LastPass vs. Bitwarden 2024: Is It a Case of David vs. Goliath?

Though LastPass is the more popular password manager, our testing and research found that Bitwarden was better in almost every way. While both services provide all the must-have features, like strong password generators and autofill, Bitwarden is backed by a breach-less history and open source security.

The one place that LastPass is better than Bitwarden is that it offers a full 30-day trial of its premium plan, where Bitwarden only offers 7 days. But that week should be more than enough to find if its the right choice for you.

Here's our full, in-depth comparison of LastPass vs. Bitwarden — and why Bitwarden is the best password manager of the two.

LastPass vs. Bitwarden compared

While LastPass touts itself as one of the best password managers for both individuals and groups, Bitwarden is set up to be more user-friendly for families, businesses, and other groups of people who want to share passwords. Also, LastPass has had several security incidents since its inception that have left customer data exposed. Current data suggests Bitwarden has never been hacked.

• LastPass: Best free trial
• Bitwarden: Best overall

LastPass vs. Bitwarden review at a glance

		Our Pick
Star rating	3.8 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.	4.8 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.
Price	Premium starts at $3.00/mo (billed annually)	Premium starts at $0.83/mo
Free version	Yes, unlimited devices but limited to either desktop OR mobile	Yes, unlimited devices
Number of users	1-6	2-6
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera
Password sharing
Encryption	AES-256 bit encryption	AES-256 bit encryption
Password generator
Password strength report
Autofill
Digital legacy
Cloud storage	Up to 1GB	Up to 1GB
	Get LastPass Read Our LastPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

LastPass pros and cons

LastPass is a well-known password manager that checks all the boxes when it comes to the standard features you're likely looking for. The service works seamlessly across devices and makes it easy to create and access strong passwords.

Unfortunately, its dark past of multiple data breaches has made it difficult for many people to fully trust.

Bitwarden pros and cons

Bitwarden is a trusted password manager, strengthened by its open-source, zero-knowledge encryption. It has never had a breach and even comes with some unique features, like being able to self-host the program.

In our testing, we found it came across as a bit less intuitive than LastPass, but hit everything we were looking for in terms of features.

Which password manager is the better value?

Bitwarden is better value overall, thanks to its fully-functional free plan and cheaper premium tiers.

		Our Pick
Price range	Free–$4.00/mo	Free–$3.33/mo
Best value plan	Premium for $3.00/mo (billed annually)	Free plan for unlimited free passwords across unlimited devices
Free trial	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 7 days
	Get LastPass Read Our LastPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

Bitwarden is less expensive and has a more robust free option compared to LastPass. Bitwarden’s free plan offers unlimited devices, while the free LastPass plan limits you to only one device type (either mobile or desktop).

Both products have premium plans for individuals or families. However, Bitwarden Premium is lower priced than LastPass, coming in at $0.83/mo instead of $3.00/mo (billed annually) for the individual plan.

If you're looking for a family plan, LastPass is actually cheaper. Both allow up to 6 users on the plan, but LastPass costs $4.00/mo (billed annually) to Bitwarden's $3.33/mo.

The refund policy for LastPass very clearly states there are no refunds. You can use your subscription through the end of the billing period and not renew it, but they will not refund any money on purchased plans. Bitwarden has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t happy with your purchase, giving it the leg up here. That said, the 30-day free trial for LastPass is longer than Bitwarden's 7-day option.

Which password manager has the better features?

While both password managers offer all the basics of a password manager, Bitwarden edges out LastPass thanks to a number of extras.

Feature		Our Pick
Import/export tool
Password sharing
Password generator
Autofill
Password strength report
Digital legacy
Cloud storage	Up to 1GB	Up to 1GB
Extra features	Dark web monitoring	Dark web monitoring, email masking, self-host option
	Get LastPass Read Our LastPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

Both services have essential features that make up a good password manager. The password generator is always our favorite because strong passwords are the first line of defense against a cyberattack. The autofill feature is helpful, especially when it is set up to fill in addresses, phone numbers, and other information on web browsers. Both have desktop and mobile apps with end-to-end encryption and a user-friendly interface. They also offer free and business plans.

The biggest difference between these password managers comes in the extras. While LastPass offers dark web monitoring, Bitwarden takes things a step further by offering dark web monitoring, email masking options, and the ability to self-host the program. This is an ultra-secure option for techy individuals who are looking to keep their information off the cloud entirely.

Which password manager is safer?

When it comes to the security of your information, Bitwarden wins this one by a landslide.

		Our Pick
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256
Password hashing	PBKDF2-SHA-256	PBKDF2 SHA-256 or Argon2
Two-factor authentication
Overgone a security audit
Most recent data breach	October 2022	Never
	Get LastPass Read Our LastPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

Bitwarden has a murky privacy policy regarding where your data will be stored. Depending on a paid or free plan, your data may not be stored on Bitwarden’s own servers. While that’s not too egregious, companies use server-hosting services all the time, it’s interesting that they split the hosting duties.

On the other hand, LastPass is straight-up selling your data. In its U.S. privacy policy, LastPass not only admits to selling your data but it creates an aggregated profile of you to give a more complete picture to the companies purchasing your data. For us, this is a deal breaker.

LastPass suffered two security breaches in 2022 in close succession. Unfortunately, those weren’t the only breaches the company has experienced. The first was in 2011, with several more up to the most recent in October 2022. In addition to that, auditors found trackers embedded in the LastPass Android app in 2021. As of publishing, Bitwarden has neither experienced a hack nor been found to have trackers embedded in its apps.

It’s worth noting that when researching security incidents, we found that LastPass had deleted announcements from its blog that informed customers of breaches and hacks that happened before 2022.

Which password manager has better compatibility and customer support?

While LastPass has a more intuitive user interface, Bitwarden has superior compatibility and customer support.

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari	Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Vivaldi, Brave, Tor
24/7 customer support	Yes — paid plans only
Customer support options	Live chat, phone, email, forums, online guides	Guides, email
Learn more	Get LastPass Read Our LastPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

LastPass has adequate support. On the surface, it looks like LastPass has more support options, but when we tested them out, we ended up being routed back to the community forums.

Bitwarden's support consists of a help center that has a wide range of topics about how to use the software, as well as a contact form for issues that aren't addressed in the help center. The community forum is fairly active, as are its social media channels.

According to Trustpilot, a site where people rate their experience with a company, Bitwarden has 4.6 stars, while LastPass has 1.4 stars. While the ratings aren’t all based on customer service experiences, many do mention issues reaching LastPass while Bitwarden users had a generally good experience.

FAQs

LastPass vs. Bitwarden: Which is better?

Bitwarden is the clear winner. While LastPass does have a significant amount of useful features, the risks of using it outweigh the benefits. Bitwarden costs less for individuals, has never had a security breach, and provides a simpler customer support experience. It also has a robust free product and is highly rated by users.

A password manager can make your life much easier as you can take your password vault anywhere your devices go. With something that guards so much of your personal information and sensitive data, you need a product that’s going to protect you. By all accounts, Bitwarden does it better.

		Our Pick
Value
Features
Safety
Compatibility & customer support
Learn more	Get LastPass Read Our LastPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

Top alternatives

Neither of these may be the right password manager for your needs, and that's okay. We've researched and tested a lot of password management solutions and recommend the following as the cream of the crop. Plus, all of these password managers have never been breached.