This in-depth Dashlane review reflects my experiences with the Dashlane password manager across its apps and extensions. I’ve extensively tested Dashlane to identify its strengths and weaknesses, and I’ll cover its features and how they can improve the security of your online accounts and data. I’ll also answer the question of whether Dashlane is safe to use.
In addition, I’ll explore the current Dashlane pricing options, reviews from long-term users, and extra features like its VPN. My Dashlane review will also compare Dashlane and its closest competitors to help you find the right product for your needs.
- Show Full Guide
What is Dashlane?
With plans tailored for individuals, families, and businesses, Dashlane is used by 18 million people and 23,000+ organizations. Beyond its advanced features and intuitive apps, Dashlane impressed me with its versatility, letting users take full control of their digital security. I rank it as one of the best password managers today.
Is Dashlane Safe and Secure?
Yes, Dashlane is safe to use. Dashlane employs a range of security features to keep user data out of reach for third parties, including its own employees. With a zero-knowledge architecture in place, Dashlane doesn’t store your master password on its servers, making it impossible for anyone, authorized or unauthorized, to decrypt your passwords.
Dashlane uses the powerful AES-256 encryption algorithm to encrypt vault items. Its adherence to strict security standards has been confirmed by SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2002 certification. Dashlane also conducts penetration tests, but the results are not made public without registration.
Dashlane has never had a breach that could compromise the security of its users and has been quick to address potential vulnerabilities. When it came to the AutoSpill vulnerability, the Dashlane Android app already had safeguards in place, but the company nevertheless quickly moved to enhance its security, underlining the provider’s commitment to its users.
Dashlane Pricing and Plans
Dashlane has five plans that accommodate individuals, families, and businesses. The table below covers their pricing and key features so you can compare them.
Plan | Starting Price | Features |
---|---|---|
Premium | $4.99/month | Unlimited Passwords, Passwordless Login, Autofill, VPN, Dark Web Monitoring |
Friends & Family | $7.49/month | 10 Accounts, Secure Sharing |
Dashlane Standard | $20/month | 10 Accounts, Admin Console, Password Health, Monitoring & Logs |
Dashlane Business | $8/user/month | Granular Sharing Controls, SSO Integrations, Phishing Alerts |
Dashlane Business Plus | $5/user/month (for 100+ users) | Automated Security Alerts, Credential Risk Detection, Designated Onboarding |
Dashlane Premium – $4.99/month
Dashlane Premium is an ideal solution for individuals looking to store passwords and other secure items across devices. Besides standard password management features, such as strong password generation and autofilling, the plan lets you store up to 1GB of files, enable VPN protection, and monitor the dark web for leaks of your details.
Dashlane Friends & Family – $7.49/month
Dashlane Family costs less than two Premium accounts but provides ten users with their own private password vaults, making the plan a great choice for families. The admin user also gets a Friends & Family Dashboard that lets them add and remove members, making it a breeze to use.
Dashlane Standard – $20/month
Dashlane Standard, Dashlane’s entry-level business plan, offers protection for ten team members and lets you enforce policy settings to enhance your organization’s security. Each member also gets personalized security alerts for weak passwords, data leaks, and other similar issues. I particularly liked the Admin Console feature, which gives you a quick overview of each team member’s security score.
Dashlane Business – $8/user/month
The Business plan allows you to protect anything from two to an unlimited number of users. This scalable solution provides you with advanced activity log reports, additional company-wide policy settings, and real-time phishing alerts, among other features. It’s also the lowest-tier Dashlane plan to offer phone support and single sign-on (SSO) integrations.
Dashlane Business Plus – $5/user/month
Starting at 100+ users, Dashlane Business Plus unlocks the full range of Dashlane’s features. Each user gets access to a VPN, onboarding support, and 1GB of encrypted private storage. There are also automated security alerts, which prompt employees to change weak or reused credentials. You can also monitor individuals for risk to their credentials even if they aren’t Dashlane users.
Is Dashlane Free?
