I Tested LastPass vs. 1Password: Here’s the Winner

Between work tools, personal subscriptions, and everyday apps, I juggle more logins than I can realistically keep track of. Remembering strong, unique passwords for each one is nearly impossible without a reliable password manager.

To see which tool handles everyday password management better, I put LastPass vs. 1Password head-to-head using hands-on testing. I focused on everyday tasks like onboarding, importing passwords, autofill, sharing, and security features.

Here’s what I found: LastPass prioritizes speed and flexibility, making it easy to get started and manage passwords quickly. 1Password takes a more security-first approach, with a structured setup and layered protection designed to reduce risk.

If you’re managing multiple accounts and subscriptions like I am, this breakdown will help you decide which password manager fits your workflow and security needs best.

Note: The details here reflect the most current capabilities of these password managers as of February 2026. As the tools evolve, features and pricing may change over time.

• Security model and secret key requirements: 1Password uses a dual-key model that combines the account password with a unique Secret Key to unlock the vault, adding an extra cryptographic layer that isn’t stored on its servers. LastPass relies on a single master password for vault access, which simplifies login and recovery but doesn’t introduce the same additional security layer.
• Track record: Both password managers use AES-256 encryption, but their track records differ. 1Password has not experienced a publicly disclosed breach involving customer vault data. LastPass had a security breach in 2022 that exposed encrypted data and metadata, which has influenced user trust and shaped how security-conscious users evaluate the product.
• Free access and pricing models: LastPass offers a free forever plan with core password management features, though it limits users to one device type. 1Password instead offers a limited free trial, requiring a paid subscription for continued use. This makes LastPass more accessible for budget-conscious users.
• Password import experience: The tools differ sharply in how they handle password migration. With 1Password, importing passwords is simple and fast, and it imports everything in one go. LastPass lets me review and edit entries before importing them, which gives me more confidence in managing messy or partial datasets before they hit the vault. This flexibility stood out when I worked with my own test files.
• Vault organization workflow: When organizing stored credentials, LastPass keeps everything in the main dashboard, letting me create and manage folders without switching tabs. This made organizing multiple logins feel fast and fluid. 1Password organizes items into vaults that open in a new tab, giving a clear structure but requiring extra navigation. The difference changes how users interact with large collections of passwords on a daily basis.
• Password sharing mechanics: LastPass centralizes sharing in a single place and sends email invites, asking recipients to join LastPass to access passwords, while 1Password generates shareable links without requiring recipients to create accounts. These differences impact how you’ll collaborate with others, depending on whether you want structured access control or quick access via links.

LastPass vs. 1Password: What’s similar?

Let’s also look at some of the similarities these two password managers share to get the complete picture.

• Core password management fundamentals: Both tools provide the essentials I expect in a modern password manager. This includes secure vault storage, autofill of logins and form fields, password generation, and secure sharing, albeit in different styles. Whether I am saving a randomly generated password or logging into my Netflix account, both tools deliver this foundational functionality reliably.
  
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) support: Both LastPass and 1Password support two-factor authentication (2FA) or MFA options, including authenticator apps and hardware security keys, giving users the ability to add an additional layer of account protection beyond the master password.
  
• Cross-platform compatibility: Each password manager works across major platforms, such as desktop, mobile, and popular browsers with extensions and native apps, ensuring I can access passwords wherever I need them. This cross-device support means I am not locked into a single environment.
  
• Security analytics: Both managers include built-in mechanisms to surface password health insights, While they present analytics differently, both aim to help users identify weak, reused, or compromised passwords and encourage remediation.
  
• Zero-knowledge encryption: In both tools, the encryption model ensures that only the user can decrypt stored credentials. Even though the UI and mechanisms differ, both password managers adhere to zero-knowledge architecture where the vendor cannot read your vault contents, which is fundamental to password managers.

Now, let’s put these password managers to the test to get granular insights on their performance and ease of use.

1Password made it very clear that the company cannot reset or recover a forgotten master password. This is intentional as 1Password uses end-to-end encryption with a zero-knowledge design. During setup, I was encouraged to save my Emergency Kit and Secret Key, which are essential for recovery if I forget my master password or lose access to my devices.

1Password also provides a user-generated recovery code that can restore access if credentials or devices are lost, while still maintaining its zero-knowledge security model. This approach puts full responsibility on the user, but it also reinforces how strictly 1Password treats data privacy.

