Hidden Fees & Dummy Features
Dashlane is very straightforward about what they are offering you. Every feature observed has a purpose and a utility that can be accessed immediately. I did not find a single feature that was out of place. They passed this test with flying colors.
Upon installation, Dashlane gives you the option to import all the passwords you have stored in your web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, IE, Safari). There is also an option to import data from other password managers. Once you’ve imported your passwords, you can search or sort them by category. After the browser extension is installed, you will likely need to sign into sites again using Dashlane’s autofill for logins. By default, most password managers will clear the stored logins from your browse, as your native browser’s password manager is far less secure than other providers. No great hassle here, but something to be aware of.
Features
You can find Dashlane’s features neatly organized on the left side of the native app. First, you have the vault, where you can manage passwords, notes, personal info, payments, IDs, and Receipts. Following that is Security, you can access their Dark Web Monitoring to see if any of your information is at risk on the other side of the internet. This is also where you find your password health. When using Dashlane for my personal account, rather than my work account, I found that my password health sat at an abysmal 50/100. Fortunately, they made it easy to fix my dozens of reused and weak passwords. I simply had to log into those sites again with Dashlane and bask in my newfound internet security.
Customer Support
I ran two customer support tests, one before purchasing and one after. The first was just an inquiry on the features and the VPN. The representative I talked to was very helpful and knowledgeable, I would anticipate that they would be able to resolve any further issues I would have had. The second test went a little differently, they took a bit longer to respond and passed me off between multiple representatives. It wasn’t as straightforward or streamlined as the other support I received but still got the job done in a relatively timely manner.
If you need answers fast, you can use the knowledge base, the FAQ library, ticket system, or the chatbot.
Evaluation
Tallying up the scores was interesting for Dashlane, as many of their premium features fall outside of the scope of traditional password managers. We break up our ratings into 4 categories each weighted at 25%: Use, Support, Price, and Features. Let’s start with use.
USE: 9.5/10
Dashlane offers a simple and digestible user interface that puts everything you need right within reach. The interface is clean and modern, the add-ons and extensions do not clutter up your browser, and the password management is clean and minimal on-screen. Every feature is simple to access and made easily available. Beyond just password managers, Dashlane offers some of the best user experiences one can find.
Support: 8/10
As mentioned in my Customer Support section, of the two support instances I observed, one was resolved almost immediately and the other was resolved in a relatively timely manner. The second brings the score down as I got a little whiplash going back and forth between representatives.
Price: 8.5/10
It is tough for Dashlane to merit a score, when judging as a password manager, higher than 7. As the most expensive option we have tested, there was nothing offered as a password manager that other providers didn’t already offer for half the price. The features, which we will get to in a moment, certainly merited the price but the cost as a password manager lowers their score due to the overall price. Still a great bang for your buck considering the other features, but not the best overall deal on the market as a password manager.
Features: 10/10
From Dark Web Monitoring to a stellar VPN to a tremendous password management experience, Dashlane offers everything you could want and more from a password manager. Dashlane has affixed itself firmly into the “Swiss Army Knife” category of software on my computer. Usually, my standard for good software is do very little very well. Dashlane blows that standard out of the water as they do a very great amount, very very well.
Overall score: 9.6/10
While this isn’t a 10/10 score, I certainly have had a 10/10 experience with Dashlane. Very pleased with this product and I will continue to use it going forward.
If you are looking for a Dashlane alternative, these password managers are also worth considering:
1Password Review
LastPass Review
