1Password Review 2023: Is This the Right Password Manager for You?

One password to rule them all. Sounds a little bit like Lord of the Rings, doesn't it? In the digital realm, you won't have to worry about Orcs, Sauron, or Gollum, but criminals who are just as aggressive and dangerous. To protect against these threats, 1Password secures and encrypts all of your passwords and sensitive data.

All you have to do is remember a single master password. In this review, we'll let you know whether 1Password lives up to its name, or if you'd better search for safety elsewhere.

1Password* is a password manager developed by AgileBits that was originally available only for macOS but is now offered for Windows, iOS, and Android. Unlike most of its competitors, there's no free version of 1Password, which is sure to frighten away some potential users. However, there is a two-week trial, allowing anyone to test the program out.

We reviewed the program on Windows and Android.

1Password's registration process is well-thought-out, and each step is explained along the way. First, you'll need to craft a master password for your account. Unfortunately, 1Password doesn't set any minimum requirements for this. We recommend choosing one that you can remember easily, but would be difficult for others to crack.

Immediately after registration, we learned that 1Password's name isn't too accurate. This is because you'll actually need to remember two passwords, the other being the so-called "Secret Key". This allows you to enable 1Password on other devices and is part of the "Emergency Kit". The "Secret Key" also provides access to your passwords on other devices. Follow the service's instructions and don't lose the "Secret Key".

After this, you'll be taken to 1Password's web dashboard, and the program will recommend that you install the desktop version and mobile app. To do this, you'll need both your master password and the "Secret Key". Registering for the smartphone app is easier since all that's needed is your "Emergency Kit" QR code.

After you've installed any applications that you're interested in, it's time to start configuring the program. If you're switching from another password manager to 1Password, you can import all of your saved data sets. This can only be done in the web dashboard since the app just supports 1Password file imports.

1Password supports imports from some of the more popular solutions like Dashlane and LastPass, as well as CSV files. When importing a LastPass CSV file we didn't have any issues: Categories we had set became tags and all information wound up where it was supposed to.

As mentioned above, the browser extension needs to be installed separately. In the past, 1Password offered two of these: A rather simple browser extension, and an extension known as 1Password X, which operated independently of the desktop version. We found this to be unnecessarily complicated, and welcome the simplification to a single browser extension that includes all of 1Password X's features.

User interface

Like most password managers, 1Password is divided has a desktop app and a browser extension. Since the web and desktop apps are nearly identical, we've concentrated on the latter.

Desktop app

The desktop app seems to focus on showing off 1Password's features. As a result, the column-based interface might cram your screen. On the other hand, if you like having a wide selection of features and tools at your fingertips, 1Password doesn't disappoint.

You can create as many vaults as you like, and secure each with a separate password. This means that users can create multiple profiles for all sorts of purposes.

Click on the "Plus" sign to add a new entry to your vault. You'll likely use this most to save login data and passwords, however, it also comes in handy for protecting your payment methods, IDs, software licenses, and WiFi router information. You can even include sensitive pictures, like copies of your driver's license or passport. Every entry can be tagged and assigned a customizable icon. It's also possible to create custom fields.

In the upper menu bar, you can access settings, check for updates, or customize the app's appearance.

Browser extension

The browser extension should be seen as the agile long arm of the desktop version. This is because it provides easy access to important information stored in your vault(s). With that said, for most adjustments or modifications, the extension will forward you to the desktop version. By clicking on suggestions, you can view data sets for the website you're currently visiting, as well as banking information and accounts that you've saved.

Last, but not least, this is also where you'll find the password generator, which is useful for creating secure passwords.

1Password's user interface is a bit too cluttered for our tastes, and it takes somewhat longer to discover all of the features the program offers. Other password managers have done a better job of combining features and ease of use.. All the same, we felt well taken care of by 1Password's applications.

1Password comes with plenty of features, offering all of the basics along with a number of nice surprises.

Watchtower

This serves as your security dashboard, providing a comprehensive overview of how safe your passwords are as well as alerting you to any potential dangers or problems. "Watchtower" marks re-used and weak passwords, as well as those that have been compromised in data leaks.

You won't find a handy password-changing tool like Dashlane offers though. This means that you'll need to manually change compromised passwords. The notification feature conveniently helps to stay on top of expiring documents like passports or driving licenses.

