Both of these password managers safeguard your data with top-grade security and offer a privacy-friendly approach thanks to their no-knowledge architecture. Also, each one has many different features that you can use to conveniently and effectively manage your passwords. However, while both password managers have their strengths and are reliable options, Dashlane is ultimately the better option. With a much wider selection of features, more intuitive apps, responsive customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s simply the better choice. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days! LastPass announced that one of its developer accounts was recently hacked and portions of source code and technical information were stolen. LastPass has ensured users that:
Your master password has not been compromised No data within your vault has been compromised There’s no evidence that your personal information was compromised
No action is required from LastPass users at this time. This is a good reminder to always follow best practices when setting up and using a password manager and to only use vetted companies.
No Time? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary of Category Winners
Dashlane is the overall winner out of the two. Both Dashlane and LastPass are impressive password managers with many features. They offer top-grade security and reliable privacy combined with many tools to help you manage your passwords. However, Dashlane provides a more intuitive and user-friendly experience while also delivering more features and better customer support. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
How I Tested and Compared LastPass vs Dashlane
Encryption — I checked what encryption each password manager offers and whether it can provide top-grade security. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) — I tested how many different two-factor authentication methods each password manager offers. Also, I tested to see if they work properly when set up. Password Storage — I analyzed each choice’s storage while also testing if they let me store other sensitive information like addresses and card details. Auto-Save and Fill — I logged in to many different websites to see if each password manager would pick up and auto-save my information. After saving my information, I revisited the same websites to check if the auto-fill works as it’s supposed to. Password Generator — I generated multiple passwords of various lengths using each password manager and checked if they were strong. Privacy — I looked at each password manager’s approach to privacy to see if they have a trustworthy no-knowledge approach. Plus, I checked to see if they had certifications like SOC 2 Type 2 and their compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy acts. Password Auditing — I used the password auditing features on both password managers to see which one gave me more helpful insights into my overall password security. Password Sharing — I shared passwords with my colleagues using both password managers to see which one feels more convenient to use. Ease of Use — I tested each password manager’s apps to see if they’re easy to use and have intuitive layouts that I could quickly master. Extra Features — I looked through each password manager’s features and tested them to check which one has more to offer. Device Compatibility — I checked which password manager offers native apps for a wider variety of platforms. Customer Service — I reached out to each password manager’s customer support to see how quickly I could get a helpful response. Price — I analyzed the price plans of each password manager to see which choice offers better value for money. Free Version — I downloaded and tested the free versions to see if they’re worth using. Money-Back Guarantee — I looked at whether the password managers have refund policies and whether they come with any conditions.
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1. Encryption— Both Choices Offer Industry-Standard Security
Both Dashlane and LastPass come with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your data. This is why you can have complete peace of mind whenever you use either option to store your passwords and other sensitive information. There’s also the fact that both password managers handle decryption locally on your device, so your master password is never sent over the internet. This combination of top-grade AES 256-bit encryption, alongside the local decryption, guarantees the best possible security for your sensitive data. Since Dashlane and LastPass both provide the same top-tier protection, I’d put them at the same level in terms of encryption. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) — Multiple Ways to Set Up 2FA on Both Password Managers
I was glad to find out that both LastPass and Dashlane offer multiple methods that you can use to set up two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an essential additional layer of security, and you can easily set it up on either password manager. Dashlane supports many 2FA methods like Google Authenticator, Authy, FreeOTP, WinAuth, and biometrics on mobile devices. Simply head to the Security Settings menu, and you can enable 2FA from there with a few clicks or taps. On the other hand, LastPass supports biometrics, Microsoft Authenticator, Toopher, Duo Security, and some other options for 2FA. All you have to do is go into Multifactor Options in the Account Settings tab, and you can set it up from there. Both password managers support hardware keys such as YubiKey as well, so, all things considered, they’re tied when it comes to 2FA. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
3. Password Storage — Dashlane and LastPass Have Safe Storage for All Kinds of Sensitive Data
After completing my tests, I learned that you could use both Dashlane and LastPass’ premium plans to store unlimited logins and any other sensitive data safely. They both provide secure vaults that’ll safeguard any data you save, and it’s really easy to organize your information. Alongside passwords, you can keep addresses, banking details, identities, private notes, and any other type of sensitive information you have on both password managers. LastPass even has custom item types that you can use to create and save information that doesn’t fall into any of the default types. Overall, I was quite pleased with the storage both password managers offer and can safely say that they’re just as good as each other. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
4. Auto-Save and Fill — Dashlane’s Auto-Save and Fill Features Always Feel Seamless
Auto-save and fill are very convenient features available in every great modern-day password manager. I was very pleased to see that Dashlane and LastPass come with amazing auto-save and fill capabilities that make going through forms a breeze. As soon as you enter any login information, both password managers will immediately capture it and ask if you want to save it for later. You can then enter this information using a single click or tap on either password manager. Dashlane’s advantage, though, is that it can actually enter your details and log you into websites automatically. This feature feels extremely convenient, but you can also disable it in the settings if you want to. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
5. Password Generator — LastPass Can Generate Longer and More Secure Passwords
LastPass and Dashlane come with password generators that you can use to generate strong and secure passwords. The password generators are available in the desktop apps, mobile apps, and even the browser extension, so you can use them whenever you want. Both password managers also let you customize what kind of password they should generate. You can specify the length of the password, the types of characters it should use, whether it should have symbols, and various other things. Plus, both choices show a complete history of generated passwords, so you can always keep track of them. Both apps offer great password generators, but I found LastPass’ generator is better overall because it lets you create passwords up to 64 characters long. Dashlane’s passwords, on the other hand, can’t go past 40 characters. So, you can generate more secure passwords using LastPass, which is why it wins in this category. Try LastPass risk-free for 30 days!
