Because the variety of apps and companies we use on-line will increase by the day, so do the variety of passwords we should bear in mind. Earlier than, it wasn’t unprecedented for individuals to write down down passwords of their notebooks or sticky notes. Nonetheless, these strategies will not be the most secure or best method to hold observe of passwords right this moment.
That’s the place password managers like Bitwarden and LastPass are available in — software program particularly designed to retailer, encrypt and arrange your passwords and different credentials securely. In addition they embrace extra options corresponding to password era and multi-factor authentication.
On this article, we evaluate Bitwarden vs. LastPass to see which one is finest for you or your group.
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Bitwarden vs. LastPass: Comparability desk
Bitwarden and LastPass each provide core options you’d anticipate from a password supervisor, corresponding to an encrypted password vault and a password generator.
Bitwarden stands out for its very beneficiant free model that enables limitless password storage and entry on limitless units. In the meantime, LastPass comes with quite a few MFA choices, corresponding to YubiKey and fingerprint authentication.
| Options | Bitwarden | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| Zero information | Sure | Sure |
| With historical past of information breach | No | Sure |
| Vault encryption degree | AES 256 | AES 256 |
| Limitless password storage | Sure | Sure |
| MFA choices | YubiKey OTP, Duo Safety, FIDO2 WebAuthn, e-mail, authentication app | LastPass MFA, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Toopher, Duo Safety, Grid, YubiKey USB, fingerprint, sensible card, Salesforce authentication |
| Supported platforms | Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Courageous, Arc, Edge, Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo (Mac) | Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera |
| Further options | Encrypted file and textual content sharing | One-time passwords |
| Free plan | Sure | Sure |
| Beginning worth | $0.83 monthly | $3.00 monthly |
Bitwarden and LastPass pricing
Each Bitwarden and LastPass provide free variations of their password managers, however there’s a stark distinction of their beginning costs. At $0.83 monthly, Bitwarden’s Premium plan is likely one of the most reasonably priced subscription plans available on the market. Compared, LastPass’ Premium subscription at $3 is on par with different password managers like Dashlane at $3.33 and 1Password at $2.99.
For household plans, Bitwarden is marginally extra reasonably priced at $3.33 monthly than LastPass’ Households at $4.00 monthly — each of which embrace six accounts.
For his or her enterprise subscriptions, Bitwarden wins on the affordability entrance as soon as once more. Its Groups Starter plan is $20 monthly for as much as 10 customers, whereas LastPass’s Groups subscription is $4.00 per consumer monthly for as much as 50 customers. A LastPass Groups plan for 10 customers is equal to $40 — double the value of Bitwarden’s providing.
By way of enterprise options, the 2 aren’t far off, with Bitwarden’s Enterprise plan pegged at $6 per consumer monthly, whereas LastPass Enterprise is at $7.00 per consumer monthly. Each of those choices permit an infinite variety of customers.
If affordability is your essential concern, Bitwarden is the less expensive choice. Nonetheless, LastPass affords free trials for all its plans, whereas Bitwarden solely offers a free trial to their Households and Enterprise subscriptions.
Characteristic comparability: Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Zero-knowledge rules and general safety
Whereas each password managers adhere to zero-knowledge rules with the intention of bolstering knowledge safety, LastPass’ password supervisor skilled two main knowledge breaches in 2022. These knowledge breaches resulted in knowledge being stolen from LastPass and its prospects.

LastPass introduced {that a} malicious actor was capable of acquire unauthorized entry to buyer knowledge consisting of encrypted fields corresponding to web site usernames and passwords, safe notes, and form-filled knowledge and unencrypted knowledge corresponding to web site URLs. This isn’t one thing we would like in software program designed to retailer consumer passwords and delicate info.
Whereas LastPass has since adopted adjustments to deal with the safety incidents, we discover it laborious to advocate as a viable password supervisor given the gravity of the breaches.
To be taught extra, learn our full LastPass evaluation right here.
Compared, Bitwarden has not famous any safety breaches. Additionally it is open supply — which signifies that their code is obtainable for public viewing and might simply be monitored for any vulnerabilities.
Safety-wise, Bitwarden is the clear winner between the 2 password managers.
Learn our full Bitwarden evaluation right here.
Password vault and administration
Each password managers use the gold normal AES-256 encryption to encrypt consumer knowledge saved of their respective password vaults. AES-256 encryption is taken into account bank-level safety that provides heightened safety to consumer passwords in opposition to hackers and malicious third events.

