I keep hearing how wonderful and necessary apps like 1Password/Dashlane/LastPass are. I'm not really understanding what they do that I don't get from the Keychain Access service built in to MacOS and iOS. Can anyone explain?
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1Password vs Keychain Access
- Thread starter Baldrake
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If you need passwords outside of the Apple ecosystem (like Android, Windows, Chrome, etc) You will need something cross platform.
Plus Keychain is passwords-only and some people want to store other things (software keys, Socai Security, etc).
Plus Keychain is passwords-only and some people want to store other things (software keys, Socai Security, etc).
Another benefit is easily being able to export your passwords/data. 1Password provides export tools, but iCloud Keychain or Safari does not. Hopefully they add this feature at some point.
Nice tip Weaselboy, I wasn't aware that you could that with Keychain.
I've been using 1Password for about 8 years now and love it.
If you need the extra features it provides you'll be happy, but if you just need what Keychain provides just stick with it.
If you need the extra features it provides you'll be happy, but if you just need what Keychain provides just stick with it.
1Password also supports TOTP codes, makes your online presence a lot more secure and it integrates well across laptop phone and tablet. No more lost accounts when you forget to transfer your 2FA to your new phone 
1Password also supports TOTP codes, makes your online presence a lot more secure and it integrates well across laptop phone and tablet. No more lost accounts when you forget to transfer your 2FA to your new phone
Access to OTP codes is huge for me. I also like how I can organize things into different categories (WiFi router passwords, credit cards, etc).
Keychain Access also stores passwords locally. They get synced (if you have it configured to via iCloud) but they're also available without an internet connection.
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One more 1Password feature I'll throw in there: shared vaults. I keep one "household" vault that has logins for our streaming services, ISP, utilites, shared stuff like that. Then my wife and I each have our own separate vaults with our own stuff.
Another benefit of 1Password is that I can view saved passwords on my Apple Watch, which saves me the hassle of fishing out my phone for when I want the password to an account on my work computer. Can’t do so for passwords stored in iCloud Keychain. 
Keychain doesn’t work in Firefox. Also, there’s no keychain app on iOS so I don’t know how the posters above are accessing their secure notes on their phones.
Secure Notes in the Notes app is a good replacement for the Keychain secure notes. The encryption seem to be the same, and they are available on iOS easily.
I use the Keychain for login passwords and still currently using 1Password for extensive information about credit cards for example. I'm experimenting with using Notes app Secure Notes for this. The only difficulty I have come across so far is the ease of copying a number from the Notes app. It can be done of course, but involves more steps that 1Password.
I use the Keychain for login passwords and still currently using 1Password for extensive information about credit cards for example. I'm experimenting with using Notes app Secure Notes for this. The only difficulty I have come across so far is the ease of copying a number from the Notes app. It can be done of course, but involves more steps that 1Password.
Yep, that’s what I use for various bits of info like passport numbers etc.
I used to have passwords that I could remember but jumbled up some numerals and symbols here and there. Now, I have been using 1Password for some time, and I utilise really large passwords and TOTP for where it is supported. Moreover, I am able to access my passwords on my Android device as well, so that is a plus, even though I do not use the Android device that way wherein I would need access to my passwords. But, seeing as there are now passwords to almost all websites one frequents, it is a godsend to have them synced and ready, whichever device I pick.