LastPass takes a more flexible approach to account recovery. While it still encrypts user data, it offers recovery options such as using a one-time password. From a user perspective, this provides additional paths to regain access if something goes wrong, which can feel reassuring, especially for individual users who may not want to manually manage recovery materials.

Based on my experience, neither approach is inherently better. 1Password prioritizes maximum security and user ownership, while LastPass emphasizes accessibility and recovery flexibility. The right choice depends on how much responsibility you’re comfortable taking on for safeguarding your account access.

If you want full control over your account with no possibility of third-party recovery, 1Password aligns well with that mindset. If you prefer having recovery options built into the product, LastPass may feel more forgiving.

Winner: Split. The right choice depends on your priorities.

3. Importing existing passwords from other sources

I wanted to replicate a real-world switch. I imported passwords in two ways: first, from a CSV file I created with sample usernames and passwords, and then by exploring imports from other sources, like browsers or existing password managers.

Using 1Password, importing passwords felt fast and guided. When I uploaded the CSV file, the tool handled the import automatically and added all entries to my vault at once. 

I wasn’t prompted to review or select specific passwords before completing the import, which made the process quick and hands-off. I could edit entries after the import, but any cleanup had to happen inside the vault rather than during the import itself. 

When importing from other sources, 1Password provided clear, step-by-step instructions and supported multiple browsers and password managers. The process felt structured and reassuring, especially when switching from another dedicated tool.

With LastPass, the import experience felt more flexible. When uploading the same CSV file, I was able to review the entries beforehand, choose which passwords to import, and make edits before finalizing the process. That extra visibility made the migration feel more controlled.

Importing from other sources to LastPass was also straightforward and could be initiated from the advanced options in the navigation bar on the left. The guidance was lighter, but the process was easy to manage as every step happened on a single interface.

LastPass felt better overall for password imports because it gave me more control across both scenarios. While 1Password handled imports efficiently and offered strong guidance, being able to preview, edit, and selectively import passwords made LastPass feel more flexible and reassuring during migration.

Winner: LastPass

4. Sharing passwords

For this test, I wanted to see how easy it would be to share a password with another person and what kind of access or setup the recipient would need.

In 1Password, I had to navigate to the vault, which opened in a separate tab. From there, I could select a specific password or an entire category and click the share option. Instead of sending an invite, 1Password generated a shareable link that I could copy and send to someone else.

The recipient didn’t need to create a 1Password account to access the shared password. The process felt flexible, but it required more manual navigation compared to LastPass’s centralized sharing. 1Password also provides a “can be viewed only one time” option, which adds an extra layer of security.

Using LastPass, sharing was easy to find and manage directly from the sharing center, which is accessible from the main dashboard. During the free trial, I was able to share individual passwords with others without upgrading.

When I shared a password, the recipient received an email inviting them to join LastPass in order to view and access the credential. The flow was clear and guided, and I liked that everything related to sharing lived in one dedicated place. It was also clearly communicated that sharing with family members requires upgrading to a paid family plan, which is priced at $48.

Both tools support sharing, but they’re optimized for different use cases. LastPass feels more structured and centralized, especially if you expect recipients to join the platform and manage shared access long term.

1Password feels more lightweight and flexible, particularly for one-off sharing where you don’t want the recipient to create an account. The better option depends on whether you value centralized control or frictionless access for the recipient.

Winner: Split

5. Organizing and managing passwords inside the vault

For this test, I wanted to see how easy it was to organize passwords once they were already imported or added. I focused on creating vaults or folders, moving items around, and understanding how each tool structures stored credentials.

Using 1Password, I could create a new vault, give it a name and description, and then move items into it. The vault view opened in a separate tab, which made the experience feel distinct from the main dashboard. Once inside the vault, managing items feels clean and structured, especially if you want to group passwords by purpose or category. However, switching between vaults required intentional navigation, which made organization feel more deliberate than quick.

The organization felt more centralized in LastPass. From the dashboard itself, I could access all saved items and organize them using folders without leaving the main interface. Moving and managing passwords felt faster because everything happened in one place. The navigation made it easy to scan, search, and reorganize credentials without switching views.

Based on my experience, LastPass felt more convenient for day-to-day vault organization. Keeping folders and password management within the main dashboard made organizing credentials quicker and more fluid. While 1Password’s vault-based structure is clear and well-defined, LastPass’s centralized approach feels easier to manage when working with multiple passwords at once.

Winner: LastPass

6. Autofilling login details and generating a new password

For this test, I used the same real-world scenarios in both tools by signing into an existing X (formerly Twitter) account and creating a new password on a signup form for Prime Video.

