Free Alternative to Dashlane

Bitwarden is the definitive Dashlane replacement for cost-conscious users. It's open-source, independently audited, and offers unlimited passwords on unlimited devices for free—something Dashlane no longer provides. The same AES-256 encryption protects your vault, and the option to self-host gives security teams complete control over their data.

Bitwarden's development is transparent, with all code available on GitHub for security researchers to inspect. The company has undergone multiple third-party security audits by firms like Cure53, and publishes detailed security white papers explaining their end-to-end encryption implementation. For teams and families, Bitwarden Organizations provides free password sharing for up to two users, and the paid family plan costs $40/year for six users—less than half of Dashlane's equivalent offering. The browser extensions support all major browsers with consistent functionality, and the mobile apps integrate seamlessly with iOS and Android system autofill, making password entry completely automatic.

KeePassXC takes a fundamentally different approach—your passwords never leave your device unless you explicitly sync them. This eliminates cloud breach risk entirely. It uses the same AES-256 encryption as Dashlane, plus Argon2 key derivation, and includes a built-in TOTP authenticator that Dashlane charges extra for.

The database format is compatible with the entire KeePass ecosystem, meaning you can use different clients on different platforms while maintaining the same encrypted database file. This approach gives you complete control: you decide where to store your database (local disk, USB drive, or cloud storage like iCloud or Dropbox), how to back it up, and who can access it. The software has no account system, no servers to trust, and no company that could be compelled to hand over data.

For compliance-heavy industries or security-paranoid users, this architecture is unmatched. The auto-type feature can fill credentials even in applications that don't support browser extensions, and the password generator supports custom character sets and rules for websites with unusual password requirements.

Proton Pass brings the same privacy-first philosophy that made ProtonMail famous to password management. End-to-end encrypted with zero-knowledge architecture, protected by Swiss privacy laws. The free tier includes unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, and hide-my-email aliases—features Dashlane reserves for paying customers.

Proton's infrastructure is based in Switzerland, which has some of the world's strongest privacy laws and is outside the jurisdiction of US and EU data collection programs. The company has a proven track record of resisting government surveillance requests and has built a full ecosystem of privacy tools including encrypted email, VPN, calendar, and cloud storage—all designed to work together seamlessly. Proton Pass integrates with this ecosystem, allowing you to use a single account for all services.

The hide-my-email feature generates unique email aliases for each service you sign up for, preventing tracking and reducing spam. The password manager uses the same cryptographic libraries and zero-knowledge architecture as ProtonMail, which has been battle-tested by journalists, activists, and security professionals for over a decade.

Apple's built-in password manager has evolved from a simple keychain to a full-featured solution. In macOS Sequoia and later, it has its own dedicated app with breach detection, password health monitoring, and passkey support. If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, it's the zero-configuration option that works invisibly.

The Passwords app provides a unified interface for managing credentials across all your Apple devices, with instant iCloud sync that happens automatically in the background. Security recommendations highlight weak, reused, or compromised passwords, and the system integrates with Safari's AutoFill to provide seamless login experiences without any setup. For families, iOS 17 and later support password sharing groups, where you can create shared password collections for household accounts, streaming services, or family subscriptions.

The passkey implementation is particularly strong, with Apple being one of the early adopters and strongest advocates for the FIDO2 standard. Passkeys stored in iCloud Keychain work across all your Apple devices and sync instantly, providing a phishing-resistant authentication method that's more secure than even the strongest passwords.

NordPass comes from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. It uses XChaCha20 encryption (considered stronger than AES by some cryptographers) and offers a polished, Dashlane-like experience. The free tier includes unlimited passwords, though you're limited to one active device session at a time.

Nord Security has built a reputation for user-friendly security products, and NordPass continues that tradition with an interface that feels modern and approachable without sacrificing functionality. The XChaCha20 encryption algorithm is not only faster on mobile devices but also arguably more future-proof than AES-256, with resistance to quantum computing attacks being a key design consideration. NordPass underwent independent security audits by Cure53, a respected cybersecurity firm, and the results are publicly available on their website.

The password health scanner continuously monitors your vault for weak, reused, or old passwords, providing actionable recommendations for improving your security posture. The data breach scanner checks your email addresses against known breaches and alerts you if your credentials have been compromised, giving you early warning to change passwords before accounts are accessed.

