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PCMag UK

Dashlane 2.0

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
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65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS
It's hard to believe, but Dashlane 4 is even slicker and easier to use than its predecessor. It fully supports seven languages now, and can automatically change passwords on 500 websites. This very capable password manager earns a rare five stars. - Dashlane 2.0
4.5 Outstanding

The Bottom Line

Dashlane 2.0 is better than ever, with automatic form field capture, security breach alerts, secure sharing of login credentials, and a new browser extension for Firefox and Chrome (but not for Internet Explorer).
Best Deal£2.60

Buy It Now

£2.60

Pros & Cons

    • Free to use on a single device.
    • Walks new users through features.
    • Supports Google Authenticator.
    • Saved details available from online portal.
    • Generates strong passwords or rates new passwords as you type.
    • New browser extension for Firefox and Chrome.
    • Secure password sharing.
    • Rates all passwords and helps replace weak ones.
    • Keeps a record of online purchases.
    • Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
    • Security breach alerts.
    • Fewer two-factor authentication options than LastPass.
    • Sync between devices only for paid edition.
    • Failed to capture some oddball logins.
    • No new browser extension for Internet Explorer.

Dashlane 2.0 Specs

Product Category Encryption
Product Category Password Managers
Product Category Security
Product Category Software
Product Price Type Direct
All Specs

When your password manager is famed for its slick interface and ease of use, finding ways to improve can be tough. But don't worry, the folks at Dashlane are up to the challenge. Dashlane 4 is even slicker, more attractive, and easier to use. But that's not all. Its automated password changer now handles more than twice as many popular sites, and advanced features like emergency access and secure sharing keep Dashlane at the top of the heap. The recent addition of support for the U2F (Universal Two-Factor) authentication protocol from the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance is an excellent bonus. And despite these enhancements, the price is the same, $39 per year.

You access Dashlane in two distinct ways. Most of the time the small menu that you pull down from the browser toolbar button is sufficient, but for some activities you need to open the full user interface. And, of course, it captures credentials as you log in and replays them when you revisit sites without any need for either the pull-down menu or the full interface.

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Final Thoughts

It's hard to believe, but Dashlane 4 is even slicker and easier to use than its predecessor. It fully supports seven languages now, and can automatically change passwords on 500 websites. This very capable password manager earns a rare five stars. - Dashlane 2.0

Dashlane 2.0

4.5 Outstanding

Dashlane 2.0 is better than ever, with automatic form field capture, security breach alerts, secure sharing of login credentials, and a new browser extension for Firefox and Chrome (but not for Internet Explorer).

Get It Now
Best Deal£2.60

Buy It Now

£2.60

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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