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Technology · head to head

Dashlane vs McAfee Total Protection

Dashlane logo

Dashlane

Technology

Password management made easy for businesses

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Security & Cybersecurity

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dashlane highest pricing among major password managers at $60/year with no monthly subscription option; McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • They diverge on capability: Dashlane covers Digital wallet, McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dashlane and McAfee Total Protection actually diverge.

Attributes where Dashlane and McAfee Total Protection differ
AttributeDashlaneMcAfee Total Protection
Starting price$4.99/month$29.99/year
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser ExtensionsWindows, macOS, iOS, Android
CategoryTechnologySecurity & Cybersecurity
Founded20091987

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), 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 Dashlane

  • Digital wallet
  • Dark web monitoring
  • VPN for WiFi protection
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Password generator
  • Secure sharing
  • Security dashboard
  • Active Directory

Only in McAfee Total Protection

  • Real-time antivirus
  • Firewall
  • Safe browsing
  • Secure VPN
  • Identity monitoring
  • Protection Score
  • Parental controls
  • Windows Security

Both cover

  • Password manager

What people use each for

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

Dashlane

  • Password managementnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Identity protectionnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Secure credential sharingnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Compliance requirementsnot McAfee Total Protection
  • VPN protectionnot McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Dashlane
  • Internet Securitynot Dashlane
  • Identity Protectionnot Dashlane

Where each one falls short

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

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

McAfee Total Protection

  • Significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • Customer support responsiveness issues reported as reason for switching
  • Renewal billing can be aggressive with auto-renewal defaults

Pricing, plan by plan

Dashlane

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

McAfee Total Protection

$29.99/year
  • Basic$29.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • 1 device
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • 5 devices
  • Premium$49.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • VPN
  • Advanced$74.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • VPN

Which should you pick?

Choose Dashlane if

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

Choose McAfee Total Protection if

  • You need real-time antivirus.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want firewall.
McAfee Total Protection review

Questions people ask

Is Dashlane or McAfee Total Protection better?
Neither clearly leads. Dashlane starts at $4.99/month and McAfee Total Protection at $29.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dashlane or McAfee Total Protection?
Dashlane starts at $4.99/month and McAfee Total Protection at $29.99/year.
Does Dashlane or McAfee Total Protection run on more platforms?
Dashlane runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser Extensions. McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
What is Dashlane best used for?
Dashlane is most often used for password management, identity protection, secure credential sharing, compliance requirements. Of those, password management and identity protection are not what McAfee Total Protection is typically brought in for.
What can Dashlane do that McAfee Total Protection cannot?
Dashlane covers Digital wallet, Dark web monitoring, VPN for WiFi protection, Two-factor authentication. McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Secure VPN. Both handle Password manager.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
McAfee Total Protection: How much does McAfee Total Protection cost?

McAfee Total Protection introductory pricing ranges from $29.99/year (Basic) to $74.99/year (Advanced), but renewal costs jump to $84.99/year after the first year.

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
McAfee Total Protection: What is the trial period for McAfee Total Protection?

McAfee offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service risk-free for two months.

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
McAfee Total Protection: How many devices can I protect with one McAfee Total Protection subscription?

Device coverage varies by plan: Basic covers 1 device, while other plans protect 5 to unlimited devices depending on the tier selected.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: Does McAfee Total Protection include VPN?

VPN is included in higher-tier McAfee plans if you opt for auto-renewal.

Source
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