Comparison
1Password vs Bitwarden: which password manager is right for you?
1Password and Bitwarden are the two password managers most often recommended by security-minded people. Both encrypt your vault so the company can't read it, both work everywhere, and both handle passkeys. The differences are price, polish, and whether open source and self-hosting matter to you.
Research-based comparison, checked October 2026. We don't take payment or affiliate fees from anyone we compare. How we review.
The short verdict
- Choose Bitwarden if you want the best value: a genuinely useful free plan, Premium for under $20 a year, open-source code and the option to host it yourself.
- Choose 1Password if you want the most polished apps and autofill, features like Travel Mode and Watchtower, and an easy setup for less technical family members, and don't mind paying more.
- Either is a big upgrade over reusing passwords or keeping them in a notes app.
1Password vs Bitwarden at a glance
| 1Password | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (14-day trial) | Yes: unlimited passwords and devices |
| Individual | $3.99/mo billed yearly | Premium $1.65/mo ($19.80/yr) |
| Family | $5.99/mo billed yearly, 5 people | $3.99/mo billed yearly, 6 people |
| Business | $8.99/user/mo; Teams Starter Pack $24.95/mo for 10 | Teams $4, Enterprise $6 per user/mo |
| Encryption | Zero-knowledge, password plus Secret Key | Zero-knowledge, open source |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Passkeys | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in authenticator (TOTP) | Yes | Premium |
| Secure sharing to non-users | Yes, share items with anyone | Bitwarden Send (free) |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, CLI, web vault |
Security
Both are built on the same principle: your vault is encrypted on your device with a key derived from your master password, so the company stores only scrambled data. The differences are in the details.
1Password combines your account password with a 128-bit Secret Key generated on your device. Someone who stole data from 1Password's servers would need both to attempt to open your vault, which protects people with weaker passwords. It also offers Travel Mode, which hides chosen vaults from your devices when you cross a border, and Watchtower alerts for weak, reused or breached passwords.
Bitwarden is open source, so its apps and server code are public for anyone to review, and it publishes third-party audits. It supports hardware security keys, Duo and authenticator apps for two-step login, includes phishing protection, and lets you self-host the server on your own hardware. Strong security here depends more on choosing a strong master password, since there's no Secret Key.
Read more in our 1Password review and Bitwarden review.
Features and ease of use
Widely reported user feedback is consistent: 1Password feels more polished, with smoother autofill, clearer apps and a gentler setup, which is why it's often chosen for families and companies with non-technical staff. Bitwarden is functional and reliable but plainer, and some users find its autofill needs an extra click or shortcut.
On features, both cover the essentials: password and username generators, passkeys, secure notes, cards and identities, encrypted export, and alerts for weak or exposed passwords (on Bitwarden, the reports are a Premium feature). Bitwarden's free plan includes Bitwarden Send for sharing text and files with anyone, and an email alias integration. 1Password includes developer tools for SSH keys and secrets on every plan.
Pricing as of October 2026
| Plan | 1Password | Bitwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 14-day trial only | $0, unlimited passwords and devices |
| Individual | $3.99/mo yearly, $4.99 monthly | $19.80/yr |
| Families | $5.99/mo yearly, $7.99 monthly (5 users) | $47.88/yr (6 users) |
| Small teams | Teams Starter Pack $24.95/mo yearly (10 users, up to 20) | Teams $4/user/mo yearly |
| Business | $8.99/user/mo yearly | Enterprise $6/user/mo yearly |
From 1Password's pricing and Bitwarden's pricing. In October 2026, 1Password was offering new direct customers 25% off the first year on annual billing ($2.99 Individual, $4.49 Families). Over five years, Bitwarden Premium costs about $99 versus about $239 for 1Password Individual at regular annual prices.
Platforms
Both have apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, plus extensions for the major browsers, and both can autofill on phones. Bitwarden also has a full web vault and a command-line tool, and its free plan allows unlimited devices. Both work alongside Apple's and Google's built-in password managers if you're migrating.
Families and sharing
Both make it easy to share some passwords while keeping others private. 1Password Families covers five people, with shared and private vaults, simple admin controls and help recovering a family member's account. Bitwarden Families covers six people with unlimited sharing and collections, and each member gets Premium features. Bitwarden's free plan also lets you share items with one other user, which is enough for many couples.
