Password managers
Bitwarden review
People who want a capable free password manager that works on all their devices.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.
- What it is
- Password manager
- Best for
- Open source and the lowest price
- Price
- Free; Premium $19.80/yr, checked October 26, 2026
- Prices checked
- October 26, 2026
We researched Bitwarden's official pricing, plan terms, product pages and help documentation. We haven't used Bitwarden ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.
Who it’s best for
- People who want a capable free password manager that works on all their devices.
- Anyone who wants the lowest paid price.
- Technical users and businesses that want open source code or self-hosting.
Who should skip it
- Less polished than some rivals, so less ideal if you want the slickest app.
How it works day to day
This part draws on Bitwarden’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 26, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used Bitwarden ourselves.
You use Bitwarden through browser extensions, mobile and desktop apps, and the web vault. It autofills logins and saves new ones. Some tasks, such as setting up two-step login or managing an organization, are done in the web app.
Key features in use
- Vault items: logins, cards, identities and secure notes, organized in folders.
- Bitwarden Send for sharing text or files securely.
- Integrated authenticator (Premium).
- Emergency access and vault health reports (Premium).
- Organizations for families and businesses, with SCIM provisioning on business plans.
Setup and learning curve
Bitwarden's getting-started guide walks you through creating a folder, adding a first login and turning on two-step login. Importing from another manager is supported. Self-hosting is a separate, more technical setup.
Integrations
Apps for browsers, mobile and desktop. Business plans add directory integrations and SCIM provisioning. A separate Secrets Manager is for developers.
Support
Bitwarden runs a detailed help center, community forums and sales contacts for business.
Real-world use cases
- A student uses the free plan on a laptop and phone.
- A family of six shares logins on Families.
- A company self-hosts Bitwarden to keep data on its own servers.
What it costs
Prices checked October 26, 2026, from Bitwarden’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.
- Free: $0, always free, with a password manager that works on all your devices.
- Premium: $1.65 a month, billed yearly at $19.80. Adds an integrated authenticator, file attachments, emergency access and security reports.
- Families: $3.99 a month, billed yearly at $47.88. Up to 6 users.
- Teams: $4 per user a month billed yearly. Enterprise: $6 per user a month billed yearly.
- Free trials on Families and business plans.
What we like
- A real free plan that works on all devices.
- Premium is $19.80 a year.
- Open source, with zero-knowledge encryption.
- Self-hosting option for organizations.
- Business plans with SCIM provisioning and enterprise policies.
What to watch for
- The app design is plainer than some rivals.
- Some features, like the integrated authenticator and file attachments, need Premium.
- Self-hosting needs technical skill.
- Free plan sharing is limited compared with Families.
The fine print
- Prices are billed yearly.
- Enterprise includes a free Families plan for every user.
The main alternative: NordPass
NordPass is a modern password manager with a polished app, a limited free plan and a low intro price on its 2-year plan.
What it costs: $37.53 for the first 27 months (Premium), checked October 22, 2026
Pick Bitwarden if you…
- want a strong free plan or the lowest paid price.
- value open source or self-hosting.
Pick NordPass if you…
- want a more polished app and don't mind paying a bit more.
- already use other Nord products.
Our take
Bitwarden is the value pick: a free plan that works everywhere, a very low Premium price, and open source code. The trade-off is a plainer app. If you want a more polished experience, compare NordPass.
Side by side
| Company | Best for | Personal price | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden | Open source and the lowest price | Free; Premium $19.80/yr, checked October 26, 2026 | Yes, works on all devices |
| NordPass | Lowest intro price on a 2-year plan | $37.53 for the first 27 months (Premium), checked October 22, 2026 | Yes, limited |
From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.
What we checked
- Bitwarden's pricing page and plan terms, read October 26, 2026
- NordPass's details: from our password managers guide and our published NordPass review
- Bitwarden's feature pages, help-center articles and integration pages, read October 26, 2026
Sources
Visit Bitwarden’s official site
How we review
We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.