1Password’s 2026 price hike raised costs by up to 33%, and there’s still no free tier. Here are the best password managers that offer stronger free plans, open-source transparency, and lower prices.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in 1Password's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
The strongest free alternative to 1Password. Fully open-source with unlimited passwords and devices on the free plan. Premium adds TOTP authentication, emergency access, and encrypted file attachments for just $1.65/month.
Explore Bitwarden data →From the makers of ProtonMail. Zero-knowledge, end-to-end encrypted, and protected by Swiss privacy law. Includes email aliases, passkey support, and dark web monitoring. The free tier is unlimited with no device restrictions.
Explore Proton Pass data →A polished all-in-one security suite. Includes a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield, dark web monitoring, and phishing alerts — all bundled into the subscription. Sleek interface but no free tier since September 2025.
Explore Dashlane data →Uses XChaCha20 encryption (ahead of the industry-standard AES-256) and offers unlimited password storage even on the free plan. Premium adds breach scanning, emergency access, and passkey support at a competitive price.
Explore NordPass data →Enterprise-grade security with AES-256 and zero-knowledge architecture. Standout features include a self-destruct option after five failed logins and up to 10 GB of encrypted file storage on the Family plan. BreachWatch dark web monitoring is a paid add-on.
Explore Keeper data →Your encrypted vault stays on your devices or your own cloud storage — Enpass never stores your data on its servers. One of the few password managers offering a $99.99 lifetime license, eliminating subscription fatigue entirely.
Explore Enpass data →We found these alternatives by analyzing review patterns across dozens of password managers. Users switching from 1Password most commonly cite rising prices, lack of a free tier, and browser extension issues as their reasons for leaving.
Bitwarden is the most capable free alternative. It offers unlimited passwords across unlimited devices at no cost, with open-source code anyone can audit. Proton Pass is another strong free option with end-to-end encryption and Swiss privacy protections.
Yes — arguably more so due to its open-source transparency. Both use AES-256 encryption and zero-knowledge architecture. The key difference is that Bitwarden’s code is publicly auditable, while 1Password’s is closed-source. Both have passed independent security audits.
1Password increased individual plans by 33% (to $47.88/year) and family plans by 20% (to $71.88/year) starting March 27, 2026. The company cited infrastructure and development costs, but the hike pushed many users to explore cheaper alternatives like Bitwarden and Proton Pass.
We analyze App Store metadata, review patterns, and user migration data to surface the best alternatives objectively — no sponsored placements or affiliate rankings.
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