While 1Password doesn't offer a traditional free plan, its 14-day trial provides full access to what many consider the best password manager on the market. The security model is regarded as one of the safest among cloud-based password managers, using a unique Secret Key in addition to your master password for encryption. This dual-secret architecture means that even if 1Password's servers were compromised, your data would remain encrypted and inaccessible.

The interface is polished and intuitive, with features like Travel Mode that temporarily removes sensitive vaults from your devices when crossing borders, and Watchtower that monitors for breached passwords, vulnerable websites, and expiring items. 1Password integrates deeply with macOS, offering Touch ID unlock, Safari extension integration, and even a command-line tool for developers who need to access secrets in scripts and deployment pipelines. For families, the shared vaults feature allows seamless password sharing with different permission levels, and the Family Organizer role can help family members who forget their master passwords. At $2.99/month for individuals or $4.99/month for families (up to 5 users), it's more affordable than Dashlane while offering comparable or superior features.

Strongbox is a native Mac and iOS application that uses the KeePass database format, combining the security benefits of KeePass with a polished Apple-native interface. Unlike KeePassXC which aims for cross-platform consistency, Strongbox is designed specifically for Apple platforms and follows Apple's Human Interface Guidelines. It supports all KeePass features including TOTP codes, password generation, and hardware key authentication, while adding Mac-specific conveniences like Shortcuts integration, Siri support, and seamless iCloud Keychain integration for auto-fill.

The database remains fully compatible with KeePassXC and other KeePass-compatible apps, so you can use Strongbox on Apple devices and KeePassXC on Windows or Linux while sharing the same encrypted database file. The app supports both KeePass 1.x (KDB) and KeePass 2.x (KDBX) formats, with full support for attachments, custom fields, and advanced features like key files and challenge-response authentication with YubiKey. For iOS users, Strongbox is arguably the best KeePass client available, with features like Face ID unlock, offline mode, and AutoFill integration that makes password entry as seamless as iCloud Keychain.

Buttercup is an open-source password manager that stands out for its flexible storage architecture. Unlike most password managers that lock you into a specific cloud service, Buttercup lets you store your encrypted vault in Dropbox, Google Drive, WebDAV servers, or even as a local file. The encryption uses AES-256 with GCM mode, and the entire codebase is open-source and available on GitHub for inspection.

Buttercup uses a unique archive format that supports advanced features like groups, fields, and metadata while remaining human-readable when decrypted. This makes it easier for developers to write scripts and tools that interact with password data. The browser extensions support all major browsers and include features like form detection, auto-fill, and password generation.

For developers, Buttercup offers a JavaScript API that can be integrated into custom applications, and the vault format is documented, allowing you to build your own clients or migration tools. The project is actively maintained by a community of developers and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android, making it a true cross-platform solution that doesn't sacrifice security for convenience.

Enpass takes a hybrid approach to password management: your data is stored locally and encrypted on your device, but you can sync it across devices using your own cloud storage (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or WebDAV). This gives you the security benefits of local storage while maintaining the convenience of cloud sync. The free desktop version has no limitations—unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, all features unlocked.

Mobile apps are free to try but require a one-time purchase of $9.99 for full functionality. Enpass uses open-source encryption libraries (SQLCipher with AES-256) and stores data in an encrypted vault that only you can unlock. The interface is modern and customizable, with themes, icon packs, and layout options.

Features include password auditing, breach monitoring via HaveIBeenPwned integration, and a built-in TOTP authenticator. For families and teams, Enpass offers vaults with different security levels, allowing you to keep personal and work passwords separate. The Windows Hello and Touch ID integration provides quick biometric access, and the browser extensions include advanced features like multiple identities, custom fields, and secure password sharing.

Passbolt is designed specifically for teams and organizations that need to share passwords securely. Unlike consumer-focused password managers, Passbolt emphasizes collaboration, with features like granular sharing permissions, user groups, and audit logs. It's fully open-source and can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, giving you complete control over your password data.

The encryption uses OpenPGP (the same standard used by ProtonMail and GPG), with each user having their own PGP key pair. Passwords are encrypted client-side before being sent to the server, and the server never has access to unencrypted data. The web interface is clean and modern, with features like password sharing workflows, user onboarding tools, and compliance reporting.

For developers and DevOps teams, Passbolt offers a REST API and command-line tools for integrating password management into CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code workflows. The browser extension supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, with features like auto-fill, password generation, and multi-factor authentication. While the cloud-hosted version costs $4/user/month, the self-hosted community edition is completely free with unlimited users, making it an excellent choice for teams that want enterprise-grade password management without enterprise pricing.