Dashlane Password Manager 2023 Review

Summary

Dashlane is the most popular password manager, and for good reason. It works on all major operating systems, offers a range of advanced features, and is super secure (256-bit encryption). The company practices zero-knowledge policy, and the paid version of the app boasts a basic VPN.

Pros:

• Dark web monitoring
• VPN
• Biometric login option
• Auto-lock and auto-logout features
• Available on major operating systems
• Cross-platform compatibility
• 256-bit encryption

Cons:

• No VPN in the free version
• Limited functionality of the Password Changer

Security & Performance

Dashlane is a powerful yet simple app. Here’s a quick overview of the initial setup, main security features, and ease of use.

Setup

The app is a quick install, and the installation file is available directly on the developer’s site. It is available to Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android users. Also, it gravitates more toward online protection and not so much for apps and programs on your device.

Upon installation, Dashlane will prompt you to create your account. You should provide your email address and password, which is a standard routine for this type of apps. The master password has to be at least eight characters long and contain one upper case letter and a number.

After setting up the account, Dashlane will offer to import your login credentials stored in your browsers. The supported browsers for this include Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer. Please note that this wouldn’t be classified as a safe transfer. Also, you can opt to import passwords from several other password management apps, including RoboForm and LastPass.

Security

In the security section, Dashlane offers a broad range of quality tools on all the supported platforms. The app uses the now-standard AES-256 end-to-end encryption to protect your data. Along with it, it would be wise to enable two-factor authentication and boost the safety of your account further.

Like many developers in this niche, the company behind Dashlane uses zero-knowledge policy. That means that they don’t have your account’s master password on their servers; your device is the only place where it is stored.

If you fail to edit the important settings in five minutes, Dashlane will automatically lock you out. You will have to use your biometric key (if you’re using Windows Hello or finger scanner on your phone) to activate the app again. Also, you can set the app to log out automatically after a period of inactivity. The minimum period is 15 minutes.

Ease of Use

Dashlane has a user-friendly interface across all platforms and is easy to use. You can easily synchronize it among your devices, even if they’re using different operating systems.

In the beginning, new users can opt to go through explanations of main features, though experienced users can quickly dismiss them. That said, the intuitive design of the menus should prove friendly enough for even complete beginners.

Whenever you create a new account, Dashlane will ask if you want to save the password to the app’s vault. It will also notify you whenever a password got changed on a registered account. Also, when you’re logging in, you can go to the site in question, or you can select it via the Search function on the app’s dashboard.

If you want to change a password, you can do so manually or get the app’s Password Changer feature to do that for you. While handy, this feature has some limitations. More on that later.

Android and iOS versions of the app have the options and features neatly tucked away in a side menu. You can access the menu on both platforms with a single swipe.

Features

The company behind the app advertizes Dashlane as a password manager. However, Dashlane can do more than a typical password manager app. Here’s more on Dashlane’s advanced features.

Digital ID and Passport

The app allows you to add your ID and passport data to the vault. You can also write secure notes and create a wallet. The latter can track your credit cards and other online payment accounts such as PayPal.

Password Changer

Dashlane’s Password Changer is a neat feature that can help you increase the safety of some essential accounts. However, it only works with some 550+ sites that have opted to join the program. Unfortunately, you will have to change passwords manually on other websites.

You should also note that Password Changer will use the site info you imported in the setup phase. So, if you manually changed the password after the installation, you will have to provide the current password manually.

Dark Web Monitoring

Through a feature called Dard Web Monitoring, Dashlane can track the safety of your data. It will keep an eye on your emails, phone numbers, credit card details, and other sensitive data and inform you as to how safe or unsafe they are.

However, you will first have to verify each detail that you’d like to track via this feature. The app will send you notifications should a problem arises.

VPN

Dashlane also offers a VPN feature on all platforms. However, only paying customers can access it. You can install this feature with one click or tap, depending on the platform. It is a simplified VPN that doesn’t allow you to select the server. Instead, the app chooses one for you.

Biometric Login

Windows users can also activate Windows Hello, a feature that allows you to log into your account with your biometric data. Android and iOS apps can use the fingerprint scanner instead. Either way, you can bring the safety of your Dashlane account to a whole new level.

Disclosure