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Cybersecurity · head to head

Bitwarden vs Dashlane

Bitwarden logo

Bitwarden

Cybersecurity

Open source password management for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dashlane logo

Dashlane

Technology

Password management made easy for businesses

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bitwarden has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bitwarden the integrated TOTP authenticator, encrypted file attachments, vault health reports and Emergency Access are all withheld from the free plan and need Premium at $1.65 per month; Dashlane highest pricing among major password managers at $60/year with no monthly subscription option
  • They diverge on capability: Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Dashlane covers Password manager.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitwarden and Dashlane actually diverge.

Attributes where Bitwarden and Dashlane differ
AttributeBitwardenDashlane
Starting priceFree$4.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, CliWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser Extensions
CategoryCybersecurityTechnology
Founded20162009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bitwarden

  • Unlimited password storage
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Secure password sharing
  • Encrypted file attachments
  • Vault health reports
  • Emergency access
  • YubiKey
  • FIDO2

Only in Dashlane

  • Password manager
  • Digital wallet
  • Dark web monitoring
  • VPN for WiFi protection
  • Secure sharing
  • Security dashboard
  • Slack
  • Biometric unlock

Both cover

  • Password generator
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Active Directory
  • Azure AD
  • Okta
  • OneLogin
  • Google Workspace
  • Duo
  • AES-256
  • Zero-knowledge

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bitwarden

  • Personal password managementnot Dashlane
  • Team credential sharingnot Dashlane
  • Enterprise securitynot Dashlane
  • Compliance requirements
  • Developer secrets managementnot Dashlane

Dashlane

  • Password managementnot Bitwarden
  • Identity protectionnot Bitwarden
  • Secure credential sharingnot Bitwarden
  • Compliance requirements
  • VPN protectionnot Bitwarden

Both are used for compliance requirements, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bitwarden

  • The integrated TOTP authenticator, encrypted file attachments, vault health reports and Emergency Access are all withheld from the free plan and need Premium at $1.65 per month
  • Free accounts can share vault items with one other Bitwarden user and no more
  • File storage is capped at 5 GB on Premium and 5 GB personal plus 5 GB family on the Families plan
  • Two-step login accepts up to 10 hardware security keys per account
  • The Families plan is capped at 6 people, so a seventh member means moving to a Teams subscription at $4 per user per month

Dashlane

  • Highest pricing among major password managers at $60/year with no monthly subscription option
  • Restricted free tier with only 25 passwords on single device compared to Bitwarden's unlimited free tier
  • No traditional desktop application, users must rely on browser extension or mobile apps
  • Closed-source code prevents independent security verification unlike open-source competitors
  • Limited 2FA options supporting only authenticator apps, not biometric or SMS authentication

Pricing, plan by plan

Bitwarden

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic password management
    • Zero-knowledge encryption
    • Advanced two-step login
  • Premium$1.65/month
    • Integrated authenticator
    • File attachments
    • Emergency access
  • Premium$19.8/year
  • Families$3.99/month
    • Up to 6 premium accounts
    • Unlimited sharing and collections
    • Organization storage included

Dashlane

$4.99/month
  • Premium$4.99/month
    • Secure vault
    • Password generation

Which should you pick?

Choose Bitwarden if

  • You need unlimited password storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli.
  • You also want cross-platform sync.
Bitwarden review

Choose Dashlane if

  • You need password manager.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser Extensions.
  • You also want digital wallet.
Dashlane review

Questions people ask

Is Bitwarden or Dashlane better?
Neither clearly leads. Bitwarden starts at Free and Dashlane at $4.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bitwarden or Dashlane?
Bitwarden has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bitwarden and $4.99/month for Dashlane.
Does Bitwarden or Dashlane run on more platforms?
Bitwarden runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli. Dashlane runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser Extensions.
Can I use Bitwarden for free?
Yes. Bitwarden has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Dashlane starts at $4.99/month.
What is Bitwarden best used for?
Bitwarden is most often used for personal password management, team credential sharing, enterprise security, compliance requirements. Of those, personal password management and team credential sharing are not what Dashlane is typically brought in for.
What can Bitwarden do that Dashlane cannot?
Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Cross-platform sync, Secure password sharing, Encrypted file attachments. Dashlane covers Password manager, Digital wallet, Dark web monitoring, VPN for WiFi protection. Both handle Password generator, Two-factor authentication, Active Directory, Azure AD.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bitwarden: Does Bitwarden have a free plan?

Yes, Bitwarden offers a free tier with basic password management, zero-knowledge encryption, advanced two-step login, and unlimited devices across browser, mobile, and desktop apps.

Source
Dashlane: What happened to Dashlane's free plan?

Dashlane discontinued its free plan in September 2025. The entry-level plan now starts at $4.99/month (billed annually) for Premium, or businesses can use a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the service.

Source
Bitwarden: How much does Bitwarden Premium cost?

Bitwarden Premium costs $1.65 per month billed annually at $19.80 per year, including integrated authenticator, file attachments, emergency access, and security reports.

Source
Dashlane: What platforms does Dashlane support?

Dashlane is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chromebook. Browser extensions work with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Brave. However, Dashlane no longer has a traditional desktop application.

Source
Bitwarden: What is the difference between Bitwarden Teams and Enterprise?

Teams plan at $4 per user per month (annual billing) includes centralized ownership and secure credential sharing. Enterprise at $6 per user per month adds granular access control, passwordless SSO, account recovery, self-hosting, and complimentary Families plans for all users.

Source
Dashlane: Does Dashlane support SSO integration?

Yes, Dashlane integrates with SAML 2.0 Identity Providers for SSO, plus SCIM for user provisioning and deprovisioning. However, the Safari browser extension does not support self-hosted SSO due to Apple limitations.

Source
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