1Password vs. Apple Passwords app: Why I’m not ready to switch

With iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, Apple turned iCloud Keychain into a full-blown password manager with a dedicated Passwords app. While it’s a useful addition, I am not ready to give up on 1Password and switch to the Apple Passwords app yet.

The latter suffers from several limitations that prevent it from becoming a versatile password manager.

1Password vs. Apple Passwords app: Why I’m not ready to switch

With all the security threats lurking online these days, setting up unique, complex passwords for every website or app you use is mandatory. However, keeping track of all those random strings of letters and symbols is impossible without a password manager to safely store everything. When pitting 1Password versus the Apple Passwords app, you can see that they both perform this basic — and very necessary — function well.

However, 1Password is my password manager of choice. I have been using it for a few years now, safely stashing away all my login credentials, bank account details, credit card information and more in the app. While not perfect, 1Password plays a big role in keeping my online world safe and secure.

On paper, Apple’s dedicated Passwords app, which arrived in iOS 18, seems like a great free alternative to 1Password. And while it might work for basic use, certain limitations mean it cannot replace 1Password for me. If you use another third-party password manager, like Dashlane or LastPass, this likely will hold true for you.

1. Superior cross-platform compatibility

One of the biggest drawbacks of Apple’s Passwords app is its poor compatibility with non-Apple devices. It works perfectly on iPhones, iPads and Macs. And you can access your passwords stored in iCloud through the iCloud app on Windows and the iCloud Passwords Chrome extension. (The latter also works with other Chromium-based browsers.)

However, the extension has its own issues, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly negative reviews on the Chrome extension store. This includes a frustrating habit of frequently asking for a verification code.

Apple recently released an iCloud Passwords extension for Firefox. But again, the experience proves buggy. In comparison, 1Password’s Chrome extension provides a much better experience, seamlessly autofilling details in websites and forms.

Worse, if you use an Android device, you cannot access or autofill your login credentials stored in iCloud Keychain. Similarly, Linux compatibility is nonexistent. This is a big limitation, as a password manager should be available on all major platforms.

2. 1Password vs. Apple Passwords app: Which is more feature-rich and powerful?

1Password also packs a lot more features than the Apple Passwords app. A lot more. For instance, you can create multiple password vaults, separating your work and personal login details. Even better, you can share each vault with different people for greater flexibility.

One feature of the 1Password browser extension that stands out is its autofill and autologin capability. It can not only fill in your login credentials but also log you in automatically on websites. You don’t need to manually press the login button after the extension autofills the username and password. This might not seem like a big deal, but it makes logging into websites much faster.

In contrast, Apple Passwords will only autofill the saved credentials, not log you in automatically.

1Password also offers Watchtower, a security feature that keeps your account and login credentials safe. It monitors your account for security breaches, weak passwords, expiring items and unsecured websites you might visit. And it will promptly notify you about any of them.

The Apple Passwords app offers a security panel that displays compromised passwords, but the feature is not as robust or proactive as 1Password’s Watchtower.

3. Save more than just passwords

I use 1Password to save more than login credentials to various websites. It acts as a hub for all the important information of my life. I store my IDs, driver’s license, bank account details, credit/debit card information and more.

Apple’s Passwords app lacks this feature, only offering the ability to save login credentials with a note attached. This limitation reduces its overall usefulness, making it a rather basic password manager.

4. Customizable home screen

The 1Password app is also a lot more customizable than Apple Passwords. You can personalize 1Password’s home screen to show your frequently accessed and important information upfront. Similarly, when saving new login details, 1Password allows you to add options like date, phone and Sign In With. And if that’s not enough, you can add a custom field or attach a file with an entry.

Another deficiency of Apple’s Password app is that it does not let you customize the passwords it generates. This can prove problematic on some websites. With 1Password, I can customize the password’s length and type for greater flexibility.

5. Securely share saved items with others

There are times when I might want to share login credentials or bank account details with a friend or family member for a limited time. 1Password provides robust sharing options for this, including generating a one-time, view-only link. Or I can set the link to expire after a specified number of days.

This is not possible with Apple Passwords. Like 1Password, you can create a family group to share important credentials. The only other way to share login credentials is via AirDrop. If you want to share login details with someone outside the family for one-time use, you must copy-paste the details manually. This creates a security risk, as a third-party app might leak the shared login details.

Two areas where Apple Password trumps 1Password

Despite being a superior solution, 1Password pales in comparison to the Apple Passwords app in some aspects.

1. Ease of use

Apple Passwords is simple to use, has almost no learning curve, and seamlessly integrates with other Apple devices. Its limited features and simple interface make it ideal for people not well-versed in using a password manager.

While 1Password is available on all Apple devices and can integrate with Safari, the Apple Passwords integration works a lot more reliably.

2. Free

Apple Passwords is free to use. This gives it a big advantage over 1Password and other password managers, which typically charge after a paid trial.

So the price is definitely right. And, despite its limitations, Apple’s password manager gets the basics right. It will do a fine job keeping your login credentials safe. And that’s very important.

Apple Passwords needs a few more updates

Slowly but steadily, Apple did a good job of transforming iCloud Keychain into a stand-alone password manager. The dedicated Passwords app is another big step in that direction. However, there’s still a lot that needs to be addressed if the company wants to sherlock third-party password managers and make Apple Passwords the default choice for most users.

Based on Apple’s progress, we could see it making further improvements to Apple Passwords with iOS 19 next year. But until then, I have little reason to switch from 1Password.

Download: Apple Passwords app from the App Store

Download: 1Password from the App Store or from the company