Comparisons Password Manager Comparison 2026
Bitwarden vs 1Password: which password manager is better?
Two password managers side by side. They differ in 16 of 24 criteria. Here you can see where, and which one suits whom.
- Updated October 2026
- Compare all 12 providers
At a glance
Bitwarden
Best for: Anyone looking for a full-featured free plan, and businesses that want to self-host.
- Best free plan: unlimited passwords and devices
- Open source, regularly audited
- Very cheap Premium and affordable business plans
Better than 1Password at: Free plan, Open source, Emergency access, Local storage or self-hosting
Price: from 1.65 US dollars/month (Bitwarden bills in dollars only)
Visit Bitwarden1Password
Best for: Families and businesses that value ease of use and are willing to pay for it.
- Very well thought-out, simple interface
- An additional Secret Key protects the vault
- Travel Mode hides vaults at border crossings
Better than Bitwarden at: Secure password sharing
Price: €3.65/month (€2.74 in year 1), plus VAT
Visit 1PasswordAll criteria compared
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
| Criterion | Bitwarden | 1Password |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Free plan | Yes, unlimited passwords and devices | No |
| Price for one person | from 1.65 US dollars/month (Bitwarden bills in dollars only) | €3.65/month (€2.74 in year 1), plus VAT |
| Family plan | 3.99 US dollars/month for 6 people | €5.75/month for 5 people (€4.31 in year 1) |
| Business plan | Yes, from 4 US dollars per person/month | Yes |
| Free trial | Free plan | 14 days |
| Provider | ||
| Headquarters | USA | Canada |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Independent security audit | Yes | Yes |
| Known security incidents | None known | No vault data affected |
| Security | ||
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Stores passkeys | Yes, also on the free plan | Yes |
| Built-in 2FA code generator | Yes, from Premium | Yes |
| Data breach alerts | Yes, from Premium | Yes (Watchtower) |
| Emergency access | Yes, from Premium | Only recovery by a family organiser |
| Local storage or self-hosting | Yes, self-hosting possible | No |
| Features | ||
| Secure password sharing | Free with one person, unlimited from the family plan | Yes |
| Email aliases | Via connected alias services | Via Fastmail integration |
| Stand-out feature | Bitwarden Send for encrypted messages | Travel Mode, additional Secret Key |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone and iPad | Yes | Yes |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes |
Strengths and weaknesses
Bitwarden
The classic open-source password manager: free without restrictions, Premium for under 2 US dollars a month.
- + Best free plan: unlimited passwords and devices
- + Open source, regularly audited
- + Very cheap Premium and affordable business plans
- + Can run on your own server
- – Interface a bit plainer than 1Password
- – Headquartered in the USA
- – Billing in US dollars only
1Password
Very polished and particularly easy to use, with many convenience features. Costs a bit more and has no free plan.
- + Very well thought-out, simple interface
- + An additional Secret Key protects the vault
- + Travel Mode hides vaults at border crossings
- + Good family and business management
- – No free plan, only a 14-day trial
- – No classic emergency access
- – Not open source
Our verdict
Both are a good choice, but for different needs. Bitwarden is best for: anyone looking for a full-featured free plan, and businesses that want to self-host. 1Password is best for: families and businesses that value ease of use and are willing to pay for it.
All information comes from the providers’ websites and the sources listed in the full comparison, as of October 2026. Links marked “Ad” are affiliate links.