No, 1Password isn't free. It doesn't have a free plan, but 1Password says you can try Individual or Families free for 14 days before choosing a plan. The one free route is for open source projects: 1Password gives eligible teams a free 1Password Teams account.
That makes 1Password different from password managers with a free tier. You either use the trial to decide, or you qualify through the open source programme. Here's what the trial covers, what you'd keep using after it and who gets 1Password for free.
The 1Password free trial
1Password's plans page answers this directly: you can try 1Password Individual or Families free for 14 days before choosing a plan. That gives you two weeks to import your passwords, install the browser extension and see whether autofill works on the sites you use most.
- Choose Individual for yourself or Families if you want to share.
- Create your account and save your Secret Key somewhere safe, because 1Password lists it as one of its security features.
- Install the apps and browser extension on the devices you use.
- Import passwords from your browser or old password manager.
- Decide before day 14 whether you're keeping it.
What 1Password plans include
| Feature | Individual | Families |
|---|---|---|
| Password generation and autofill | Yes | Yes |
| Watchtower alerts for weak, reused and breached passwords | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Mode to hide vaults when crossing borders | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypted storage for documents | Yes | Yes |
| Family members | Just you | Invite up to 5 |
| Shared vaults | Guest sharing | Unlimited shared vaults |
The table comes from 1Password's plans page. The Families plan adds the ability to invite up to five family members and manage access with admin controls, while each person keeps their own private items.
Who gets 1Password free: open source projects
1Password runs a programme called 1Password for Open Source Projects. Its official page says eligible projects get a free 1Password Teams account, and the membership doesn't expire as long as the project stays eligible. The rules are strict:
- Only team accounts are eligible. Personal, family and business accounts aren't part of the programme.
- The project must be mainly open source and not supported by commercial activity, apart from open source funding like GitHub Sponsors or Open Collective.
- For a single project, you must be a core contributor.
- The project must be at least 30 days old, active and under a permissive open source licence.
1Password also says memberships may be cancelled if an account stops meeting the requirements, so it's worth checking you still qualify if your project changes direction.
What you get on every 1Password plan
- Apps for macOS, iOS, watchOS, Windows, Android and Linux.
- 1 GB of document storage per user.
- Two-factor authentication, biometrics and passkeys.
- Dual layer protection from your account password plus a Secret Key.
- Support around the clock by email, forum or social media.
That's all from 1Password's plans page, and it's the same on Individual and Families. So the trial shows you exactly what you'd get, with nothing held back for later.
How to apply for 1Password for Open Source
- Make sure you're the owner of a 1Password team account, because only owners can apply.
- Check your project meets the requirements above.
- Complete 1Password's application form and open a new issue in its for-open-source GitHub repository, as the programme page asks.
- Wait for review. 1Password says it reviews every request and accepts them at its discretion.
1Password also says it accepts applications from organisers of open source meetups, events and conferences, which widens the programme beyond code maintainers.
What to test during the 14 day trial
- Import your passwords from your browser and check a handful of logins autofill on the sites you use most.
- Open Watchtower and fix any weak, reused or breached passwords it flags.
- Save a passkey for one account so you know how it works before you rely on it.
- If you travel, turn on Travel Mode once to see which vaults it hides.
- On Families, invite one person and share a vault, so you know the setup works for your household.
If all five go smoothly, you'll know 1Password is worth keeping before the trial ends.
Should you use 1Password or a free password manager?
If you want a free plan you can use indefinitely, 1Password isn't it, and that's fine to admit. Its strengths are polish, Watchtower alerts, Travel Mode and easy family sharing. If you'd rather stay free, my guide to the best open source password managers covers tools with free tiers, and my roundup of 1Password alternatives compares the main rivals side by side.
Families also comes with admin controls. 1Password's plans page says Families lets you manage, add, remove or recover members of your account, which matters if someone in the house forgets their account password.
My verdict: 1Password isn't free, so use the 14 day trial to decide on purpose rather than drifting into a plan. The exception is open source maintainers, who should apply for the free Teams account, because 1Password's programme is one of the more generous ones around.
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Frequently asked questions
Does 1Password have a free plan?
No. 1Password doesn't offer a free plan, but it says you can try 1Password Individual or Families free for 14 days.
How long is the 1Password free trial?
14 days, for either the Individual or Families plan, according to 1Password's plans page.
Can open source projects get 1Password free?
Yes. 1Password for Open Source Projects gives eligible teams a free 1Password Teams account that doesn't expire while the project stays eligible.
Who qualifies for 1Password for Open Source?
Team accounts for projects that are mainly open source, at least 30 days old, active and under a permissive licence, applied for by a core contributor.
How many people can share a 1Password Families plan?
1Password says the Families plan lets you invite up to five family members and share unlimited vaults.
Which devices does 1Password work on?
1Password lists apps for macOS, iOS, watchOS, Windows, Android and Linux on every plan.
Can I store documents in 1Password?
Yes. 1Password's plans page lists 1 GB of document storage per user on Individual and Families.
Does 1Password support passkeys?
Yes. 1Password's plans page lists two-factor authentication, biometrics and passkeys on Individual and Families.
Can 1Password hide vaults when I travel?
Yes. 1Password's plans page lists Travel Mode, which hides selected vaults when you cross borders, on Individual and Families.
