Cyber threats are evolving alarmingly, and securing your family’s online presence is more critical than ever.
Statistics show over 80% of confirmed data breaches are linked to stolen, weak, or reused passwords.
So, choosing the right password manager is not just about convenience—it’s about security. Your choice will significantly impact your family’s online safety.
Two of the most reputable options in 2024 are Dashlane and Proton Pass. Both are designed to simplify the complexities of password management while offering top-tier security features. But which one is right for your family’s needs?
At Batten Safe, we help you navigate these options, empowering you to make the best choice for keeping your family secure in today’s digital world.
Contents
- Dashlane vs. Proton Pass at a Glance
- Proton Pass Overview
- Dashlane Overview
- Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Security and Encryption
- Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Password Sharing
- Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Autofill and Auto-Login
- Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Pricing and Value
- Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Which Should You Choose?
- Conclusion: Dashlane vs. Proton Pass
- Get Started with Dashlane
Dashlane vs. Proton Pass at a Glance
Feature | Dashlane | Proton Pass |
User Experience | Intuitive interface with guided setup for new users. Simplifies complex password management tasks. | Clean, streamlined interface focusing on ease of use for individuals and families. |
Security & Encryption | Uses AES-256 bit encryption; offers two-factor authentication (2FA) and dark web monitoring. | Employs end-to-end encryption with secure Swiss data centers; offers 2FA. |
Storage Options | Secure storage for passwords, notes, and personal documents. Offers a digital wallet for payment information. | Provides encrypted email and file storage in addition to password management. |
Device Compatibility | Available on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows. Offers browser extensions for major browsers. | Supports multiple devices and platforms, including a secure VPN option for device protection. |
Customer Support | 24/7 support via email, live chat, and a comprehensive help center. Provides resources for both personal and business users. | 24/7 access to support through email and a detailed knowledge base. Strong focus on privacy education for users. |
Unique Features | Automatic password changer and secure password sharing with emergency access. | Integrates with Proton’s secure email, calendar, and file storage services for a comprehensive security suite. |
Pricing | Offers a free version with limited features; premium plans available for advanced needs. | Subscription-based with different tiers for personal and business use. Includes access to other Proton services. |
Each password manager has strengths, so choosing between Dashlane and Proton Pass is a matter of aligning features with your family’s specific security needs.
Proton Pass Overview
Proton Pass is a secure, open-source password manager designed to protect your online identity.
It employs end-to-end encryption using 256-bit AES-GCM, ensuring that all user data, including usernames and passwords, is securely stored.
The service also includes features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and the Proton Sentinel, which helps prevent unauthorized access even if the password is compromised.
With Proton Pass, you can generate strong passwords, autofill forms, and securely share login information with others.
You can also generate email aliases through ProtonMail, enhancing privacy when signing up for online services.
Proton Pass Core Features
- End-to-end encryption
- Secure password sharing
- Autofill and auto-login
- Cross-platform availability
1. End-to-End Encryption
Proton Pass leverages the same battle-tested, zero-knowledge encryption used in other Proton services.
This means your data, including passwords, usernames, web addresses, and notes, is encrypted locally on the user’s device before transmitting it to Proton servers. So, Proton never has access to unencrypted user data.
Your data remains private and secure, protected by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws in Switzerland.
Proton Pass utilizes 256-bit AES-GCM encryption, a widely recognized standard for securing sensitive information. This level of encryption provides strong protection against unauthorized access.
As an open-source product, Proton Pass allows users and security experts to review its code, enhancing trust and accountability in its security practices.
2. Secure Password Sharing
Proton Pass recently introduced a new feature called Secure Links that allows you to securely share passwords and other sensitive information with anyone, even if they don’t use Proton Pass.
Here is how Secure Links work:
- Unique expirable links: You can create unique links for sharing individual passwords or files that expire after a certain number of views or a specified time period (between 1 hour and 1 month).
- Non-Proton user sharing: Recipients don’t need a Proton Pass account to access shared items via the secure link.
- Revocable links: The sender can revoke shared links anytime from their Proton Pass dashboard.
- Secure sharing: Secure Links preserve Proton Pass’s end-to-end encryption, ensuring that shared data remains protected even in transit.
- Automatic updates: If a password is changed, existing shared links are automatically updated so recipients always have access to the latest credentials
Additionally, Proton’s servers do not see the full URL of shared links, preventing them from accessing the shared passwords. As the sender, you can also see how many times your shared link has been viewed.