6. Privacy — Both Passwords Managers Are Privacy-Friendly and GDPR Compliant
I’m happy that both Dashlane and LastPass have a very privacy-friendly approach. They’re dedicated to safeguarding the security of your data and have a no-knowledge architecture, meaning that no one but you can ever view your data. Plus, they’re both compliant with data protection laws and regulations, so you can be sure that your data will be in good hands. Dashlane and LastPass are SOC 2 Type 2 certified, meaning they use industry-standard practices to manage and handle your data. They’re also compliant with both GDPR and CCPA, which means they’re obligated to protect your data. Also, this compliance means that they can’t ever sell or share your information with any third parties. All things considered, either password manager will be great for you if privacy is your top priority. Their no-knowledge architecture, SOC 2 Type 2 certification, and compliance with data protection laws make them great choices. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
7. Password Auditing — Dashlane’s Auditing Tools Are More Reliable
Both Dashlane and LastPass come with password auditing features. Dashlane has a password health section that makes password auditing easy. This section will let you see which of your passwords are weak or reused in multiple places. Also, it’ll give you a security score based on your overall password strength. Similarly, LastPass has a security dashboard that you can use to monitor and audit your password security. It’ll also track your passwords to check if any are weak or being reused and then give you an overall security score. Dashlane’s password auditing tools stand out because it offers much more reliable dark web monitoring. Although both password managers come with this feature, LastPass’ simply doesn’t work all that well. It didn’t notify me about my compromised logins, while Dashlane’s dark web monitoring did this with ease and let me quickly change the breached passwords. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
8. Password Sharing — It’s Much Easier to Share Passwords and Information With Dashlane
You can easily share passwords using both Dashlane and LastPass. I found Dashlane’s sharing features to be a lot more seamless, though. Simply select the password you want to send someone and click the share button. Afterward, enter the recipient’s email, and they can then access the shared password. LastPass has a similar process, but it doesn’t feel as smooth as Dashlane’s. I also want to highlight that Dashlane lets you control if recipients should have limited or full rights over shared passwords. Limited rights only let recipients view the passwords you share, while full rights let them edit or share the passwords with others. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
9. Ease of Use — Both Passwords Managers Have Intuitive Apps
In all my tests, I was very pleased with Dashlane and LastPass regarding ease of use. They both offer highly intuitive apps with easy-to-use designs. I found it extremely easy to navigate through their apps and use whatever feature I had in mind. Alongside having intuitive apps, both password managers have great browser extensions. They never get in the way and effectively do what they’re supposed to without causing errors. Plus, the installation process for all apps and extensions for both Dashlane and LastPass is very straightforward. Even if you’ve never tried a password manager before, you’ll be able to get either of these up and running in minutes because of how simple and easy the installation is. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
10. Extra Features — Dashlane Provides a Wider Variety of Features
Dashlane is easily one of the most feature-rich password managers currently available. Both Dashlane and LastPass come equipped with all the core features a password manager needs. These include safe storage for passwords and informative, auto-fill and save capabilities, password generators, and password auditing features. However, Dashlane offers more than just the core features. It comes with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that you can use to give yourself an added layer of security while browsing online. Also, its dark web monitoring feature is a lot more reliable than LastPass’ and successfully pointed out if I had any compromised passwords. Both password managers come with an automatic password changer. Dashlane’s password changer feels far quicker and supports more websites than LastPass’. So, Dashlane is a much better option when it comes to extra features. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
11. Device Compatibility — LastPass Has Native Apps for More Devices
You can use both Dashlane and LastPass on your Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux devices. The key difference is that Dashlane works on Windows, Mac, and Linux through different browser extensions. On the other hand, LastPass offers browser extensions and has native apps for all these platforms. In both cases, downloading the apps or extensions is really easy, and they take no more than a few minutes to install and set up. However, LastPass comes out on top simply because it offers more native apps for different devices. Try LastPass risk-free for 30 days!
