1Password Review

You probably have more passwords than you can remember. If you don’t, you might be using the same password for all the platforms, which could make your online data vulnerable to hackers and other cybercriminals.

The easiest way to generate and remember unique, strong passwords is to use a password manager service.

With 1Password, you can store passwords, logins, and private documents in a secure encrypted vault. In this 1Password review, I will look at the pros and cons of the product, the technical specs, the security features, and the price.

Overview

• Encryption: AES-256-bit encryption
• Two-factor authentication: Yes
• Biometric login: Touch ID, Face ID
• Platforms: Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome OS, Command Line
• Browser extensions: Chrome, Brave, Firefox Edge
• Free version: No
• Price: from $2.99/month

Security and privacy

In this section, I’ll look at the security and privacy features that 1Password uses. I’ll discuss encryption, 2FA, Touch, and Face IDs, as well as the reputation of this password manager.

Encryption

1Password uses AES-256 encryption. Encrypted keys are protected by several extra layers, including a Master Password that you use to unlock your vault and a secret password – a 128-bit identifier that only you have access to.

As long as you choose a strong Master Password, your other passwords’ security level is going to be high.

2FA and biometric login

1Password uses 2-factor authentication, which makes your passwords much more secure. The service uses WebCrypto, which gives users access to a random number generator. This will help users choose more secure passwords.

What is more, biometric login enables you to log in to your 1Password account with no need to type your Master Password. Instead, you verify your identity by features such as Touch ID and Face ID.

These security features make 1Password a safe choice if you want a secure location to store files, credit card info, and login information.

Scandals

1Password has held a decent reputation in terms of keeping its users’ data and privacy safe.

However, back in 2018, there were rumors about Apple planning to acquire this password manager. At that time, 123,000 employees were working at the company, and all of them received 1Password memberships.

That raised questions and speculations; however, shortly after these rumors were released, the company denied them.

Apps and ease of use

1Password 7 supports the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• iOS
• Android
• Linux
• Chrome OS
• Command Line

There are older versions of 1Password that work on older devices. Generally, the newest operating systems and the latest version of 1Password provide the best security.

Desktop app

To get the desktop app, go to 1Password’s website:

You’ll choose your device and see which software version you would need.

Once you download and sign in, you’ll get to this window:

Here you’ll be able to see all the relevant information related to your account on 1Password, such as vulnerable, reused or weak passwords, and much more.

Browser extensions

1Password supports the following browser extensions: Chrome, Brave, Firefox, and Edge.

Let’s see how to set up 1Password on Chrome:

1. Download the 1Password X extension from the Chrome Web Store. With the extension, you can fill out and save passwords while using your browser. The extension makes it easier to sign in to all your online accounts.
2. First, make sure Chrome’s built-in password manager is turned off. 1Password X works better with it disabled.
3. When you’re in the browser, and a sign-up screen appears, the 1Password icon will automatically show up:
4. You can fill in and save passwords. The 1Password X extension will also suggest passwords for you when you need to create a new one.

Mobile app

One great thing about 1Password is its user-friendly interface. Once you log in to your account on your phone, you’ll easily know what to do.

You will add new items by clicking a + the Categories section.

Clicking Favorites will save everything you want to access quickly.

In the Settings, you will find everything you might need from your accounts to autofill, and much more.

How to use 1Password

In this section, I will go through instructions on how to use 1Password on different devices, how to export and import your passwords, as well as discuss autosave and autofill features.

How to use 1Password on Mac

1. Download the app for Mac.
2. Once installed, open the app.
3. Click 1Password.com and then click Scan your Setup Code.
4. The app will give you easy-to-follow instructions to find and scan your setup code.
5. Enter your Master password
6. Sign up.

You’ll see a list of different accounts and files. To create a new item, click the File menu at the top, and select New Item. You’ll have a choice between several different item types. Find the one you want and save.

You can also edit items, delete them, and organize them any way you see fit. You can sort by date or by category, for example.

How to use 1Password on Windows

1. Get the app for Windows.
2. Once you have the app opened, select Sign in to 1Password.com, which will appear on the Welcome screen.
3. In your browser, sign in to your 1Password account. You can do this on the website. Go to your account page and select Get the Apps.
4. In 1Password, select Scan Your Setup Code and then From My Screen. Now enter your master password and click Sign in.

The Windows app is quite similar to the Mac version. You can create, edit, delete, and sort files and accounts the same way you can in the Mac app.