Password generator

Like most password managers, 1Password comes with a password generator. However, 1Password's solution is unique because you can adjust minimum requirements and even generate passphrases. For now, this feature is limited to English words.

Reliable autofill

One of the most important aspects of any password manager is its autofill, and more specifically, how reliable it is. This is responsible for automatically supplying login credentials or other stored information to the appropriate fields on websites. Whenever you visit a website where you've stored a data set, after clicking on the input field, the 1Password symbol should appear. Click on this, and the necessary information should be automatically input.

During our test, this worked well, even on websites that have a multi-page or pop-up login process. New registrations are automatically stored, and if needed, you can directly generate a secure password without leaving your browser.

All in all, 1Password's autofill is very reliable.

Travel Mode

In case you'd like to give your accounts some extra security when traveling for work or pleasure, you can easily configure which vaults are available on your devices in "Travel Mode".

Password sharing is possible with 1Password, but only for Family or Business subscribers. Individual subscribers cannot share data sets or vaults with other 1Password users, which is disappointing.

1Password serves plenty of useful features, far surpassing what its competitors bring to the table. An extensive security center, excellent autofill, plenty of highly customizable data set categories, and extras like "Travel Mode" all make 1Password one of the most comprehensive solutions on the market. The only sore spot is the lack of password sharing for lower-priced subscribers.

Like most password managers, 1Password uses AES 256 encryption, which is highly secure. The developers embrace the zero-knowledge proof, meaning that your password isn't stored anywhere and only you know it. There aren't any account/password recovery options.

1Password offers users the ability to add two-factor authentication to their logins, which makes them even safer. The service is compatible with common apps like Google Authenticator and Authy.

Another area where 1Password stands out is its "Secret Key". This 128-bit key is generated locally and not stored by 1Password. You'll need it for logins on new devices, but be careful: If you lose it, it cannot be recovered and any data that it protects will be lost.

1Password also allows users to choose where they want their data stored, namely, on servers hosted in the US, Canada, or Europe.

The 1Password app is available for Android and iOS. Both are intuitive and offer excellent autofill, just like their desktop counterpart. 1Password's app also comes with an integrated browser, which you can use to open websites automatically with your login credentials. Autofill also works with other browsers and even applications.

Data sets are clearly arranged in the app, and sortable by categories and tags. Favorites are listed separately, which makes it easy to access the most important entries whenever you need them.

Several features from the desktop version, such as "Watchtower", are also included in the smartphone version.

Overall, we liked the mobile app quite a bit: During our last review, features like "Watchtower" were unavailable in the mobile version, and it wasn't possible to create new data sets. Thankfully they've been added since then.

1Password doesn't offer hotline support, and only Business subscribers can use its live chat. If you have a pressing question, you'll need to be patient and wait for an email response. Alternatively, you can try your luck on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Despite support channels being few and far between, we did receive an answer within a few hours. If user and customer reviews are to be believed, this appears to be the rule rather than the exception.

Static support is also good, with plenty of articles and guides offered for DIY types.

For private users, 1Password offers two subscriptions: Individual and Families. The second is for up to five users.

There are also business rates, whereby 1Password differentiates between smaller groups (Teams and Business) and larger ones (Enterprise). The Business package charges a flat fee per user, whereas Teams is for up to 10 users. An Enterprise subscription is tailored to the customer's needs.

Below, we've included a summary of current prices:

All subscriptions apart from Enterprise packages can be tried for 14 days at no charge. However, the developer does not offer a money-back guarantee.

1Password is a powerful password manager that can do much more than the bare minimum. Subscribers benefit from a highly secure app that's packed with features, especially thanks to "Travel Mode" and the "Security Key".

Unfortunately, there's no free version. Beyond that, its applications might appear too crowded for some users, which makes it difficult to find the features needed. Other password managers do a better job of balancing these and ease of use. Still, 1Password is one of the best password-managing programs on the market.

User reviews for 1Password are consistently positive, with the service's helpful customer support often coming in for special praise. The score we've created below shows how well 1Password does on reputable review portals:

1Password is a premium password manager that charges users for the features it offers. If you don't want to pay and you're okay with a limitation or two, try some of the freemium solutions like NordPass or Bitwarden. Neither limits how many data sets can be saved or the number of devices that can be synced with.

Below, you can find more of the best alternatives to 1Password: