1Password review 2026: security, features and price

1Password is a polished, security-focused password manager that suits households and teams who want a smooth experience and are happy to pay for it. Its Secret Key design, passkey support and EU account region are real strengths. The price, the lack of a free plan and the closed-source code are the main reasons to look at Bitwarden or Proton Pass instead. This review is an editorial assessment based on vendor documentation, public audit information and price lists, not a laboratory test. For context, see our best password managers comparison.

How we assess it

We apply the same criteria to every manager on this site: encryption model (zero knowledge), independent audits, passkey support, server location and EU option, recovery, export and switching, price (October 2026) and platforms.

Verdict in short

Recommended for: families, small teams and non-technical users who want the least friction. Less suitable for: people who want a free plan, open-source code or the lowest price. Alternatives: Bitwarden and Proton Pass.

Security

1Password uses end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption. What sets it apart is the two-secret model: your account password combines with a Secret Key, a long random value generated on your device and not stored on 1Password’s servers. An attacker who steals encrypted data from the server therefore needs both secrets, which makes brute-forcing a weak master password impractical. The flip side is that you must store the Secret Key safely, for example in the Emergency Kit PDF that 1Password prompts you to print or save.

On audits, 1Password has commissioned third-party assessments over the years, including by the firm Cure53, and states that it holds certifications such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001. The code is not open source, but the company publishes a security design white paper and runs a bug bounty. Compared with Bitwarden, you rely more on the company’s own publications than on public code.

Features

• Passkeys: 1Password can create, store and fill passkeys across browsers and mobile devices and sign you in with them. See passkeys explained for the basics.
• Watchtower: flags weak, reused or breached passwords and sites that support passkeys or two-factor codes.
• Built-in authenticator: stores one-time codes next to the login.
• Sharing: shared vaults with permission levels for family and teams, and secure item sharing with people outside the account.
• Developer tools: command-line tool and SSH key management.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the major browsers.
• Autofill: consistently rated as smooth, including on mobile.

Recovery, export and switching

1Password does not hold a copy of your keys, so it cannot reset a forgotten master password for an individual account. Recovery relies on your Emergency Kit. On Families plans, the organiser can help members regain access, and business admins have recovery tools. Set this up early, in line with our account recovery guide.

You can export to CSV and to 1Password’s own 1PUX format, which keeps more data such as attachments. Importing from other managers is well supported, so switching in and out is straightforward. CSV exports are unencrypted, so delete them immediately.

Prices (October 2026)

1Password raised its prices in March 2026. In the European account region, the figures reported by the provider are:

Plan	Yearly billing	Monthly billing	Notes
Individual	43.80 EUR per year	4.39 EUR per month	One user
Families	69.00 EUR per year	6.99 EUR per month	Up to 5 members
Business	About 8 USD per user and month		Plus a Starter Pack for small teams

There is no permanent free plan, only a 14-day trial. Prices vary by region and promotion, so check the provider’s page. Compare family options in our family password manager comparison.

Privacy and data location

1Password is a Canadian company. You choose the account region when you sign up: 1password.com (United States), 1password.ca (Canada) or 1password.eu (European Union, billed in euros). According to 1Password, the regions are separate. For GDPR-sensitive households and companies, the EU region is a useful option. Switching region means creating a new account and copying your items over.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths: the Secret Key adds protection that most competitors do not offer, the apps are consistent across platforms, family sharing and recovery by an organiser are easy to understand, and the EU region billed in euros is helpful for European households and companies. Developer features such as the command-line tool and SSH key handling are a bonus for technical users.

Weaknesses: the price is above Bitwarden and Proton Pass, especially after the 2026 increase, there is no permanent free plan, the code is closed, and the Secret Key adds a step when you sign in on a new device for the first time. Because the Secret Key is not stored by 1Password, losing it together with the master password and all signed-in devices is final.

Getting started in practice

On a new account, 1Password walks you through the Emergency Kit, a document with your account details and Secret Key that you should print or store offline. Install the browser extension and the mobile app, import your existing passwords from your browser or another manager, then work through the Watchtower list, starting with email and banking. Turn on two-factor authentication for the account and move key logins to passkeys where sites allow. Finally, test that you can sign in on a second device with the Emergency Kit in hand, so you know the recovery path works before you rely on it.

Who should skip it

If you only need the basics for one person and want to pay nothing, the free plans of Bitwarden or Proton Pass cover that. If open-source code is a requirement, 1Password is not the right fit. If you are very price sensitive in a large household, compare the family totals first.

Alternatives

• Bitwarden: open source, a generous free tier and an EU region. See the head-to-head Bitwarden vs 1Password.
• Proton Pass: a Swiss provider with aliases and a free plan.
• KeePassXC: local, free, for people who prefer to hold the file themselves.
• For the wider field, read about European password managers.

Conclusion

1Password earns its reputation for polish and a thoughtful security design. If you are happy to pay around 44 EUR per year for yourself or 69 EUR for a household of five and you value a smooth experience, it is an excellent choice, particularly with the EU region. If price, open source or a free plan matter most, Bitwarden or Proton Pass are better matches. Whichever you pick, set up recovery before you need it.