Password manager Dashlane has just announced a major decision that will affect millions of users: its free plan will be permanently discontinued on 16 September 2025. The decision is part of a strategy to streamline the company’s personal plans and focus its investment on security innovation.
It is bad news and, as those who have read our article on the digital hygiene rules to follow for optimal security know, password managers are essential.
What will happen to the free Dashlane plan?
The end of the free Dashlane plan was in fact predictable. Since October 2023, the free plan had already been severely limited, allowing only 25 passwords stored on a single device. That restriction had already pushed many users to look for alternatives.
Until 16 September 2025, current free plan users will get a free trial of the Premium features, including unlimited password storage, multi-device access and real-time phishing protection. An exclusive 50% discount is available until 12 August 2025 with the codes PRSAVE50 or FFSAVE50.
Your options after the end of the free Dashlane plan
After 16 September 2025, free Dashlane users will have several options:
Move to a paid plan: Dashlane Premium (€3.65 a month billed annually) or Friends & Family (€5.50 a month for 10 accounts) will let you keep full access to your data.
Export your data: users will have a full year, until 16 September 2026, to export their passwords in CSV format. Note, however, that passkeys cannot be exported because there is no open standard for their portability.
Permanent deletion: after this deadline, inactive accounts will be permanently deleted along with all associated data.
Alternatives to the free Dashlane plan
For users who want to keep a free password manager, several solutions exist without the drastic limitations imposed by Dashlane:
Bitwarden remains one of the benchmarks for free password managers, offering unlimited password storage and unrestricted multi-device sync. Its open-source code reassures transparency-minded users.
Proton Pass and LogMeOnce are also credible alternatives, with generous features in their free versions.
Apple’s and Google’s built-in solutions are viable options for users who stay within their respective ecosystems, although they lack advanced features.
Migration: best practices
Migrating from the free Dashlane plan requires a few precautions. The CSV export must be done before the deadline, and users who have set up passkeys will need to recreate them manually on their new platform.
It is crucial not to give up on using a password manager. These tools remain essential for good security hygiene, thanks in particular to their compromised password alerts, random secret generation and protection against phishing sites.
Dashlane’s decision illustrates the market trend towards monetising security services, but it is also an opportunity to discover alternatives that are often more generous in their free plans.
Frequently asked questions
The free Dashlane plan will be permanently discontinued on 16 September 2025.
Yes, you will have until 16 September 2026 to export your data in CSV format.
No, passkeys cannot be exported because there is no portability standard.
Bitwarden, Proton Pass and LogMeOnce offer generous features without major limitations.
The 50% discount until 12 August can be attractive, but compare it with free alternatives before committing.
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