Battle of the Greatest – Who Wins?

As two of the highest password managers as we speak, each Bitwarden and 1Password provide high quality password administration — albeit in numerous methods. Bitwarden is an open-source resolution with a powerful emphasis on affordability and transparency. In the meantime, 1Password is a closed-source service that gives a streamlined consumer expertise with top-tier safety.

On this article, we check out which password supervisor is greatest for you and your group.

• Bitwarden: Greatest for customers who want a high-quality password supervisor that’s each free and open-source.
• 1Password: Greatest for customers who prioritize having an intuitive and well-designed consumer interface with many additional security measures included.

Bitwarden vs 1Password: Comparability

Bitwarden vs 1Password: Pricing

Each Bitwarden and 1Password divide their paid subscriptions into Private and Enterprise tiers. By way of free plans, solely Bitwarden has a free model, whereas 1Password doesn’t at the moment provide a devoted free plan.

Luckily, each password managers have free trials for his or her paid subscriptions. Of the 2, 1Password is extra beneficiant because it supplies a 14-day free trial for all its plans, aside from its Enterprise subscription. In distinction, Bitwarden has a decent seven-day free trial for each its Bitwarden Groups and Enterprise subscriptions.

Bitwarden pricing

Bitwarden Private:

• Free: Limitless passwords, limitless gadgets.
• Premium: $0.83 per thirty days; limitless gadgets; built-in authenticator, file attachments, emergency entry, amongst others.
• Households: $3.33 per thirty days; as much as 6 customers; limitless sharing, limitless collections, group storage.

Bitwarden Enterprise:

• Groups: $4 per thirty days per consumer; information sharing, occasion, and audit log monitoring, consumer teams, listing integration, amongst others.
• Enterprise: $6 per thirty days per consumer; all Groups options plus enterprise insurance policies, passwordless SSO integration, and account restoration capabilities.
• Customized quote: Contact gross sales for pricing; scalable subscription.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full Bitwarden evaluation.

1Password pricing

In comparison with Bitwarden’s month-to-month subscriptions, 1Password supplies an possibility for both a month-to-month or an annual plan. Under is an outline of the pricing of 1Password’s plans for each contract choices:

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full 1Password evaluation.

Bitwarden vs 1Password: Function comparability

Safety and encryption

Winner: Tie

Each Bitwarden and 1Password provide high-end safety with their respective password managers. By way of encryption, each companies make the most of the AES-256 encryption algorithm, which is broadly thought of the trade customary within the house.

As well as, I’m joyful to report that each Bitwarden and 1Password take third-party testing severely. Within the realm of safety software program, security and safety claims can solely accomplish that a lot. That’s why unbiased safety audits are a crucial characteristic to look out for.

For Bitwarden, they’ve proven a powerful dedication to third-party testing with its suite of safety audits courting again to 2018. It’s additionally SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA-compliant. Its most up-to-date third-party audit was an evaluation of its Internet App performed by safety agency Cure53 again in August 2023.

However, 1Password likewise presents a powerful portfolio of third-party audit outcomes. As of Could 2024, 1Password has 24 third-party audits overlaying numerous features of its password administration service.

1Password has additionally achieved SOC 2 sort 2, ISO 27001:2022, 27017:2015, 27018:2019, and 27701:2019 certifications — displaying it meets trade and worldwide requirements for info safety.

On August 6, 2024, 1Password shared {that a} vulnerability on 1Password 8 for Mac (variations earlier than 8.10.36) was found, presumably affecting the appliance’s platform safety. Per 1Password, the difficulty “permits a malicious course of operating domestically on a machine to bypass inter-process communication protections.”

Luckily, 1Password has patched the difficulty with 1Password for Mac model 8.10.36 and has stated that there have been no reviews of the difficulty being exploited by anybody else. On this occasion, I commend 1Password for its easy, swift, and clear response to the difficulty.

Lastly, the 2 password managers differ in software program distribution. Bitwarden is open-source, permitting the general public to freely view its supply code for attainable holes or vulnerabilities. On the flipside, 1Password is closed-source with its full supply code non-public.

Personally, I favor open-source software program because it supplies a further layer of transparency. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that closed-source software program has its benefits — sometimes providing issues like extra premium buyer help.

All in all, I’ve no hassle recommending both Bitwarden or 1Password by way of safety. Each password managers have the required safety measures to make sure your passwords will probably be protected and safe.

Multi-factor authentication choices

Winner: Bitwarden

In relation to multi-factor authentication or two-factor authentication, I give the win to Bitwarden. Bitwarden presents a spread of 2FA choices. For its free model, it helps 2FA through FIDO2 WebAuthn credentials, authenticator apps, and electronic mail.

For those who go for their paid model, you get 2FA via Duo Safety with Duo Push, SMS, telephone name, safety keys, and YubiKey help. I admire how Bitwarden nonetheless presents MFA/2FA to its free customers, making it a practical free possibility that doesn’t sacrifice important security measures like MFA.

That isn’t to say that 1Password is lagging behind. 1Password helps 2FA via authenticator apps and safety keys like YubiKey and Titan. Particularly, 1Password helps authenticator apps like Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, or Okta Confirm.