3. Autofill and Auto-login
Proton Pass streamlines your online experience with autofill and auto-login features.
When you visit a website or app for which you have stored login information, Proton Pass will automatically fill in your username and password.
This saves you time and ensures you use each account’s correct, secure credentials.
Proton Pass also includes an integrated two-factor authentication (2FA) tool. It can store your 2FA codes and automatically display and fill them when needed. This added layer of security helps protect your accounts from unauthorized access.
With autofill and auto-login, you can navigate the web quickly and securely without sacrificing convenience.
4. Cross-Platform Availability
Proton Pass is available as a standalone application for major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The Linux version supports all Debian and Red Hat-based distributions, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS.
Users can download Proton Pass on Android and iOS devices, providing seamless access to password management on smartphones and tablets.
Proton Pass also offers browser extensions for popular web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge. These extensions allow you to autofill passwords and manage credentials directly from your browsers.
Proton Pass Pricing
- Free Forever: This plan includes core features like unlimited logins and notes, unlimited devices, and sharing of 2 secure vaults.
- Proton Plus: $1.99 per month, billed annually. With this plan, you get unlimited protection for logins and credit cards, dark web monitoring and Proton Sentinel, and an integrated 2FA authenticator.
- Proton Unlimited: $9.99 per month, billed annually. This plan gives you all premium Proton services in one easy subscription.
Proton Pass also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Positives of Proton Pass
- Open-source and audited: Proton Pass’s open-source code has been independently audited, ensuring transparency and security.
- Comprehensive security suite: Proton Pass integrates seamlessly with Proton’s other privacy-focused services, like Proton Mail and Proton Drive.
- Easy to use: Despite its advanced security features, Proton Pass remains intuitive and user-friendly for all skill levels.
- Strong privacy protections: Proton Pass stores data in Switzerland, ensuring strict privacy laws protect your information.
What Could Be Better
- Limited free version: While Proton Pass offers a free plan, some advanced features are only available with paid subscriptions.
- Integration with other services: Users desire better integration with other services and tools, such as more comprehensive identity management features. Developing these integrations could broaden Proton Pass’s appeal and make it more versatile as a password manager.
At Batten Safe, we believe Proton Pass is an excellent choice for individuals and families seeking a secure, privacy-focused password manager.
Its end-to-end encryption, secure sharing options, and seamless autofill make it a strong contender in the market.
However, Dashlane also offers a compelling set of features, which we’ll explore in the next section.
Dashlane Overview
Dashlane is a popular password manager that provides a secure way to store and manage passwords, personal information, and payment details across various devices and platforms.
Its built-in password generator creates strong, unique passwords for each account, reducing the risk of password reuse and making it easier to maintain good password hygiene.
Dashlane also scans the dark web for personal information and alerts you immediately if any of your data is found in compromised databases.
This password manager protects your data using AES-256 encryption, one of the most secure encryption methods available. This ensures that even if your information is intercepted, it remains unreadable to unauthorized users.
Additionally, Dashlane follows a zero-knowledge protocol, meaning that even the company cannot access your passwords or personal data.
Dashlane Core Features
- Password management
- Autofill and auto-login
- Security alerts and dark web monitoring
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
1. Password Management
Dashlane securely stores all your passwords in an encrypted vault, which you can access from any device using your master password.
The vault is protected by AES-256 encryption, ensuring that your data remains private and secure.
The password generator helps you create strong, unique passwords for each account, reducing the risk of password reuse and potential data breaches. Dashlane also offers a password health score, which analyzes the strength and uniqueness of your passwords and provides recommendations for improvement.
2. Autofill and Auto-Login
Dashlane’s autofill feature streamlines your online experience by automatically filling in your login credentials, personal information, and payment details on websites and apps. This saves you time and ensures you use the correct information for each account.
It automatically detects website login fields and prompts you to autofill your credentials. Click on the field to see the Dashlane Autofill pop-up, which displays saved logins and other relevant information.
You can also customize which information Dashlane autofills. For example, if a form has multiple fields (like phone numbers or email addresses), you can select the type of information you want to autofill from the Dashlane menu.
3. Security Alerts and Dark Web Monitoring
Dashlane’s security dashboard provides an overview of your online security, including your password health score, two-factor authentication status, and any security alerts.
The app continuously monitors your accounts for potential security breaches and notifies you if any of your information is found on the dark web.
