Having logins to more than 500 websites and having to remember them all is no joke. It’s one of those areas where software is not just helpful but essential. A password manager generates strong, unique passwords for every site and fills them in automatically. You only need to remember one master password.
I started off using LastPass, and it served me well for a number of years. But as my business grew I needed to share some logins with others, and LastPass had a terrible UI for that. No native Mac app, a painfully slow browser interface. I wasn’t going to organize 500+ logins under those conditions.
Enter 1Password, an app with a really sleek UI that works perfectly for me. It runs natively on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux, and syncs everything securely through your 1Password account. My wife can access shared logins through a shared vault, and I can create multiple vaults to keep personal, business, and shared credentials separate.
Security
1Password encrypts your vault with 256-bit AES encryption, the same standard used by financial institutions. Your data is encrypted locally on your device before it ever leaves, and decrypted locally when you access it. 1Password never has access to your unencrypted data.
Your account is protected by three layers:
- Master Password – protects your data on your device, as always.
- Secret Key – generated locally, never transmitted over the internet, and combined with your Master Password to unlock your encryption keys. This protects your data in the cloud.
- Secure Remote Password (SRP) – a zero-knowledge protocol that adds encryption in transit, authenticating you without ever exposing your Master Password or Secret Key.
Even if someone compromised 1Password’s servers, they’d get only encrypted data that’s useless without your Master Password and Secret Key. And since you have a local copy of your vault on every device where you use 1Password, you’re never locked out even if their servers go down.
Passkeys
The password landscape has shifted significantly with the rise of passkeys. Passkeys are a more secure and phishing-resistant alternative to traditional passwords. They use public-key cryptography: a private key stays on your device (protected by biometrics or your device PIN), while a public key is shared with the website.
1Password has full passkey support across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. You can create, store, and use passkeys directly from 1Password just like you would a password. Over a billion passkeys have been generated globally, and eight of the top ten websites now support them.
The practical benefit: for sites that support passkeys, you can sign in with a tap or a glance (Face ID, Touch ID, or Windows Hello) instead of typing a password. 1Password syncs your passkeys across all your devices, so they’re always available.
Pricing
1Password is subscription-based. Here’s what the plans look like:
- Individual – $3.99/month (billed annually). Covers all apps across every platform, unlimited passwords and passkeys, 1GB document storage.
- Families – $5.99/month (billed annually). Up to 5 family members, each with their own private vaults plus shared vaults for household logins. Additional family members can be added for $1/month each.
- Teams Starter Pack – $19.95/month for up to 10 users. Simple team password management.
- Business – $7.99/user/month. Centralized password management, role-based access control, policy enforcement, advanced reporting, and integration with business tools like Okta and Azure AD.
All plans include a 14-day free trial. Subscriptions include all apps on every platform.
1Password for Families
The Families plan is what I use. Inviting family members is as simple as sending them an email. Syncing and sharing are built in. When I change the Netflix password, everyone in my family gets it automatically. My less technical family members don’t have to deal with any complicated setup.
Each family member gets their own private vaults, and you can create shared vaults for things everyone needs access to (streaming services, WiFi passwords, shared accounts). The family organizer can manage permissions and help with account recovery if someone gets locked out.
1Password for Business
For businesses, 1Password provides centralized password management with role-based access control and policy enforcement. No more emailing passwords or using post-it notes. Items show up on your teammates’ devices automatically.
The Business plan integrates with identity providers like Okta and Azure AD, supports custom security policies, and provides detailed usage reports. For smaller teams that don’t need enterprise features, the Teams Starter Pack is a more affordable option.
Alternatives
The main open-source alternative is Bitwarden. It’s solid, free for individual use, and has improved significantly over the years. If budget is a concern or you prefer open-source, Bitwarden is worth a look. That said, 1Password’s UI, passkey integration, and family/business features are still ahead in my experience.
Summary
1Password is a polished, reliable password manager with excellent family sharing, native apps across all platforms, and full passkey support. A personal favorite for managing 500+ logins securely.
Pros
- Sleek native apps on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux
- Full passkey support across all platforms
- Excellent family sharing with individual and shared vaults
- Strong encryption with Secret Key and zero-knowledge SRP
- Business plans with role-based access and identity provider integration
Cons
- Subscription-based with no free tier
- Closed source (unlike Bitwarden)
- USD 3.99/month for individual plan may feel expensive vs free alternatives
Related
Hi Jean, thanks for the great article. I recently also migrated from the local vault to the 1password online vault. I wanted to re-add a local vault that would sync to iCloud but noticed that the Sync icon is missing from the Preference Window and also doesn’t appear when I select File > New Vault. I only have an option for an online vault now.
Do you know if it’s possible to still have BOTH an online vault and also a local vault? I searched the 1password site but couldn’t find any info about this.
No it’s not possible anymore.