricing, it’s evident that RoboForm is a slightly more affordable one. However, both are very easy on the wallet and offer a line-up of plans to suit different needs.

However, RoboForm has the upper hand because it offers a free plan while 1Password has no free tier. On top of that, RoboForm also has a more affordable personal plan. Additionally, RoboForm’s 30-day money-back guarantee is a clear win over 1Password’s brutal no-refund policy.

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RoboForm pricing

For personal plans, RoboForm has 3 options to offer:

• RoboForm Free
• RoboForm Premium – $0.99/month for 1 user
• RoboForm Family – $1.98/month for 5 users

While RoboForm’s free version is exceptionally generous with features compared to other password managers, it still has several limitations. To enjoy RoboForm’s full list of features, you need RoboForm Premium. This plan is designed for one user and comes with unlimited logins, password audit, emergency access, cloud backup, secure shared folder, priority 24/7 support, and more.

Meanwhile, Roboform Family offers the same features as Premium. The only difference is that it can cover up to five users for one account.

1Password pricing

1Password has 2 options if you’re looking for personal plans:

• 1Password Personal – $2.99/month for 1 user
• 1Password Families – $4.99/month for 5 users

If it’s just you, 1Password Personal is the best fit. It supports unlimited devices and offers various features, including unlimited password storage, 1GB file storage, autofill, 2FA, 1Password Watchtower, a digital wallet, and travel mode.

However, you’ll need to fork out for 1Password Families if you need to fit in more users. This plan can support up to 5 users and comes with everything in 1Password Personal. Plus, it also allows access/permission management and account recovery.

Platforms, interface, and ease of use

When it comes to compatibility, RoboForm and 1Password can work on all mainstream operating systems. Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS are all supported. Similarly, both password managers have extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and more.

However, ease of use is where RoboForm one-upped 1Password. Its apps and extensions are considerably more intuitive and smooth compared to what 1Password offers.

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Desktop apps

RoboForm and 1Password’s desktop apps work on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. Both providers’ installation and setup processes require just a few clicks and could be done in seconds.

RoboForm’s desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux closely resemble each other. Whichever one you’re using, you’ll find that the app is extremely clean, streamlined, and very easy to navigate.

In contrast to RoboForm’s minimalistic design, 1Password’s desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux are considerably more cluttered. Beginners and those less tech-savvy would require some time to get used to the interfaces.

For this round of RoboForm vs 1Password, RoboForm has a clear win courtesy of its better-designed desktop apps.

Browser extensions

The pair supports all the major browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and more. Whichever one you opt for, setup is nothing more than just clicking when prompted. However, RoboForm’s browser extensions are more versatile.

RoboForm’s extension has all the core features like autosave, autofill, and password generator. It’s not much but that’s to be expected from a password manager’s browser extension. Instead, design and layout are where RoboForm exceeds expectations.

Its features are laid out in a tab format with three top-level tabs. The first tab can be personalized so that your most-used item is well within reach. Within each tab, you can also click on Popular, Recent, and Pinned items for easy access. Additionally, there’s a search bar so that you can zero in on an item quickly.

Likewise, 1Password’s functionalities are tied to its web app. Credential and password filling, saving, and generating are all that are available on the extensions. Look-wise, the interface is well-organized and modern but lacks RoboForm’s versatility.

Mobile apps

To set up your RoboForm or 1Password mobile app, you just need to download the app from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

RoboForm’s mobile apps for iOS and Android look extremely similar. Sleek and easy to navigate, they’re great when you need to manage your credentials on the fly. Functionalities are limited, but you still get core ones like autofill, password generator, and password audit.

The same goes for 1Password. Both iOS and Android mobile apps sport very similar designs with modern and uncomplicated layouts. Navigation is a breeze, too.

However, just like RoboForm, don’t expect to enjoy the full spectrum of features on your mobile. Autofill, password generator, and secure sharing are about all that you get.

Customer support

Both RoboForm and 1Password provide a range of customer support options but RoboForm is the clear victor here.

With RoboForm, your support options depend on your plan. Ticket support is available to all users 24/7, and you’ll usually receive a reply within hours. Additionally, premium users get priority online support and live chat support during business hours. Alternatively, RoboForm’s Help Center, User Manual, and Tutorials all offer great resources if you prefer a DIY option, instead.

In contrast, 1Password’s customer support is less accessible. Its agent assistance is only available via email and Twitter. Wait time for replies isn’t terrible but you don’t get immediate help, either.

So, for basic questions, you’d do better to hit up its knowledge base first where you can find hundreds of guides and articles. Otherwise, as a last resort, 1Password has a very active community forum as well.

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Video review

RoboForm vs 1Password – which one to choose?

All things considered, RoboForm is the better password manager when we compare RoboForm vs 1Password. Strong security, robust complementary features, affordable prices, and great ease of use, RoboForm is the complete package.

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Meanwhile, 1Password is a worthy competitor but it’s let down by its weaker features, ease of use, and customer support.

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