Using 1Password, autofill appeared directly inside the login field on X. The saved credential was clearly labeled, and selecting it filled in the login details without opening a separate menu.

When creating a new password on Prime Video, 1Password surfaced a generated password inline, along with controls to adjust length and character types. The suggestion was clear, and it was easy to tell when the password was being generated and saved.

With LastPass, autofill also appeared inside the login field on X, but with a small contextual menu that offered multiple actions, such as autofill, password generation, and vault access.

On the Prime Video signup form, LastPass generated a strong password and showed a visible strength indicator along with customization options like character length and symbols. The interaction felt more menu-driven, with more options exposed at once.

Both tools handled autofill and password generation reliably in real-world use. 1Password felt cleaner and more streamlined with inline suggestions that stayed focused on the task at hand. LastPass felt more configurable, surfacing additional options and controls directly in the autofill menu. The better experience depends on whether you prefer a minimal, inline flow or a more feature-forward dropdown with visible controls.

Winner: Split 

7. Security, dashboard, and analytics

In 1Password, security analytics are centralized within Watchtower. I could see an overall password strength score, along with clear breakdowns of issues like reused passwords, weak passwords, missing recovery codes, available passkeys, and sites that support two-factor authentication.

Each category was clickable, letting me drill down into affected items and understand what action was needed. The layout felt structured and data-driven, and I liked that security insights were grouped by risk type rather than scattered across settings.

In LastPass, security insights are surfaced through a dedicated security dashboard accessible from the main interface. The dashboard summarizes password health scores and highlights weak, reused, or compromised credentials at a glance. LastPass also includes dark web monitoring, which surfaced as an optional security check during testing.

The layout made it easy to quickly spot issues and take action without navigating too deeply, especially if you prefer high-level visibility over detailed breakdowns.

While both tools provide strong security visibility, 1Password comes out ahead overall. Beyond Watchtower’s structured and detailed risk analysis, 1Password’s Secret Key-based security model and clean security track record meaningfully strengthen its security posture. Combined, these factors make 1Password feel better suited for users who prioritize long-term protection and defense against account compromise, even if it requires a bit more upfront setup.

Winner: 1Password

8. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) capabilities

With 1Password, two-factor authentication (2FA) is positioned as an extra layer of protection on top of the account password and Secret Key. When turned on, a second factor is required to sign in to the account on a new device, in addition to those credentials. I found these options under manage account within the profile section. I could set up an authenticator app or add a physical security key. The screen clearly explained when 2FA would be required and made the setup path easy to follow, but it offered fewer method choices compared to LastPass.

Using LastPass, MFA options were easy to find under the security dashboard, where everything lived on a single screen. Even on the free plan, I could see multiple authentication methods listed side by side, including LastPass Authenticator, with biometric authentication or a FIDO2-compatible security key, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Duo Security. Hardware security keys like YubiKey were also supported, with clear labels explaining which options were available on free versus premium plans. The layout made it easy to compare methods and decide which one to enable.

Based on my experience, LastPass comes out ahead for multi-factor authentication because it provides more options and clearer visibility into different authentication methods. While 1Password clearly explains how two-factor authentication works alongside its Secret Key model, LastPass offers greater flexibility in how users choose to secure their accounts.

Winner: LastPass

LastPass vs. 1Password: My evaluation scorecard

Here’s a table showing all my evaluations with the winner and the reason.

Key insights on LastPass vs. 1Password from G2 Data

I also looked at review data from G2 to find strengths and adoption patterns for 1Password and LastPass. Here’s what I found:

Satisfaction ratings

• LastPass excels in meets requirements (93%), ease of use (89%), and ease of setup (89%).
• 1Password ranks high in meets requirements (94%), ease of doing business with (94%), and ease of use (92%).

Top industries represented

• LastPass dominates the information technology and services, computer software, marketing and advertising, financial services, and internet industries.
• 1Password has a strong presence in computer software, information technology and services, marketing and advertising, internet, and financial services.

Highest-rated features

• LastPass excels in password generator (94%), multi-device use (92%), and quick login (91%).
• 1Password stands out for password-generator (95%), multi-device use (94%), and two-factor authentication (93%).

Lowest-rated features

• LastPass struggles with file storage (80%), admin management (86%), and digital wallet (86%).
• 1Password struggles with file storage (87%), mobile app usability (90%), and security audits (91%).

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