Dashlane Review 2024: Free, Fast, and Full of Features

Dashlane gives you a lot for nothing with its free password manager — and its paid plans come stacked with features.
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4.5
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Dashlane's website

Password Manager
Dashlane
  • Easy to use and seamless
  • Paid plans come with Hotspot Shield VPN
  • Extra features boost security
  • Free plan is limited to one device and 25 passwords

We tested Dashlane and found a trusted, well-rounded product with plenty of features to securely store more than just passwords.

On top of the base features such as autofill and password sharing, we also liked playing around with the Secure Notes to store information like our passports, SSN, and more. The paid plan also has access to dark web monitoring and Dashlane’s VPN.

While we were disappointed that the free version only covers one device and 25 passwords, we think the premium version was sleek, seamless, and recommendable. We elaborated below to give you the full scope of our experience.

Pros
  • Easy to use and seamless
  • User-friendly dashboard
  • Easy to secure store payment methods and other important info
Cons
  • Free plan limited to 25 passwords and one device
  • Can only share passwords with other Dashlane customers
In this article
Review at a glance
Our experience
Cost
Features
Privacy policy
Is Dashlane safe to use?
Customer service
Compatibility
Alternatives
FAQs
Bottom line: Is Dashlane good?

Dashlane review at a glance

Price Free-$7.49/mo
Number of users 1-10
Compatibility Android, iOS
Browser extensions Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
Password sharing Yes
Encryption AES 256-bit
Password generator Yes
Password strength report Yes
Autofill Yes
Digital legacy No
Cloud storage Yes — 1 GB

How we test and rate password managers

We put every password manager through vigorous hands-on testing by downloading the software to our own devices. We test how the product works on both mobile and desktop, evaluating how well we're able to save, share, and use passwords across a variety of situations.

By taking a fine-tooth comb through all available features and settings, we carefully compare each product using our proprietary grading rubric. The star ratings take into account price, features, extras like cloud storage and data breach alerts, plus looks at security and privacy features like encryption levels and past data breaches. 

To learn more about how we test, check out our full testing methodology here.

4.5
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Dashlane's website
Password Manager
Dashlane
  • Easy to use and seamless
  • Paid plans come with Hotspot Shield VPN
  • Extra features boost security
  • Free plan is limited to one device and 25 passwords

Our Dashlane experience

Overall we had a positive experience with Dashlane. It was easy to download and the tutorial at the beginning took us through everything we needed to operate the password manager on a new device.

Dashlane starts out with a quick tutorial to help you get all the essential features set up.

We tested Dashlane on a Windows 11 PC with the Google Chrome browser. Because Google’s password manager isn’t safe, we figured Chrome would be a good platform to test on. Dashlane worked without issues.

Dashlane's tutorial helps you set up your first identity so you can easily fill in forms.

Dashlane is user-friendly and its guides are written in plain language so you don’t have to worry about having technical expertise to use it. Each of the features was easy to use, and we found the user interface pleasant and helpful.

When we went to websites to test the password generator, it worked well.

Dashlane's password generator goes above and beyond with extra customizations like special characters and length.

Overall, we thought Dashlane lived up to our expectations and delivered a simple but powerful password management system.

How much does Dashlane cost?

Dashlane has three tiers: Free (for one device and 25 passwords), Premium for $4.99/mo (unlimited devices and passwords), or Family for $7.49/mo (premium accounts for up to 10 users).

Here's how the features for each plan breakdown:

Plan Free Premium Family
Price Free $4.99/mo $7.49/mo
Number of users 1 1 10
Number of devices 1 Unlimited Unlimited
Number of passwords 25 Unlimited Unlimited
Password vault
Autofill
Password generator
Two-factor authentication
Dark web monitoring
VPN
Details View Plans View Plans View Plans

Although Dashlane does have a free product, its paid products come in at the higher end of password managers. It’s more expensive than 1Password and LastPass, which have premium individual plans for $2.99/mo (billed annually) and $1.50/mo (billed annually), respectively.