For family members who aren't comfortable with technology, 1Password's apps are often described as easier to learn. For a household that wants to spend as little as possible, Bitwarden Families at $47.88 a year is hard to beat.
Business and teams
For companies, both offer admin consoles, groups, policies, activity logs and integrations with identity providers. 1Password Business ($8.99 per user a month billed yearly) integrates with Okta, Entra ID, OneLogin, Duo and others, and 1Password now sells a wider platform covering device trust, SaaS discovery and privileged access. Its Teams Starter Pack suits very small teams at $24.95 a month for 10 people.
Bitwarden Teams ($4 per user a month) and Enterprise ($6) are much cheaper, and Bitwarden also sells a Secrets Manager for developer and machine credentials. Enterprise adds more granular access control, and self-hosting appeals to organizations that must keep data on their own infrastructure.
Switching between them
Both import from the other and from most rivals and browsers. Export your vault, import it, check that logins, notes and two-factor codes came across, and then securely delete the export file, which holds your passwords unencrypted. Passkeys may need to be set up again, depending on the export format.
Passkeys and two-factor codes
Passkeys are replacing passwords on more and more sites, and both apps can create, store and sign in with them across your devices, on every plan including Bitwarden Free. That matters, because a passkey saved in a cross-platform password manager works on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone alike, instead of being tied to one company's ecosystem.
Both can also store the six-digit codes for two-factor sign-in (TOTP) and fill them automatically. In 1Password this is included on every plan; in Bitwarden it's part of Premium. Some security experts prefer keeping two-factor codes in a separate authenticator app, so that one stolen vault doesn't give away both factors; both apps let you do either. Whichever you choose, protect the password manager itself with a strong, unique master password and two-step login, ideally with a hardware security key, which both support.
Strengths and weaknesses
1Password
Strengths
- Polished apps and autofill
- Secret Key adds protection
- Travel Mode and Watchtower
- Easy for families and non-technical teams
Weaknesses
- No free plan
- Costs two to three times as much
- Closed source, no self-hosting
Bitwarden
Strengths
- Excellent free plan
- Premium under $20 a year
- Open source and self-hostable
- Cheap family and business plans
Weaknesses
- Plainer apps, clunkier autofill for some
- Authenticator and reports need Premium
- Security relies more on your master password
Choose 1Password if... choose Bitwarden if...
Choose 1Password if you
- Value polish and convenience over price
- Are setting up less technical family members
- Travel internationally with sensitive data
- Run a business that wants easy admin and SSO integrations
Choose Bitwarden if you
- Want a free or very cheap password manager
- Prefer open-source software
- Want to self-host your vault
- Are comfortable with a slightly plainer app
More comparisons on our comparisons page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitwarden as secure as 1Password? +
Both use end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption, so neither company can read your vault, and both publish third-party security audits. 1Password adds a Secret Key that is combined with your password, which protects your vault even if your password is weak. Bitwarden is open source, so anyone can inspect its code, and it can be self-hosted. Either is far safer than reusing passwords.
Is Bitwarden free? +
Yes. Bitwarden's free plan includes unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, passkeys, a password generator, Bitwarden Send and sharing with one other user. Premium adds the built-in authenticator, file attachments, emergency access and security reports for $19.80 a year ($1.65 a month) as of October 2026.
Does 1Password have a free plan? +
No. 1Password offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card. After that, Individual is $3.99 a month billed yearly ($4.99 monthly) and Families is $5.99 a month billed yearly for five people, as of October 2026. New customers were offered a first-year promotional discount at the time.
Which is better for families, 1Password or Bitwarden? +
Bitwarden Families is cheaper: $3.99 a month billed annually for six people, versus 1Password Families at $5.99 a month billed yearly for five. 1Password is often described as easier for non-technical family members, with polished apps and simple admin controls. Both support shared vaults and recovery options.
Can I switch from 1Password to Bitwarden? +
Yes. Bitwarden can import 1Password exports, and 1Password can import from Bitwarden. Export to a file, import it, check your items, then securely delete the export file, because it contains your passwords unencrypted.