Keeper vs 1Password: Password Manager Comparison

Keeper and 1Password solve the same basic problem, but choosing between them gets harder once you look beyond storing passwords. The better option depends on what your organization values most, from administrative control and compliance to employee usability and developer tools.

Both products performed well in my evaluation, and the differences between them are often surprisingly small. But each has advantages that become more important depending on how your organization plans to use and manage its password manager.

I compared Keeper and 1Password across pricing, core and advanced features, security, usability and administration, and customer support. Below, I’ll break down where each product stands out, where it falls short, and which types of organizations are likely to get the most value from each.

Keeper is best for: Security-conscious businesses that need granular administrative controls and strong compliance support at a competitive price.

1Password is best for: Organizations that prioritize ease of use and developer workflows. It’s also a good fit for teams that value features such as secure credential sharing and Travel Mode.

How the scoring works: I scored each product on a 5-point scale across six weighted categories. The overall rating combines those scores, with core features and security carrying the most weight.

Keeper vs 1Password at a glance

Keeper vs 1Password at a glance

Jump to:

• Keeper overview
• 1Password overview
• 3 best alternatives to Keeper & 1Password
• Frequently asked questions

Keeper overview

Better for security, administration, and value

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

• Pricing: 4.8/5
• Core features: 4.7/5
• Advanced features: 4.2/5
• Security: 4.9/5
• Usability and administration: 4.4/5
• Customer support: 4.8/5

Keeper is a solid choice for security teams that need more than basic password management. I like it for organizations that need tighter administrative control over credentials or want the option to expand into privileged access management through KeeperPAM.

Security is a major strength of the platform. Keeper uses AES-256 encryption with a zero-knowledge architecture and has completed a SOC 2 Type II audit. It is also FIPS 140-3 validated and holds FedRAMP High and GovRAMP High authorizations. Its ISO certifications cover standards 27001, 27017, and 27018. Keeper also conducts regular third-party security audits and penetration testing.

I also give Keeper high marks for its administrative controls. Business customers can manage users and teams from a centralized console, where they can enforce security policies and monitor credential risk. The platform also provides tools for auditing password practices.

Enterprise customers gain additional provisioning capabilities through SCIM, as well as Active Directory and LDAP synchronization. SAML 2.0 SSO and developer APIs provide more options for integrating Keeper into larger enterprise environments.

Pros & cons

Key features

• Security Audit: Helps administrators identify weak or reused passwords and track 2FA adoption without exposing vault contents.
• Identity integrations: Keeper Enterprise supports SAML SSO and SCIM provisioning. It can also connect with Active Directory, LDAP, and Microsoft Entra ID.
• Role-based administration: Allows organizations to separate administrative responsibilities while enforcing policies across users and teams.
• Secure sharing: Allows users to share individual records or entire folders. Keeper also provides temporary sharing through One-Time Share and self-destructing records.
• KeeperPAM ecosystem: Extends Keeper beyond password management to support secrets management and privileged access use cases.
• Compliance reporting: Helps administrators audit credential access and generate reports based on user or team activity.

1Password overview

Better for usability and advanced features

Overall Rating: 4.4/5

• Pricing: 3.8/5
• Core features: 4.6/5
• Advanced features: 4.8/5
• Security: 4.8/5
• Usability and administration: 4.7/5
• Customer support: 4.2/5

1Password is a strong choice for organizations that want secure password management without making the product difficult for employees to use. I like it for businesses that prioritize usability or need password management to fit into existing developer workflows.

Security is another strength. 1Password encrypts vault data with AES-256 and uses a Two-Key Derivation architecture that combines the user’s account password with a unique Secret Key. Because 1Password doesn’t store the Secret Key, obtaining only the encrypted vault data isn’t enough to decrypt it.

What stands out most to me about 1Password is its developer tooling. Developers can use it for SSH key signing and Git commit signing, while its CLI and SDKs support more customized workflows. It also integrates with IDEs and CI/CD pipelines, with additional support for infrastructure-as-code environments. This makes 1Password a good fit for development teams that need to securely manage credentials and secrets.

Pros & cons

Key features

• Watchtower: Identifies weak or reused passwords and warns users when credentials may have been compromised.
• Two-Key Derivation: Combines the user’s account password with a Secret Key for additional protection against server-side compromise.
• Travel Mode: Removes selected vaults from devices while traveling. Business administrators can centrally manage the feature for employees.
• Developer tools: Provides CLI and SDK capabilities for integrating 1Password into developer workflows. It also supports SSH and Git use cases, with integrations available for IDEs and CI/CD pipelines.
• Business reporting: Provides administrators with visibility into account activity and employee use of 1Password.
• Guest accounts: Business includes 20 guest accounts that provide restricted access to individual vaults.

Better for pricing: Keeper

Keeper wins on pricing, especially for organizations with more than 10 users. Its Business Starter plan costs $2 per user per month for teams of five to 10 users, while Keeper Business starts at $4 per user per month when billed annually.

