1Password
    1Password

    1Password

    Bezpečnost

    Encrypted password & document manager - Travel Mode for borders, offline access to your docs. Currently 50% off for travelers.

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    Pros

    • End-to-end encryption — even 1Password cannot read your vault without your Secret Key
    • Travel Mode hides sensitive vaults during border checks
    • Works offline — passwords and scanned documents available without signal
    • Watchtower flags leaked, weak, or reused passwords
    • Great support for passkeys, 2FA codes, and family sharing

    Cons

    • Paid only (from ~$2.99/month) — no free tier, just a 14-day trial
    • No self-hosting — sync is tied to the 1Password cloud
    • Secret Key setup can confuse first-time users
    • Desktop app feels heavier than the browser extension alone

    What 1Password is

    1Password is a paid password manager from Canadian company AgileBits. Instead of reusing the same password across ten sites (or keeping them in notes), 1Password generates a strong unique password for every account, encrypts it, and syncs across your devices. You unlock it with a master password plus a Secret Key only you possess.

    Key features

    • End-to-end encryption (AES-256 + Secret Key): 1Password servers never see your passwords in readable form.
    • Travel Mode: mark vaults as "safe for travel" and the rest physically leave your devices when Travel Mode is on.
    • Passkeys + 2FA: generates TOTP codes inside the app and supports passkeys as a password replacement.
    • Watchtower: monitors data breaches (Have I Been Pwned), flags weak passwords, sites without 2FA, expiring cards.
    • Secure sharing: family plans share selected items with partners or kids; business plans share with teammates.
    • Documents and Secure Notes: store passport scans, insurance, driver's license, luggage codes - all encrypted.

    Why I recommend it for travelers

    Travelers face two specific problems that 1Password solves better than freemium competitors:

    1. Border checks and device inspections. In some countries (US, UK, China) border officers can ask you to unlock your phone or laptop. Travel Mode makes sure work passwords, server keys, or encryption keys are physically not on the device until you turn Travel Mode off via the web.
    2. Offline document backup. A scanned passport in an encrypted vault is faster and safer than emailing it to yourself. If your passport gets stolen, you have an instant copy ready for the embassy.

    Where 1Password falls short

    • If you want fully free, look at Bitwarden - free tier and open source, though without Travel Mode.
    • No self-hosted option for organizations that prefer their own infrastructure.
    • No hardware-key (YubiKey) unlocking of the vault itself - only as a second factor.

    Practical tip

    After setup, print the Emergency Kit (PDF with your Secret Key and QR code) and leave it at home in a drawer. If you lose both phone and laptop on a trip, without the Secret Key you cannot recover the vault - and by design 1Password cannot recover it for you.

    My verdict

    I have used 1Password for years on the road and would not travel without it. The killer feature is Travel Mode - before crossing a border I flip one switch and any vaults I have not marked as "safe for travel" disappear from my phone and laptop entirely. They are not hidden, they are not on the device. Just as important, I keep scans of my passport, driver's license, vaccination card and insurance in there, available offline on a plane. For ~$3 per month it is the cheapest travel insurance I own.