Yes, Dashlane has a free plan that lets you store and autofill up to 25 passwords on one device. The inclusion of the secure sharing feature surprised me, but I found the free password manager to be inconvenient, as I had to log in every time I switched to a different device, and the low storage cap is very limiting.
Opting for the 30-day free trial Dashlane offers with its Premium plan is a better choice, as you get access to all its features, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy. There’s also a 14-day free trial for the Business plan.
How Does Dashlane Work? Dashlane Security Features
Dashlane is slightly more expensive than its main competitors, but its impressive features justify the price – especially the VPN, which isn’t a feature often combined with password managers. In this section of my Dashlane review, I’ll break down its most important features and how they can improve your security.
Dashlane Encryption and Infrastructure
Your Dashlane password vault is only accessible with the master key that you create when you sign up for Dashlane’s services. Your data is encrypted with the military-grade AES-256 algorithm and is unreadable without your master password, whether it’s sitting on the cloud or in transit, such as during cross-device syncing.
Dashlane doesn’t store your master key on its servers, making it near-impossible for hackers to force their way into your vault.
Dashlane Password Generator
Weak passwords make your online accounts vulnerable to hackers using brute-force attacks and password-spraying methods.
Dashlane makes it easy to create and store strong passwords by automatically generating and saving them for you, and the tool compares well with the competition. With Dashlane, you can quickly create alphanumeric passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, using up to 40 characters.
Autofill and Form Filling
Dashlane can also save you time by automatically filling out form fields for you, for example, when entering your username and password while logging into social media profiles. This worked quickly and smoothly in my testing.
You can also provide Dashlane with personal details, such as your name and phone number, and it will autofill more complex forms from websites and services. Once you’ve created a profile, you can add additional data, such as your place of birth or preferred username. During testing, I found this process to be simple and convenient.
Dashlane Digital Wallet and Secure Notes
Dashlane also makes online payments simpler, as you can save the details required by online vendors and fill out the fields with a single click. I found the feature to be easy to use in testing, and it’s an excellent way to keep your information safe from keyloggers, spyware, and other intrusive malware.
The app also offers the Secure Notes feature, which lets you label and securely store up to 1GB of notes and files. You can use this to store your Wi-Fi password and details or software keys, for example.
Password Sharing
Dashlane makes sharing vault items easy and far safer than channels like messenger apps and text messages. Items shared via Dashlane remain encrypted and are only accessible in-app, ensuring they’re secure. Dashlane also lets you share secure notes and even entire collections. I found this can be invaluable for sharing anything, whether sending Netflix passwords to family members or handling sensitive data with coworkers.
Dashlane Passkeys and Passwordless Login
Dashlane lets you replace your master password with a passwordless login, such as a PIN code or biometrics, making the app even easier to access. This passwordless login method syncs across devices, ensuring you can access your accounts safely and quickly.
The platform can also store passkeys for your individual accounts, and I found the process of setting them up and saving them to be quick and intuitive.
Dashlane VPN Functionality
Dashlane has partnered with Hotspot Shield VPN to provide a VPN with its platform. This enables you to encrypt your online activity and change your IP address, preventing third parties from spying on you and your browsing history.
When you open the VPN tab in Dashlane’s apps, you’ll be provided with a username and password for your Hotspot Shield VPN account. You can simultaneously use the VPN on five devices, but you’ll need to download the separate Hotspot Shield app. My Dashlane VPN review found the service to be both fast and easy to use.
Dashlane Reports, Dark Web Monitoring, and Phishing Alerts
I rate Password Health as one of Dashlane’s best features. The Password Health tab displays an overview of your passwords, highlighting any that are weak, compromised, or have been reused. The tab also displays an overall security score.
Beyond checking your passwords, Dashlane will monitor up to five email addresses and alert you if it detects leaks of your information on the dark web. Dashlane will also warn you if you enter your information on potentially risky websites and apps, helping to prevent phishing attacks.
Dashlane Business and Enterprise Features
Dashlane offers feature-rich plans for businesses, complete with centralized user management dashboards, in-depth vault item-sharing controls, and SSO integrations. It’s one of the few solutions to support Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) for Google Workspace SSO, which simplifies authentication by allowing users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials.
