Dashlane Review 2026: Polished, but No Longer Free

Short answer: Dashlane is a polished, easy-to-use password manager with strong autofill, dark web monitoring and a bundled VPN on its Premium plan. But since Dashlane retired its free plan in September 2025, it competes directly with 1Password and Bitwarden on price — and loses to Bitwarden on value. Choose Dashlane if you'll actually use the included VPN and like its interface; otherwise, there are better deals.

Dashlane at a glance

What Dashlane does well

• Clean, simple interface with strong autofill in the browser and on mobile.
• Dark web monitoring that alerts you if your email addresses appear in known data breaches.
• Password Health score that highlights weak, reused and compromised passwords.
• Passkey support for passwordless logins on supported sites.
• Secure sharing with other Dashlane users, with view-only or full-access options.

Dashlane's dashboard puts the VPN toggle and the Password Health score side by side.

The bundled VPN: useful or filler?

Dashlane Premium includes a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield. It is fine for protecting yourself on public Wi-Fi, but it has fewer features than standalone VPNs — limited server choice and no advanced options like split tunneling or multi-hop. If you need a VPN for streaming, travel or privacy-sensitive use, a dedicated service like Proton VPN or NordVPN is better.

The VPN matters for value: if you would otherwise pay for one, Dashlane Premium effectively bundles two products. If you wouldn't, you are paying for something you don't need.

The free plan is gone

Dashlane's free plan was limited to 25 passwords on one device, and it was retired on September 16, 2025. For a free option, Bitwarden offers unlimited passwords on unlimited devices at no cost.

Weak spots

• No free plan and no monthly billing.
• Desktop experience is browser-based — there is no standalone Windows or Mac app.
• VPN is basic compared with dedicated providers.
• Renewal pricing is higher than the introductory rate.

Dashlane vs. the alternatives

Who should choose Dashlane

Choose it if you: want a simple, polished password manager and would use the included VPN on public Wi-Fi, or are buying a family plan for up to 10 people.

Look elsewhere if you: want a free plan or the lowest price (Bitwarden), the most advanced features and Secret Key protection (1Password), or a full-featured VPN.

Verdict

Dashlane is easy to use, secure and genuinely pleasant day to day, and the bundled VPN adds value for some users. Without a free plan, though, it is hard to recommend over Bitwarden on price or 1Password on features. It is a good product in a market with better-value options.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dashlane still have a free plan?

No. Dashlane retired its free plan on September 16, 2025.

Does Dashlane include a VPN?

Yes. Premium includes a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield. On the Friends & Family plan, only the plan manager gets VPN access.

Is Dashlane safe?

Yes. It uses zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption, so Dashlane can't read your vault. Turn on two-factor authentication for extra protection.

Is Dashlane better than Bitwarden?

Dashlane is more polished and includes a VPN, but Bitwarden is open source, has a capable free plan and is much cheaper for its Premium tier.

Sources

• CyberInsider, Dashlane to retire free password manager plan in September
• Security.org, Dashlane price and subscription costs in 2026 (billing, VPN provider)
• Cybernews, Dashlane pricing and plans in 2026 (plan prices, family VPN access)