That being stated, in case you’re particularly in search of a greater variety of MFA choices, I like to recommend going for Bitwarden over 1Password.

Ease of use and efficiency

Winner: 1Password

In relation to ease of use and efficiency, I’ve to offer it to 1Password. 1Password’s desktop utility has a contemporary and intuitive consumer interface that I discovered nice to make use of all through my testing.

The entire consumer expertise felt polished and properly thought out. To me, that is crucial for companies that plan to combine 1Password of their workforce, because it helps much less tech-savvy customers be comfy with the software program and maximize worker adoption.

However, Bitwarden implements a extra minimalist interface with a less complicated design. Subjectively talking, I don’t have any main points with Bitwarden’s UI. It’s respectable and will get the job accomplished.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Bitwarden has the extra dated-looking utility of the 2. After testing each password managers, I personally choose 1Password’s extra user-friendly and refined utility.

For efficiency, I discovered Bitwarden and 1Password have been related in providing a stable — however not excellent — password administration expertise. Each companies had no hassle producing passwords or saving new log-in credentials.

Nevertheless, I did expertise a couple of quirks with each companies with their respective autofill capabilities.

For Bitwarden, I discovered it peculiar that autofill wasn’t toggled on by default. Throughout my first time utilizing Bitwarden, I needed to manually click on on the recommended password from the browser extension to insert my log-in particulars as an alternative of Bitwarden robotically filling in. Whereas this may be modified within the settings menu, I want this had been turned on out of the field.

On the 1Password facet, I had cases the place it outright didn’t autofill my credentials, even once I ensured it was turned on.

Luckily, these hiccups from each companies have been usually outliers. For probably the most half, each Bitwarden and 1Password supplied a dependable password seize and replay expertise. That being stated, it should be talked about that little quirks right here and there are to be anticipated.

Further options

Winner: 1Password

For additional options, I give the sting to 1Password. Whereas each password managers provide dependable password storage and password era, 1Password comes with distinctive performance that helps it standout.

One distinctive 1Password characteristic I discovered noteworthy was its inclusion of Journey Mode. Journey Mode permits customers to take away a vault of their selection when touring.

I envision this to be helpful for customers who often go on enterprise journeys and wish to shield sure logins when going via customs or border companies. 1Password additionally has a complete Watchtower dashboard that robotically scores all of your passwords by way of password well being and power.

I notably like how Watchtower additionally acts as a knowledge breach monitor, alerting customers if any of their credentials have been compromised or uncovered in a breach. To Bitwarden’s credit score, it additionally has a model of this referred to as Vault Well being Stories — which may create summaries of uncovered passwords, information breach information, and the like.

Nevertheless, I discovered 1Password’s Watchtower to be extra handy because it creates all this information robotically. As compared, Bitwarden customers should manually generate every Vault Report on their very own.

One clear benefit Bitwarden has over 1Password is its devoted free model. The place 1Password lacks a free plan, Bitwarden has among the best free password managers, providing limitless password storage for limitless gadgets.

That is vital since different free password managers, like Dashlane or McAfee True Key, restrict the utmost quantity of passwords free customers can retailer.

Bitwarden additionally has Bitwarden Ship, its end-to-end encrypted textual content and file-sharing characteristic that can be utilized to share passwords, monetary or authorized paperwork, and different delicate info.

Whereas each companies present their very own standout options on high of password storage, I really feel 1Password’s Watchtower and Journey Mode capabilities, amongst different options, present considerably extra worth than Bitwarden’s characteristic set.

If you need extra in-depth protection of 1Password’s high options, take a look at TechRepublic’s Prime 5 1Password Options video.

Buyer help

Winner: 1Password

Whereas each Bitwarden and 1Password have a wholesome variety of help choices, I discovered that 1Password was barely higher within the customer support division. For Bitwarden, we get their devoted Assist Middle that includes information base articles and tutorials, an electronic mail and ticketing system, and its Bitwarden Neighborhood Discussion board.

However, 1Password presents related buyer help with its 1Password Assist web page housing first-party guides, electronic mail and ticketing system, and its 1Password Neighborhood buyer discussion board.

Sadly, neither password supervisor has stay chat help to attach customers with an precise help agent. Nevertheless, 1Password presents an AI chatbot that acts as a reasonably useful substitute.

It was in a position to reply many of the questions I had with an affordable quantity of accuracy. In fact, a human help agent is extra perfect, however I feel having the chatbot to handle fast questions is an underrated benefit. This may be particularly helpful in case you’re pressed for time and don’t essentially wish to scour via help articles to reply a easy query.

I additionally admire how the chatbot itself is obtainable for non-1Password customers, not requiring an energetic 1Password subscription to entry and use.

Worth and worth

Winner: Bitwarden

Bitwarden excels in its reasonably priced pricing. At $0.83 per thirty days, its base premium plan is nearly thrice extra reasonably priced than 1Password’s equal subscription at $3.99 per thirty days. Its Households plan can also be less expensive, priced at $3.33 per thirty days for six customers, in comparison with 1Password’s Households possibility at $4.99 for 5 relations.

