Bitwarden Review 2024: How This Open-Source Password Manager Stood Up to Testing

Bitwarden is a trusted, open-source password manager with a solid history of no breaches or hacks, backed up by solid zero-knowledge encryption. It has a good free option that unlocks all core features and is a good choice for advanced users looking to host their own files.

During our testing, we found the password manager to feel less intuitive than other options, but it still ticked most of the boxes we're looking for. Where it lacked in well-polished UI, it made up for with extra security features and unique options.

Here's everything you need to know about the features, cost, and experience of using Bitwarden.

Bitwarden review at a glance

Our Bitwarden experience

Overall, Bitwarden felt like a very safe service and had a few features that helped it standout from the crowd. We thought the overall interface wasn't as intuitive or inviting as other software on the market, but think its lends itself well to the more tech savvy users it attracts. That's because as an open-source software, you're able to see the entire code database whenever you want and can even self-host the functionality so everything is in your control.

We started off a bit rough after signing up for a free trial of the family plan. Families are treated as organizations with Bitwarden, so we were immediately put into the admin dashboard when we logged in. This dashboard doesn't have any of the normal tutorial prompts that other password managers have, so we felt like we were thrown to the wolves a bit.

After combing through all the tabs and getting comfortable, we noticed at the bottom of the screen that we can switch over to the password manager view, which DID have a tutorial and used a bit more color to liven the dashboard up. After not getting the best first impression, we were happy to see that this is where we were meant to be.

Bitwarden makes it easy to import passwords from other password managers, linking to a detailed how-to guide for all the popular options you're likely coming from. Importing our Google Chrome passwords took less than a minute.

We then went into the wild and tried to sign in with Bitwarden's autofill. It was easy to use existing passwords and create new ones, and we were happy to see that we were even able to generate usernames for new accounts. We can even create an email alias so we didn't have to compromise your real email.

One of the coolest features Bitwarden had was the "Send" feature which let us send secure text or a file to someone else simply using a link. We could set this link to expire after a certain amount of time or even a certain amount of opens, making it an easy way to send someone one-time information over the internet.

How much does Bitwarden cost?

Bitwarden offers a free plan, a premium plan for $0.83/mo, and a family plan for $3.33/mo. There are several core features included with all Bitwarden accounts, including unlimited devices and passwords, free sharing with another Bitwarden user, a password generator, two-factor authentication, and more.

The Bitwarden paid plans provide more extensive security features, including encrypted file attachments, emergency access, and priority support. The following table breaks down all of Bitwarden's plans more thoroughly. 

Compared to other password managers we've reviewed, Bitwarden has one of the cheapest starting prices. On the lower end, Roboform starts at $0.99/mo and on the higher end, 1Password has a starting price of $2.99/mo (billed annually). So if you're looking for a budget password manager, you can't go wrong with Bitwarden. 

We also find Bitwarden to be one of the best free password managers on the market. We found it to be easy-to-use, maintains the same high security standards as the paid plns, and it still includes handy features like data breach reports. 

Bitwarden features

While managing passwords is the primary focus of Bitwarden, there are several other features that make this password manager stand out. Not only will Bitwarden help you manage your passwords, but it also lets you send encrypted messages and documents.

If you use the browser extension, Bitwarden will ask if you want to save passwords whenever you log in to new sites. You can assign the password to a specific organization or folder from your browser or you can request Bitwarden to stop asking to save a password for that specific website.

Password sharing

Bitwarden offers two options for password sharing. 

First, there's Bitwarden Send. It allows you to transmit data securely to anyone, regardless of whether or not they are Bitwarden users. With the free plan, you can use Bitwarden Send for text only. The paid plans allow you to send files as well. 

Alternatively, you can create a “collection” and then define which passwords to share inside that collection. Free and Premium users can create two separate collections and Family users can create an unlimited amount.

Creating a collection sounds more involved than it is. It's essentially just creating a grouping of passwords. Once you’ve created the collection, you can invite users to your "organization" to give them password access. For example, you could create a collection titled “Family” and move any passwords that your family should have access to over to that collection.

To simplify the process, your personal vault could store passwords that you don’t plan on sharing, and you can create collections for the passwords that you may plan on sharing.

Password generator

You can easily generate new passwords using Bitwarden’s desktop app, mobile app, or through its browser extensions. Bitwarden allows you to specify the requirements needed for the password. You can also generate unique usernames with the password generator.

When inputting new items into your vault, you can also use Bitwarden to check how unique that password is. Bitwarden will tell you how many times that specific password has been a part of a data breach.

Bitwarden even has a free password generator on its website that estimates how long it would take to crack your password for extra peace of mind. 

Autofill

Not only does Bitwarden help you manage your passwords easier, it also helps you input passwords and other saved information easier. With Bitwarden’s browser extensions, users can autofill login and password information.

To do so, you must click the username or password field and Bitwarden should pop up with your entry. From here, you can select to autofill the information. 

Autofill is easier on a mobile device. A Bitwarden prompt will appear when typing in a login or password field so users can easily select to use the saved Bitwarden password.