For added security, Dashlane can also enable IT teams to onboard, update, and revoke employee access across systems using SCIM and to monitor security logs through SIEM integrations like Splunk.
Dashlane Compatibility and Ease of Use
Dashlane’s focus on user-friendliness and cross-platform compatibility is one of the first things I noticed while testing its apps. Here’s an overview of how it feels to use Dashlane on the most popular operating systems and browsers:
Dashlane Browser Extensions
Dashlane moved to a web-first approach in 2021, focusing on the development of its browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Working across devices, I found these to be consistently easy to install and use.
The web extensions offer all Dashlane’s features and allow you to access your password vault without an internet connection, provided you don’t have two-factor authentication enabled for individual logins.
Each web extension lets you quickly manage your passwords via a popup window, but you can also choose to open its web app for a full dashboard view that includes separate tabs for all Dashlane’s features.
Dashlane Mobile App
With its mobile apps for Android and iOS devices, Dashlane makes it easy to manage your passwords on the go. The mobile apps make browsing convenient and offer you a full overview of your password vault and all the items in it.
I found Dashlane’s mobile apps to be invaluable as they make it hard to miss alerts like data breach notifications. It’s a breeze to set up biometric login options, such as facial ID and fingerprint scanning, which significantly improves your security.
Additionally, you can use Dashlane as an authenticator app on smartphones by configuring it to provide you with a code to access specific vault items or for your Dashlane account.
Dashlane Desktop App
Dashlane discontinued its support for its desktop apps for Windows and macOS in 2021, but users can now use its browser extensions or the web portal to access, edit, add, and remove vault items.
That said, Dashlane has developed a macOS app utilizing Mac Catalyst, which effectively transforms the iPad version of Dashlane into a fully-featured app for macOS users. In testing, I found the Mac Catalyst Dashlane app and the Safari browser extension to work equally well, so it’s just a question of user preference.
How Does Dashlane Compare Against Other Password Managers?
Dashlane’s easy-to-use and feature-rich apps make it a great password manager, but it isn’t the only option on the market. In this section of my Dashlane review, I’ll compare it to its closest competitors.
Password Manager | Starting Price | Free Version / Trial | Max Devices / Password Storage | Audited / Zero Knowledge |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dashlane | $4.99/month | Free plan (up to 25 passwords) | Unlimited | ✅ / ✅ |
1Password | $2.99/month | 14-day free trial | Unlimited | ✅ / ✅ |
NordPass | $1.49/month | Free plan, 30-day trial | Unlimited | ✅ / ✅ |
Bitwarden | $0.83/month | Free plan, 7-day trial | Unlimited | ✅ / ✅ |
Keeper | $2.92/month | Free plan (up to 10 passwords) | Unlimited | ✅ / ✅ |
LastPass | $3/month | Free plan, 30-day trial | Unlimited | ✅ / ✅ |
Dashlane vs 1Password
Dashlane and 1Password offer apps that are equally user-friendly, and both are good for beginners. In my experience, though, Dashlane’s features are slightly more versatile, with its VPN functionality and real-time phishing alerts.
That said, 1Password is cheaper, has a more comprehensive auditing record, and includes Travel Mode, an exceptional feature that lets you hide your password vaults with a single click.
NordPass vs Dashlane
Both NordPass and Dashlane can significantly improve the security of your online accounts with their password health monitoring features and instant alerts.
Impressively, though, NordPass lets you store 3GB of file attachments in its password vault, beating Dashlane’s 1GB, and it uses the future-proof xChaCha20 encryption algorithm.
Dashlane vs Bitwarden
As a budget password manager, Bitwarden lacks some of the advanced features that Dashlane offers. Dashlane also has a much more modern interface, making it easier to use and simplifying vault item customization.
However, I do like Bitwarden’s Organizations feature. This serves as a shared vault for two or more users and is something I’d like to see in Dashlane’s family plan.
