Cybersecurity · head to head
Bitwarden vs Ory Kratos
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; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- They diverge on capability: Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bitwarden and Ory Kratos actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bitwarden | Ory Kratos |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Open-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted |
| Founded | 2016 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Bitwarden
- Unlimited password storage
- Cross-platform sync
- Secure password sharing
- Password generator
- Two-factor authentication
- Encrypted file attachments
- Vault health reports
- Emergency access
Only in Ory Kratos
- Headless API
- Self-service flows
- Multi-factor authentication
- Pluggable identity schemas
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bitwarden
- Personal password managementnot Ory Kratos
- Team credential sharingnot Ory Kratos
- Enterprise securitynot Ory Kratos
- Compliance requirementsnot Ory Kratos
- Developer secrets managementnot Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos
- Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot Bitwarden
- Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Bitwarden
- Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot 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
Ory Kratos
- Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
- Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
- Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Ory Kratos
Free- Self-hostedFree
- Full identity server
- All flows
- Community support
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.
Choose Ory Kratos if
- You need headless api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want self-service flows.
Questions people ask
- Is Bitwarden or Ory Kratos better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bitwarden starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bitwarden or Ory Kratos?
- Bitwarden starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free.
- Does Bitwarden or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
- Bitwarden runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web, Cli. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- 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 Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
- What can Bitwarden do that Ory Kratos cannot?
- Bitwarden covers Unlimited password storage, Cross-platform sync, Secure password sharing, Password generator. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceOry Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?
Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.
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.
SourceOry Kratos: What does headless mean here?
Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.
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.
SourceOry Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?
No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.
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