1Password is a cross-platform password manager with advanced sharing and team features, while Apple Keychain is a built-in solution limited to Apple devices with tighter OS integration. 1Password offers significantly more flexibility across ecosystems; Apple Keychain offers zero-cost convenience for Apple-only users.
1Password vs Apple Keychain — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Zero-knowledge password manager with end-to-end encryption and strong focus on security architecture.
Built-in Apple password manager integrated with iCloud+ for encrypted cloud sync.
Cross-Platform Support. Annual Subscription Cost. Team/Family Sharing Vaults. Watchtower Security Monitoring. Password Generation Options. Emergency Access Feature. Device Authentication Methods
Choose 1Password if you use multiple operating systems, need team collaboration features, want advanced security monitoring, or value granular sharing controls. Choose Apple Keychain if you exclusively use Apple devices, want zero cost, prefer seamless OS integration, and have simple password management needs.
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: Never breached | 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—designate trusted contacts | Apple Keychain: Not available
1Password: $36.99 | Apple Keychain: Free (with iCloud+)
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: 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: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Web | Apple Keychain: 3 platforms (Mac, iOS, iPadOS)
1Password: 84+ billion known compromises | Apple Keychain: No monitoring
1Password: View, Edit, Manage permissions per item | Apple Keychain: Basic shared family vault only
1Password: 20+ options (length, symbols, diceware, words, etc.) | Apple Keychain: 4-5 basic options
1Password: App-based, works across ecosystems | Apple Keychain: Native system-wide integration on Apple devices
1Password: No—paid plans only | Apple Keychain: Yes—free with iCloud+ ($2.99+/month)
1Password: AES-256 with 256-bit PBKDF2 | Apple Keychain: 256-bit AES encryption via iCloud+
1Password: All data (passwords, documents, notes) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Add-on only ($4.99/month) | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Teams/Business plans only | Apple Keychain: N/A
1Password: Not available | 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 119 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 1Password with non-Apple devices?
Yes. 1Password works on Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and has a web interface. Apple Keychain is exclusively for Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad). If you need cross-platform password management, 1Password is the only choice.
Does Apple Keychain warn me if my passwords are compromised?
Apple Keychain does not have dedicated breach monitoring. It only alerts you if a password matches known compromises during login attempts in Safari. 1Password actively monitors 84+ billion known breached credentials and alerts you proactively to any matches in your vault.
Can I share passwords with my team using these managers?
1Password offers unlimited shared vaults with granular permission controls (View, Edit, Manage) for both individual and team plans—ideal for businesses. Apple Keychain has basic family sharing but no team collaboration or granular permissions, making it unsuitable for workplace use.
What happens to my passwords if I stop paying for 1Password?
You retain access to your vault and can export your data even without an active subscription. However, you lose cloud sync, automatic updates, and new features. Apple Keychain remains free as long as you maintain an iCloud+ subscription (starting at $2.99/month).
Is 1Password more secure than Apple Keychain?
Both use strong encryption, but 1Password offers more security features: real-time breach monitoring, Travel Mode, Emergency Access, and hardware key support. Apple Keychain relies on Apple's Secure Enclave and is highly secure for Apple devices only. 1Password's advantage is proactive breach detection and advanced features.
How to Choose Between 1Password and Apple Keychain
Cross-Platform Support: 1Password has Windows, Mac, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Linux, Web, while Apple Keychain has Mac, iOS, iPadOS only.
Annual Subscription Cost: 1Password has $36.99/year (Individual) or $99.99/year (Family), while Apple Keychain has $0 (free with iCloud+).
Team/Family Sharing Vaults: 1Password has Unlimited shared vaults with granular permission controls, while Apple Keychain has Basic family sharing, no granular permissions.
Consider: Watchtower Security Monitoring
Watchtower Security Monitoring: 1Password has Real-time breach monitoring with 84+ billion known compromises, while Apple Keychain has No dedicated breach monitoring feature.
Password Generation Options: 1Password has 20+ customization options (length, symbols, words, diceware), while Apple Keychain has Basic length and character type options.
Emergency Access Feature: 1Password has Designate trusted contacts who can access vault in emergency, while Apple Keychain has Not available.
Device Authentication Methods: 1Password has Biometric, passwords, hardware keys, account recovery codes, while Apple Keychain has Biometric, device passcode, Face ID/Touch ID only.