Because the variety of apps and providers we use on-line will increase by the day, so do the variety of passwords we should keep in mind. Earlier than, it wasn’t unparalleled for individuals to jot down down passwords of their notebooks or sticky notes. Nonetheless, these strategies will not be the most secure or best solution to maintain monitor of passwords immediately.
That’s the place password managers like Bitwarden and LastPass are available — software program particularly designed to retailer, encrypt and manage your passwords and different credentials securely. In addition they embody extra options similar to password technology and multi-factor authentication.
On this article, we evaluate Bitwarden vs. LastPass to see which one is greatest 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, similar to an encrypted password vault and a password generator.
Bitwarden stands out for its very beneficiant free model that permits limitless password storage and entry on limitless units. In the meantime, LastPass comes with quite a few MFA choices, similar to YubiKey and fingerprint authentication.
| Options | Bitwarden | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| Zero data | Sure | Sure |
| With historical past of knowledge breach | No | Sure |
| Vault encryption stage | 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 |
| Additional options | Encrypted file and textual content sharing | One-time passwords |
| Free plan | Sure | Sure |
| Beginning worth | $0.83 per thirty days | $3.00 per thirty days |
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 per thirty days, Bitwarden’s Premium plan is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced subscription plans in the marketplace. As 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 per thirty days than LastPass’ Households at $4.00 per thirty days — each of which embody 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 per thirty days for as much as 10 customers, whereas LastPass’s Groups subscription is $4.00 per person per thirty days for as much as 50 customers. A LastPass Groups plan for 10 customers is equal to $40 — double the worth of Bitwarden’s providing.
When it comes to enterprise options, the 2 aren’t far off, with Bitwarden’s Enterprise plan pegged at $6 per person per thirty days, whereas LastPass Enterprise is at $7.00 per person per thirty days. Each of those choices enable a limiteless variety of customers.
If affordability is your principal concern, Bitwarden is the less expensive possibility. Nonetheless, LastPass presents free trials for all its plans, whereas Bitwarden solely supplies a free trial to their Households and Enterprise subscriptions.
Function comparability: Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Zero-knowledge rules and total safety
Whereas each password managers adhere to zero-knowledge rules with the intention of bolstering information safety, LastPass’ password supervisor skilled two main information breaches in 2022. These information breaches resulted in information being stolen from LastPass and its clients.
LastPass introduced {that a} malicious actor was capable of acquire unauthorized entry to buyer information consisting of encrypted fields similar to web site usernames and passwords, safe notes, and form-filled information and unencrypted information similar to web site URLs. This isn’t one thing we would like in software program designed to retailer person passwords and delicate data.
Whereas LastPass has since adopted adjustments to handle the safety incidents, we discover it onerous to advocate as a viable password supervisor given the gravity of the breaches.
To be taught extra, learn our full LastPass evaluation right here.
As compared, Bitwarden has not famous any safety breaches. Additionally it is open supply — which implies that their code is on the market 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 customary AES-256 encryption to encrypt person information saved of their respective password vaults. AES-256 encryption is taken into account bank-level safety that provides heightened safety to person passwords towards hackers and malicious third events.
We additionally get password turbines 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.
Exterior of storing passwords, each Bitwarden and LastPass allow customers to retailer different necessary data. Bitwarden’s vault lets customers retailer identification data, cost particulars and freeform textual content notes. In the meantime, the LastPass vault permits you to retailer notes, cost playing cards and checking account data.
Multi-factor authentication choices
When it comes to 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 clients 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 necessary to you, LastPass will present extra flexibility in each its free and paid variations.
Supported platforms
Bitwarden and LastPass embody assist for a very powerful platforms. The 2 password managers can be found on Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera.
Nonetheless, Bitwarden is on the market 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 on the lookout for a devoted free model.
Nonetheless, Bitwarden’s free model edges LastPass in that it permits customers to make use of the app on a limiteless variety of units. This implies you possibly can entry your free Bitwarden vault on a number of computer systems, telephones or browsers with no problem. LastPass Free solely permits use on one machine sort at a time.
Should you solely plan on utilizing a free password supervisor in the long run, Bitwarden’s free model makes extra sense given its limitless machine assist.
Additional options
Bitwarden comes with its personal encrypted file and text-sharing system referred to as Bitwarden Ship. It might probably transmit textual content of as much as 1,000 encrypted characters or information of as much as 500 MB.
Should you frequently ship out delicate paperwork like contracts or agreements, Bitwarden Ship is a significant value-add to think about.
In the meantime, LastPass comes with a handy One-Time Password function that permits you to create a set of non permanent passwords that you should utilize instead of your grasp password. This can be utilized to entry your vault when utilizing a lodge laptop or a desktop in a public web cafe — stopping keyloggers and malware from stealing your password by means of these untrusted units.
LastPass’ OTPs can profit distant employees that frequently use web cafes or customers who often journey with out their principal laptop.
Bitwarden professionals and cons
Execs of Bitwarden
- Free model with limitless password storage.
- Premium plans are extra reasonably priced than many opponents.
- Simple-to-use emergency entry function.
- Encrypted file-sharing system.
- Open-source format makes it extremely safe and customizable.
- Clear safety fame.
Cons of Bitwarden
- Desktop UI isn’t intuitive.
- Auto-fill performance may be higher.
LastPass professionals and cons
Execs of LastPass
- Presents a number of MFA choices.
- Simple-to-use person interface.
- Helpful OTP function.
- Nation restriction performance.
Cons of LastPass
- Has had two main information 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 by way of their password administration options, safety and worth for cash.
We now have additionally carried out in-depth opinions 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 ranking 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 information breaches up to now two years, we discover it onerous to advocate it as a protected and dependable password administration resolution.
Bitwarden presents a formidable free model, intensive assist on a number of platforms and a clear safety fame that’s constructed on open-source software program. It additionally has very reasonably priced costs throughout all its subscription plans. Should you’re on the lookout for a high-quality password supervisor on a finances, Bitwarden is without doubt one of the greatest out there.
