Passwords are the key to users’ online accounts and when you’re managing lots of accounts, storing passwords in a secure digital vault is vital. In this article, we’re going to compare 1Password vs. Keeper, two of the top password managers on the market, to see how they stack up.
1Password vs. Keeper: At a Glance
1Password is an extremely popular password manager that enables users to secure their passwords in an AES 256-bit encrypted digital vault. 1Password comes with two-factor authentication (2FA), password autosave and autofill. It also comes with dark web monitoring, which tells the user when their login credentials have been leaked online.
One of the key differentiators between 1Password and other password management solutions is that it provides users with multiple vaults. This means users can store elements such as passwords, forms, credit cards and other documents in separate locations.
Keeper is also a widely used password management solution in its own right, offering users AES 256-bit encrypted digital vaults with unlimited password storage. Users can log in to their vaults with multifactor and biometric authentication, and create strong passwords on demand.
The provider also offers an admin console where administrators can create teams and roles to enforce security policies across multiple accounts. This includes requiring users to configure a master password or choosing a single sign-on (SSO) provider for them to use to verify their identity.
How 1Password and Keeper Stack Up
1Password and Keeper each provide businesses with all the tools they need to help employees keep their passwords safe from credential theft. A high-level breakdown of each provider is outlined below:
1Password | Keeper | |
---|---|---|
Two-Factor Authentication | Yes | Yes |
Biometric Authentication | Yes | Yes |
Web Form Autofill | Yes | Yes |
Dark Web Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Secure File Storage | Yes | Yes |
Secrets Management | Yes | Yes |
Encryption | AES 256-bit and PBKDF2 encryption | AES 256-bit and PBKDF2 encryption |
Compliance | SOC 2 compliant (also audited by independent security firms) | SOC 2, ISO 27001 compliant, FedRAMP Authorized and StateRAMP Authorized |
Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome OS, Darwin, FreeBSD, OpenBSD | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
Browser Extensions | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Internet Explorer |
Pricing | Starts at $2.99 per month, billed annually | Starts at $2 per month, billed annually with a five-user minimum |
Support | 24/7 email support | 24/7 ticketing system |
Free Trial | 14-day free trial | 14-day free trial |
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Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) / Multifactor Authentication
1Password and Keeper each offer users a range of two-factor authentication options to prove their identity. For instance, 1Password supports logins via one-time passcodes, QR codes and other biometric login options. One-time passcodes can also be distributed via authentication apps including Microsoft Authenticator, Okta Verify and Authy.
Users can also use a U2F-compatible security key, such as YubiKey, to authenticate their identity with a physical device. This is a great option for businesses that want to protect their infrastructure against experienced cybercriminals.
Keeper’s capabilities are also wide-ranging, enabling users to authenticate with a time-based one-time passcode, which can be sent via SMS or an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator.
Users can also log in with face and touch recognition, hardware tokens or U2F-based physical keys such as YubiKey and wearables. It’s worth noting that admins can also customize authentication options for users.
Biometric Authentication
As mentioned above, 1Password and Keeper have their own biometric authentication options for users to choose from. 1Password supports touch, face and retina recognition so that users can log in to their digital vault without the need for a password.
The vendor integrates with a range of third-party services including Apple Touch ID, Microsoft Windows Hello and Google Android’s biometric unlock, which gives users more choice over how they log in.
Keeper also offers a variety of biometric login options, supporting logins via fingerprint, facial recognition and retina scan. However, what differentiates Keeper’s biometric login options from 1Password is its range of integrations.
Keeper SSO Connect (a product included with the Keeper Enterprise) can integrate with passwordless authentication solutions including Beyond Identity, PureID, HYPR, Veridium, Trusona, Octopus and TraitWare. The only drawback is that this is gated behind the custom Enterprise package.
Encryption
Both 1Password and Keeper provide users with AES 256-bit encryption bolstered with PBKDF2 to make it more difficult for hackers to brute-force hack users’ digital vaults. That being said, each provider takes a different approach to encrypting vault content.
For example, 1Password encrypts data at the vault level, whereas Keeper encrypts data at the level of individual records and folders. This means that Keeper provides more granular protection of individual records.
Dark Web Monitoring
Dark web monitoring is a feature that both 1Password and Keeper have to offer. 1Password Watchtower monitors reported data breaches via Have I Been Pwned (HIBP), a third-party breach monitoring service, and sends the user a notification if any of their stored passwords have been leaked online.
In contrast, Keeper offers its own dark web monitoring system called Keeper BreachWatch, an add-on for Keeper Password Manager, which scans an internet database of billions of records for leaked passwords and notifies the user if their leaked credentials have been identified. The tool also provides an audit history of each breached password for future reference.