We additionally get password mills in each options. For Bitwarden, customers can create a random password with as much as 128 characters, whereas LastPass can generate passwords of as much as 99 characters.
Outdoors of storing passwords, each Bitwarden and LastPass allow customers to retailer different essential info. Bitwarden’s vault lets customers retailer id information, cost particulars and freeform textual content notes. In the meantime, the LastPass vault enables you to retailer notes, cost playing cards and checking account information.
Multi-factor authentication choices
By way of MFA, LastPass has extra choices, providing LastPass MFA, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Toopher, Duo Safety and Grid for its free customers.

Premium LastPass customers additionally get entry to YubiKey USB, whereas LastPass Enterprise accounts can make the most of Salesforce authentication as a second issue.
That’s to not say that Bitwarden is missing within the two-factor authentication division; Bitwarden prospects can use an authenticator app, e-mail, FIDO2 WebAuthn credentials, YubiKey and Duo Safety for his or her two-step logins. Nonetheless, solely the primary three 2FA strategies talked about are provided in Bitwarden’s free model.
If having a various set of MFA choices is essential to you, LastPass will present extra flexibility in each its free and paid variations.
Supported platforms
Bitwarden and LastPass embrace help for crucial platforms. The 2 password managers can be found on Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera.

Nonetheless, Bitwarden is obtainable on extra browsers. It has apps for Vivaldi, Courageous, Arc, Edge, Tor Browser and DuckDuckGo for Mac.
Free variations
Bitwarden and LastPass’ free variations each provide limitless password storage and a password generator, making them practical choices for customers searching for a devoted free model.
Nonetheless, Bitwarden’s free model edges LastPass in that it permits customers to make use of the app on an infinite variety of units. This implies you possibly can entry your free Bitwarden vault on a number of computer systems, telephones or browsers with no situation. LastPass Free solely permits use on one machine sort at a time.

In case you solely plan on utilizing a free password supervisor in the long run, Bitwarden’s free model makes extra sense given its limitless machine help.
Further options
Bitwarden comes with its personal encrypted file and text-sharing system known as Bitwarden Ship. It may well transmit textual content of as much as 1,000 encrypted characters or recordsdata of as much as 500 MB.

In case you frequently ship out delicate paperwork like contracts or agreements, Bitwarden Ship is a significant value-add to contemplate.
In the meantime, LastPass comes with a handy One-Time Password function that permits you to create a set of short-term passwords that you should use instead of your grasp password. This can be utilized to entry your vault when utilizing a resort pc or a desktop in a public web cafe — stopping keyloggers and malware from stealing your password by way of these untrusted units.

LastPass’ OTPs can profit distant staff that frequently use web cafes or customers who regularly journey with out their essential pc.
Bitwarden professionals and cons
Execs of Bitwarden
- Free model with limitless password storage.
- Premium plans are extra reasonably priced than many rivals.
- Simple-to-use emergency entry function.
- Encrypted file-sharing system.
- Open-source format makes it extremely safe and customizable.
- Clear safety status.
Cons of Bitwarden
- Desktop UI isn’t intuitive.
- Auto-fill performance will be higher.
LastPass professionals and cons
Execs of LastPass
- Affords a number of MFA choices.
- Simple-to-use consumer interface.
- Helpful OTP function.
- Nation restriction performance.
Cons of LastPass
- Has had two main knowledge breaches up to now 12 months.
- Historical past of smaller safety incidents since 2011.
- Clunky net app expertise.
- Dated interface design.
Methodology
This text was initially written by Shannon Flynn. Each Bitwarden and LastPass have been analyzed when it comes to their password administration options, safety and worth for cash.
We’ve additionally carried out in-depth critiques of Bitwarden and LastPass. In our full Bitwarden evaluation, the open-source password supervisor acquired 4.3 stars out of 5. In the meantime, LastPass acquired a score of three.4 stars out of 5 in its full evaluation.
Ought to your group use Bitwarden or LastPass?
Bitwarden is the higher and safer selection, with no reported safety incidents. With LastPass experiencing two main knowledge breaches up to now two years, we discover it laborious to advocate it as a protected and dependable password administration resolution.
Bitwarden affords a powerful free model, intensive help on a number of platforms and a clear safety status that’s constructed on open-source software program. It additionally has very reasonably priced costs throughout all its subscription plans. In case you’re searching for a high-quality password supervisor on a funds, Bitwarden is likely one of the finest out there.