1Password’s Teams Starter Pack costs $24.95 per month for up to 10 users when billed annually, or about $2.50 per user if all 10 seats are used. Organizations that outgrow that plan move to 1Password Business, which costs $8.99 per user per month when billed annually. Both plans include a 14-day free trial.

For small teams, the pricing is fairly competitive. For larger deployments, however, Keeper’s standard Business plan costs less than half as much per user as 1Password Business, based on current published rates. Organizations should account for any higher-tier features or add-ons they need, but Keeper offers better value with its standard business plans. 

Pricing is subject to change, so check each vendor’s website for current rates.

Better for core features: Keeper

This is one of the closest categories because Keeper and 1Password both cover the core capabilities many businesses need. Both support password generation and autofill, as well as MFA and biometric authentication. They also provide secure sharing and reporting, with tools for managing groups and connecting to identity providers.

I give Keeper a slight edge because it provides more administrative control over how credentials are managed across an organization. Keeper Business includes policy management and security auditing, while its risk tools give administrators greater visibility into credential security. Teams can also use shared folders and delegated administration to control access.

Keeper Enterprise expands those capabilities with SCIM provisioning and directory synchronization through Active Directory or LDAP. It also supports SAML SSO and advanced MFA, along with additional tools to automate team management.

1Password Business provides many of the same administrative capabilities. Administrators can create custom groups, control vault permissions, and enforce security policies across users. Reporting and Watchtower help identify credential risks, while identity-provider provisioning simplifies user management. The platform can also stream events to SIEM tools for additional security monitoring.

I give Keeper the narrow win for core features because of its stronger emphasis on policy enforcement and credential oversight.

Better for advanced features: 1Password

1Password wins my advanced features category largely because of its developer capabilities. It supports SSH key signing and Git commit signing, while its CLI and SDKs provide developers with more options for managing credentials in their workflows. 1Password also integrates with IDEs and CI/CD pipelines, with additional support for infrastructure-as-code environments.

Travel Mode is another feature that sets 1Password apart. Organizations can temporarily remove selected vaults from employee devices during travel, while Business administrators can control which users and vaults are covered by the feature.

Keeper offers advanced capabilities through Keeper Secrets Manager and KeeperPAM, although some require additional products or licensing. 

For organizations primarily looking for a password manager with built-in developer and travel features, I give 1Password the edge.

Better for security: Keeper

This is another close category because both Keeper and 1Password have strong security architectures backed by independent validation.

1Password uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption and Two-Key Derivation, which combines the user’s account password with a 128-bit Secret Key. The company also undergoes independent third-party audits and maintains SOC 2 Type II and multiple ISO certifications.

Keeper uses AES-256 encryption with a zero-knowledge architecture. It is FIPS 140-3 validated and has achieved both FedRAMP High and GovRAMP High authorization. Keeper has also completed a SOC 2 Type II audit. Its ISO certifications cover standards 27001, 27017, and 27018.

I give Keeper the narrow win because its security certifications and government authorizations make it useful for organizations with strict compliance requirements.

Better for usability & administration: 1Password

1Password wins this category because it balances ease of use with the administrative controls businesses need.

Its apps support multiple operating systems and browsers. Administrators can manage groups and permissions from a centralized environment and set security policies. Reporting tools provide visibility into credential risks, and integrations help connect 1Password with existing business systems.

Keeper also provides broad platform and browser support, with more granular options for delegated administration and policy management. That added flexibility can benefit larger or more complex environments, but it can also require more configuration and oversight.

I give 1Password the advantage for its slightly more approachable experience, which can make deployment and ongoing use easier for end users and administrators.

Better for customer support: Keeper

Keeper wins customer support because it gives business customers more ways to reach its support team.

Business and Enterprise customers receive 24/7 support, with help available by priority email or live chat. Phone support is also available. Customers can turn to documentation and Keeper University for self-service help, while Enterprise customers can receive onboarding and implementation assistance.

1Password primarily provides 24/7 support through email and its community forum. Customers can also reach the company through social media or use its knowledge base for self-service support. Organizations with 101 or more users can receive personalized training and a dedicated Customer Success Manager. Enterprise customers have access to additional services, including business reviews and extended proof-of-concept support.

I give Keeper the slight advantage because its phone and live chat options provide business customers with more direct ways to get help when they need it.

Who shouldn’t use Keeper or 1Password?

Neither platform is the best fit for every organization, and the choice depends largely on your priorities.

If developer workflows are a top priority, I would go with 1Password. Its password management platform supports SSH and Git workflows, with additional tools for the CLI and CI/CD environments. Keeper also supports secrets management and PAM use cases, but some of its broader capabilities may require additional products or licensing.

If cost is my main concern, I would choose Keeper. The 1Password Business plan costs $8.99 per user per month when billed annually, which can add up quickly as the number of users grows.

Neither product may be the best choice for organizations that want to self-host their credential storage. Businesses looking for a broader privacy suite may also want to consider other options. The same applies to organizations that need different identity and access management capabilities.

