Bitwarden vs 1Password: Which Security & VPN Tool Is Better in 2026?

Bitwarden

From $0.83

1Password

From $2.99

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Bitwarden

Bitwarden is the better fit for budget-conscious buyers and open-source advocates: it offers a free plan and starts at $0.83 per seat, versus $2.99 per seat for 1Password with no free tier. 1Password, founded in 2006, targets teams and enterprises and emphasizes passkey and credential sharing. Both tools match on the core feature set, so the decision comes down to price and free-tier availability rather than capability gaps.

Bitwarden's entry plan ($0.83) is 72% cheaper than 1Password's ($2.99).
Bitwarden has a free plan; 1Password does not.
They cover the same 6 of 8 core features we track, so price and UX decide.

Try Bitwarden →Try 1Password →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
Bitwarden · per user	$4.15	$50
1Password · per user	$14.95	$179

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Buyer wanting a free plan before committing	Bitwarden	Bitwarden offers a free plan; 1Password does not.
Cost-sensitive team rolling out vaults per seat	Bitwarden	Bitwarden starts at $0.83 per seat versus $2.99 per seat for 1Password.
Enterprise team focused on credential and passkey sharing	1Password	1Password lists teams and enterprises plus passkey and credential sharing as its best-fit scenarios.
Open-source advocate selecting a password manager	Bitwarden	Bitwarden is positioned as open-source and lists open-source advocates among its best-fit users.
Buyer comparing core security features	Tie	Both tools offer the zero-knowledge vault, biometric/hardware key 2FA, dark web monitoring, team console, and CLI/API access.

Feature comparison: Bitwarden vs 1Password

Feature	Bitwarden	1Password
Free plan	✅	❌
Starting price	$0.83 /user/mo	$2.99 /user/mo
Independent no-logs security audit	✅	✅
Automatic kill switch & DNS leak shield	—	—
Multi-hop double encryption routing	—	—
Zero-knowledge encrypted password vault	✅	✅
Biometric / hardware security key 2FA	✅	✅
Dark web breach monitoring & alerts	✅	✅
Centralized team admin console	✅	✅
Developer CLI & API access	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

Bitwarden

Free plan available, lowering the barrier to entry
Lowest starting price at $0.83 per seat
Open-source positioning with zero-knowledge encryption
Full core feature set: vault, biometric 2FA, dark web monitoring, team console, and API

No kill switch or multi-hop routing features
Per-seat billing means costs scale with team size

Try Bitwarden →

1Password

Longer track record, founded in 2006
Positioned for teams and enterprises with passkey and credential sharing
Full core feature set: vault, biometric 2FA, dark web monitoring, team console, and API
Independent no-logs security audit listed

No free plan
Higher starting price at $2.99 per seat
No kill switch or multi-hop routing features

Try 1Password →

COMMUNITY POLL

Which tool would you pick for your stack?

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At a glance

Bitwarden

Open-source, zero-knowledge password management trusted by millions.

Founded 2016 · From $0.83 · 6/8 tracked features

Best for: open-source advocates, budget-friendly team vaults

See Bitwarden alternatives →

1Password

Industry gold standard password and credential manager with Watchtower security.

Founded 2006 · From $2.99 · 6/8 tracked features

Best for: teams and enterprises, passkey and credential sharing

See 1Password alternatives →

FAQ

Is Bitwarden cheaper than 1Password?

Yes. Bitwarden starts at $0.83 per seat, while 1Password starts at $2.99 per seat. Both bill per seat.

Does 1Password have a free plan?

No. 1Password has no free plan, whereas Bitwarden offers one.

Do both tools include dark web monitoring?

Yes. Both Bitwarden and 1Password list dark web breach monitoring and alerts.

Which tool is better for enterprise teams?

1Password lists teams and enterprises among its best-fit scenarios and emphasizes passkey and credential sharing. Bitwarden also offers a centralized team admin console, so both cover team management.

Do either of these tools include VPN features like a kill switch?

Neither Bitwarden nor 1Password lists a kill switch, DNS leak shield, or multi-hop routing; both are password managers rather than VPNs.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Security & VPN tools →