oneSafe Password Manager Review 2024: Worth It?

oneSafe is a secure offline password manager for Android, iOS, and macOS that’s great for protecting sensitive information. It offers strong encryption and a user-friendly interface. It’s features include:

• Biometric login for quick access.
• Automatic local backups.
• Cloud backups via 3rd party services.
• Customizable data storage for passwords, notes, and media.
• Password sharing.
• Secure messaging.

However, there are drawbacks — including the absence of an auto-save feature. There’s also no password syncing on Android, and oneSafe doesn’t have password auditing or dark web monitoring either. Top password managers like 1Password and Dashlane, on the other hand, offer all this and a lot more.

What’s more, I initially found the Android version a bit tricky to navigate due to some translation issues. But after a bit of trial and error, I was able to use the app with ease, and the experience was smooth and intuitive.

Overall, oneSafe is a good option if you’re looking for a secure offline password manager. With a free app on mobile and an affordable lifetime license for macOS devices, I’d say the benefits ultimately outweigh the drawbacks.

oneSafe Password Manager Full Review — A Secure Offline Solution

oneSafe is a good offline password manager with strong security. It uses 256-bit AES encryption on macOS and the newer ChaCha20-Poly1305 standard on Android and iOS, and it includes auto-fill, secure sharing, and biometric login. In addition to storing passwords, it can securely store sensitive data like photos, videos, audio files, credit card details, notes, and website login information. The secure messaging feature and auto backups are also useful additions.

However, oneSafe lacks features commonly found in top password managers, such as auto-save, password auditing, and data breach monitoring. While you can sync passwords across devices on iOS and macOS using iCloud or Dropbox, syncing isn’t available on Android yet. Competitors like 1Password offer a more seamless experience, with features such as password syncing, easy password sharing, auto-fill, auto-save, and more across all platforms.

oneSafe Plans And Pricing — Free On Mobile + Low-Cost Mac App

oneSafe offers a completely free plan for Android and iOS users, while macOS users can purchase a lifetime license for a very reasonable one-time fee of $19.99. This includes access to all of oneSafe’s features, such as biometric login, secure data storage for passwords, notes, and media, secure sharing, and automatic backups. On iOS and macOS, you also get data syncing via iCloud or Dropbox, though it doesn’t have a native cloud sync option.

That said, the Android version lacks data syncing, and not being able to sync your passwords is impractical if you’re switching between devices. If you need your passwords at hand across devices, a top password manager like Dashlane is a better choice.

Overall though, oneSafe’s free plans and the one-time fee for lifetime access on Mac is a pretty good deal if you’re looking for an offline vault to store your passwords and sensitive info.

oneSafe Security Features — Secure Self-Hosting

oneSafe is a secure offline password manager that offers strong encryption, using either 256-bit AES or ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption (depending on the device type). oneSafe stores your data locally, though you can sync it across iOS and macOS via iCloud or Dropbox. However, syncing isn’t available on Android yet, which is a significant limitation for users needing cross-device functionality.

oneSafe has a handy folder system for organizing your data. You can store a variety of information in these folders, such as:

• Application logins.
• Credit cards.
• Folders.
• Notes.
• Website logins.
• Photos.
• Videos.
• Audio files.
• Custom files.

You can also add rich multimedia content to any item, such as photos, videos, or audio files. Each entry can have an assigned photo, and when adding website logins, the app will automatically fetch and display the site’s logo, which I found to be a nice touch. It’s worth noting that you can ‘favorite’ any of your entries as well for easier access.

Additionally, oneSafe offers “double encryption,” allowing you to encrypt your database with an additional key for extra security. The app warns this may reduce performance by up to 20%, though I didn’t experience any noticeable slowdown. It’s crucial to store your decryption key securely — storing it within oneSafe could lock you out of the app, so I recommend using an external method.

There are a couple of ways to share passwords or other sensitive information in oneSafe. The first method involves sharing an encrypted file along with its password via different channels (e.g. email and WhatsApp). For added security, oneSafe recommends using two different channels to share the file and its password. The recipient then opens the link in oneSafe and uses the password to decrypt the file. The second method is to simply send the login details through Bubbles, oneSafe’s encrypted messaging app.

While I found the password sharing process less intuitive than that of 1Password and Dashlane, I did like how oneSafe allows sharing of logins with attachments — something some competitors, like NordPass, don’t offer.

The app’s auto-fill feature is straightforward to use. After setting oneSafe as my default password manager on Android, auto-fill worked just as well as it does with Google Password Manager. That said, it didn’t quite measure up to RoboForm when it came to filling out more detailed forms. And one major area that’s lacking with oneSafe is an auto-save function — this would be a valuable addition (and it’s something that all the top password managers provide).

oneSafe’s biometric login allows you to quickly and easily access the app without manually entering your password each time. The app will also periodically prompt you to verify your password, with options ranging from never to weekly or every 6 months.