If a breach is detected, Dashlane guides you through changing your affected passwords and securing your accounts. The app also offers personalized security recommendations based on your online habits, helping you maintain a strong security posture.
4. Single Sign-On (SSO)
For business users, Dashlane offers a Confidential SSO feature that simplifies employee logins for work applications. The feature integrates with various enterprise systems for streamlined access.
Dashlane’s SSO solution integrates with several well-known SAML 2.0 identity providers, including Okta, Azure, and Google Workspace.
This allows organizations to implement a secure and efficient employee login process.
For organizations with specific needs, Dashlane provides the option to implement a self-hosted SSO, giving businesses more control over their authentication processes.
By minimizing the number of passwords employees need to remember and manage, SSO reduces the risk of password-related security breaches, a common vulnerability in organizations.
Dashlane Pricing
Dashlane offers flexible pricing plans tailored to meet the needs of both individuals and businesses. It offers two main plans: Personal and Business.
Business Plans
- Standard Plan: $20 monthly for 10 employees (billed annually). Designed for small businesses, the Standard plan offers essential credential management at an affordable rate. Features include coverage for 10 employees, unlimited passwords, passkeys, and payments, password Health score to monitor password strength, basic activity logs to track account changes, and admin-assisted account recovery.
- Business Plan: $8 per seat/month (billed annually). The Business plan offers comprehensive credential management with additional controls and protections for growing businesses that require more advanced security and management capabilities. Features include everything in the Standard plan and unlimited employees, allowing for seamless scaling, granular sharing controls for better data security, Single sign-on (SSO) integration for streamlined access, SCIM provisioning for automated user management, and SIEM integration for advanced security monitoring.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing (contact sales for details). Dashlane offers a customizable enterprise plan for large organizations with complex needs. This plan is designed to support extensive credential management and robust scalability. It includes everything in the Business plan, customized credential management solutions tailored to your organization, and robust scalability to support large enterprises with diverse security needs.
Personal Plans
Free Plan: This is for individuals who need basic password management.
- Price: $0 (no credit card required)
- Features:
- Secure password management on one device
- Up to 25 passwords
- Secure sharing for passwords
Premium Plan: This plan offers enhanced security features, including VPN protection and dark web monitoring, making it a strong choice for individuals who want comprehensive protection.
- Price: $4.99 per month (billed annually)
- Features:
- Unlimited devices for seamless access across all your gadgets
- Unlimited passwords and passkeys
- Secure sharing for sensitive information
- Dark Web Monitoring to keep an eye on compromised credentials
- VPN for Wi-Fi protection, ensuring your online activities remain private
- Real-time phishing alerts to guard against malicious attacks
- Passwordless login (currently available for new users only).
Friends & Family Plan: The Friends & Family plan is designed for those who want to protect their entire household with one affordable subscription. It offers all the benefits of the Premium plan, with additional perks for family members.
- Price: $7.49 per month for 10 members (billed annually)
- Features:
- Everything included in the Premium plan for the admin
- All benefits except VPN for the plan members
Positives of Dashlane
- Ease of use: Dashlane’s intuitive interface makes it easy for users of all skill levels to manage their passwords and personal information.
- Comprehensive features: With password management, autofill, security alerts, and dark web monitoring, Dashlane offers a complete suite of tools to protect your online identity.
- Cross-platform compatibility: Dashlane is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, allowing you to access your data seamlessly across all your devices.
- Business solutions: Dashlane offers tailored business plans, with features like single sign-on (SSO) integration and an admin console for easy user management.
What Could Be Better
- Limited free plan: Dashlane’s free plan is limited compared to some competitors, with fewer features and device syncing restrictions.
- Higher pricing: Dashlane’s paid plans are more expensive than those of other password managers on the market.
- No local data storage: Dashlane stores all user data on its servers, which may concern users who prefer local data storage for added security.
At Batten Safe, we believe Dashlane is a robust and user-friendly password management solution that caters to the needs of both individuals and businesses.
While it may have some limitations, its comprehensive feature set and ease of use make it a strong contender in the password manager market.
Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Security and Encryption
Dashlane employs AES-256-bit encryption, a standard used by governments and financial institutions, ensuring that user data is securely stored. The service uses a zero-knowledge architecture, meaning that even Dashlane cannot access users’ master passwords or the data stored in their vaults.
Proton Pass also utilizes end-to-end encryption, ensuring all user data is encrypted locally before being transmitted and stored. This means only the user can access their passwords and sensitive information.
