1Password vs OnlyKey (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, 1Password grades higher than OnlyKey: 2.8 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
1Password grades higher on the free plan, features and platforms. OnlyKey grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
1Password
Password manager for individuals, families and businesses
OnlyKey
USB hardware password manager and two-factor security key
Which one is for you
Pick 1Password if
- Fits if you want the same passwords and passkeys on Mac, Windows, Linux, both phones and every big browser
- Works for families of up to five sharing wifi and streaming logins, at $5.99 a month for all of them
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free password manager, since there's no free plan, only a 14-day trial
- Pricey if you only need one person's logins saved, at $3.99 a month when Bitwarden does it for nothing
- Watch out: the $2.99 and $4.49 prices are for a new customer's first year, then it's $3.99 and $5.99
- Not for you if you want someone to phone when it breaks, as reviewers got email only, days apart
- Tight if a small team needs single sign-on, which starts on Business at $8.99 a person, with Enterprise by quote
Pick OnlyKey if
- Fits if you want a hardware key and password storage in one device
- Works for people who want no software and a one-time purchase
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you lose things: without a backup key your passwords are gone, hence the two-pack
- Not for you if you want sync or a phone app, as none is listed
- Watch out: shipping is extra, and prices show in local currency
- Tight if you want browser autofill, as no extension is listed
How we grade them
| 2.8GPA1PasswordGood | 2.0GPAOnlyKeyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$3.99 a month on yearly billing ($2.99 only in year one) is the dear end of this category, where the middle plan is $2.99 and Bitwarden Premium is $1.65 with a free plan that may be all you need. Families is $5.99 for five people, about $1.20 each. | B$65.99 one-time equals the category's middle one-time price, under two years of a $2.99 subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | CThere's no free plan, only 14 days on any plan, no card needed. In a category where Bitwarden, Proton Pass, Apple and Google all give you a password manager for good, two weeks is thin. | FA physical device with no free plan and no trial. |
| Features | BAutofill for logins, cards and two-factor codes, passkeys, Watchtower alerts for leaked passwords, sharing by a link that expires, shared vaults and a command-line tool. That's what the category expects, and nothing here goes beyond its free rivals. | CPassword storage, 2FA, SSH and encryption. No sync, no phone app and no browser extension. |
| Ease of use | B4.67 from about 42,000 App Store ratings, a shade under our top mark. Reviewers who moved from version 7 to 8 found it harder, and some say autofill misses or it asks for the main password far too often. | BIt works without installing software, which keeps setup short. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | AMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and Apple Watch, with extensions for Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox and Brave. Business plans plug into Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin and Duo. | CWindows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, computers only. No phone app or extension on the pages read. |
| Best for | families and teams who share logins | a USB key that holds passwords and works as 2FA |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: 1Password and OnlyKey. How we grade
Where they differ
- 1Password is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- OnlyKey is open source, according to its own site.
- OnlyKey can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 1Password also covers passkeys.
At a glance
| 1Password | OnlyKey | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $3.99 per month, billed annually ($2.99 in year one for new customers) | $65.99 one-time (single device) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial on any plan | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | 1Password (AgileBits Inc.) | OnlyKey |
| Price read from | 1password.com | onlykey.io |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
1Password
- There is no free plan; a paid subscription is needed after the 14-day trial.
- Listed prices are for annual billing, and the $2.99 and $4.49 promotional rates apply only to a new customer's first year.
- Single sign-on integration starts at the Business plan, and Enterprise pricing is by quote only.
OnlyKey
- It is a physical device: losing it without a backup means relying on a second key, which is why a two-pack is sold.
- Store prices are shown in the visitor's local currency; the dollar figures were read from the US version of the pages.
- No sync service, mobile app or browser extension is listed on the product pages.
- Shipping is extra and calculated at checkout; the vendor also points US buyers to Amazon.
Key features
1Password
- Autofill and password generator
- Saves and fills passwords, two-factor codes, payment details and addresses in any major browser, and generates new passwords when you sign up.
- Passkeys
- Saves passkeys alongside passwords and signs in with them on sites that support passwordless login.
- Watchtower
- Flags compromised passwords and other security issues affecting the items you have saved.
- Secure sharing
- Share an item through an expiring link, even with someone who does not use 1Password, or keep shared vaults for family members and teammates.
- Secret Key encryption
- Data is protected by your account password plus a 128-bit Secret Key, and 1Password says it cannot see the passwords or data you store.
- Team controls and single sign-on
- Teams Starter Pack adds role-based permissions. Business adds sign-in through identity providers such as Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin and Duo.
OnlyKey
- Hardware password manager
- Plugged into a computer, it types the username and password at the press of a button, so credentials need no browser extension or app.
- PIN entered on the device
- The unlock PIN is typed on the key itself, and the vendor says all data is securely erased after 10 failed attempts.
- Two-factor authentication
- Supports FIDO2 and U2F, Yubico OTP, TOTP and challenge-response methods.
- Encryption and SSH
- Acts as a file and message encryption token; the DUO model is listed for SSH and OpenPGP use as well.
- Rugged build
- The vendor lists a waterproof, tamper-resistant case rated IP68 and MIL-STD-810G.
- Works on several operating systems
- The vendor lists Windows, macOS, Linux and Chromebook support.
Plans
1Password
Individual$3.99
per month, billed annually
For 1 person: password generator, autofill, secure sharing and alerts for weak or compromised credentials. Promotional $2.99 in year one.
Families$5.99
per month, billed annually
Covers 5 family members with unlimited shared vaults and admin controls. New customers pay a promotional $4.49 in the first year.
Teams Starter Pack$24.95
per month for 10 members, billed annually ($299.40)
10 members included, with up to 10 more seats at $4.99 each a month. Password sharing, role-based permissions and developer tools.
Business$8.99
per user / month, billed annually ($107.88)
Everything in Teams Starter Pack, plus single sign-on with Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin and Duo, and enhanced vault sharing.
EnterpriseCustom
Quote-based plan with granular vault permissions, multi-tenant support, a developer toolkit and audit-ready activity logs.
OnlyKey
OnlyKey$65.99
one-time
One device. Shown on the product page at $65.99 against a crossed-out $69.99, with no end date given.
OnlyKey DUO$65.99
one-time
One device with both USB-A and USB-C connectors; also supports SSH and OpenPGP.
Two OnlyKey bundle$99.99
one-time
Two devices, sold so that you have a backup.
Ways to pay less
1Password
- Other savings
First-year promotional pricing for new customers
When checked, new customers subscribing on 1Password.com with annual billing paid $2.99 a month for Individual (regularly $3.99) and $4.49 for Families (regularly $5.99) for the first year.
- Nonprofit
Discounts for nonprofits and journalists
The business pricing FAQ says 1Password offers discounts for eligible organizations, including nonprofits and journalists, plus volume-based pricing. No amounts are published.
- Education
Student discount through Student Beans
1Password's pricing pages link to a Student Beans page where verified students can claim a discount. The size of the discount is not stated before verification.
OnlyKey
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, 1Password or OnlyKey?
As of Nov 13, 2026, 1Password starts at $3.99 per month, billed annually ($2.99 in year one for new customers), and OnlyKey starts at $65.99 one-time (single device).
Which has a free plan, 1Password or OnlyKey?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither 1Password nor OnlyKey has a free plan. 1Password has a free trial.
Which platforms do 1Password and OnlyKey run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only 1Password lists iOS and Android apps and a browser extension. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.