Password strength report

Bitwarden offers a robust report feature to help you understand any inefficiencies in your password management. Most of these reports are only available to paid Bitwarden subscribers, with the exception of the data breach report. 

You can request reports for the following items:

• Exposed passwords
• Reused passwords
• Weak passwords
• Unsecure websites
• Inactive two-factor authentication
• Data breaches

Digital legacy

Bitwarden makes it easy to assign someone as a trusted emergency contact for your account. Assigning someone as a trusted user doesn't give them immediate access to your account, but it allows them to request access in an emergency. However, this is only available for paid plans.

Once a trusted user requests access, you need to respond within a customizable time frame (between one and 90 days). If the request doesn't receive a response within the time frame you chose, the trusted user will be granted access. This allows a trusted person to access your account information, even if you're unable to approve the request. You can choose whether they can completely take over your account or just view the the files.

Bitwarden doesn't offer a digital legacy solution specifically. But if you don't have an emergency contact assigned, your loved ones won't be able to access your passwords after you’ve passed. Emergency contacts are the only way to give someone access to your data. 

Bitwarden privacy policy

Bitwarden’s privacy policy outlines the different types of user data it collects. Depending on the user’s Bitwarden plan, your data may be hosted with Bitwarden. If so, Bitwarden looks at data in two categories: vault data and administrative data.

Vault data

Vault data is the information that users store inside the password manager. This includes login information, credit card data, secure notes, and more. This data is encrypted, and it's not accessible by Bitwarden.

Administrative data

Bitwarden also has access to some of the personal information used to create your account, including payment information. Bitwarden keeps this data for the lifetime of your account. 

According to its website, “If you terminate your relationship with Bitwarden, we will delete your Personal Information in accordance with our data retention policies.”

Is Bitwarden safe to use?

Bitwarden is safe to use. The company hasn't had any reported attacks, and it uses AES-256 encryption to keep your information safe. 

Bitwarden is confident in its security and says the following on its website, “Bitwarden takes user security and privacy seriously. Bitwarden maintains secure, end-to-end encryption with zero knowledge of your encryption key. As a company focused on open source, we invite anyone to review our library implementations at any time on GitHub.”

Bitwarden third-party audits

Bitwarden completes third-party security audits on a consistent basis. The last audit was performed by Cure53 in 2023.

According to that report, “The overall impression from Cure53 is that Bitwarden, including the network infrastructure and web applications that power the product, exhibits a strong security foundation with zero exploitable vulnerabilities found. Only one issue was discovered, which was promptly resolved by the Bitwarden team.”

Two-factor authentication

Bitwarden offers several ways to use two-factor authentication. There's also a recovery password for each account in case you are unable to access your password vault once two-factor authentication is set up.

You can use the following methods for authentication:

• Authenticator apps
• YubiKey OTP security key
• Duo
• FIDO2 WebAuthn
• Email verification

Bitwarden customer service

There is ample support on the Bitwarden website. It offers a help center with various tutorials, how-to’s, and support documentation to help users identify and resolve any problems. You can also find on-demand and live demonstrations on how to use the product. 

However, the only way to contact the customer support team was through a form on the website, although it claims to be available to everyone 24/7 with priority support (expedited responses) for premium Bitwarden users.

Bitwarden compatibility

It's easy to sync your password vault across all devices and platforms. Bitwarden supports most, if not all, operating systems and devices. Bitwarden is operable on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is also supported on iOS and Android devices.

You can use Bitwarden with the following browser extensions:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari
• Vivaldi
• Opera
• Brave
• TorBrowser

Your Bitwarden account is also available online as a web app when you sign in to your account in any internet browser. You have your own designated web vault.

Top alternatives

There are plenty of password managers available, whether you're looking for an option that's part of a security stack or for top-notch security features.

If you aren't sold on Bitwarden, here are some alternate recommendations:

Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.3 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.2 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $1.29/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at $0.99/mo	Starts at $1.45/mo (billed annually)
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera
Autofill
Password sharing
Password generator
Digital legacy
Learn more	Get NordPass	Get Roboform	Get Keeper

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Bitwarden good?

Overall, Bitwarden is a good password management tool for both paid and free accounts. It's easy to organize and simple to incorporate into your day-to-day life. The password manager is compatible with almost every browser and device to make things easier for users.

Bitwarden also offers several other tools to make its product more appealing. You can use it to remember your credit card information and Social Security numbers and even to send encrypted notes or files.

Not only is Bitwarden easy to use, it actively has third parties test its security to ensure that they are offering the most secure product. Its open-source platform creates transparency that helps reveal any issues with the code more efficiently. Bitwarden is an effective password vault for your everyday needs.

Want to make sure you get the best password manager? Check out our in-depth comparison guides:

• Bitwarden vs. LastPass
• Bitwarden vs. 1Password

4.5

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Bitwarden's website

Password Manager

Bitwarden

• Fully functional free plan
• Open-source software
• Sharing limited to one person with paid plan

Author Details

Andrew Adams

About the Author

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.

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