Choosing the right password manager is crucial for keeping your online accounts secure and making your digital life more convenient. Two of the most popular options on the market are 1Password and LastPass. Both are feature-packed and well-regarded, but there are some key differences to consider.
In this in-depth comparison, we‘ll pit 1Password vs LastPass head-to-head across all the areas that matter most, from security to ease-of-use to price. By the end, you‘ll have a clear idea of which password manager is the best fit for your needs and workflow.
Supported Platforms
Both 1Password and LastPass work across all the major platforms and devices, so you can access your passwords whenever and wherever you need them. Here‘s the full breakdown:
1Password supports:
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS
- iOS, Android, Chrome OS
- Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Brave extensions
LastPass supports:
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- iOS, Android, Windows Phone
- Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Opera extensions
Both cover the core bases, but LastPass pulls slightly ahead with support for a few additional browsers and Windows Phone. However, the vast majority of users will be fully supported by either option.
Password Management
When it comes to basic password management – generating, storing, and filling credentials – both 1Password and LastPass deliver a smooth, intuitive experience. They make it easy to create unique, complex passwords for every account, save them automatically as you browse, and autofill your login with a click.
Some key password management features both apps offer:
- Automatic password capture and saving
- Password generation with customizable parameters
- Automatic filling on websites and supported apps
- Browser extensions and mobile apps for quick access
- Secure sharing of passwords and other items
- Encrypted storage and syncing across devices
1Password takes a slight lead with its polished UI design and user-friendly apps for every platform. Everything from saving to generating to filling passwords feels seamlessly integrated. It also offers a password strength checker called Watchtower that flags reused, weak, or breached credentials and prompts you to change them.
LastPass is no slouch either, and matches 1Password feature-for-feature in most areas. One unique benefit is the ability to fill passwords in a broader range of desktop apps beyond just web browsers. LastPass also has a useful Security Challenge tool that audits your passwords and provides an overall security score.
Form and Payment Filling
Besides just passwords, a top-notch password manager can also fill other types of information you commonly need on the web, like payment details and identity info. This is one area where LastPass pulls clearly ahead.
LastPass offers a stellar form filling experience powered by customizable profiles. You can store your name, address, phone number, email, credit card, and bank info, then fill any web form with a click. It‘s super handy for online shopping, signing up for new accounts, filling out shipping info, etc. Custom fields let you store additional details like passport numbers, frequent flyer details, and more.
1Password, by contrast, is much more limited when it comes to form filling. It can store identity and payment info, but only supports filling a handful of common field types. For most forms, you‘ll have to copy-paste individual fields. This is an area where 1Password lags behind and could really stand to improve.
Both password managers also offer a fully encrypted digital wallet for storing sensitive payment info, IDs, and documents. But LastPass‘s overall form filling flow is far superior.
Security
Security is paramount for any password manager, since you‘re trusting it to safeguard the keys to your digital life. Both 1Password and LastPass employ extremely robust, battle-tested security architectures to keep your data safe from prying eyes.
Some core security measures both apps take:
- AES-256 encryption, considered unbreakable
- Zero-knowledge model – your master password is never transmitted or stored
- Secure Remote Password (SRP) protocol to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks
- Brute force protection to thwart repeated guessing attempts
- Support for multi-factor authentication via TOTP, U2F, and more
Diving deeper, 1Password has a slight edge in a few areas. It uses a Secret Key in addition to your Master Password to encrypt and decrypt data. This adds an extra layer of protection, since an attacker would need both pieces of information to access your vault. 1Password also claims to subject its codebase to more frequent third-party audits and penetration testing.
However, LastPass is certainly no slouch on security either. It offers slightly more options for multi-factor authentication, including hardware keys. And despite a few recent breaches of its own infrastructure, there‘s no evidence that user vaults were ever compromised thanks to LastPass‘s zero-knowledge architecture.
So while 1Password may eke out a win thanks to its Secret Key implementation, both password managers go above and beyond industry best practices to keep your data secure. You can trust either one to do the job.
Password Sharing
Need to share login info with a family member or co-worker? Both 1Password and LastPass make it easy to share individual passwords or entire folders of items while maintaining control over permissions.
LastPass has the edge with its more flexible sharing options. Even free users can share an unlimited number of items with other LastPass users. And family or business accounts can share folders of passwords with granular permissions like hiding the password or setting an expiration date.
1Password‘s sharing features are a bit more locked down. Only family or business accounts can share, not individual paid plans. And shared vaults don‘t have quite as many permissions options. However, 1Password does offer a unique feature called a Guest Account, which lets you securely share items with someone who doesn‘t have their own 1Password account.
Plans and Pricing
Now for the bottom line – how much will each password manager cost? LastPass has a big advantage here thanks to its free plan. It includes all the core features like unlimited password storage, syncing across devices, a security dashboard, and even password sharing. Only advanced features like emergency access, priority support, and encrypted storage require upgrading to Premium for $3/month.
1Password, on the other hand, doesn‘t offer a free plan at all. All its plans are paid, starting at $2.99/month for individuals. A family plan supporting up to 5 users is $4.99/month. While not exorbitant, that means LastPass is a bit easier on the wallet, especially if the free plan meets your needs.
For business use, their team and enterprise plans are priced similarly, ranging from $4-8/user/month depending on features. Both scale smoothly to meet the needs of larger organizations.
Unique Features
To wrap up, let‘s highlight a few unique features of each password manager:
1Password:
- Actionable password strength checker with Watchtower
- Secret Key encryption enhances security
- Polished native apps for every platform
- Guest accounts for securely sharing passwords
- Detailed item history and version control
- Markdown support in secure notes
LastPass:
- Free plan with unlimited passwords and devices
- Robust form filling with custom fields
- More options for multi-factor authentication
- Broader sharing permissions and folder support
- Built-in password generator and strength audits
- Support for hardware security keys
Conclusion
After an exhaustive comparison, it‘s clear that both 1Password and LastPass are outstanding password managers. They check all the essential boxes: strong security, broad cross-platform support, intuitive interfaces, and robust password generation/filling.
For most individual users, I give the slight edge to LastPass. Its free plan is practically unbeatable, offering core password management features at no cost. And its form filling, password sharing, and authentication options are a bit more flexible.
Power users or families willing to spend a little more should also consider 1Password. Its native apps are a joy to use, and features like the secret key and guest accounts add some unique value. You can‘t go wrong with its elegant design and security.
But regardless of which you choose, both 1Password and LastPass are fantastic ways to bolster your online security and simplify your digital life. You can rest assured your passwords are in good hands with either one.