To create a new item, click the + button next to the search field or hit the Ctrl + N key combination. To delete an item, press the Ctrl + Del combination.

Import and export with 1Password

Once you create an account on 1Password, it’s time to export and import your passwords.

Let’s start by exporting your passwords from Chrome browser:

1. In the Chrome menu toolbar choose Settings
2. Click Passwords
3. Click three dots above the list of your passwords
4. Select Export passwords
5. Click Export passwords
6. Save the file to your desktop

Once you’re done with exporting your passwords, import them to your 1Password account:

1. Sign in to your account
2. Click on your account in the top right
3. Select Import
4. Click Chrome
5. Select the vault you will import your data to
6. Select the CSV file of your exported passwords

Using 1Password – autosave, autofill

Here’s how you save your passwords with 1Password:

1. Sign up to your account on your chosen website
2. 1Password will notify you asking to save your username and password
3. Click Save Login

In this step, you will have a chance to choose the vault to save your password.

After completing these easy steps, 1Password will remember your username and password, hence you won’t need to fill them in every time you’re browsing.

One thing worth mentioning about an autofill for Android users – you should have at least Android 8. If not, an autofill feature won’t work for you.

Pricing

1Password doesn’t have a free plan. However, paid plans offer you options you wouldn’t get if you opt for most free password managers out there.

Let’s start with the Personal and Family plans.

Personal

1Password costs $2.99 per month if billed annually.

When opting for it, you get apps for Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Chrom OS. You can also add an unlimited number of passwords, items, and you get 1 GB document storage. 24/7 email support is also included, as well as 365-day item history to restore deleted passwords.

If you travel a lot, you’d be happy to get Travel Mode to safely cross borders and two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection will be handy for everyone, everywhere.

1Password Families

If you want to ensure safe and private browsing for your whole family, try 1Password Families out.

A family plan costs $4.99 a month and is also billed annually. This plan can accommodate five users and you can invite moe for $1 each.

By choosing this plan, you naturally get all the Personal plan features, plus some more. You can now share passwords, credit cards, and secure notes, set preferences on what your family members can see and do on the password manager, as well as recover accounts for locked out family members.

I personally find it highly useful that 1Password offers a Free 30-day trial for both plans to see if they work for you. Once you opt for it, you don’t pay anything for a month, and after it, you can decide whether to continue using the password manager.

If you intend to use 1Password at your workplace, there are Team and Business plans to choose from:

Teams

The team plan costs $3.99 a month per user.

Once you choose it, you get the apps for Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Chrome OS. You now have unlimited shared vaults and item storage.

In this plan, you naturally get Two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection, 24/7 email support and 1 GB document storage per person. Duo integration for business-wide multi-factor authentication is also included. And you can even get 5 guest accounts for limited sharing

Business

The business plan costs $7.99 a month per user. When selecting the business plan, you get free family accounts and access to Advanced Protection.

There are many perks when opting for this plan, and I’ll mention the ones I find the most useful.

You get VIP Support, 5 GB document storage per person, 20 guest accounts for limited sharing. Custom security controls with Advanced Protection and fine-grained access control for each vault are also there for you to enjoy.

Again, you can try both Teams and Business plans out for free for 30 days to see if you like them or not.

If not even these plans don’t suffice, you have an option to get a custom Enterprise plan. Meaning, you will access the Business plan’s features, plus dedicated account manager, tailor-made setup training, and onboard engineer.

Customer support

1Password, just like a lot of password managers on the market, offers a dedicated support page for its users:

Most likely, the majority of questions you have had already been asked by somebody else. Therefore, you can use the search bar to find the answers or scroll to the end of the pages to see the most popular articles.

1Password offers support in six languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Russian.

One of the most significant downsides of 1Password is the lack of live chat customer support.

If you want to fix any issues related to this password manager, you’d have to wait for the team to get back to you by email. I find this fact not only annoying but also unsafe: in some cases, your account’s security might depend on the time you are waiting for the response.

Bottom line

Overall, 1Password is an easy and secure way to keep track of passwords. With extensions, you can use 1Password on most of your devices. You can also create multiple vaults in your account, which is a nice touch.

You can create one vault to keep your private passwords and files and a second vault for sharing, for example. The biggest downside is that there is no free version, only a 30-day free trial.

For 1Password alternatives, check out our list of best password managers.