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Bitwarden vs 1Password: which password manager to use
Both encrypt your passwords so only you can read them. Bitwarden has a real free plan and is the cheaper of the two. 1Password costs more and adds extras like Travel Mode.
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Read this first. Our main source was updated April 2026 and gives more than one price for some plans. We show the figures it repeats most and mark the rest. Confirm current prices on each vendor's site.
The short answer
Bitwarden if you want a free or very cheap manager, 1Password if you want extra features and a polished experience.
- Bitwarden. Pick it if you want a free plan, the lowest paid price, or the option to host it yourself.
- 1Password. Pick it if you want extra features such as Travel Mode and automatic backups, and you do not mind paying.
Side by side
| Bitwarden | 1Password | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, with no expiry and limited extra features | No, only a 14-day free trial |
| Individual price | Roughly $10 to $20 per year, the source gives both figures | $3.99 per month on annual billing, or $4.99 monthly |
| Family price | $47.88 per year for up to 6 users | $5.99 per month on annual billing for up to 5 users |
| Standout features | Self-hosting, a built-in authenticator and emergency access on paid plans | Travel Mode, automatic backups, a Secret Key and Watchtower password checks |
| Security basics | AES-256 encryption and zero-knowledge design | AES-256 encryption and zero-knowledge design, plus a Secret Key |
| Watch out for | No Travel Mode or automatic backups, and layout issues in the desktop app | No free plan, no self-hosting, and some features are hard to find |
Details are from Security.org, updated 21 April 2026. The source lists more than one price for some plans. Confirm on each vendor's site.
Each tool in a little more detail
Bitwarden
Good for
- A free plan with no expiry and no missing core features, according to our source.
- One of the cheapest paid managers in the source's tests.
- You can host it yourself if you want full control.
Watch out for
- No Travel Mode or automatic backups.
- The free plan lacks encrypted file attachments and emergency access.
- The reviewers found layout issues in the desktop app.
1Password
Good for
- Travel Mode, daily automatic backups and Watchtower password health checks.
- Scored higher overall in the source's security rating, 9.6 against 8.6.
Watch out for
- No free plan, only a 14-day trial.
- No self-hosting option.
- The reviewers had some trouble finding features in the interface.
Who should pick which
- You want free, or the lowest yearly priceStart with Bitwarden.
- You travel a lot or want automatic backups and extrasStart with 1Password.
- You are not sureTry Bitwarden's free plan first. You can export your passwords and move later if you want more features.
Related reading: Best AI tools for small business owners. Pick one tool for the biggest bottleneck first, then add others only when they earn their place.
Common questions
Is a free password manager safe?
Both services in this comparison use AES-256 encryption and a zero-knowledge design, according to our source. A free plan changes the features you get, not the encryption.
Which should a whole family use?
Both have family plans. Bitwarden's covers up to 6 users and 1Password's up to 5 per our source, and 1Password's family plan costs more.
Our hands-on testing
Researched from sources
We have not tested these tools ourselves yet. Everything above comes from the sources listed below. When we test a tool, our own notes and screenshots will appear here and this label will change.
Sources
We have not hands-on tested every tool on this page. Details come from the sources above. See how we review.