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Bitwarden
- Free forever plan
- Unlimited devices
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Strong security features
- Performance issues
- Limited customer support
Bitwarden is an exceptional password manager for those who prioritize security and affordability. While it excels in these areas, its user interface may not be the most intuitive.
This Bitwarden review examines its strengths and weaknesses, helping you determine if it’s the ideal choice for your digital security needs.
SMB Guide’s Verdict for Bitwarden
Based on the scoring factors in the table below, we rate RoboForm 8.4 out of 10.
Bitwarden receives a nearly perfect score because it is affordable, has great MFA, one-time passwords, easy password capture and generation, and has many compatibility options.
I deducted a few points for the outdated user interface and the lack of a direct email address option for customer service.
Here’s a breakdown of how we scored Bitwarden in each category:
| Factor | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Pricing & Plans | 9 |
| Multi-factor Security & Authentication | 9.5 |
| One-time Passwords | 9 |
| Password Capture & Generation | 9 |
| Password Sharing | 9.5 |
| User Interface and User Experience | 8 |
| Integrations and Compatibility | 9 |
| Customer Support | 8 |
| SMB Guide Rating | 8.4 |
In this Bitwarden review, I’ve followed SMB Guide’s detailed criteria for evaluating password managers.
Pricing & Plans
Bitwarden offers two pricing plans for businesses, with the option for a third plan, completely customized to your needs.
Teams
This allows you to share sensitive information safely with coworkers across departments or the entire company.
Price
- $4/month/user billed annually
Features
- Centralized password storage
- Centralized user management
- Password vault with end-to-end encryption
- 3rd-party audited open source code base
- Secure password sharing
- Cross-platform accessibility and unlimited devices
- Cloud-based or self-hosted
- Flexible integrations
- Directory sync
- Security audit and compliance
- Vault health reports
- Detailed event logs
Who it’s for: Growing teams who need protection
Enterprise
This plan includes advanced features for larger organizations.
Price
- $6/month/user billed annually
Features
- Everything in Teams plus:
- Enterprise policies
- Passwordless SSO
- Account recovery
- Complimentary personal families plan for all users
Who it’s for: Larger organizations that need additional features
Multi-factor Security & Authentication
Two-step login is possible with Bitwarden, but using it may lock you out of your account. On the free version, you can use an authenticator app like Auty or Google Authenticator to generate time-based verification codes.
You also have the option to use any WebAuthn compatibility security key or have verification codes emailed to you. Premium subscribers can also use YubiKey OTP security keys, or Duo Security.
You must view and save your account recovery code to maintain access to your account in case something goes wrong with the two-step verification.
One-time Passwords
Every website that supports TOTP codes or 2FA with an authenticator handles it differently. You’ll start the setup for each individual website that you’re accessing.
Then, you can generate a TOPT from the Bitwarden mobile app or browser extension by scanning a QR code or from any Bitwarden app by manually entering a secret code.
You’ll edit the vault item for which you want to generate the TOTPs, set them up, and save to start generating them. Once set up, the Bitwarden authenticator will continuously generate 6 digit codes, rotated every 30 seconds that you can use as a second step for any two-step logins to connected websites or apps.
Password Capture and Generation
You can use the Bitwarden generator tool from within any app – the web vault, browser extension, desktop app, and mobile app.
You can choose the character length with a minimum and maximum character limit. You can also choose from character options, such as uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
You can also check the box to avoid ambiguous characters. Capture is easy because as you enter your login information, the browser extension will offer to save it for you.
Password Sharing
Password sharing is easy. Inside your Bitwarden Organizations, you create Collections. The collections can contain specific vault entries based on what information you need to share with whom.
You can assign roles, groups, and collections to each user.
Member roles include:
- User: Access and add items to assigned collections
- Manager: Create, delete, and manage access in assigned collections
- Admin: Manage organization access, all collections, members, reporting, and security settings
- Owner: Manage all aspects of your organization, including billing and subscriptions
- Custom: Only available in the enterprise plan, which is customized to your needs.
User Interface and User Experience
As far as the user interface goes, it feels a bit outdated. But overall, I had a good user experience, because everything was easy to understand and navigate along the left side.
