About 1Password
1Password is the one to pick if you want the smoothest experience and are happy to pay. Its extension fills logins, saves new ones, generates passwords and handles passkeys in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and Brave. It pairs with the desktop app through native messaging, which enables features such as system-level unlock.
The design differs from most rivals. Your data is protected by your account password and a separate 128-bit Secret Key that only you hold, so a stolen password alone is not enough to decrypt a vault. 1Password says everything in an account is end-to-end encrypted and that independent experts regularly assess it. It holds SOC 2 Type 2 certification and runs a bug bounty on HackerOne.
The code is not open, so those assessments are what you have to go on. In October 2023 1Password disclosed suspicious activity on its internal Okta account, caused by Okta's own support-system breach, and reported no compromise of user data. There is no permanent free plan, only a 14-day trial, then individual and family plans. If you want a free option, look at Bitwarden. If you want polish and will pay for it, this is it.
Pros and cons
- Secret Key plus password protects your account, not just a master password
- Polished autofill and a clean interface
- Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and Brave
- No user data compromised in the 2023 Okta incident, per 1Password
- No permanent free plan, only a free trial
- Closed source, so you cannot read the code yourself
- The extension works best alongside the desktop app
Permissions
It requests access to all websites so it can fill logins, plus native messaging to talk to the 1Password desktop app. It also asks for browser management and privacy permissions.