Lastly, there’s Bubbles, which lets you send encrypted messages to your contacts using the Double Ratchet protocol. To use it, simply send an invitation to your contact, and once they download the app, you can start exchanging encrypted messages. Additionally, the oneSafe keyboard allows you to send encrypted messages from within any app, including your phone’s default messaging app. I’m not sure what real world practicality this extra feature has yet, because you don’t see a conversation window, just a link that takes you back to the oneSafe app. Still, I think it’s an interesting concept. Note that Bubbles is currently only available on Android.

Overall, oneSafe is a decent basic password manager, but it functions better as an offline vault for all your sensitive information. Its lack of auto-save, password auditing, and dark web monitoring prevents it from being included in our top picks for 2024.

Ease of Use & Setup — User-Friendly, but With a Learning Curve

While oneSafe is easy to set up, it can be a bit tricky to navigate at times. Installing the app is straightforward — simply visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, download it to your device, and you’re good to go. The app is available for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

However, some functions and features require a bit of tinkering and trial and error — for example, it took a bit of time to fully grasp how things like password sharing work. It would have been helpful to have more detailed documentation or tutorials to make the learning curve smoother. This could have saved me some time spent experimenting until things “clicked”. Dashlane, for instance, has tutorials on how to set up and make the most of the mobile apps.

That said, basic tasks like creating a master password, adding items, and logging in are very simple. For instance, if you want to organize your passwords into categories, you can easily create a folder, name it, and then move items into the appropriate folder. Just tap on the item, select Move, and choose the desired location.

In terms of customization, oneSafe allows you to adjust the app’s theme to match your phone’s default theme or use the app’s default setting. You can even change the app icon, with options for different names like Chess or Headphones for added anonymity. I thought this was neat, as long as you don’t forget that you changed the app’s icon!

Customer Support — Active Community, but the Knowledge Base Is Lacking

oneSafe’s customer support is available via email and a Discord community forum. While more support options would be great, especially for paying customers, the free mobile apps and low one-time payment for the macOS version may somewhat justify this limitation.

However, in my experience the email support was slow — I didn’t receive a response within 24 hours, and I’m still waiting for a reply at the time of writing. Additionally, the knowledge base is sparse and outdated, with its last update occurring several years ago, making it unreliable for troubleshooting or guidance.

Within the app, there’s a link to the oneSafe Discord community, and while the community is very small, it’s reasonably active. If you’re in a hurry for an answer, this is your best bet, but you’re still in for a wait with questions being answered within 1-5 days.

Users seeking more responsive and comprehensive support might do better with Dashlane or Keeper, both of which offer live chat and phone support along with more frequently updated knowledge bases.

Is oneSafe Worth It for Android, iOS, and macOS?

Overall, oneSafe is worth considering if you’re looking for an offline password manager, particularly given the pricing. The mobile apps are completely free and the Mac version is very affordable, making it a decent option for users who prefer an offline password manager. It offers a range of valuable features, including biometric login, auto-fill, secure messaging, and customizable data storage.

However, there are some limitations that I’m not a huge fan of. The lack of straightforward password sharing is a bit inconvenient, and the absence of auto-save and syncing on Android devices is a significant drawback.

The $19.99 price for the macOS version is very reasonable, but it lacks many features that competitors like 1Password and Dashlane provide, such as password auditing and dark web monitoring. While oneSafe is a solid option for an offline vault, it’s not a viable solution for comprehensive password management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is oneSafe a good password manager?

Yes, oneSafe is a solid password manager, particularly for those who prioritize offline security. It uses 256-bit AES encryption on macOS and the newer ChaCha20-Poly1305 standard on Android and iOS, ensuring your data remains secure on your device without relying on cloud storage.ures

However, it does have some limitations compared to other password managers. While it offers a range of useful features like biometric login, auto-fill, and customizable categories, it lacks password syncing, auto-save, password auditing, and dark web monitoring. These omissions are deal-breakers for users needing a comprehensive password manager solution.

What features does oneSafe offer?

oneSafe offers a wide range of features designed to securely store and manage your passwords and sensitive information. These include biometric login, auto-fill, customizable folders to organize your data, secure password sharing, double encryption, and automatic backups.

Although it lacks some advanced features like password auditing and dark web monitoring, oneSafe’s focus on offline security and strong encryption makes it a solid option for users looking for a secure basic password manager.

Is oneSafe as good as the top password managers?

oneSafe is a reliable password manager, especially for users who prefer to store their data offline. It offers useful features like biometric login, auto-fill, customizable data storage, and secure messaging. However, it falls short compared to top password managers like 1Password or Dashlane in several areas.

Unlike the top competitors, oneSafe lacks advanced features like password auditing and dark web monitoring, and also more fundamental functions like auto-save. Additionally, it doesn’t offer cross-platform syncing for Android users yet, which can be a major drawback for those who need seamless access across devices.

Overall, while oneSafe is a good option for users looking for a secure offline vault, it may not be the best choice for those needing more comprehensive password management features across multiple platforms.