When it comes to password managers, only a handful of names come to mind. Among the obvious, 1Password stands out, and for good reason: it's a pioneer! With a first version in 2006, this digital safe experienced the smartphone revolution. But what is it worth today in an increasingly competitive market? Our opinion on 1Password.
1Password is a password manager developed by the AgileBits company in Toronto, Canada. Initially available exclusively for Mac, it was one of the first to be released for iOS in 2010. Today, 1Password is available on absolutely every platform imaginable. And we expect nothing less from a good password manager!
In short: our opinion on 1Password
The judgment
We would like
- Impeccable reputation
- Affordable price
- Practical functions
We liked it less
- No free version
- Import passwords for verification
- Exports can also be improved
1Password is one of the most popular password managers in the world. The service has an impeccable reputation backed by impressive longevity: the first version was launched in 2006!
If we regret the lack of a free version, the AgileBits manager is very affordable and offers a series of functions as reassuring as they are practical in everyday life. It is also compatible with passkeys, which are of course integrated into the manager.
We particularly appreciate the travel mode, which allows you to lock certain files in your safe when you leave home, or the Watchtower function, which regularly alerts us to the strength of our passwords.
Very well presented, with modern applications and extensions available on all platforms and browsers, 1Password seems the obvious choice if you want to introduce a password manager.
Getting started with 1Password: a clear interface
1Password has a very clean, recently modernized interface. By adopting current aesthetic codes, with very round shapes and soft colors, it immediately creates self-confidence.
The password manager is displayed on a computer through three main windows, which provide quick access to all the information you need. On the left there is a sidebar with all the passwords, favorites, the Watchtower feature, which we will come back to later, and the team members with whom we can share identifiers.
The 1Password home interface. // Source: ScreenshotThe central panel provides an overview of all registered accounts, sorted (or not) by their category. It's up to you to properly organize and label your various accounts! Finally, the right panel contains cross-references to all information about the identifiers. Username, password (obviously hidden), one-time passcode (OTP) and associated applications.
The browser extension makes the interface simpler but retains its overall clarity. From our point of view, it is more practical in everyday life than the main application because it automatically offers you To an account that it does not yet know when you connect to a website.
1Password offers To a new ID if it is not already known. // Source: ScreenshotSmall disappointment, however: The request To a username/password occurs before connecting and not afterward as with Bitwarden. So if you're too quick and log in before you've even bothered To the account, you'll either have to log out and log in again or register it manually.
Only the registration of identifiers is offered here. If you log in too quickly, you will have to start the process again. // Source: ScreenshotOn mobile devices, the application also benefits from a very clear user interface that is fun to navigate. After 1Password has been granted usage permissions in the phone settings, the app offers us a discreet display as soon as we select a connection form to speed up the authentication process. Exactly the time savings and security you expect from a good password manager.
1Password's mobile interface is neat. // Source: Screenshot
Once usage permissions are granted, 1Password helps us connect to various websites and applications with ease. // Source: ScreenshotThe creation of new identifiers is also made easier. On iOS, just tap the wrench icon and follow the instructions. The username/password pair is then automatically assigned to the website visited and offered to us on each new visit.
What is the purpose of 1Password? The main features
No free plan for 1Password, less extensive import options than other managers… 1Password could do better in this area. However, the software supports passkeys, has a travel mode, offers data leak tracking, allows password sharing and encrypted storage of notes and files.
| Expected functionality | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a free offer? | X |
| Does it manage and store sensitive and personal documents (ID card, credit card, etc.)? | ✓ |
| Does it autofill forms, even on mobile devices? | ✓ |
| Can I import browser passwords? | ✓ |
| Can I import passwords from competing password managers? | ✓ |
| Does it analyze password strength and repetition? | ✓ |
| Is the password manager secure with two-factor authentication (2FA)? | ✓ |
| Is it possible to pass on passwords and data to third parties? | ✓ |
| Is there a warning in case of a password leak? | ✓ |
How do I import my passwords into 1Password?
1Password isn't the most permissive manager when it comes to importing vaults that already exist on other competing services. When we first launch we will be asked to import the identifiers hosted on Chrome, Dashlane, LastPass, SplashID or Roboform. For the rest, you will have to go through CSV files that may be incomplete or poorly formatted.
