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1Password vs Bitwarden
1Password vs Bitwarden
A side-by-side look at 1Password (the paid SaaS) and Bitwarden (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| 1Password | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Popular consumer and team password manager. | Open source password manager with free cloud and self-host options. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | GPL-3.0 / AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Individual from $2.99/month; Family from $4.99/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 2/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
The strongest 1Password-like cloud and self-host story.
Bitwarden strengths
- Generous free tier on the hosted service.
- Strong open source credentials.
- Cross-platform clients and browser extensions.
Bitwarden weaknesses
- Self-hosting the full stack is multi-container.
- Some polish features (password health, reports) are paid.
- Occasional syncing edge cases on mobile.
What's the catch with 1Password?
- Subscription-only since 7.x — no standalone license.
- Cloud-only by default.
- Family sharing options have changed repeatedly.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to 1Password: see 1Password alternatives, or learn more about Bitwarden on its project page.
Recommended reading
When self-hosting goes wrong: seven failure modes and how to avoid them
An honest retrospective on the ways self-hosted setups break — not in theory, but in practice — and the small habits that prevent most of them.
Will the open source project you depend on still exist in three years?
Bus factor, maintainer burnout, funding models, and the signals that separate OSS projects that survive from those that quietly decay.
From SaaS to self-hosted: a 30-day migration playbook
A week-by-week plan to move one service off SaaS and onto your own server without breaking your team's workflow.