Bitwarden vs Dashlane: Which Security & VPN Tool Is Better in 2026?

Bitwarden

From $0.83

Dashlane

From $4.99

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Bitwarden

Bitwarden is the stronger pick for budget-conscious buyers and open-source advocates, since it starts at $0.83 per seat versus $4.99 for Dashlane and matches Dashlane on every feature listed here. Dashlane is the better fit for executives and consumers who want an all-in-one package with a bundled hotspot VPN and phishing protection, and it brings a longer operating history dating to 2009. Neither tool offers a kill switch or multi-hop routing, so buyers seeking advanced VPN routing should look beyond both.

Bitwarden's entry plan ($0.83) is 83% cheaper than Dashlane's ($4.99).
Both offer a free plan, so you can test them side by side at no cost.
They cover the same 6 of 8 core features we track, so price and UX decide.

Try Bitwarden →Try Dashlane →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
Bitwarden · per user	$4.15	$50
Dashlane · per user	$24.95	$299

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Cost-sensitive team rolling out shared vaults	Bitwarden	Bitwarden starts at $0.83 per seat versus $4.99 per seat for Dashlane, with the same team management console.
Buyer wanting a password manager plus bundled VPN	Dashlane	Dashlane's tagline describes a bundled hotspot VPN and phishing protection; Bitwarden lists no VPN capability.
Open-source advocate	Bitwarden	Bitwarden is positioned as open-source and lists open-source advocates among its best-fit audiences.
Developer needing CLI and API access	Tie	Both tools list developer CLI and API access as available features.
Executive wanting dark web alerts in one package	Dashlane	Dashlane lists executives and consumer password and dark web alerts among its best-fit audiences, and includes dark web monitoring.

Feature comparison: Bitwarden vs Dashlane

Feature	Bitwarden	Dashlane
Free plan	✅	✅
Starting price	$0.83 /user/mo	$4.99 /user/mo
Independent no-logs security audit	✅	✅
Automatic kill switch & DNS leak shield	—	—
Multi-hop double encryption routing	—	—
Zero-knowledge encrypted password vault	✅	✅
Biometric / hardware security key 2FA	✅	✅
Dark web breach monitoring & alerts	✅	✅
Centralized team admin console	✅	✅
Developer CLI & API access	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

Bitwarden

Lowest starting price at $0.83 per seat
Open-source, zero-knowledge positioning
Matches Dashlane across all eight compared features
Free plan available

No kill switch or multi-hop routing
No bundled VPN, unlike Dashlane's hotspot VPN
Younger company, founded in 2016 versus 2009

Try Bitwarden →

Dashlane

Bundled hotspot VPN and phishing protection
Longer operating history, founded in 2009
Dark web monitoring and team console included
Free plan available

Higher starting price at $4.99 per seat
No kill switch or multi-hop routing
Not positioned as open-source

Try Dashlane →

COMMUNITY POLL

Which tool would you pick for your stack?

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At a glance

Bitwarden

Open-source, zero-knowledge password management trusted by millions.

Founded 2016 · From $0.83 · 6/8 tracked features

Best for: open-source advocates, budget-friendly team vaults

See Bitwarden alternatives →

Dashlane

All-in-one password manager with bundled hotspot VPN and phishing protection.

Founded 2009 · From $4.99 · 6/8 tracked features

Best for: executives, consumer password and dark web alerts

See Dashlane alternatives →

FAQ

Is Bitwarden cheaper than Dashlane?

Yes. Bitwarden starts at $0.83 per seat and Dashlane at $4.99 per seat, both billed per seat.

Do both tools include a password vault and dark web monitoring?

Yes. Both list a zero-knowledge encrypted password vault and dark web breach monitoring with alerts.

Does either tool offer a VPN kill switch or multi-hop routing?

No. Both list kill switch and multi-hop routing as unavailable; Dashlane's tagline mentions a bundled hotspot VPN.

Which tool has been around longer?

Dashlane, founded in 2009, versus Bitwarden, founded in 2016.

Do both offer team management and API access?

Yes. Both list a centralized team admin console and developer CLI and API access.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Security & VPN tools →