That’s to not say that 1Password doesn’t have any worth plans. 1Password’s Groups Starter pack at $19.95 per thirty days covers as much as 10 customers, as much as round $2 per consumer. This can be a whole lot, contemplating Bitwarden’s Groups plan would require round $40 for a similar quantity of customers.

By way of enterprise plans, Bitwarden is as soon as once more extra reasonably priced with its $6 per thirty days Enterprise plan in comparison with 1Password’s equal Enterprise subscription at $9.99 per thirty days, per consumer.

I additionally wish to point out Bitwarden’s free model with limitless password storage and limitless machine help — strengthening Bitwarden’s case as a first-rate choose for budget-oriented customers. If affordability is an enormous precedence, Bitwarden is the clear selection.

Bitwarden vs 1Password on Reddit

To spherical out this comparability, I seemed to Reddit to get actual consumer suggestions from Bitwarden and 1Password customers world wide. Usually, each suppliers are often talked about as high picks in boards speaking about high quality password managers. Nevertheless, it’s clear that many customers acknowledge the contrasting characteristic variations between the 2 companies.

Within the Privateness Guides Reddit group, one consumer stated they most popular Bitwarden for its general affordability and open-source nature. The commenter stated, “I choose Bitwarden a bit greater than 1Password. Bitwarden is open supply, and you’ll even host it your self. I don’t bear in mind if 1Password is open-source or not. Bitwarden can also be so much cheaper. It’s solely $10/12 months to get premium that allows you to see reviews for issues like breached passwords, weak passwords, reused passwords, and many others., and provides totally different 2FA choices.”

“And by way of what they do, I really feel prefer it’s not that totally different so $10 a 12 months, to me, is healthier than about $35 a 12 months for 1Password. Additionally, for some cause, I just like the UI higher in Bitwarden, which I feel places me within the minority,” the consumer added. This remark acquired 34 upvotes, reflecting many of the feedback I noticed praising Bitwarden as an economical possibility.

In the meantime, 1Password is highlighted for its trendy and polished consumer interface. One commenter within the Ask Community Safety Reddit group stated, “As a shopper I really like 1Password. Very straightforward to make use of on all platforms, has iPhone integration (can exchange iCloud Keychain) plus Cell Safari extension. Syncs mainly immediately, no refreshing apps and ready for a brand new change to propagate. Nice UX.”

In the identical subreddit, one other commenter emphasised how 1Password was one of the best for attributable to its passkey help, clean efficiency, and a number of layers of safety.

Bitwarden execs and cons

Professionals

• Open-source software program.
• Reasonably priced pricing throughout paid subscriptions.
• Free model with limitless storage, and limitless gadgets.
• Broad platform help and intensive MFA/2FA choices.
• Independently audited.

Cons

• Much less polished consumer interface.

1Password execs and cons

Professionals

• Refined and intuitive consumer expertise.
• Distinctive Journey Mode and Watchtower options.
• 24 third-party audits since Could 2024.
• Gives AI chatbot for buyer help.
• Worth-laden Groups subscription.

Cons

Ought to your group use Bitwarden or 1Password?

Whereas this round-up noticed a detailed combat between two high quality password managers, 1Password comes out on high over Bitwarden. Per my testing, I discovered 1Password’s refined consumer expertise, distinctive additional options, and barely higher buyer help to have vital benefits over Bitwarden.

SEE: SMB Safety Pack (TechRepublic Premium)

Even with its much less reasonably priced subscriptions, I feel 1Password’s extra user-friendly utility is properly well worth the extra spend. That is very true within the context of a enterprise making an attempt to combine a password supervisor into their group, because it reduces the educational curve for much less tech-savvy people and workers.

Don’t get me improper, I nonetheless assume Bitwarden is an excellent password supervisor in its personal proper. Its open-source nature will probably be appreciated by each privateness fans and builders. As well as, its beneficiant free model and reasonably priced paid plans are excellent for these on a tighter price range.

Select Bitwarden if:

• You need an open-source password supervisor.
• You’re in search of a free password supervisor with limitless password storage.
• You’re a budget-oriented consumer in search of an reasonably priced but high-quality password supervisor.
• You desire a numerous set of MFA choices.

Select 1Password if:

• You need an all-around password supervisor with a well-designed and intuitive consumer expertise.
• You favor closed-source software program.
• You need an reasonably priced Groups plan that covers as much as 10 members.
• You desire a set-and-forget password well being and information breach monitoring system.
• You’re a frequent traveler who wants a method to safe passwords whereas overseas.

Try our full critiques of Bitwarden and 1Password for extra particulars.

Evaluation methodology

My match-up of Bitwarden and 1Password concerned a complete evaluation of every password supervisor’s options, value, and real-world efficiency.

Each password managers have been scored on every part from their MFA choices to their extra security measures. Specifically, we took under consideration 5 foremost pillars with their corresponding weights:

• Pricing (25%).
• Core password administration options (35%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer help (15%).
• Skilled evaluation (10%).

I additionally supplemented my findings with real-world consumer testimonials and different respected evaluation websites to spherical out my suggestions.

For extra info on how we evaluation password managers, you may view our full Evaluation Methodology for Password Managers.