This isn’t unmanageable, but it’s worth noting that LastPass suffered at least two security breaches last year alone. 1Password, on the other hand, is considered one of the best password managers, so that makes Dashlane a solid middle-of-the-road product with a bit of a premium on the price tag.

Dashlane features

Dashlane isn’t shy about tooting its own horn. The password manager offers a host of features, and Dashlane is enthusiastic about its offerings. If you aren’t sure how password managers secure your data or why you should use one, look at what Dashlane provides. Until we can get passwordless authentication everywhere, a password manager is your best bet for keeping data organized and available.

Unlike many of its competitors, Dashlane offers almost all its core features with its free product. That means you can store your passwords, generate new ones, create IDs for autofill, and share passwords, all from a free product portal. The downside is that you can only do this on one device and for up to 25 passwords. If you need more coverage, you’ll need a paid plan.

Password sharing

From our testing, we found it was easy to share passwords and login details with other Dashlane users. All you need is to choose the password you want to share, and input the email address of the person you want to share it with.

Sharing a password with Dashlane

You can also choose the level of access the recipient has to the password, which includes either only being able to use the password but not see it, or being able to see it and change it.

Type of sharing permissions for Dashlane

If the recipient doesn't have a Dashlane account yet, they'll have to make one. Fortunately, this feature is available on all plans, including the free plan.

Password generator

This is the one feature that stands above the competition because of how customizable it is on both the site and while creating a password.

Not only are you able to generate a new password on the website you’re visiting, Dashlane also allows you to customize the generated password depending on the rules for the site.

Dashlane's password generator goes above and beyond with extra customizations like special characters and length.

Autofill

This feature is part of the initial tutorial. You’re prompted to create your name card with some information and then shown a way to test it. Once in your dashboard, you can go into the Personal Info section and create as many of these name cards as you like.

Dashlane allows you to create name cards that help you easily autofill forms.

Password strength report

The password health section gives a health score for all passwords in your Dashlane vault.

If Dashlane comes across a password that’s weak, has been compromised, or that you’ve reused, you’ll be alerted and prompted to change the password on the site. You can use Dashlane’s password generator to create a strong password that isn’t duplicated.

Dashlane includes a password strength and health report that flags weak and compromised passwords.

Bonus features

Dashlane has a few additional features you may find helpful. Some are included as standard and some come with paid tiers.

  • Payments: Add your credit card to quickly pay bills and easily shop online.
  • Secure Notes: Create a password-protected note.
  • Cloud storage: Upload up to 1 GB in secure files and notes for easy access, including IDs, passports, SSN, and more.
  • Dark Web Monitoring: Available with the Premium paid plan; this monitors up to five emails for leaks or stolen data.
  • VPN: Dashlane partnered with Hotspot Shield to offer a virtual private network (VPN) for its Premium plan to protect your Wi-Fi. Hotspot Shield is an American company with a limited free plan. Check out our full Hotspot Shield review for more information.

Dashlane privacy policy

Dashlane does a dance around the topic of personal privacy. In the privacy policy, it’s mentioned that hashed personal data is shared in an effort to make sure current customers don’t see Dashlane ads.

Dashlane does state it shares personal data with “affiliates” but it’s not 100% clear what that means. As far as privacy policies go, this isn’t the most egregious we’ve ever seen but it’s not the best either. When you’re giving so much information to a service provider, it should be protected, and that protection should be clearly stated.

Dashlane third-party audits

Dashlane meets the ISO 27001 security certification, which means independent auditors verified that the company's security practices meet strict international guidelines.

Dashlane also participates in a bug bounty program to help identify potential vulnerabilities before bad actors can take advantage of them.

Is Dashlane safe to use?

Your data stored in Dashlane is encrypted, and the only decryption key is your master password. Because it doesn’t store your master password, Dashlane promises your data will stay encrypted in the event there is an attack.

To date, there are no known hacks of Dashlane. Because the service uses a zero-trust model, hacking into Dashlane may be more difficult for cybercriminals. By all accounts, this means Dashlane is safe to use.

