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Bitwarden vs LastPass

Bitwarden logo

Bitwarden

Software

Open source password management for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LastPass logo

LastPass

Software

Simplify online life with LastPass password manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; LastPass free plan limited to 1 device type only
  • They diverge on capability: Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, LastPass covers Password vault.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitwarden and LastPass actually diverge.

Attributes where Bitwarden and LastPass differ
AttributeBitwardenLastPass
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, CliWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20162008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Bitwarden

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

Only in LastPass

  • Password vault
  • Autofill
  • Security dashboard
  • Dark web monitoring
  • Secure notes
  • Digital wallet
  • Chrome
  • Firefox

Both cover

  • Password generator
  • Emergency access
  • AES-256
  • PBKDF2
  • Zero-knowledge

What people use each for

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

Bitwarden

  • Personal password managementnot LastPass
  • Team credential sharingnot LastPass
  • Enterprise securitynot LastPass
  • Compliance requirementsnot LastPass
  • Developer secrets managementnot LastPass

LastPass

  • Password management and vault storagenot Bitwarden
  • Multi-device access and autofillnot Bitwarden
  • Dark web monitoring and security dashboardnot Bitwarden
  • Team collaboration with shared folders and policiesnot Bitwarden

Where each one falls short

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

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

LastPass

  • Free plan limited to 1 device type only
  • Premium plan costs ~$3/month annually (30% discount applied)
  • Business Teams plan limited to up to 50 users maximum
  • Teams plan offers only 25 security policies
  • Business plan pricing ~$4/user/month
  • Business Max plan costs ~$7/user/month for advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Bitwarden

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited passwords
    • 2 users (organizations)
    • Sync all devices
  • Teams$3/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited users
    • Shared collections
  • Enterprise$6/month
    • Everything in Teams
    • SSO integration
    • Enterprise policies

LastPass

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the LastPass review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose LastPass if

  • You need password vault.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want autofill.
LastPass review

Questions people ask

Is Bitwarden or LastPass better?
Neither clearly leads. Bitwarden starts at Free and LastPass at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bitwarden or LastPass?
Bitwarden starts at Free and LastPass at Free.
Does Bitwarden or LastPass run on more platforms?
Bitwarden runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli. LastPass runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Bitwarden for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bitwarden best used for?
Bitwarden is most often used for personal password management, team credential sharing, enterprise security, compliance requirements. Of those, personal password management and team credential sharing are not what LastPass is typically brought in for.
What can Bitwarden do that LastPass cannot?
Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Cross-platform sync, Secure password sharing, Two-factor authentication. LastPass covers Password vault, Autofill, Security dashboard, Dark web monitoring. Both handle Password generator, Emergency access, AES-256, PBKDF2.
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