Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access to online accounts. Unfortunately, passwords can be hard to manage. They’re either too simple and easy to crack or too complex to remember. And if you use the same password for multiple accounts, a single security breach could put all of your accounts at risk.
This is where password managers come in. Password managers help you create and store strong passwords for all your online accounts, and they make it easy to log in to those accounts without having to memorize all your passwords.
When it comes to paid password managers, two of the most popular options are 1Password and LastPass. We’ll compare these two password managers so you can choose the best one for your business in 2023 and beyond.
Both 1Password and LastPass use industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption with password-based key derivation function (PBKDF2) password hashing for the master password. This makes it extremely difficult to crack your master password, even if someone manages to access to your computer or device.
1Password goes one step further by using Secret Key, which is a 128-bit code that is generated when you first set up 1Password. The Secret Key is stored on your device; it is not shared with 1Password’s servers, which means even if 1Password got breached and your master password becomes compromised, your accounts would still be safe. So far, however, 1Password has never experienced a breach.
In contrast, LastPass suffered a major security breach in 2022. In this breach, the passwords and unencrypted data of millions of users became compromised. This data included contact numbers, billing addresses, email addresses, and IP addresses used to access LastPass. Alarmingly, LastPass was also hacked in 2015 and by the end of 2021, many LastPass users received email warnings that their master passwords had been compromised.
1Password and LastPass are available on a wide range of platforms, including mobile devices, desktops, and browsers. Both password managers offer web apps and browser extensions, but only 1Password has native desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
LastPass used to have a native desktop app for macOS, but it discontinued the macOS app in 2020 and replaced it with a web app that runs on the Safari extension. Its Windows desktop app is still available on the Microsoft Store but not on its company website.
There are several advantages to using native desktop apps over web apps. First, native desktop apps allow you to access your passwords offline, which can be useful if you have no internet connection or if the app servers are down. Second, native desktop apps are built specifically according to the developers’ guidelines, so they offer more features and better integration with your operating system than web apps. For example, the 1Password native desktop app for macOS allows you to use Touch ID to authenticate and autofill your passwords in Safari.
LastPass’s and 1Password’s business plans are similarly priced: LastPass charges $7 per user, per month, while 1Password charges $7.99 per user, per month.
Both password managers also offer team plans. LastPass’s Teams plan costs $4 per user per month (annual billing) for 50 users or fewer, while 1Password’s Teams Starter Pack costs $19.95 per month for 10 members.
Considering these three key factors, 1Password is clearly the better choice for businesses. This is why we at Interplay recommend 1Password to all our clients. And given LastPass’s multiple security incidents over the years, it’s safe to say that 1Password is the better choice in terms of security. Reach out to us today to learn more about 1Password and how we can help your business implement and manage it.
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