3 best alternatives to Keeper & 1Password

Proton Pass for Business

Best for privacy-focused organizations

Proton Pass is the alternative I’d consider when privacy is the deciding factor or when an organization already uses other Proton services.

Proton Pass for Business covers the password management features most organizations need, including unlimited logins and secure vault sharing. It also includes a built-in authenticator, passkey support, and tools for identifying compromised or weak credentials.

The Professional tier adds more enterprise controls, with support for SSO and SCIM provisioning. Security teams also get activity logs and SIEM integration, while developers can use the Proton Pass CLI.

Businesses already using Proton Mail or Proton VPN can add password management without bringing in another vendor. This makes Proton Pass appealing to organizations that prioritize privacy and want to reduce third-party risk. 

LastPass Business

Best for businesses wanting password management and broader access controls

LastPass is worth considering for organizations that want password management with broader access controls. Its Business plan provides encrypted employee vaults with centralized administration, while federated login can simplify access for employees. 

Administrators also get advanced reporting and SIEM integration to help monitor account activity. The platform includes group management and more than 100 security policies for enforcing access requirements.

Business Max expands those capabilities with SaaS Monitoring and SaaS Protect. It also provides unlimited SSO applications and advanced MFA for organizations that want to extend LastPass beyond password management.

Enpass Business

Best for organizations that want control over credential storage

Enpass is an interesting alternative for businesses that don’t want their encrypted password database stored in the password manager vendor’s cloud.

Instead, Enpass allows businesses to keep password data within their own Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace environment. Its Business plan also provides administrative controls for managing password use across the organization.

That architecture makes Enpass worth considering for organizations with strict data location requirements or those that want more control over where their encrypted credential data is stored.

How I compared Keeper & 1Password

To evaluate Keeper and 1Password, I created a product scoring rubric covering six major categories. Each category contains multiple weighted subcriteria, and the final score reflects how well each platform performs across the entire rubric.

I started with the password management features businesses often need and then examined each vendor’s approach to security. Pricing and administrative capabilities were evaluated separately. I also considered the quality of customer support, based on public data, and gave additional weight to advanced functionality that could make either product a better fit for certain organizations.

Core features – 25%

I gave core features the most weight because a password manager needs to perform its primary job well before advanced capabilities matter. I evaluated how each product handles MFA and biometric authentication, along with everyday functions such as password generation and autofill. I also looked at reporting and security policy management. Group management and credential sharing factored into the score, as did directory and identity provider integrations that can simplify user provisioning. 

Security – 20%

A password manager serves as a central repository for some of an organization’s most sensitive credentials, so I place considerable weight on how each vendor protects its platform. I examined each product’s encryption and overall security architecture, as well as independent audits and penetration testing. I also considered security certifications and authentication protections.  

Pricing – 15%

For pricing, I compared the cost of entry-level team plans with each vendor’s standard business offering. I also looked at enterprise options and free trial availability, along with annual and monthly billing where available. Finally, I considered whether businesses need to upgrade their plan or purchase additional products to access important features. 

Usability & administration – 15%

A technically strong password manager provides limited value if employees avoid using it or administrators struggle to manage it. I evaluated how well each product works on desktop and mobile devices, as well as its browser support. I also looked at how easily administrators can provision users and manage groups. Policy enforcement and other administrative controls factored into the score, as did the quality of documentation and the overall deployment experience. 

Customer support – 15%

I evaluated the support channels available to business customers and whether help is available 24/7. I also looked at the availability of phone support and live chat, as well as the quality of self-service documentation. Training and onboarding resources also factored into the score. For larger customers, I considered whether the vendor provides dedicated customer success or implementation assistance. 

Advanced features – 10%

Finally, I evaluated capabilities that go beyond basic password management. I looked at features such as Travel Mode and guest access, as well as options for temporarily sharing credentials. Secrets management and CLI tools also factored into the score. I also considered support for developer and CI/CD workflows, as well as integrations that help security teams monitor credential activity. 

Frequently asked questions

Bottom line: Keeper vs 1Password

Keeper and 1Password are both excellent password managers, and I would be comfortable recommending either for business use. The decision comes down to what your security and IT teams value most and the specific use case.

Keeper is my overall winner for this review because it offers competitive pricing without sacrificing security or administrative control. Its compliance credentials also make it a strong option for regulated organizations. I also like that business customers have access to 24/7 support, with phone and live chat available when more direct assistance is needed.

1Password is a strong choice for usability and advanced features. Travel Mode and guest access provide additional flexibility for business users, while its developer tooling helps set it apart from Keeper. I recommend 1Password for development teams that need to securely manage credentials and application secrets within their existing workflows. 

Before committing to either platform, I recommend testing the products with both administrators and end users. The right password manager should minimize friction for employees while giving security teams the control they need to oversee its use. 

Also read: If you’re evaluating other areas of your security stack, check out our guide to the top cybersecurity companies to see which vendors stand out across key security categories.