We included a wide array of free and paid password managers to find the one that works best for you. While free plans may be sufficient for some, those that need more functionality may prefer paid plans. Plan value: Most password managers offer various subscription plans from free to around $20 per month.I signed up for a plan with each provider to test: As I evaluated providers, I dug deeper, comparing software on what matters most, including price, platform compatibility, security, and other factors. But, as a former LastPass devotee now firmly in the Bitwarden camp, I'm more convinced than ever that simple is beautiful.On the surface, all password managers essentially generate and store passwords. Is Bitwarden's interface as pretty as LastPass'? Not if you like digital gewgaws and finessed design (don't we all?). Still, I'd like to see more disclosure from the company about which subsidiaries and affiliates Bitwarden may be able to share your data with. Yes, Bitwarden does collect certain types of data: Your credit card number if you're a premium user, your email address so you can log in, your IP address and other information that could verify your identity.īut the list of third-party entities it shares that data with - my larger concern - is fairly limited by comparison, and Bitwarden does have an opt-out option which would further reduce that number. Even so, Bitwarden's privacy policy reads as plainly as you could ask for. LastPass' premium competitors 1Password and KeePass have no trackers.īeing open-source, Bitwarden's privacy policy and terms of use are somewhat easier to believe than some others, since so much of the machinery is visible. While LastPass' password encryption normally protects your passwords from being viewed by any tracker or site, these trackers let third-party companies collect a startlingly complete record of the sites you visit.īy comparison, Bitwarden had two. The web trackers on LastPass included those from Google Analytics, AppsFlyer and Mixpanel. The Exodus Privacy app, developed by the Guardian Project to document the number of trackers and permissions other apps use, discovered seven web trackers (now down to five) in the Android version of LastPass earlier this year. The web trackers found on LastPass' website previously raised a privacy concern worth noting and pushed me past the tipping point toward Bitwarden. That means if the public-facing Bitwarden service ever gets breached, your own vault should theoretically be secure. Its security is just as strong as LastPass', with both offering two-factor authentication, zero-knowledge password encryption (neither company can see your vault entries) and customizable password complexity rules. In fact, it offers a convenient, ongoing list of all of its security certifications and audits. Its open-source roots are one of Bitwarden's most appealing features, allowing the web at large to inspect its code for flaws and suss out hidden security threats that aren't as easily identified in proprietary, closed-source software.īitwarden's efforts at transparency extend to its public collection of readily accessible audits, certifications and codebase - including its independent audit by Cure53. Online services cost money to develop and maintain, and companies often pay for free services by sharing your data with third-party advertisers, putting your privacy at cross purposes with a corporation's revenue stream.īut Bitwarden's free service has me at ease. When it comes to privacy management services, I'm slow to recommend free services.
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