The opposite is also true: 1Password only offers export of its safe in proprietary 1PUX or CSV format.
Travel Mode, Watchtower: What advantages does 1Password have over the competition?
Passkey management
Passkeys are the future of online authentication. That's why the Canadian password manager has pulled out all the stops to take care of it as quickly as possible. The current version of 1Password makes it very easy to use and find passkeys on your smartphone without having to configure anything.
An example of a passkey backup. // Source: ScreenshotWhen we visit a website compatible with passkeys, for example eBay.fr, 1Password simply offers to add the access key to our account.
The next time we visit the website again, a window will appear asking us to log in with the access key without having to enter anything.
Connection with a passkey. // Source: Screenshot1GB encrypted file storage
If you subscribe to 1Password, you can store up to 1GB of files in the vault. The files therefore benefit from the same encryption technology (AES-256 bit) as the other passwords.
With 1Password you can store a wide variety of identifiers. // Source: ScreenshotTo send a file to your vault, this is done via the desktop or mobile application. When creating a new item, simply select the Document type and drag and drop the desired file.
It's a shame that 1Password, for example, doesn't allow you to share these files via a secure link.
It's a shame: it's impossible to share a file with loved ones. // Source: Screenshot1Password Travel Mode
Travel Mode is a great way to give users extra security when they're away from home. It makes invisible any accounts that are not specifically marked as “travel ready” in the vault.
All accounts can be marked individually. However, the easiest way is undoubtedly to set up a second safe called “Travel” where you store all the important accounts that you want to be able to access from your devices anywhere and at any time.
Travel mode is one of 1Password's nicest features. // Source: ScreenshotWatchtower and password monitoring
Watchtower is the name of the password assessment program built into 1Password. This is a tab available in the apps that checks the strength of your credentials and assigns a security rating to your entire vault.
Watchtower can raise an alarm if a security vulnerability is discovered on one of the registered websites. Additionally, 1Password partners with Have I Been Pwned to notify you if one of your addresses has been compromised following a data breach.
Simply click on the different rating fields to see the accounts that are rated as weak. If necessary, you can easily change the password using the 1Password generator – this allows up to 100 characters.
The Watchtower interface (hopefully). // Source: ScreenshotShare ID cards with family
If you subscribe to a family offer (5.7 euros per month if paid annually), you can share all or part of your safe with your family members.
Five people can share a 1Password account on an unlimited number of devices. Practical, for example, to always have the WLAN password to hand.
Note that you may also occasionally share identifiers via a secure link. This can be set to expire after one use or limited to specific email addresses.
It is possible to grant access to certain parts of its manager. // Source: ScreenshotHow secure is 1Password?
1Password is a service from the Canadian company AgileBits. The country offers only partial protection of personal data compared to European Union standards. The CNIL, for example, points this out when monitoring compliance with the law.
However, this in no way calls into question the quality of the encryption offered by 1Password. In this case, the password manager benefits from a good reputation. At least until recently.
At the time of writing this review, AgileBits announced in October 2023 that it had been hacked. More specifically, it was the Okta platform that the company used to manage customer support that leaked certain data. Nevertheless, 1Password would like to reassure in its press release: No personal data or data related to customer safes were compromised.
1Password states that it has no way of knowing and therefore sharing the passwords stored in your vault. To ensure this, the company regularly carries out security audits, agrees on this point and underlines the overall good performance of the security architecture used. The reports can be viewed at this address.
Finally, 1Password hired specialist Bugcrowd to manage its target hunting program. All details can be found at this address. The company offers between $50 and $30,000 to computer security specialists who succeed in uncovering new vulnerabilities.
How much does a 1Password subscription cost?
1Password does not offer a free version. On the other hand, you can test the password manager for free for 14 days without having to provide a bank card. An excellent point.
Please note that the amounts are stated without VAT.
- Individual subscription: 2.65 euros per month or 31.80 euros per year;
- Family subscription (5 users): 4.75 euros per month or 57 euros per year;
- Teams subscription (10 users): 16.95 euros per month or 203.40 euros per year;
- Business subscription: 6.99 euros per user per month or 83.88 euros per year.
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