12. Customer Service — Dashlane’s Customer Support Is Much More Helpful
Dashlane is a much better password manager in terms of customer support. It has an incredibly helpful online knowledge base, email support, responsive social media, and live chat. Dashlane’s live chat is available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, and the support agents are incredibly responsive. You can reach out during live chat’s active hours and get almost immediate responses to any questions and queries you might have. LastPass’ customer support leaves a lot to be desired. It offers email support, phone support, a community forum, and an online knowledge base. The knowledge base is quite informative and helpful, but getting responses on the community forum can take a while. What’s odd is that LastPass’ email support is only available for business plans, and only individuals using premium can schedule phone calls for support. It’s tough to get direct responses from LastPass’ team because of the undesirable customer support options. This is why it can be quite annoying when you run into a specific issue that isn’t covered on the online knowledge base. I recommend Dashlane instead if having proper customer support is a top priority for you. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
13. Price — Dashlane Offers Much Better Value for Money
LastPass costs less than Dashlane, but it mostly just offers the essential features you’d expect to see in any good password manager. It has safe storage for all sensitive information, auto-save and fill features, and various other password management tools. Dashlane costs more but offers all the essentials and also additional features such as a VPN. While a packaged VPN might not be as good as premium standalone options like ExpressVPN, I was impressed that it had one included at all. Plus, it has much more responsive customer support and a better dark web monitor to check if your logins are breached. Despite being a bit more expensive, I consider Dashlane the winner here because it offers a lot more value for money. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
14. Free Version — LastPass Offers a Better Free Version Than Dashlane
LastPass has a much more useful free version than Dashlane. Dashlane’s free version has many restrictions, like a 50 password limit, whereas LastPass’s free version feels more unrestricted and open. You can store unlimited passwords, use auto-save and fill features, share passwords with others, and do a lot more with just its free plan. LastPass’ free plan also includes automatic sync, its smooth auto-save and fill features, and its reliable password generator. Dashlane also offers some of these features, but LastPass is the better choice if you want a simple, free, and effective password manager. Try LastPass risk-free for 30 days!
15. Money-Back Guarantee — Dashlane Has a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee While LastPass Has None
Dashlane is the only password manager between these two that offers a money-back guarantee. Interestingly, both offer a 30-day free trial that you can use to test their features before you buy one. Unfortunately, LastPass doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, which means you’ll have to utilize the full subscription if you buy it. You can refund Dashlane within 30 days of your purchase if you aren’t satisfied with it. The process is a little different depending on the device you bought it on, but Dashlane’s website explains exactly how you can get a refund for each platform. It’s worth mentioning, though, that the guarantee doesn’t apply to business plans. Overall, Dashlane comes out ahead when it comes to the money-back guarantee. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
And the Winner Is… Dashlane
Both Dashlane and LastPass are excellent password managers with a privacy-friendly approach and secure storage for all your sensitive information. It’s a close match, but there are some key differences between the two, and Dashlane manages to stand out.
Encryption — Tie Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) — Tie Password Storage — Tie Auto-Save and Fill — Dashlane Password Generator — LastPass Privacy — Tie Password Auditing — Dashlane Password Sharing — Dashlane Ease of Use — Tie Extra Features — Dashlane Device Compatibility — LastPass Customer Service — Dashlane Price — Dashlane Free Version — LastPass Money-Back Guarantee — Dashlane
Dashlane is a feature-rich password manager that makes every part of password management easy while providing many useful features like a built-in VPN. Plus, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can easily refund it in 30 days if you aren’t satisfied. LastPass is also a reliable option and a good choice for someone who wants a free password manager. This is because its free plan feels more unrestricted and lets you save unlimited passwords while also offering other useful features. In conclusion, while Dashlane is the better overall choice, both password managers have their strengths. I recommend Dashlane to anyone who wants a complete password manager equipped with many useful features. However, LastPass is also great if you simply want a safe, free, and convenient way to manage your passwords. Try Dashlane risk-free for 30 days!
