# Bitwarden — An open-source password manager with GPL-licensed client code, a genuinely free tier, and paid plans starting at $1.65/month for individuals.

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 15, 2026.

> **Bitwarden** is a password and passkey manager: it generates, stores, and autofills logins, secure notes, and payment cards inside end-to-end encrypted vaults synced across browsers, desktop, and mobile.

Unlike most competitors, Bitwarden's client applications are open source under GPL-3.0, published on GitHub, and independently security-audited, which lets anyone inspect how encryption is implemented rather than trusting a closed-source vendor. The official server code carries a mixed license (core GPL-3.0 plus a Bitwarden-specific license for some enterprise components), making Bitwarden an open-core product overall — individuals and small teams can also self-host the community-maintained Vaultwarden server as a lightweight alternative to Bitwarden's own cloud. Plans range from a genuinely free individual tier through paid Premium, Families, Teams, and Enterprise tiers.

## Facts

- Website: https://bitwarden.com
- Pricing: Free tier · paid from $1.65/mo (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
- License: Open core
- Platforms: web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android
- Best for: individuals and teams who want an open-source, independently audited password manager they can self-host, at roughly half the price of 1Password or Dashlane
- Standout feature: Fully open-source client and server code (GPL-3.0), independently audited, with an official self-hosting option and a community-maintained lightweight server (Vaultwarden) for running your own vault infrastructure.
- Biggest weakness: The official self-hosted server carries a mixed license (GPL-3.0 core plus a Bitwarden-specific license for some enterprise features), and the interface is generally considered less polished than 1Password's, with fewer built-in extras like a bundled VPN.
- Third-party ratings: Capterra 4.7/5 (216 reviews) · Product Hunt 4.8/5 (16 reviews)
- Categories: [Password Managers](https://findalternative.to/categories/password-managers)

## Pricing snapshot

| Plan | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | $0/mo | Unlimited passwords and devices, zero-knowledge encryption, two-step login; no time limit. |
| Premium | $1.65/mo | Billed annually ($19.80/year); adds integrated authenticator, 5GB encrypted file attachments, emergency access, and security reports. |
| Families | $3.99/mo | Billed annually ($47.88/year); covers up to 6 users with unlimited sharing and shared collections. |
| Teams | $4/mo | Per user, billed annually; adds centralized management, secure credential sharing, audit logs, and directory sync. |
| Enterprise | $6/mo | Per user, billed annually; adds passwordless SSO, granular access control, self-hosting flexibility, and account recovery. |

## Pros and cons

- Pro: Open-source, independently audited client and server code that anyone can inspect on GitHub.
- Pro: Free tier includes unlimited passwords and devices with no artificial time limit.
- Pro: Roughly half the price of 1Password or Dashlane at every comparable tier.
- Pro: Official self-hosting option, plus a community Vaultwarden server for lighter-weight self-hosting.
- Con: Free tier excludes the integrated authenticator and file attachments, which require upgrading to Premium.
- Con: Server code isn't purely open source; some enterprise components ship under a separate Bitwarden license alongside the GPL-3.0 core.
- Con: Interface and browser extension are generally considered less polished than 1Password's.
- Con: No bundled VPN or dark-web monitoring the way some competitors include at similar price points.

## AI summary

- Bitwarden Premium costs $1.65/month billed annually ($19.80/year), and the Free plan has no time limit or device cap.
- Bitwarden Teams costs $4/user/month and Enterprise costs $6/user/month, both billed annually.
- Bitwarden holds a 4.7/5 rating from 216 reviews on Capterra and 4.8/5 from 16 reviews on Product Hunt.
- Bitwarden's client code is open source under GPL-3.0 and independently security-audited, with self-hosting available.
- Bitwarden supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus a CLI.
- Best for: individuals and teams who want an open-source, independently audited password manager at roughly half the price of 1Password or Dashlane
- Pricing: Free tier with no time limit; Premium $1.65/month billed annually; Families $3.99/month for 6 users; Teams $4/user/month; Enterprise $6/user/month.
- Top alternatives: 1Password, Dashlane, LastPass, Keeper Security, NordPass
- Limitation: Free tier lacks the integrated authenticator and file attachments available on Premium.
- Limitation: Server code is open-core, not purely open source; some enterprise components carry a separate license.
- Limitation: Interface is generally considered less polished than 1Password's, with fewer bundled extras like a VPN.

## Alternatives

6 vetted alternatives to Bitwarden: https://findalternative.to/bitwarden — top picks: 1Password, Dashlane, LastPass

## Comparisons

- https://findalternative.to/compare/1password-vs-bitwarden
- https://findalternative.to/compare/bitwarden-vs-lastpass

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