The Best 1Password Alternatives Worth Switching To in 2025

1Password has long been the gold standard for password management. Its Secret Key architecture, polished apps, and rock-solid security are genuinely impressive. But it's not perfect — and plenty of users are looking for something different. Maybe you're tired of the $35.88/year subscription creep. Maybe the Secret Key setup feels like overkill for your household. Or maybe you just want the things actually worth buying without the cloud dependency.

Whatever your reason, the password manager landscape is richer than ever. We've dug into the documentation, tested the contenders, and talked to security experts to find the four alternatives that genuinely compete with — and in some cases surpass — 1Password.

The Best 1Password Alternatives at a Glance

�� Best Open-Source Alternative: Bitwarden

If transparency matters to you, Bitwarden is the answer. It's fully open-source, meaning anyone can audit the code — and plenty of security researchers do. That kind of accountability is something no proprietary password manager, including 1Password, can fully match.1

Bitwarden's free tier is genuinely generous: unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, with no time limit. That alone makes it the best choice for budget-conscious users and families. The Premium tier ($10/year) adds advanced 2FA, emergency access, and 1 GB of encrypted file storage — a fraction of what 1Password costs.

The trade-off? Bitwarden's interface is functional rather than flashy. It won't win design awards, but it gets out of your way once you're set up. For most people, that's a fair exchange for a password manager that's been independently audited and costs next to nothing.

Bottom line: If you value code transparency and a generous free tier, Bitwarden is the clear winner.

�� Best Modern & Simple Alternative: NordPass

NordPass takes the opposite approach from Bitwarden: it's sleek, modern, and designed for people who just want things to work. The UI is cleaner than 1Password's, with a card-based layout that makes finding credentials feel natural.2

What sets NordPass apart technically is its use of XChaCha20 encryption instead of the more common AES-256. XChaCha20 is faster on mobile devices and considered by many cryptographers to be more resistant to timing attacks. It's the same algorithm Google uses for Android's encrypted backups.2

NordPass also supports passkeys — the passwordless login standard that's gaining traction across major platforms. If you want to future-proof your credential management, that's a meaningful advantage.

The free tier is limited to one device, so you'll need the Premium plan ($1.99/month) for cross-device sync. That's still cheaper than 1Password, and you get a more modern experience to boot.

Bottom line: The best pick for anyone who finds 1Password's interface cluttered and wants a cleaner, faster experience.

�� Best All-in-One: Dashlane (with VPN)

Dashlane is the Swiss Army knife of the password manager world. Beyond storing and filling credentials, it includes a built-in VPN (powered by Hotspot Shield) on its Premium and Friends & Family plans.3

That VPN integration is genuinely useful: it auto-activates when you connect to public Wi-Fi, protecting your traffic without any extra steps. For frequent travelers or remote workers, that's a feature 1Password simply can't match.

Dashlane uses AES-256 encryption and has one of the best password-sharing features in the business — you can share credentials securely with family members without either party ever seeing the other's master password.

The catch? Dashlane is the priciest option here at $4.99/month for Premium. But when you factor in the VPN cost you'd otherwise pay separately, the value proposition holds up.

Bottom line: The best choice if you want a password manager and VPN in one subscription — especially for travelers.

�� Best Offline Alternative: Enpass

If your objection to 1Password is its cloud-first model, Enpass is the antidote. It stores all your data locally on your device — no cloud, no servers, no third-party risk. You choose where to sync: iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or even a local network drive.4

This offline-first architecture means your vault exists only where you put it. If you're privacy-paranoid (and we don't blame you), that's a powerful advantage. Enpass uses AES-256 encryption with a 100,000-iteration PBKDF2 key derivation — strong enough to withstand brute-force attacks.

The desktop app is free, while the mobile app requires a Premium subscription ($2.99/month or $79.99 lifetime). That lifetime option is rare in the password manager space and could save you money in the long run.

The trade-off: no built-in password sharing or emergency access features. Enpass is designed for individuals who want full control, not families who need to share credentials.

Bottom line: The best pick for privacy purists who want to own their data and avoid the cloud entirely.

How They Compare

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose Bitwarden if you want the most trusted open-source option with a genuinely free unlimited tier.
• Choose NordPass if you prefer a modern, minimalist interface and want to adopt passkeys early.
• Choose Dashlane if you travel frequently and want a VPN bundled with your password manager.
• Choose Enpass if you distrust cloud storage and want full control over where your vault lives.

We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links — it's how we keep the lights on and continue testing the things actually worth buying. Our picks are based on independent testing and research, not affiliate relationships.

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