LastPass vs 1Password

Whilst there are several differences between both password managers, they share many features.

As standard, you’ll be able to store passwords, usernames, notes, credit card info, and other identity credentials in a securely encrypted vault that can only be unlocked by yourself. This includes syncing your data across all your authorized devices.

Most importantly, both auto-fill and save your credentials. Whenever you visit a site you have an account with, the password manager of your choice will ask you if it can automatically populate online forms with your credentials. This makes logging into accounts effortless as you no longer need to manually fill forms – it takes a click of a button.

Auto-fill also works with card information to make online shopping more secure, as well as the added benefits of a faster checkout process and not relying on unsecure websites to save your card details.

Once you visit a new site and create an account, or change a password of an existing one, LastPass and 1Password send push-notifications asking whether to save the new credentials to your vault.

To discover more about the features they share, view the table above, or take a look at my in-depth reviews: LastPass Review and 1Password Review.

Difference 1: Vault Organization & Password Sharing

1Password’s vault system differs from other password managers, giving them a distinctive approach from the competition. You can create multiple vaults to store and organize your data exactly in the way you want it. Other password managers like LastPass use one vault which can contain shared folders, but it is not possible to create multiple vaults.

Having the ability to create and share as many vaults as you want is a nice-to-have feature that can make finding login information and files easy. However, it’s certainly not a need-to-have feature. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference – my preference lies with LastPass.

There is a slight caveat to 1Password’s vault organization system. While you can freeingly create different vaults, you are limited in your sharing capabilities. 1Password only lets you share entire vaults, whereas LastPass gives you the option to share individual items and folders.

Sharing passwords with 1Password can be a convoluted process where you need to constantly create new vaults and move the appropriate credentials into them every time you need to share. LastPass has better user experience in this regard.

Additionally, with 1Password, only business and family plan users can share items, whereas all LastPass users can securely share.

Difference 2: Username Generator

Usernames are often not given the same attention as passwords, partly because the majority of online accounts use your email address as the username. However, hackers find usernames to be valuable pieces of information because if they are reused across multiple accounts it can make each account easier to crack since they already have half of the puzzle solved.

Some accounts require you to use unique usernames and in those instances, it is worthwhile using a generator.

Unique to LastPass, its username generator can aid in protecting your online accounts by creating random usernames that can be likened to having another password. A potential hacker not only needs to guess your account password but also your randomly generated username.

Since hackers actively target usernames, having this feature is quite handy – especially if you’re able to use different usernames for each account.

You also don’t need to worry about remembering arbitrary usernames either as LastPass will automatically fill these along with your passwords whenever you need to log into your accounts.

Difference 3: Change Multiple Passwords at Once

The auto-change feature offered by LastPass gives it a unique advantage over 1Password.

This feature enables you to automatically change the passwords of up to 75 websites with one click of a button. The sites that support auto-change include Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and many more.

When using auto-change it generates a new password, submits it to the applicable website, and then updates your password vault automatically in one seamless action.

Although the process can take a few minutes to complete, you generally do not need to provide any input except verifying your identity if you have two-factor authentication set up for any of your accounts.

I found this tool to be incredibly useful as part of an effective password management strategy. A few months ago, some of my data was compromised in a data breach of an old website that I had an account with. I was able to immediately use auto-change to update some of my passwords and reinstate the security of my accounts. I recommend updating your passwords regularly to maintain a high level of protection.

Unfortunately, 1Passwords doesn’t offer auto-change.

Difference 4: Version History

Everybody knows the frustration when you inadvertently delete something and can’t recover it. Surprisingly, some password managers don’t provide the technology to restore deleted items. Luckily, LastPass and 1Password do.

LastPass has a 30-day history during which you can restore items that have been deleted. After the 30-days, LastPass permanently deletes all items.

1Password does things slightly differently. Whenever you make any changes to the items stored in your vault 1Password will save the previous versions, just in case you made the wrong changes. Similarly, when you delete items, they will be archived for 365-days – within which you can reinstate them. With the extended archive period and version history, 1Password wins the race.

Difference 5: Security Alerts

LastPass has a feature called the Security Challenge which checks for weak, reused, and old passwords, as well as running all your email addresses used for online accounts against a list of known security breach data. If any of your credentials are found to be compromised, LastPass sends you an email with all the details and actions you need to take.

Once the Security Challenge audit is complete, LastPass gives you an overall security score. The score is a nice touch but you should focus your attention on the security reports.

1Password is very similar in its approach – it uses a tool called WatchTower to flag all the same issues as LastPass but also highlights:

• Unsecure websites – To check whether you have accounts with websites that aren’t using the secure https protocol.
• Inactive two-factor authentication (2FA) – To identify accounts that you haven’t set up two-factor authentication with. Put simply, every time you log in to an account with 2FA you need to authenticate the login on your mobile device. For example, if a hacker managed to get their hands on your username and password, they would also need your phone to authenticate themselves when logging into accounts that have 2FA set up.

1Password has the edge over LastPass but both are inferior to the data breach security auditing capabilities of Dashlane. Dashlane’s Dark Web Scan continually monitors the dark web searching for compromised personal information including usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, phone numbers, addresses, and much more.

Difference 6: USB Version

LastPass gives you the option to carry your vault around with you, 1Password doesn’t.

The USB version of LastPass is called LastPass Pocket and it enables you to access your vault without an internet connection. It also provides backup capabilities.

Having a USB version is useful if you need offline access to your login credentials or any secure notes that you have stored, but it is not necessary and shouldn’t play a major role in your decision between LastPass and 1Password.

Difference 7: Travel Mode

1Password is the only password manager to offer security protocols that cater to international travel.

Travel Mode allows you to set some of your vaults as safe for travel and mark others as not safe. This is beneficial if you are going to be traveling across international borders to hostile environments.

There is also a default option that limits access to your account from only within the country where it was created. This feature extends beyond the realms of international travel and protects your vault from cybercriminals that live across the world.

Before you travel outside of the country from where you created your account, you need to change your settings to allow you to gain access from whatever country you will be visiting. When you return and you switch off Travel Mode your vaults that were marked as unsafe and removed from your devices are restored.

LastPass doesn’t offer cross-border travel security protocols. If you travel regularly, especially for work, then 1Password may be the better option for you.