Comparisons Password Manager Comparison 2026
Proton Pass vs Bitwarden: which password manager is better?
Two password managers side by side. They differ in 13 of 24 criteria. Here you can see where, and which one suits whom.
- Updated October 2026
- Compare all 12 providers
At a glance
Proton Pass
Best for: Anyone who values privacy and prefers a European provider.
- Unlimited passwords and devices even on the free plan
- Open source, based in Switzerland
- Built-in email aliases
Better than Bitwarden at: Secure password sharing, Email aliases
Price: from €2.99/month
Visit Proton PassAdBitwarden
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 Proton Pass at: Local storage or self-hosting
Price: from 1.65 US dollars/month (Bitwarden bills in dollars only)
Visit BitwardenAll criteria compared
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
| Criterion | Proton Pass | Bitwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Free plan | Yes, unlimited passwords and devices, 10 aliases | Yes, unlimited passwords and devices |
| Price for one person | from €2.99/month | from 1.65 US dollars/month (Bitwarden bills in dollars only) |
| Family plan | €4.99/month for 6 people | 3.99 US dollars/month for 6 people |
| Business plan | Yes | Yes, from 4 US dollars per person/month |
| Free trial | Free plan, 30-day money-back guarantee | Free plan |
| Provider | ||
| Headquarters | Switzerland | USA |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Independent security audit | Yes | Yes |
| Known security incidents | None known | None known |
| Security | ||
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Stores passkeys | Yes, also on the free plan | Yes, also on the free plan |
| Built-in 2FA code generator | Yes, from Pass Plus | Yes, from Premium |
| Data breach alerts | Yes, from Pass Plus | Yes, from Premium |
| Emergency access | Yes, from Pass Plus | Yes, from Premium |
| Local storage or self-hosting | No | Yes, self-hosting possible |
| Features | ||
| Secure password sharing | Yes | Free with one person, unlimited from the family plan |
| Email aliases | Yes, 10 free, unlimited from Plus | Via connected alias services |
| Stand-out feature | File attachments, command-line tool | Bitwarden Send for encrypted messages |
| 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
Proton Pass
Open-source password manager from Switzerland with a generous free plan and built-in email aliases.
- + Unlimited passwords and devices even on the free plan
- + Open source, based in Switzerland
- + Built-in email aliases
- + Affordable family plan for 6 people
- – 2FA codes, emergency access and breach alerts only in Pass Plus
- – Still fairly young compared with 1Password or Bitwarden
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
Our verdict
Both are a good choice, but for different needs. Proton Pass is best for: anyone who values privacy and prefers a European provider. Bitwarden is best for: anyone looking for a full-featured free plan, and businesses that want to self-host.
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.