Integrations and Compatibility
Desktop apps are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Browser extensions are available for Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Tor Browser, and are in Beta for DuckDuckGo for Mac.
Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android. There’s also code for F-Droid mobile phones, and the command line interface, and the web app.
Customer Support
Customer support is accessible via email (you have to fill out the form on the website first, though). They also have a rather extensive help center, community forms, and live and on-demand demos.
You can also reach them on social media – X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Github.
Bitwarden — Unique Features
Bitwarden Sent is a fully encrypted method to transmit sensitive information to anyone, even if they don’t use Bitwarden.
This way, you can share passwords, but also share other things that require comprehensive data security in your communications.
What the Experts Say About Bitwarden
At the time of this writing, Bitwarden had the following reviews:
- G2 rating: 4.6/5 (400+ ratings)
- Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (160+ ratings)
- TrustPilot rating: 4/5 (100+ ratings)
Bitwarden has a user-friendly interface and is easy to use across multiple devices and platforms. It also has a free version with many of the same features as the paid version. Although Bitwarden has an open-source codebase, it is a closed-source product, which means that some users may be concerned about transparency.
Elisabetta B., Ecommerce Manager – Verified Capterra review
My experience with the program is very good, it helps me to remember the passwords on a daily basis and it helped me a lot to start using secure passwords in my accounts. The option to autocomplete the password is very convenient. I feel that in this way I am not only using better keys, but that I have them portable and in a safe place.
Juan C., Web Developer – Verified Capterra review
Bitwarden Alternatives
Not convinced Bitwarden is the answer for your business needs? Take a look at these other options:
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Primary Rating:
4.5
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4.5
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Primary Rating:
4.2
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$2.99/mo - $7.99/mo
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Free - $7/mo
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$4.99/mo - $8/mo
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1Password
1Password is renowned for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with various platforms, making it an attractive choice for businesses looking for ease of use and minimal setup time.
It offers advanced features like Travel Mode, Watchtower for breach monitoring, and excellent customer support. However, these premium features come at a higher cost, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious businesses.
Give 1Password a try for free today!
LastPass
LastPass is widely recognized for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set. It offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies employee password management, features like single sign-on (SSO), and multifactor authentication options that enhance security.
LastPass also provides detailed reporting tools for administrators to monitor security compliance within their organization.
Get started with LastPass for free
Dashlane
Dashlane is known for its intuitive user interface, making it easy for team members to adopt and use effectively. It provides advanced security features like dark web monitoring and a VPN for secure browsing, which can be particularly beneficial for businesses looking to enhance their cybersecurity measures.
Getting Started with Bitwarden
Bitwarden stands out as a compelling choice for both individual users and businesses seeking a secure, affordable, and flexible password management solution.
Its open-source nature and strong security features offer transparency and peace of mind, while its cross-platform compatibility ensures accessibility across devices.
While the user interface and customer support may not match the polish of some competitors, these are minor trade-offs considering Bitwarden’s affordability and the degree of control it offers through customization and self-hosting options.
For those prioritizing cost-effectiveness without compromising on security, Bitwarden emerges as a highly recommendable password manager.
Start your free trial of Bitwarden today!
Other options: Best Bitwarden Alternatives
FAQs
What is the downside of Bitwarden?
Despite being a popular password manager with strong features, it has several downsides, including a lack of premium features in competing products, auto-fill issues, and a dated user interface.
Is Bitwarden actually secure?
Yes, Bitwarden offers end-to-end encryption using AES-256 bit encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256. It also operates on zero-knowledge architecture, meaning the servers don’t have access to your unencrypted data, and only you have the key to decrypt your vault.
What’s better than Bitwarden?
While Bitwarden is a highly regarded password manager, others like LastPass, Dashlane, NordPass, and 1Password may offer better solutions depending on your needs.
Related reading:
The best way to keep you, your family, and business safe online.
Bitwarden
As the most trusted password manager, Bitwarden makes it easy for teams and individuals to securely generate, store, and share passwords from any location.
Product Brand: Bitwarden
4.2
