Dashlane Review
Premium password manager with built-in VPN and real-time dark web monitoring — polished UX, bold pricing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11 · By GBBR Editorial Team
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Rankings are never for sale.
Our Top Pick · Silver Tier
Dashlane
From $4.99/mo· Free tier available
The Bottom Line
Dashlane is the most polished password manager in terms of UI/UX, and it bundles a Hotspot Shield VPN and live dark web monitoring at every paid tier. It earns Silver because its premium features are genuinely useful, the autofill is class-leading, and the security architecture (zero-knowledge, AES-256) has never been breached. It misses Gold because it discontinued its free plan in 2022 (now free = 25 passwords, 1 device only), its per-user pricing is the most expensive in the category at $4.99/month, and the bundled VPN is Hotspot Shield's consumer-grade product rather than a first-class privacy tool.
What is Dashlane?
Dashlane was founded in 2012 in Paris, France and is now headquartered in New York. It serves over 18 million users and 20,000 businesses. Originally one of the 'big three' password managers alongside 1Password and LastPass, Dashlane differentiated by focusing on UX quality and bundling ancillary security features. In 2022, it discontinued its permanent free tier (now limited to 25 passwords on 1 device) and pivoted to a subscription-only model, which caused user backlash but strengthened its revenue base.
What does Dashlane offer?
Dashlane Free is limited to 25 passwords on 1 device — intentionally restrictive to push upgrades. Advanced ($4.99/month, billed annually) covers unlimited passwords + devices, dark web monitoring, and the Hotspot Shield VPN with unlimited data. Friends & Family ($7.49/month) covers up to 10 accounts with a family dashboard and admin tools. Business plans start at $8/user/month with SSO integration. All paid plans include a 30-day free trial.
Free
$0
/month
Advanced (individual)
$4.99
/month
Friends & Family (10)
$7.49
/month
Business (per user)
$8
/month
Is Dashlane worth the price?
$4.99/month individual — most expensive in the category; bundled VPN partially offsets the premium
1Password charges $2.99/month for a cleaner experience without VPN; NordPass charges $1.99/month. Dashlane's $4.99 price is only justified if the bundled Hotspot Shield VPN replaces a separate VPN subscription — and Hotspot Shield isn't a top-tier VPN
Acceptable value if you use the VPNHow we scored it
Overall score: 79/100
Zero-knowledge, AES-256-GCM encryption, PBKDF2 key derivation (600,000 iterations), and a clean breach history since 2012 founding
Best-in-class browser extension autofill across all major browsers; iOS, Android, Mac, Windows all supported; Chrome extension is rated among the highest in the category
The cleanest UI in the password manager category — onboarding, vault organization, password import, and daily use are all noticeably more polished than competitors
Friends & Family plan supports 10 accounts with an admin dashboard. Business plans include SSO and Active Directory integration
$4.99/month is the most expensive individual plan in the category — 67% more than 1Password ($2.99) and 150% more than NordPass ($1.99) for comparable security
Live chat on Business plans; email support for individual/family; extensive knowledge base and video walkthroughs for self-service
Why Dashlane is Silver Tier
Dashlane earns Silver for its genuinely best-in-class autofill accuracy, the most polished UI in the password manager category, and built-in dark web monitoring that actively scans breach databases. The zero-knowledge architecture and AES-256-GCM encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation are industry-standard and proven — Dashlane has never experienced a breach. It falls short of Gold because its pricing is unjustifiably high compared to equally secure alternatives, the free tier is barely functional (25 passwords, 1 device), and the bundled VPN is Hotspot Shield — not a privacy-first provider. For users who genuinely value UX polish above all and already pay for a VPN they'd cancel, Dashlane is justified. For everyone else, 1Password or NordPass delivers comparable security at lower cost.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Best autofill accuracy in the category — consistently rated highest in independent tests
- ✓Cleanest, most polished UI of any password manager
- ✓Live dark web monitoring scans breach databases and alerts you to exposed credentials in real time
- ✓Bundled Hotspot Shield VPN with unlimited data (offsetting cost vs. separate VPN subscription)
- ✓Zero-knowledge architecture with AES-256-GCM — no breach in 12+ years
- ✓Passkey support and secure notes included
Cons
- ✗Most expensive individual plan in the category at $4.99/month
- ✗Free tier is barely functional — 25 passwords, 1 device only
- ✗Bundled VPN is Hotspot Shield (consumer-grade, US-based) — not a privacy-first VPN
- ✗No lifetime or one-time purchase option — subscription-only model
- ✗Discontinued permanent free tier in 2022, causing user trust concerns
Ready to try Dashlane? Free plan available — no credit card required.
Get Dashlane — from $4.99/mo →Dashlane earns Silver for its genuinely best-in-class autofill accuracy, the most polished UI in the password manager category, and built-in dark web monitoring that actively scans breach databases. The zero-knowledge architecture and AES-256-GCM encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation are industry-standard and proven — Dashlane has never experienced a breach. It falls short of Gold because its pricing is unjustifiably high compared to equally secure alternatives, the free tier is barely functional (25 passwords, 1 device), and the bundled VPN is Hotspot Shield — not a privacy-first provider. For users who genuinely value UX polish above all and already pay for a VPN they'd cancel, Dashlane is justified. For everyone else, 1Password or NordPass delivers comparable security at lower cost.
Get Dashlane →Free tier available — no credit card required
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