Dashlane is one of the few password managers that offers a completely free version. While limited compared to Dashlane Premium, the free version still allows users to access key password management features.
If you're wondering whether you should stick with the free version or invest in Dashlane Premium, this article highlights the differences and the pros and cons to help you decide.
Dashlane Free vs Dashlane Premium: Comparison
| Characteristics | Free | Premium $4.99/month |
|---|---|---|
| Password storage | Up to 25 passwords | Unlimited |
| Support | No | Email and chat support |
| Devices | One at a time | Multiple devices |
| Two-factor authentication | Yeah | Yeah |
| Password and history generator | Yeah | Yeah |
| Autocomplete | Yeah | Yeah |
| Dark web monitoring | Yeah | Yeah |
Feature Comparison: Dashlane Free vs Dashlane Premium
Password storage
The free version of Dashlane only allows users to store up to 25 passwords on one device, while Dashlane Premium offers unlimited password storage on multiple devices. When you consider logins to cloud providers, streaming services, banking, phone services, email, and more, 25 passwords aren't many. If you need more, you'll probably want to go with Dashlane Premium.
Support
Dashlane Premium includes email and chat support. And starting in December 2023, support will no longer be available for the free version. Since email and chat support depends on the responsiveness of those on the other end and their level of experience, the lack of support in the free version should not be a reason to favor the premium edition more.
Devices
The free version is available on one device only. With Premium, a user can use the password manager on multiple devices without restrictions. Most users today use multiple devices. But there are many who only use a laptop or a smartphone. In these cases, the free version may be sufficient as long as the number of passwords is low enough.
2FA
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is available in both versions. This provides an additional level of protection. Even if a bad actor learns a password, he still has to enter a second element, such as a code or biometric data, before he can access an application.
Password generator/history
Both versions include a password generator and store the user's password history. Since most sites now require at least eight characters (including upper and lower case letters, a number, and a symbol), few users will be able to remember all of their passwords. Password generators create long passwords that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to crack. The app will store passwords and their history, so users don't have to remember them. These capabilities are built into the free and paid versions.
Autocomplete
Both versions provide autocomplete capabilities to save the user time. There's no need to type your name, address, email, or phone every time you set a password for a new site. Dashlane takes care of this automatically.
Dark web monitoring
Both versions offer dark web monitoring to see if usernames and passwords have been compromised. This feature is important as many users become careless and use the same or similar passwords across multiple devices and apps. If hackers get their hands on one, they can use it to access many other applications.
Pros and cons of Dashlane Free
Advantages of free Dashlane
- Extensive feature set including 2FA, dark web monitoring, password generator and history.
- Free.
Disadvantages of Free Dashlane
- Limited to a single device.
- Limited to no more than 25 passwords.
- Unsupported.
Pros and cons of Dashlane Premium
Advantages of Dashlane Premium
- Unlimited password storage.
- Multiple devices.
- Chat and email support is available.
- Includes a built-in VPN.
Disadvantages of Dashlane Premium
- More expensive than competing offerings.
- If the user forgets the master password and has not set up a recovery key, stored data will be lost and all passwords will need to be reset.
Methodology
These products were evaluated based on a survey of user feedback and product reviews. Read our full Dashlane review to learn more.
Should your organization use Dashlane Free or Dashlane Premium?
The free version of Dashlane may be enough for someone who is tied to a single device. A user who primarily prefers a laptop or phone will likely find their feature set to be more than sufficient in many cases. After all, it comes with almost all the security features built into the paid edition. This includes 2FA, encryption, dark web monitoring, password generation, and more. There is a warning. The free version cannot store more than 25 passwords. Today, many users need access to much more than that. In those cases, and when the person moves fluidly from one device to another, it is worth investing in Dashlane Premium. The user also gets access to support options that are not available in the free version.
