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Get a one-year Dashlane Premium subscription for free!

From the Cheapskate: Finally, a deal on my favorite password manager -- and an unbeatable deal at that. Plus: the ultimate outdoor accessory?

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read

CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.


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Don't judge me. Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Cheeps, I'm super-excited today. For as long as I can remember, I've stressed the importance of using a password manager, and I've shared lots of great deals on some solid products.

However, I've never been able to land my favorite password manager, the one I use daily and find utterly indispensable. It has been my brass ring, my holy grail. I even reached out to the company a while back, said, "Let me bring you my flock!" And was met with a polite, "No, thank you."

But the gang at AppSumo, a really cool and unique deal site, accomplished what I could not: They corralled a one-year Dashlane Premium subscription for free. Regular price: $39.99.

Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), this is for new users only. Paid-up subscribers like me can't just tack on another year at no charge. But if you're already using Dashlane Free, this is your chance to "go pro" for a full 12 months.

Once you get through the checkout process, you'll see (and also receive via email) a redemption code. Head to Dashlane.com, sign up for a free account and finish all the related setup. Eventually you'll use that redemption code to convert your Dashlane Free into Dashlane Premium. (There are detailed instructions in the confirmation email. Follow them!)

I've tried just about every password manager on the planet, from eWallet and KeePass to LastPass and RoboForm. They're functional, yes, but not on par with Dashlane. Space doesn't permit me to list every feature, but I'll name a few of my favorites:

  • The interface: Dashlane's desktop utility is polished and easy to navigate. Others I've tried...not so much.
  • Security score: After importing your existing passwords, Dashlane will give you a "security score" and point out weak (and/or repeated) passwords that need changing.
  • Automatic password changing: Don't have time to change all your weak passwords? Dashlane can do it for you. This is exactly as awesome as it sounds.
  • Emergency contacts: What happens if you get hit by a bus? Dashlane allows you to specify emergency contacts (partner, colleague and so on) who can access your passwords.

Sorry if this sounds like unabashed gushing, but Dashlane has truly been a life-changing product for me. It has taken the hassle out of password management and vastly improved my online security. Is it expensive, especially compared with the likes of LastPass and RoboForm? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.

Should you try it free for an entire year? Absolutely.

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Water not included. Kmashi

Bonus deal: Do you love the outdoors? Do you spend a lot of time biking, hiking, boating and/or floating? Then you'll almost certainly want to grab one of these. For a limited time, and while supplies last, eCase (via Amazon) has the Kmashi waterproof Bluetooth speaker/flashlight/power bank for $21.99, shipped free if you're a Prime subscriber. That's after applying coupon code IFUJLMOX at checkout.

Splash-proof (though not submersible), shock-proof and dust-proof, this triangular speaker features Bluetooth 4.0, a 4,800mAh battery (good for 35 hours (!) of playtime unless you use it to charge your phone, which it can also do) and an LED flashlight with three modes: bright, standard and SOS. It's bike mount-friendly, too.

I had the chance to test-drive the Kmashi, and it's a cool little gadget. Very solid, with good (though hard to read) controls and that very handy flashlight. As for sound quality, it's just okay. But for outdoor activities, it doesn't have to be great -- just loud, and in that respect it's a winner. I wouldn't pay $36.99 for this, but $22? Nice accessory.