1. Security & Encryption
The main goal of using a password manager is to protect your data against unauthorized access. We looked for password managers that have strong security features, including the most up-to-date encryption methods and the ability to enable two-factor authentication. We also tested each password manager to determine how good it is at helping you create secure passwords. Some companies allow you to create passwords with just letters in them while others require strong master passwords made up of letters, numbers and symbols. The stronger your master password is, the better the password manager will be at protecting your data.
When compared to 1Password, Bitwarden is the less expensive option. For individual users, Bitwarden costs nothing for a basic plan and $10 per year for an individual plan with premium features. The family plan costs $1 per month up for up to five users, making it about 80% less expensive than 1Password. Bitwarden also offers a free team plan. Both the Bitwarden and 1Password have their strength and weaknesses. Bitwarden is open-source, costs less, and the ability to host data on your server is a blessing for geeky minds. 1Password has a few more features and the app offers a robust experience on all platforms.
Bitwarden is now the best free password manager for most people—since it works across all of your devices to add convenience and security to your logins—and setting it up is quick and easy. Bitwarden won’t be able to reset it or recover your Vault data if you do. For our technically-inclined users, see the article on Encryption to find out how we accomplish Zero Trust. Strong: The longer, more complex, and less common your Master Password is, the safer your Vault data will be.
2. App Compatibility
Gone are the days of using a single computer to browse the internet, stream audio and video, and log in to online accounts. Many people now have multiple computers and mobile devices, making it important for a password manager to work with multiple browsers and operating systems. We tested each tool to determine if it’s compatible with browsers like Firefox and Chrome and operating systems like Windows, macOS and Linux.
3. Usability & Ease of Use
We tested each password manager to make sure it’s easy to use, even if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise. For example, we checked to see if each tool has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to use its built-in features. We also looked for password managers that allow you to use biometric authentication, which eliminates the need to type in your master password every time you want to log in to a website. Biometric authentication uses fingerprints or other unique identifiers in place of a password or PIN.
Bitwarden 1password Dashlane
4. Password Sharing
You may want to share some of your accounts with family members or colleagues without giving them your login credentials. We looked for tools that allow you to do this with a feature known as password sharing. This feature makes it possible to share accounts without sharing your personal information, enhancing your security.
5. Price
Bitwarden Families Password Manager
A password manager should be affordable, so we looked for tools that offer many useful features at an affordable price. We assessed each tool based on its pricing tiers and the number of users included in each plan.