1Password is a cross-platform password manager with advanced features like travel mode and detailed security audits, while Apple Keychain is a free, native solution tightly integrated with Apple devices but limited to the Apple ecosystem. 1Password offers significantly more control and transparency, whereas Keychain prioritizes simplicity and seamless integration.
1Password vs Apple Keychain — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Premium proprietary password manager with advanced security features and polished native apps.
Built-in password manager integrated into macOS, iOS, and iCloud with free access
Cross-Platform Support. Cost. Security Audit Transparency. Travel Mode (Hide Vaults). Emergency Access. Device Integration. Password Sharing Vaults
Choose 1Password if you use multiple operating systems, need advanced security features like travel mode and emergency access, or want transparent third-party security audits. Choose Apple Keychain if you're fully committed to the Apple ecosystem, prefer zero additional cost beyond iCloud+, and value seamless native integration over advanced features.
1Password: $35.88/year | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 4.6/5.0 | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 84 reviews | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Proprietary | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Unlimited | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Web | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Never breached | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Trial only (not full free) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 83 reviews | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 1 primary + 5 additional (6 total) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Yes, native support | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Included in all plans | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Advanced with custom rules | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Wider compatibility across versions | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Limited storage in free tier | Apple Keychain: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Billing)
1Password: $2.99/month | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 4.7 stars | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 14 days | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Not included | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Limited | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Native app | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Full DevOps integration | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: AES-256 | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 5+ browsers | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 6+ methods | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $47.88/year (as of March 2026) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Not clearly defined | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 1 GB included | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Simple/Intuitive | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $71.88/year | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Real-time across all platforms | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $4.99/month (or $49.99/year) | Apple Keychain: Free (with iCloud+ at $0.99-9.99/month)
1Password: 6 major platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, web) | Apple Keychain: Apple only (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS)
1Password: 1 (Cure53 2022) | Apple Keychain: No published audits
1Password: Yes - temporarily remove vaults from device | Apple Keychain: No
1Password: ~500-800ms | Apple Keychain: ~200-300ms (native)
1Password: Yes - unlimited shared vaults for families/teams | Apple Keychain: Limited - iCloud Family Group sharing only
1Password: Yes - detailed breach reports included | Apple Keychain: Limited - basic breach alerts via iCloud
1Password: 7 platforms | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 3 methods | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Watchtower (proprietary scope) | Apple Keychain: N/A
Password Generator Customization Parameters
1Password: 15+ options | Apple Keychain: N/A
User Satisfaction Rating (G2 Reviews 2025)
1Password: 4.7/5 stars | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $19.99/month per user | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 690M+ (Watchtower) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 4.7/5.0 | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Closed-source with audits | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Yes, with time delay options | Apple Keychain: No
1Password: 6+ platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, web) | Apple Keychain: 4 platforms (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS)
1Password: 6 browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, Opera) | Apple Keychain: 1 browser (Safari only)
1Password: Unlimited | Apple Keychain: Single keychain (limited categorization)
1Password: Up to 5 users ($99.99/year) | Apple Keychain: Up to 6 users (iCloud Family, Apple-only)
1Password: Yes - designate trusted contacts | Apple Keychain: No
1Password: Advanced with granular permissions | Apple Keychain: Basic sharing only
1Password: 5+ billion (Watchtower) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Unlimited with granular permissions | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $119.99 | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Unlimited vaults | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: AES-256 + PBKDF2 | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera (5 major) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Unlimited (Teams plan starts at $34.99/user/year) | Apple Keychain: N/A
Advanced Sharing Permissions (Field-Level)
1Password: Available (edit, view-only, hide fields) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: AES-256 + PBKDF2 | Apple Keychain: 256-bit AES encryption via iCloud+
1Password: Unlimited (paid plan) | Apple Keychain: N/A
Two-Factor Authentication Methods Supported
1Password: 12 (TOTP, WebAuthn, SMS, email, etc.) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Yes, full local option available | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 8 (length, numbers, symbols, etc.) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $36/year | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $59.99/year | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Limited vault | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: No (proprietary) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: 2022 (4 years) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: $3.99/user/month | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: Passive monitoring on sign-in
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: Limited iCloud family sharing
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: Free with iCloud+ subscription
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: 4 platforms (Mac, iOS, iPad, Apple Watch)
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: Limited to Apple's curated alerts
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: Instant (pre-integrated)
1Password: N/A | Apple Keychain: Not supported
How to choose between 1Password and Apple Keychain
1Password vs Apple Keychain — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for 1Password vs Apple Keychain. Contains 111 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
1Password vs Apple Keychain — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for 1Password vs Apple Keychain.
Can I use Apple Keychain on Windows or Android?
No. Apple Keychain is exclusively for Apple devices (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS). If you use Windows, Android, or Linux, you need a third-party password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass. Some Apple passwords can be viewed through iCloud.com, but there's no native Windows or Android app.
Both use strong encryption, but 1Password provides more transparency. 1Password publishes third-party security audits (SOC 2 Type II certified) and annual penetration test results. Apple Keychain doesn't publish independent security audits, making it harder to verify its security claims. However, Apple's closed ecosystem means less external attack surface. For maximum transparency, 1Password wins; for ecosystem trust, Apple Keychain is solid.
Why would I pay for 1Password if Keychain is free?
1Password offers features Keychain lacks: cross-platform support (Windows/Android/Linux), Travel Mode for hiding vaults during border crossings, Emergency Access to grant trusted contacts account access, detailed security audits, and better sharing capabilities for families/teams. If you're 100% Apple-only and don't need these features, Keychain is sufficient. Otherwise, 1Password's $49.99/year cost often justifies the added functionality.
Does Keychain sync between my iPhone and Mac?
Yes, Apple Keychain syncs instantly across all your Apple devices via iCloud. As long as you're signed into the same Apple ID and have iCloud+ enabled, passwords, credit cards, and security codes sync automatically. 1Password also syncs across devices, but requires its own subscription rather than relying on iCloud.
What is Travel Mode and why do I need it?
Travel Mode (in 1Password) temporarily removes sensitive password vaults from your devices while traveling, especially useful when crossing borders where authorities might demand device access. You can selectively hide vaults and restore them later. Apple Keychain has no equivalent feature, so all passwords remain accessible on your device at all times.
How to Choose Between 1Password and Apple Keychain
Cross-Platform Support: 1Password has Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, web browsers, while Apple Keychain has Apple devices only (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS).
Cost: 1Password has $4.99/month or $49.99/year, while Apple Keychain has Free with iCloud+ subscription ($0.99-9.99/month).
Security Audit Transparency: 1Password has Third-party audits published (SOC 2 Type II, penetration tests), while Apple Keychain has No public security audits or penetration test results.
Travel Mode (Hide Vaults): 1Password has Yes - temporarily remove vaults from devices, while Apple Keychain has No - all passwords remain accessible.
Emergency Access: 1Password has Yes - designate trusted contacts to access account, while Apple Keychain has No emergency contact feature.
Device Integration: 1Password has Browser extensions + app autofill (good integration), while Apple Keychain has Native OS-level integration (superior for Apple users).
Password Sharing Vaults: 1Password has Yes - create shared vaults for families/teams, while Apple Keychain has Limited sharing via iCloud Family Group only.