Cost of 1Password vs. Keeper
Both 1Password and Keeper offer a range of pricing options for personal, family and business users. In this section, we’re going to focus on the Business plans provided by each vendor. 1Password offers four main packages: Individual, Families, Teams Starter Pack and Business.
The Individual plan starts at $2.99 per month billed annually, which supports an unlimited number of items and devices, and comes with 1GB of secure storage. The Families plan starts at $4.99 per month billed annually, and supports five family members.
Teams Starter Pack is 1Password’s entry business plan, which costs $19.95 per month, and supports up to 10 employees. The Business plan costs $7.99 per user, per month billed annually, and includes features such as SSO and automated provisioning and customizable reports. It also comes with 5GB of document storage and a free family plan for each user.
Keeper offers three main business packages: Business Starter, Business and Enterprise. Business Starter supports teams of five to 10 people and costs $2 per user per month billed annually. It includes an encrypted vault for each user, shared team folders, unlimited devices, activity reporting, team management and a free family plan for each user.
The Business plan costs $3.75 per user per month (billed annually), which includes everything in the Business Starter version plus delegated administration, advanced organizational structure and shared admin.
The Enterprise version is a customizable business package, which provides quote-based pricing. This version includes everything in the Business plan plus DUO and RSA two-factor authentication, single sign-on (SAML 2.0) authentication, automated team management and an integration with Azure.
Keeper also offers a Personal plan for $2.92 per month (billed annually) and a Family plan for $6.25 per month (billed annually).
Secrets Management
Secrets management is another capability that 1Password and Keeper support. 1Password provides a tool called Secrets Automation that can be used to store secrets such as API tokens, application keys and private certificates.
The solution integrates with third-party services including HashiCorp Vault, Terraform, Kubernetes, and Ansible, which enables users to share secrets directly with these services.
Keeper Secrets Manager is Keeper’s answer to secrets management, providing a cloud-based, zero-knowledge platform where users can store components such as passwords, API keys, access keys, certificates and other infrastructure credentials.
The platform enables admins to manage access rights with role-based access controls, and to automate the rotation of secrets among team members. It also integrates with a variety of third-party vendors including GitHub, Azure, AWS, GCP, Terraform, Docker Kubernetes, GitLab and XSOAR.
SSO
1Password and Keeper also offer businesses SSO options. With 1Password, users can access online accounts with SSO, and admins can decide what groups/user accounts will have SSO enabled.
When SSO is enabled, users can log in via a range of external identity providers including Azure Active Directory, OneLogin, Duo, Ping, JumpCloud and Okta.
Keeper SSO Connect also provides users with SSO logins, and can integrate with existing SSO solutions using SAML 2.0.
Supported providers include Microsoft Azure, Okta, Google Workspace, Centrify, OneLogin, Shibboleth, Duo, Ping Identity, JumpCloud, HENNGE One and Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS).
This gives Keeper the edge in terms of SSO coverage—the main limitation is that it’s gated behind a Keeper Enterprise subscription, whereas SSO is included within 1Password’s Business plan.
Top 1Password and Keeper Alternatives
Some of the top alternatives to 1Password and Keeper include popular password management tools such as Bitwarden, KeePass and LastPass.
Two-Factor Authentication | Biometric Authentication | Autofill Web Forms | Import Data From Browsers | Mobile PIN Unlock | Free Trial | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bitwarden | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
KeePass | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | $0 |
LastPass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
Bottom Line
1Password just takes the edge due to its diverse range of two-factor authentication and biometric login options, and the ability for users to create multiple digital vaults. Likewise, its zero-knowledge architecture approach, alongside secrets automation and dark web monitoring, provides teams with everything they need to protect against password-based threats.
1Password is best for:
- Multiple digital vaults
- Biometric authentication
- User experience
Keeper is best for:
- Record-level encryption
- SSO integration
- Biometric authentication options
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a 1Password account on all my devices?
1Password is compatible with all major operating systems and mobile platforms. Download the right mobile and desktop app or browser extension and get started.
What is a password manager?
A password manager is a digital vault where you can store passwords associated with your online accounts. Once you’ve stored a credential in your vault, your password manager can automatically enter it onto the websites that you visit so that you don’t need to enter your password manually each time.
Many password managers also provide the option to generate strong, unique passwords on demand.
Are password managers safe?
Yes. Storing your passwords in an encrypted digital vault is one of the best ways to store passwords for multiple accounts, and reduces the chance of you being tempted to reuse credentials or create weak passwords. Using a service with dark web monitoring also gives you a valuable heads-up if any of your login credentials have been leaked and are at risk of exploitation.
What is two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication is an authentication mechanism that requires users to verify their identity with more than one authentication option. Most multifactor authentication solutions require users to log in with a username and password, plus a one-time passcode, which is sent to them by email or SMS. This means that a hacker with your password alone won’t be able to log in to your account, unless they’ve achieved access to your email account or phone.