NordPass vs 1Password
NordPass and 1Password both offer polished apps on every major platform. NordPass wins on price and simplicity, while 1Password offers more advanced features, richer form filling and an extra Secret Key layer of protection.
| NordPass | 1Password | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Price | From $1.49/mo | From $2.99/mo |
| Free plan | Free plan | No free plan (14-day trial) |
| Open-source | No | No |
| Zero-knowledge | Yes | Yes |
| Family plan | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Win / Mac / Linux / iOS / Android / Browser | Win / Mac / Linux / iOS / Android / Browser |
Our Take
Pick NordPass if you want a simple, affordable password manager — especially if you already use NordVPN. Pick 1Password if you want the most capable and reliable manager and are happy to pay a little more for it.
Security
NordPass uses XChaCha20 encryption and 1Password uses AES-256 plus a Secret Key; both are zero-knowledge and independently audited, and neither has a disclosed vault breach. 1Password’s Secret Key adds extra protection if its servers were ever compromised.
Price and free plans
NordPass starts from $1.49 a month and has a free plan limited to one active device at a time. 1Password starts from $2.99 a month and has no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
Features
1Password offers more: Watchtower security alerts, Travel Mode, secure link sharing with non-users and developer tools. NordPass covers the essentials — password health, breach scanning, passkeys and sharing — with fewer advanced options.
Everyday use
Both are easy to use. NordPass is slightly simpler for beginners; 1Password gives you more control, including filling addresses, cards and one-time codes and handling several accounts for the same site.
Who should pick which
- Beginners on a budget: NordPass.
- Power users, families and businesses: 1Password.
- Want it free on every device: Bitwarden.
Strengths at a glance
NordPass does better at:
- price, with one of the lowest paid plans among major password managers;
- a clean, beginner-friendly design with very little to configure;
- a free plan for people who only use one device at a time;
- one account for anyone already using NordVPN.
1Password does better at:
- filling complex forms, including addresses, cards and one-time codes;
- advanced features such as Watchtower, Travel Mode and developer tools;
- family and business administration;
- an extra layer of protection through the Secret Key.
Real-world scenarios
A student with one laptop and a phone. NordPass’s free plan only allows one active device at a time, so you’d quickly want Premium — which is still one of the cheapest paid plans available. 1Password would cost more for features a student rarely needs.
A couple sharing streaming, utility and banking logins. Both handle shared items well. 1Password’s shared vaults and recovery tools make it easier to organise a household and help a partner who forgets their master password; NordPass is simpler but offers fewer controls over who can do what.
A freelancer or small business. 1Password’s admin console, activity reports and secure link sharing with clients make it the stronger work tool. NordPass Business is a reasonable, cheaper option for a small team that only needs shared credentials and basic oversight.
A NordVPN subscriber. NordPass keeps everything under the same Nord account and support team, which is convenient if you value one bill and one app family.
Switching between them
Both managers import passwords from browsers and from each other’s export files. Export your vault, import it, check a few important logins and then delete the export file, which contains your passwords in plain text. Try the new app alongside the old one for a week — 1Password’s 14-day trial or NordPass’s free plan is enough to see which one works better on the sites you actually use.
How we compared them
We compared both managers using their official documentation, published audit reports, current plan pages and public security history, and scored each with the same weighted criteria for every manager, explained in our methodology. Prices are list prices at the time of our last update; promotions and renewals can differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is NordPass as secure as 1Password? Both are zero-knowledge, audited and breach-free on record. 1Password’s Secret Key adds an extra layer if servers were ever compromised.
Can I use NordPass for free? Yes, but only on one active device at a time. 1Password has no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
Which is better for business? 1Password offers the more complete admin console; NordPass Business is simpler to roll out for smaller teams.