LastPass vs 1Password (2026)
Both LastPass and 1Password are polished, full-featured password managers with cloud sync, browser extensions, and mobile apps. The decision in 2026 is less about features and more about trust and total cost. This comparison draws on our individual reviews of both products and our password manager guide.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | LastPass | 1Password |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Limited to one device type (mobile or desktop) | 14-day trial only |
| Individual price | $3/mo (billed annually) | $3.99/mo (billed annually; $2.99 first-year promotion) |
| Family plan | $4/mo (up to 6 users) | $5.99/mo (up to 5 members; $4.49 first-year promotion) |
| Teams price | Teams $4.25/user/mo | Teams Starter Pack $24.95/mo for up to 10; Business $8.99/user/mo |
| Security history | 2022-2023 breaches (encrypted vaults + metadata stolen) | No major incidents |
| Secret Key model | No | ✓ Yes (adds device-specific encryption layer) |
| Travel Mode | No | ✓ Yes — hide vaults at border crossings |
| Family sharing UX | Functional but less guided | Best-in-class vault sharing, easier setup |
Who should choose 1Password
- New buyers evaluating from scratch. 1Password carries no breach history and has stronger security differentiators (Secret Key, Travel Mode). It costs more than LastPass Premium: $3.99 against $3 a month at regular prices.
- Families. 1Password Families has the most intuitive shared vault experience. Sharing specific items with a family member without exposing your entire vault is easier here than in any competitor.
- Apple-heavy households. The iOS and macOS apps are consistently the best in the category — Face ID unlock, Safari extension behavior, and Shortcuts integrations are all polished.
- Security-sensitive individuals. The Secret Key model means vault decryption requires both your master password and a device-specific key. Even if LastPass-style metadata were exfiltrated, an attacker would need more to decrypt your vault.
Who should consider LastPass
- Existing LastPass users who changed their master password. If you have been using LastPass without issues and already responded to the 2022 events, the switching cost may outweigh the trust benefit of migrating.
- Cost-sensitive teams larger than 10. LastPass Teams at $4.25/user/month is under half of 1Password Business at $8.99/user/month. Up to 10 people, 1Password's Teams Starter Pack ($24.95/month for the team) is the cheaper of the two. Evaluate whether the feature gap justifies the spend.
Security in real terms
The 2022-2023 LastPass breaches deserve honest discussion. Attackers stole encrypted vault data and unencrypted metadata (which websites you have passwords for). The vault contents require cracking each user's master password to access — strong master passwords remain protected. But two things are now permanently true:
- The metadata (which sites you use) is in attacker hands and cannot be un-stolen.
- Accounts with weak or reused master passwords from that period are at elevated risk of offline brute-force attacks indefinitely.
1Password's Secret Key model would have added a layer of protection against this specific attack vector — an encrypted vault backup is less useful to attackers when a device-specific key is also required for decryption.
Price over three years
- LastPass Premium: $108 ($3/mo × 36)
- 1Password Individual: $143.64 ($3.99/mo × 36)
- LastPass Families (6 users): $144 ($4/mo × 36)
- 1Password Families (5 users): $215.64 ($5.99/mo × 36)
At regular prices LastPass is $35.64 cheaper for an individual and $71.64 cheaper for a family over three years, and its family plan includes one more user. 1Password's first-year promotion ($2.99 and $4.49 a month) narrows the gap in year one. Weigh the difference against 1Password's sharing experience and breach record.
Fastest decision checkpoints
- Choose 1Password if you are starting fresh, value security track record, want the best family sharing, or need Travel Mode.
- Stay with LastPass if you are an existing user who has taken appropriate post-breach steps and the switching cost is a real concern.
- Consider Bitwarden instead if price is the deciding factor — it's free for individuals, open-source, and has no breach history.
Frequently asked questions
Is LastPass still safe to use after the 2022 breach?
Existing users who changed their master password after the incident and use a strong, unique master password are in a manageable risk position. New buyers evaluating from scratch have better options with cleaner security records.
Which is cheaper: LastPass or 1Password?
For individuals, LastPass Premium ($3/month) costs less than 1Password Individual ($3.99/month, or $2.99 in 1Password's first-year promotion). For families, LastPass Families ($4/month for up to 6 users) costs less than 1Password Families ($5.99/month for up to 5). For teams it depends on size: up to 10 people, 1Password's Teams Starter Pack ($24.95/month for the whole team) costs less than LastPass Teams ($4.25 per user, $42.50/month at 10 seats); above that, LastPass Teams costs less than 1Password Business ($8.99 per user). All prices are billed annually.
Does 1Password have a free tier?
No permanent free tier — 14-day trial only. If you need a free password manager that works across all device types, Bitwarden is the better alternative.
Which has better family sharing: LastPass or 1Password?
1Password Families has the more polished experience. Intuitive family vault structure, easy sharing of specific items without exposing full vaults, and simpler account recovery for non-technical family members.
Our picks
We've reviewed both products in depth:
- Read our full LastPass review
- Read our full 1Password review
- Read our full Bitwarden review (free pick)
- Browse all comparison pages
- See all password manager picks
Try them
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