Bitwarden is the better password manager for most people. Dashlane discontinued its free plan in September 2025, so every comparison now starts at $4.99/mo billed annually against Bitwarden's permanent free tier with no device limits.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Bitwarden | Dashlane |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free available | No free tier |
| Paid price | $0.83 USD/mo | $4.99 USD/mo |
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Mfa | ||
| Passkey Support | ||
| Travel Mode | ||
| Secure Notes | ||
| Emergency Access | Premium only | |
| Browser Extensions | All major browsers | All major browsers |
| Biometric Unlock | ||
| Self Hosting | ||
| Open source | ||
| SSO support | Business plan only | |
| Offline Access | — | |
| Score | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Bitwarden
8
Dashlane
7
Runner-up
Bitwarden wins because it covers what most users need at no cost, and Premium is $10/year if you want TOTP storage or encrypted file attachments. Dashlane's extras (a bundled Hotspot Shield VPN and dark web monitoring) are real features, but they don't justify paying $60/year more unless you genuinely need both and don't already pay for them separately.
The Price Gap
Bitwarden's free tier covers unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, and vault sync. There are no trial periods or device caps to work around. Premium adds TOTP generation, encrypted file attachments, and emergency access for $10/year ($0.83/mo). Dashlane's entry price is $4.99/mo billed annually: $59.88/year for features Bitwarden gives away.
What Dashlane Actually Includes
Dashlane bundles a VPN (Hotspot Shield) and automated dark web monitoring alongside standard password management. If you don't pay for a VPN or a breach alerting service, the bundle has some value. The VPN is functional for casual use (bypassing geo-blocks, basic privacy on public Wi-Fi), but it lacks a kill switch and offers limited server choice compared to a dedicated service. Dark web monitoring is comparable to Have I Been Pwned, automated rather than manual. Neither of these extras closes a $60/year gap against a free alternative.
Security and Openness
Bitwarden is open source. The full client and server code is public, and a Cure53 audit in 2022 found no critical vulnerabilities across the apps, browser extensions, or server. Dashlane's core has no public breach history and uses AES-256 encryption, but the codebase is closed and has not had a comparable public audit. For users who care about independently verifiable security, the gap matters.
Desktop Access
Dashlane dropped its native desktop app and now runs exclusively through a browser extension and web app. Bitwarden has native apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus a browser extension. If you work across multiple machines and occasionally want vault access outside a browser (an offline sync scenario, for example), Bitwarden's desktop app and offline access give it an edge Dashlane can't match.
Self-Hosting
Bitwarden can be self-hosted using Vaultwarden, an unofficial Rust implementation that runs comfortably on a small server. Dashlane has no self-hosting option. For anyone with data residency requirements or a preference to control their own vault, this is a hard constraint.