Password manager migration spikes as teams flee 1Password for Proton Pass
Search data shows a sharp increase in queries about migrating from 1Password to Proton Pass, particularly among small teams weighing privacy features against incumbent solutions. The trend surfaces broader frustrations with password manager vendor lock-in.
The migration pattern is consistent: teams research comparisons between 1Password, Bitwarden, and Proton Pass, then hit technical barriers during export. Common pain points include CSV format mismatches, import errors on both Android and Mac, sync failures across devices, and broken autofill on Android.
What this means in practice: password managers have become critical infrastructure, but switching costs are higher than vendors admit. Export processes that should be straightforward routinely fail. Users resort to Reddit troubleshooting threads and manual workarounds.
The real question is why teams are looking to move at all. Proton Pass launched in 2023 with end-to-end encryption and open-source code as differentiators. For teams managing client data or government contracts, the privacy positioning matters. For others, it's pricing or feature gaps in existing tools.
Worth noting: this isn't just password managers. The same pattern shows up in comparisons of 7Zip versus NanaZip, Adobe Acrobat versus NitroPDF, and AnyDesk versus RustDesk. Teams are re-evaluating vendor relationships across their stack.
The migration friction reveals a gap between vendor claims about data portability and lived experience. If switching between password managers requires Reddit threads and manual CSV editing, the competition isn't as open as the market suggests.
For enterprise architects, the lesson is familiar: evaluate exit costs before entry. The password manager you choose today determines how painful the next vendor evaluation will be. Test the export process before you need it.
We've seen this movie before with cloud providers and SaaS platforms. Tools that seem interchangeable at adoption become sticky through accumulated data and integration points. Password managers are no different.