Dashlane vs LastPass Password Managers: Features, Cost & Security Comparison 2024

Both LastPass and Dashlane have free tiers to help you get started. Their free versions are accessible to one user on a single device. They both save and autofill passwords to help users save time when logging in to their online accounts. Additionally, each offers a strong password generator, multi-factor authentication (MFA), secure password sharing and passwordless login. 

While the free versions let you access key features, you won’t be able to use advanced features like advanced MFA and personal support. While these plans may seem similar, LastPass has a more robust free plan, offering features like dark web monitoring, security scoring and a security dashboard. 

You can save unlimited passwords on LastPass Free, while you can only save up to 25 on Dashlane’s free version. The unlimited password storage is one of the features that places LastPass among the best free password managers. 

Both Dashlane and LastPass are highly secure password managers that apply robust security features to safeguard each password vault. They use zero-knowledge architecture to ensure that not even the company can see your saved data. 

Both providers encrypt user data via AES-256 encryption that’s functionally impossible to crack. MFA, dark web monitoring, password health scores, data breach alerts and biometric login options all act as an additional security layer for password vaults. 

Both tools use password hashing methods to protect password vaults. LastPass uses PBKDF2 implemented with SHA-256, and Dashlane uses Argon2. These technologies convert data into unreadable formats that only authorized persons with the corresponding key can decrypt or access.

However, LastPass users don’t get phishing alerts like Dashlane users do. Unlike LastPass, Dashlane has never been breached, making it more secure. Dashlane also offers a VPN for WiFi protection to paid plan users, outperforming many password managers in this regard. 

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a step up from two-factor authentication. Both LastPass and Dashlane provide basic MFA to free plan users and advanced MFA options to paid plan users. While each password manager has this feature, they vary slightly in application.

For LastPass, you can access the LastPass Authenticator app on your mobile device or get a third-party authentication tool like YubiKey or Google Authenticator. Biometric options like face and fingerprint ID are also applicable.

Note that the Dashlane Authenticator app was discontinued in May 2024. Since then, users can access 2FA by receiving an email code or using third-party apps like Microsoft and Google Authenticator.

It’s simple to import passwords into Dashlane and LastPass. Importing passwords involves moving your credentials from your current password management option to a new tool. Both LastPass and Dashlane let you import credentials from web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera and Safari.

You can use a generic CSV file to complete the import process, or import from cloud storage options like iCloud Keychain. There’s also an option to import from other password managers like 1Password, KeePass, Keeper, Bitwarden and RoboForm. If your current password manager doesn’t have this import option, you can manually import credentials to your new tool.

Cross-platform compatibility allows you to access your passwords from any device, desktop or mobile. Any Dashlane or LastPass user can access their password vault on Windows, Linux and macOS.

There are also mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. These come in addition to the web browser extensions available with each tool — Edge, Chrome, Opera and Firefox. Dashlane is also available on Brave.

Both tools have an “automatic sync” feature that intuitively adds new items to all of your desktop and mobile devices. This means you can access your passwords and login credentials from multiple devices in real time.

A password generator automatically creates strong and unique passwords each time you sign up for an online service. This helps prevent using weak or duplicated user passwords for all your accounts. All tiers can access the Dashlane and LastPass password generator.

Password generation also lets you create secure passwords to replace weak or repeated ones for your existing online accounts. That way, your old and new accounts are protected from security breaches.

You can also use the Cloudwards password generator tool for free.

“Secure notes” is a feature that lets you create, store, organize and access sensitive information in your encrypted vault. That way, Dashlane and LastPass provide a more secure solution for users to save confidential information compared to regular notes apps. The only difference is that Dashlane offers 1GB of storage to free users, while LastPass offers only 50MB.

This sensitive data can be anything from copies of your health insurance card to passport copies, addresses, credit cards, past tax documents and even answers to your 2FA login questions.

LastPass and Dashlane scan websites and forums on the dark web to notify users in case their information is being sold there. This feature lets users take quick action to regain control of their account logins before the data breach becomes severe.

While LastPass offers full dark web monitoring capabilities to all its users, Dashlane allows only “master password” dark web monitoring for free users. This means if anything other than your master password is breached online, Dashlane won’t notify you if you’re on the free tier.

Emergency access comes in handy when something unfortunate happens to the password vault owner, making them unable to personally access their accounts. Both LastPass and Dashlane offer emergency access to paid plan users.

For LastPass, the emergency access procedure is quite simple. Just log in to your LastPass account, navigate to “emergency access” and confirm that you want to “request emergency access” to a selected account. After the wait time set by the owner elapses, you’ll have full access to their vault.

Dashlane’s emergency access process is more difficult. The trustee must have a Dashlane account, a file containing the person’s data, a password to access the file and the appropriate settings to gain access. However, we’re glad that the option is available.

Autofill is a time-saving feature that intuitively fills in the correct login details each time you seek to access your accounts. LastPass and Dashlane will autofill usernames and passwords, complete signup forms, as well as enter payment card information, shipping addresses and other requested details.

Gone are the days when you needed to enter a password to log in to an account. The “passwordless login” features that Dashlane and LastPass offer include biometrics and authenticator apps. 

Both Dashlane and LastPass allow all their users to securely share multiple passwords with their friends and family. Users can also share 2FA tokens and secure notes with loved ones without exposing themselves to data breaches. 

LastPass is more affordable than Dashlane, with its paid plans starting from $3 per month (billed annually). Dashlane’s paid plans are known to be costly, starting from $4.99 per month (billed annually). This makes LastPass ideal for personal and family users, while Dashlane is suitable for larger companies or enterprises.

The main difference between Dashlane vs LastPass for families is the number of members you can add. Dashlane lets you add up to 10 members to your Family plan, while LastPass only lets you add six members.

Both Dashlane Business and LastPass for Business let you add unlimited users and devices, and you get advanced MFA, security alerts and SSO options. While Dashlane offers free SSO integration, LastPass requires you to pay an additional fee to access the feature. You can set up SCIM provisioning and SIEM integrations on both LastPass and Dashlane’s Business plans.

When it comes to support, Dashlane gives business users access to live chat, email and on-demand phone support, in addition to a community success team and customer success manager. Conversely, LastPass only offers its business users self-guided support and a customer success manager.

Unlike LastPass, Dashlane offers a VPN to premium users for WiFi protection. This feature is particularly appealing to heavy surfers and internet users seeking an extra layer of encryption protection. It masks their online activity while allowing them to access their favorite streaming and geo-restricted websites from anywhere.

However, it’s worth noting that there are some great free VPN options available that you can use, if you opt for LastPass.

Dashlane alerts users whenever phishing attempts are made on their accounts with real-time web browser warnings. These alerts prevent employees from entering sensitive data or login credentials on malicious websites. LastPass doesn’t offer this feature.

LastPass offers support through its online contact form, help center, community forum, Twitter and chatbot. Phone support is only available to paid users. Dashlane offers a chatbot, an online contact form, a help center and Reddit support.

Business and Enterprise users on Dashlane get seven-day email support, a customer support manager and on-demand phone support. On the contrary, LastPass only gives self-guided support to Teams users with a customer success manager made available to Business users.