# 1Password vs HC Key

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HC Key at 100% against 1Password's 39%. HC Key also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 18.0). 1Password's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 1Password sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HC Key asks for nothing beyond the download.

1Password holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1Password has 45K ratings behind it against 121, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of 1Password's written reviews are positive against 100% of HC Key's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

1Password ships an update fortnightly, HC Key every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 1Password | HC Key |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1password-password-manager/id1511601750/reviews)** | [4.4 (121 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hc-key/id1559953335/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **45K** | 121 |
| Positive reviews | 39.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#41** | — |
| Size | 404 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AgileBits Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/285897621) | [Hartmann Controls Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1470461774) |

## What reviewers say

### 1Password

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1password-password-manager/id1511601750)

**Currently charting:** #41 Top Grossing · Productivity, #72 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Securely store, generate, and autofill passwords and passkeys across all your devices. This app also manages other sensitive information like credit cards and notes, with features for secure sharing and travel.

**Highlights:** Generate strong passwords, Autofill logins, Two-factor authentication codes, Passkey management, Store credit cards and notes, Secure sharing, Travel Mode

**Features:** Safari Extension, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1Password Individual Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| 1Password Family Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| 1Password Teams Monthly | $24.95 | per month |
| 1Password Individual Annual | $47.99 | per year |
| 1Password Family Annual | $71.99 | per year |
| 1Password Teams Annual | $299.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless integration across devices
- 🔒 Robust security and encryption
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Innovative features like Watchtower
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in recent updates
- 👎 Forced migration to subscription model
- 🤔 Confusing UI changes in version 8
- 🐛 Unreliable syncing and data loss issues
- 👎 Removal of local vaults and custom storage options

**Reported bugs**

- Face ID not working consistently
- App opening to wrong password entry in edit mode
- Syncing issues causing data loss
- Scrolling and navigation bugs in the iOS app
- Inability to delete passwords from the Watchtower tab

**Requested features**

- Option to use passcode instead of Face ID
- Ability to rename login titles
- Improved search functionality
- Easier management of duplicate entries
- More customization options for the home screen


### HC Key

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hc-key/id1559953335)

This app allows you to use your smartphone to unlock doors, eliminating the need for physical credentials. It offers an easy-to-use interface for swift access and enables temporary access for visitors.

**Highlights:** Unlock doors with smartphone, Replace physical credentials, Easy user registration, Grant temporary visitor access, Customize visitor access duration, Visitor access without app installation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 1Password free?

1Password is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is HC Key free?

HC Key is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 1Password or HC Key?

1Password is rated higher. 1Password averages 4.7 out of 5 from 45K ratings, while HC Key averages 4.4 from 121 ratings.

### Do 1Password or HC Key have ads?

HC Key shows ads; 1Password does not.

### Which is updated more often, 1Password or HC Key?

1Password ships an update fortnightly, and HC Key every 5 months. Most recently, 1Password was updated on November 1, 2026 and HC Key on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*