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Cybersecurity · head to head

Bitwarden vs LastPass

Bitwarden logo

Bitwarden

Cybersecurity

Open source password management for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LastPass logo

LastPass

Cybersecurity

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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitwarden and LastPass actually diverge.

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

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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
  • 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
    • 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

LastPass

Free
  • Free$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited password storage
    • Autofill
    • Dark web monitoring
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Unlimited passwords
    • All devices
    • Password generator
  • Families$undefined/month
    • Premium features
    • Shared folders
    • Family manager dashboard

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.

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.

Source
LastPass: Does LastPass have a free version?

Yes, LastPass offers a free plan with unlimited password storage, autofill, dark web monitoring, and basic password sharing, but it is limited to 1 device type.

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
LastPass: What devices does the free plan support?

The free plan is limited to 1 device type, meaning you must choose either desktop or mobile, not both.

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
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