Dashlane vs Keeper
Dashlane and Keeper have a fair amount in common, but some of Keeper’s features, such as dark web monitoring and secure storage, are only available as add-ons, making Dashlane a better product out of the box.
In addition, Dashlane’s family plan can protect 10 users, while Keeper only offers five vaults with its similarly priced family subscription.
Dashlane vs LastPass
Dashlane and LastPass offer broadly similar security features, with the exception of Dashlane’s VPN functionality. However, I found Dashlane to be better in practice, especially when it comes to auto-filling forms, such as payment data.
It’s also worth mentioning that LastPass’ reputation has taken a hit following a series of breaches in the past few years – while Dashlane hasn’t had any similar issues.
How to Set Up Dashlane
Dashlane is designed for convenience, and installing it takes just a few minutes. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on adding it to your Chrome browser on a desktop computer:
Pick a Dashlane Plan And Create an Account
Head to the official Dashlane website and choose the plan that best suits your needs and budget. Provide a valid email address during the checkout to create an account.
Install the Dashlane Browser Extension
Visit the Dashlane Chrome Web Store page and click “Add to Chrome” to add the Dashlane extension to your browser. The extension will automatically be installed and will prompt you to log into your account using the email address you provided during checkout.
Create Your Master Password And Add Your First Vault Items
When you log into your account, Dashlane will prompt you to create a master password, which you’ll need to remember. Once you’re logged into your Dashlane dashboard, you can start adding new credentials to your vault, or you can import your existing passwords from sources such as your browser or other password managers. You’re now set up and ready to go with Dashlane.
Customer Support and Dashlane Password Manager Reviews from Users
Based on my test queries, Dashlane’s customer support is responsive and helpful, which is important for a service handling sensitive data. Dashlane offers live chat from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm ET, and 24/7 email support – though responses may take longer. Business plan admins can also schedule support phone calls.
During testing, I found that Dashlane’s chatbot efficiently relayed my questions to human operators, who then provided accurate and concise responses. The comprehensive Help Center is also useful for resolving issues without needing to contact support and contains an impressive number of guides and explainers.
As part of our testing methodology, we also research user reviews to gauge the experience of long-term customers with products. To this end, I’ve explored the feedback recorded on Trustpilot to determine user satisfaction with Dashlane’s apps, features, and customer support.
The Dashlane password manager reviews on Trustpilot are very positive, with 75% of its 6,000+ reviews giving it 5/5 stars, with an overall average of 4.2/5 stars.
Dashlane user review on Trustpilot
Dashlane reviews from users typically praise Dashlane’s security tools and usability, and many note that they appreciate the inclusion of advanced features that competitors lack, like its VPN and dark web monitoring capabilities.
Everything with Dashlane is amazing, except the price changes every year. I’m leaving five stars because I trust this company and believe it was necessary for the price change, but if it increases next year, I think I’ll have to rethink and worry about my pocket.
Trustpilot Dashlane user review
Although mostly positive, some reviews do point to Dashlane’s relatively expensive pricing and a slightly lower level of support for iOS users – though I didn’t experience this during testing.
Bottom Line
While Dashlane’s premium plans may be pricier than some alternatives, it’s a great pick for users looking for advanced security with an accessible platform. Its web-first approach makes it easy to use across multiple devices, and its zero-knowledge architecture and encryption ensure your data is private and secure.
Although its free plan has room for improvement, its paid plans provide individuals, families, and businesses with all the tools they need to protect their accounts, making Dashlane one of the top choices in the market.
FAQs
What is the Dashlane app?
How secure is Dashlane?
How much does Dashlane cost?
Is Dashlane better than LastPass?
Has there been a Dashlane breach?
What are the disadvantages of Dashlane?
References
- Dashlane Trust Center (Dashlane)
- How worried should we be about the “AutoSpill” credential leak in Android password managers? (Ars Technica)
- How Dashlane Protects You From “AutoSpill” (Dashlane)
- Mac Catalyst (Apple Developer)
- LastPass breaches cast doubt on password manager safety (Security Intelligence)