Quick take
Already sold on 1Password?
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Short answer: 1Password is the most polished password manager available, with a security design that goes a step beyond its rivals: your vault is protected by both your master password and a 128-bit Secret Key that never leaves your devices. Autofill is excellent, family sharing is easy, and features like Travel Mode are unique. It has no free plan, and in March 2026 the Individual plan rose to $47.88 a year — so the question is whether that polish is worth roughly 2.4 times the price of Bitwarden Premium.
1Password at a glance
Detail | 1Password |
|---|---|
Free plan | No (14-day free trial) |
Individual | $47.88/year (from renewals on or after March 27, 2026; previously $35.88) |
Families | $71.88/year for up to 5 people (previously $59.88) |
Encryption | AES-256, zero-knowledge, master password plus Secret Key |
Passkeys | Supported across apps and browsers |
Standout features | Watchtower, Travel Mode, item sharing by link, SSH key and developer tools |
Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, CLI |
The Secret Key: why 1Password's design is different
Most password managers protect your vault with only your master password. 1Password combines your master password with a Secret Key — a long random code generated on your device when you sign up. Both are needed to decrypt your data, and 1Password never has the Secret Key.
Why it matters: if attackers ever stole 1Password's encrypted vault data (as happened to LastPass in 2022), they couldn't simply run password-guessing attacks against it, because they would also need each user's Secret Key. It is a meaningful extra layer, and the trade-off is that you must save your Emergency Kit (a PDF with the Secret Key) somewhere safe when you set up your account.
Features worth paying for
- Watchtower flags weak, reused and breached passwords, sites where you could enable two-factor authentication, and expiring items.
- Travel Mode removes selected vaults from your devices before you cross a border, then restores them with one click — unique among mainstream managers.
- Excellent autofill in browsers and on mobile, including for complicated login forms.
- Passkeys can be created and used across devices.
- Built-in two-factor codes that fill alongside the password.
- Share items by link with people who don't use 1Password, with expiry controls.
- Developer tools: an SSH agent, CLI and secrets management for people who code.
1Password's Watchtower dashboard, showing weak, reused and compromised passwords at a glance.
Pricing after the 2026 increase
1Password raised individual and family prices for renewals on or after March 27, 2026 — the first significant increase in years:
Plan | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
Individual | $35.88/year | $47.88/year |
Families (5 people) | $59.88/year | $71.88/year |
There is no free plan. A 14-day trial lets you import your passwords and decide.
Weak spots
- No free plan, and now among the more expensive individual plans.
- Emergency Kit responsibility. Lose both your Secret Key and your devices and you lose access — store the kit safely.
- Not open source, unlike Bitwarden (though 1Password publishes its security design and third-party audit results).
1Password vs. Bitwarden
| 1Password | |
|---|---|---|
Free plan | No | Yes — unlimited passwords and devices |
Individual price | $47.88/year | $19.80/year |
Family price | $71.88/year (5 people) | $47.88/year (6 people) |
Extra key protection | Secret Key | Master password (plus optional 2FA) |
Open source | No | Yes |
Polish and autofill | Best in class | Good |
Travel Mode | Yes | No |
Our take: Choose 1Password if you want the smoothest experience, value the Secret Key design, or need Travel Mode. Choose Bitwarden if price or open source matters more.
Verdict
1Password is the password manager that's easiest to live with every day, and its Secret Key adds real protection against the worst-case scenario of a server breach. The 2026 price increase makes it a premium choice rather than an obvious one — but for families and anyone who values excellent autofill and thoughtful features, it's still worth the money.
Frequently asked questions
Does 1Password have a free plan?
No. It offers a 14-day free trial. Bitwarden is the best free alternative.
How much does 1Password cost in 2026?
$47.88 a year for Individual and $71.88 a year for Families (up to five people), for renewals on or after March 27, 2026.
What is the 1Password Secret Key?
A random code created on your device when you sign up. It is combined with your master password to encrypt your vault, and 1Password never sees it, so stolen vault data can't be cracked by guessing your master password alone.
Is 1Password better than Bitwarden?
It is more polished and has extra features like Travel Mode and the Secret Key, but Bitwarden offers strong security for much less, including a capable free plan.
Sources
- TechRadar, 1Password is getting more expensive soon (2026 price change)
- AlternativeTo, 1Password to raise subscription prices by up to 33%
- 1Password, About the 1Password security model
- Cybernews, 1Password pricing (plan features)
The bottom line