Both Dashlane and Proton Pass provide strong security features and encryption methods. Dashlane excels with its comprehensive features like passkey support and dark web monitoring. Proton Pass, on the other hand, emphasizes privacy and accessibility with its unlimited password storage and open-source nature, appealing to users who prioritize these aspects.
The choice between Dashlane and Proton Pass may depend on individual needs, such as the importance of advanced features versus a commitment to privacy and unlimited access.
Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Password Sharing
Dashlane makes it easy to share passwords and sensitive notes with others securely. You can give recipients limited rights (where they can only use the password) or full rights (allowing them to view, use, edit, share, and revoke access).
Proton Pass recently introduced “Secure Links” that allow users to securely share passwords and sensitive information via unique, expirable links. Recipients don’t need a Proton Pass account to access shared items.
Dashlane provides an easy-to-use interface for sharing individual passwords and revoking access, while Proton Pass leverages unique, expirable links that can be shared externally without requiring the recipient to have an account.
Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Autofill and Auto-Login
Dashlane’s autofill feature automatically detects website login fields and prompts you to fill in your credentials. You can click the Dashlane icon to see saved logins and relevant information.
Proton Pass also offers a straightforward autofill feature that allows you to quickly fill in login credentials and forms. It works across various platforms, including mobile and desktop, ensuring a consistent experience.
Dashlane offers a more mature and feature-rich experience, particularly its advanced form-filling capabilities and seamless browser integration. While still developing its autofill functionalities, Proton Pass emphasizes user privacy and simplicity.
Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Pricing and Value
Dashlane offers limited free and paid plans for individual users starting at $4.99/month. The premium plans include additional features like dark web monitoring, VPN, and secure file storage.
Proton Pass provides a free plan with core features like unlimited passwords, autofill, and 2FA for a single user. Paid plans start at $1.99/month and include additional storage, VPN, premium support, and access to Proton services like Proton Mail and Proton Drive.
Proton Pass’s free plan is one of the most generous in the market. It allows unlimited password storage and sharing without device restrictions, which is particularly appealing for users with many online accounts. The paid plan is affordable and offers additional features while maintaining a strong focus on privacy.
On the other hand, Dashlane’s free plan allows you to store 25 passwords on a single device. If you have over 25 saved passwords, your account will be set to read-only, meaning you cannot add new passwords or use autofill features.
However, Dashlane’s paid plans provide good value, especially for families and businesses.
Dashlane vs. Proton Pass: Which Should You Choose?
To help you make an informed decision, here’s a table comparing the key features of Dashlane and Proton Pass on a 5-point scale.
Feature | Dashlane | Proton Pass |
Security and Encryption | 4.9 | 4.9 |
Password Sharing | 4.9 | 4.7 |
Autofill and Auto-Login | 4.8 | 4.5 |
Pricing and Value | 4.6 | 4.8 |
Average Score | 4.8 | 4.7 |
Conclusion: Dashlane vs. Proton Pass
When choosing a password manager in 2024, both Dashlane and Proton Pass offer exceptional security and a range of features designed to protect your digital life.
Dashlane stands out with its comprehensive suite of tools, including dark web monitoring, a built-in VPN, and an intuitive interface that simplifies password management for users of all levels. Its robust business solutions make it a strong choice for companies seeking scalable security options.
Proton Pass, on the other hand, appeals to privacy-conscious users who value end-to-end encryption and integration with other Proton services like ProtonMail and ProtonVPN. Its open-source nature and strong emphasis on user privacy make it an excellent option for individuals and families seeking a secure and transparent password management solution.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs—whether you prioritize advanced features and comprehensive coverage or a focus on privacy and transparency.
Get Started with Dashlane
At Batten Safe, we’ve tested and reviewed Dashlane and Proton Pass to help you make the best decision for your family’s online security.
After careful evaluation, we’ve found Dashlane to be the clear winner. Why? Dashlane excels in several key areas:
- Seamless Syncing: Dashlane ensures your logins are accessible across all your devices, so you’re never locked out of your accounts.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity for Families: Dashlane enhances individual security within the family with features that allow administrators to manage family member access.
- Private and Secure: Dashlane uses a Master Password as your encryption key, which is never stored or transmitted, ensuring that only you can access your vault.
If you’re looking for the best in password management, Dashlane is our top recommendation.
Visit our page to learn about password managers and explore our curated recommendations for VPNs, home security, and emergency preparedness.
Take the first step towards securing your digital life today!