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Cybersecurity · head to head

1Password vs Bitwarden

1Password logo

1Password

Cybersecurity

The world's most-loved password manager

From
$2.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bitwarden logo

Bitwarden

Cybersecurity

Open source password management for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bitwarden has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 1Password no free tier; all plans require paid subscription; Bitwarden the integrated TOTP authenticator, encrypted file attachments, vault health reports and Emergency Access are all withheld from the free plan and need Premium at $1.65 per month
  • They diverge on capability: 1Password covers Autofill, Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 1Password and Bitwarden actually diverge.

Attributes where 1Password and Bitwarden differ
Attribute1PasswordBitwarden
Starting price$2.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli
Founded20062016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 1Password

  • Autofill
  • Secure notes
  • Credit card storage
  • Document storage
  • Watchtower security alerts
  • Travel mode
  • Chrome
  • Firefox

Only in Bitwarden

  • Unlimited password storage
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Secure password sharing
  • Encrypted file attachments
  • Vault health reports
  • Emergency access
  • Active Directory
  • Azure AD

Both cover

  • Password generator
  • Two-factor authentication
  • AES-256

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

1Password

  • Password managementnot Bitwarden
  • Secure document storagenot Bitwarden
  • Team credential sharing
  • Identity protectionnot Bitwarden
  • Compliance managementnot Bitwarden

Bitwarden

  • Personal password managementnot 1Password
  • Team credential sharing
  • Enterprise securitynot 1Password
  • Compliance requirementsnot 1Password
  • Developer secrets managementnot 1Password

Both are used for team credential sharing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

1Password

  • No free tier; all plans require paid subscription
  • Offline access requires prior device sync; cannot add new passwords while offline
  • Enterprise plan does not include free trial access

Bitwarden

  • The integrated TOTP authenticator, encrypted file attachments, vault health reports and Emergency Access are all withheld from the free plan and need Premium at $1.65 per month
  • Free accounts can share vault items with one other Bitwarden user and no more
  • File storage is capped at 5 GB on Premium and 5 GB personal plus 5 GB family on the Families plan
  • Two-step login accepts up to 10 hardware security keys per account
  • The Families plan is capped at 6 people, so a seventh member means moving to a Teams subscription at $4 per user per month

Pricing, plan by plan

1Password

$2.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the 1Password review.

Bitwarden

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic password management
    • Zero-knowledge encryption
    • Advanced two-step login
  • Premium$1.65/month
    • Integrated authenticator
    • File attachments
    • Emergency access
  • Premium$19.8/year
  • Families$3.99/month
    • Up to 6 premium accounts
    • Unlimited sharing and collections
    • Organization storage included

Which should you pick?

Choose 1Password if

  • You need autofill.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Web.
  • You also want secure notes.
1Password review

Choose Bitwarden if

  • You need unlimited password storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli.
  • You also want cross-platform sync.
Bitwarden review

Questions people ask

Is 1Password or Bitwarden better?
Neither clearly leads. 1Password starts at $2.99/month and Bitwarden at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 1Password or Bitwarden?
Bitwarden has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for 1Password and Free for Bitwarden.
Does 1Password or Bitwarden run on more platforms?
1Password runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Web. Bitwarden runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli.
Can I use Bitwarden for free?
Yes. Bitwarden has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 1Password starts at $2.99/month.
What is 1Password best used for?
1Password is most often used for password management, secure document storage, team credential sharing, identity protection. Of those, password management and secure document storage are not what Bitwarden is typically brought in for.
What can 1Password do that Bitwarden cannot?
1Password covers Autofill, Secure notes, Credit card storage, Document storage. Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Cross-platform sync, Secure password sharing, Encrypted file attachments. Both handle Password generator, Two-factor authentication, AES-256.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

1Password: Does 1Password offer a free tier?

No. 1Password offers no free tier as of July 2026, but provides a 14-day free trial with no credit card required for all plans except Enterprise.

Source
Bitwarden: Does Bitwarden have a free plan?

Yes, Bitwarden offers a free tier with basic password management, zero-knowledge encryption, advanced two-step login, and unlimited devices across browser, mobile, and desktop apps.

Source
1Password: Can I access 1Password offline?

Yes. The desktop app allows for offline access to your vault once you have synced your passwords to the device.

Source
Bitwarden: How much does Bitwarden Premium cost?

Bitwarden Premium costs $1.65 per month billed annually at $19.80 per year, including integrated authenticator, file attachments, emergency access, and security reports.

Source
1Password: What is the pricing for individuals and families?

Individual plan costs 2.99 USD per month or 35.88 USD annually. Families plan costs 59.88 USD per year and includes five licenses with the ability to add more for 1 USD per month each.

Source
Bitwarden: What is the difference between Bitwarden Teams and Enterprise?

Teams plan at $4 per user per month (annual billing) includes centralized ownership and secure credential sharing. Enterprise at $6 per user per month adds granular access control, passwordless SSO, account recovery, self-hosting, and complimentary Families plans for all users.

Source
1Password: What platforms does 1Password support?

1Password is available on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari.

Source
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