Two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is a way to secure your accounts by requiring you to verify your account on a second device. Dashlane allows you to toggle this feature on and off in the security settings.

Dashlane supports using two-factor authentication (2FA) in its app.

There’s also an option within the dashboard to add an authenticator to better secure your account. Even if you don’t update your privacy settings regularly, 2FA is a way to help strengthen your security.

Dashlane customer service

Dashlane’s customer service is extremely impersonal. There’s no phone number or phone support. There’s a help section on the main website as well as a link to the Help Center within the Dashlane main menu on the web app. Mostly it tries to lead you to help topics so you can troubleshoot items yourself.

Dashlane's customer support is mostly self-help, but there is a Contact us button at the top of the Help Center pages and a live chat.

If you absolutely must contact support, there’s a Contact us button at the top of the Help Center pages as well as a chatbot that can direct you to live chat support.

Our email support response from Dashlane was underwhelming since it pointed us back to articles in the Help Center.

We reached out with an inane question about compatibility. Almost immediately, we received an email with our ticket number and a disclaimer that customer service is busier than usual and we won’t receive a response within 24 hours. We were then offered more links to the Help Center. It’s an underwhelming feature, to say the least.

Dashlane compatibility

Dashlane works on several browsers and has mobile apps for iPhone and Android. There’s no option for a desktop app on Windows or macOS, but you can use the web-based dashboard. Below is a breakdown of compatible browsers and mobile devices.

Dashlane browser extensions:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Safari

Mobile devices:

  • Android
  • iOS

Top alternatives

Curious how Dashlane compares to other password managers on the market? Here are three more top options:


Star rating
5.0
4.6
4.5
Starting price Starts at $1.29/mo (billed every two years) Starts at $0.99/mo Starts at $1.45/mo (billed annually)
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Edge Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera
Autofill
Password sharing
Password generator
Digital legacy
Learn more Get NordPass Get Roboform Get Keeper

Dashlane FAQs


+

Is Dashlane trustworthy?

Yes, Dashlane has been certified to meet international security standards, has never been hacked, and even encourages third party testing via their bug bounty program.


+

Who owns Dashlane?

Dashlane, Inc is its own entity based out of New York.


+

Which browser works best with Dashlane?

Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari are all compatible browsers that will properly run the Dashlane extension. You can also download apps for Android and iOS.


+

What’s better than Dashlane?

Although Dashlane doesn’t have any glaring issues, 1Password has a much better privacy policy and is a little less expensive per month.

Bottom line: Is Dashlane good?

Yes, Dashlane is a good product and probably one of the best password managers out there right now. Its free offerings are more than adequate for taking care of your password management needs. The additional features in paid tiers might not be necessary for everyone, but integrating Dashlane across your devices may be a good reason to choose a paid plan.

As far as performance and usability, we had no problems. Dashlane took us through a nice tutorial and then delivered on all the promises of its features. We were especially impressed by the password generator and the ability to customize passwords. The only lackluster aspects of Dashlane were support and the privacy policy, but neither of those were deal breakers.

With all the password management options on the market, Dashlane provides extensive service for little to no cost. If you’re shopping for a password manager, you may want to consider Dashlane. At the very least, it’s worth testing it out. We think you’ll be pleased.

If you're curious how Dashlane compares to the best password managers on the market, check out our in-depth comparison articles:

4.5
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Dashlane's website
Password Manager
Dashlane
  • Easy to use and seamless
  • Paid plans come with Hotspot Shield VPN
  • Extra features boost security
  • Free plan is limited to one device and 25 passwords
Author Details
Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.
Kalleigh Lane is a passionate digital security advocate and the Lead Editor at All About Cookies. After completing her Master of Arts in English Literature, Kalleigh has gained over 5 years of editing and writing experience in the fields of cybersecurity, tech, and finance. She has been featured in major media outlets such as The Globe and Mail and CTV News, emerging as an advocate for digital security.