1Password vs. Bitwarden: Breakdown + Helping You Choose the Right Identity and Access Management Software

In today’s cybersecurity environment, password security is paramount for consumers and businesses alike as weak and recycled passwords are a leading cause of security incidents. Using a password manager such as 1Password or Bitwarden is one of the top solutions for users to protect themselves and their businesses from unauthorized account access and personal information theft.

When weighing the pros and cons of 1Password vs. Bitwarden, there’s not one definitive answer on which option is best. Each option is a worthy password manager, though they contain differing features that might suit specific organizations better based on business priorities, size, and other factors. 

In this guide, we’ll compare and contrast 1Password and Bitwarden with essential details on: 

• 1Password: Features and pricing.
• Bitwarden: Features and pricing.
• Direct comparison: 1Password vs. Bitwarden.
• Making the right choice for your business.
• 1Password vs. Bitwarden FAQs.

1Password: Features and pricing

1Password is a well-established password manager that makes it easy for users to generate, store, and autofill passwords for all of their online accounts across all of their devices, regardless of device type or operating system. Each account has applications for macOS, iOS (and watchOS), Windows, Android, and Linux. Various pricing plans and free trials are available to suit different types of user needs. 

1Password is a very popular tool in the identity and access management (IAM) software category. In fact, it was the top-ranked supplier for IAM software on Vendr’s Buying Platform in 2023 and has been named the Top Purchased Password Manager in previous Software Trends Reports. Vendr data also shows that 1Password had the most new purchases of any product on Vendr’s platform (in any category) and had 3x the purchases of other top competitors in 2023. 

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Key features of 1Password

• Secure storage options: 1Password provides a secure storage solution for sensitive data including passwords, credit card information, and other personal details. 
• Form-filling capabilities: Users can use 1Password to store and fill in personal information, such as names, addresses, and credit card details, on online forms with a few clicks. 
• Monitoring services: 1Password features monitoring services that alert users to potential security breaches and help them protect their sensitive data. 

Pricing and plans

1Password's pricing structure starts with individual account plans and scales up to options for businesses that cater to different organization sizes and needs. A 14-day free trial is available for each type of plan, except Enterprise. 

1. Individual account:

• $2.99/month when annual billing is selected.
• Usable on all devices.
• Unlimited items.
• 1GB secure storage.

2. Family plan:

• $4.99/month when annual billing is selected. 
• 5 family members supported.
• Simple admin experience.
• Friendly, expert support. 

3. Teams Starter Pack:

• $19.95/month.
• Up to 10 team members supported.
• Built-in risk detection.
• Selective sharing.
• Friendly, expert support. 

4. Business account:

• $7.99 per user, per month, when annual billing is selected. 
• Security that adapts to your business.
• Integrates with Azure AD, OneLogin, Slack, Duo, and more. 
• Reporting, admin controls, and advanced protection. 

5. Enterprise account: 

• Designed for accounts with 75+ users. 
• See 1Password buyer’s guide for contract pricing based on number of users. 
• Comes with everything from Business, plus:some text
  • Support from a dedicated account manager for smooth rollouts.
  • Tailor-made setup training.
  • Onboarding engineer. 

Evaluating 1Password’s security

1Password uses industry-leading security measures to protect users’ data, including:

• Encryption standards: 1Password uses AES 256-bit encryption to secure users’ data both in transit and at rest. It also uses a PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 storage scheme for key derivation, making it harder for someone to repeatedly guess an account password. 
• Master account password: The master account password is never transmitted over the network or stored alongside your data. This security concept is similar to how you wouldn’t keep the key to a safe right next to it. 
• Secret Key feature: The data secured in your 1Password account is protected by a 128-bit Secret Key, which is used in combination with your master account password to keep your data safe. 

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Bitwarden: Features and pricing

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that stores users’ sensitive information, such as website credentials, in an encrypted vault. Similarly to 1Password, Bitwarden enables users to securely generate, store, and share passwords from any location, browser, or device. 

Bitwarden offers cost-effective password management solutions for businesses looking for a balance between security and affordability. 

Key features of Bitwarden

• Open-source model: Being an open-source software tool, Bitwarden allows users to review and contribute to its codebase, ensuring transparency by allowing users to verify the company’s security claims. 
• Flexible sharing options: Bitwarden enables users to securely share passwords and other sensitive data with team members. 
• Self-hosting capabilities: For businesses with strict security requirements, Bitwarden offers the option to host the password manager on their internal servers, further minimizing the risk of data breaches. 

Pricing and plans

Bitwarden has a variety of cost-effective plans to suit different individual and business needs. 

1. Free account:

• $0 forever.
• Unlimited devices.
• Passkey management.
• All the core features.
• Share vault items with one other user. 

2. Premium:

• $10 billed annually.
• Bitwarden authenticator.
• File attachments. 
• Emergency access. 
• Security reports. 

3. Families:

• $40 billed annually. 
• 6 premium accounts.
• Unlimited sharing.
• Unlimited collections.
• Organization storage. 

4. Teams:

• $4/month per user, billed annually. Trial available. 
• Includes premium features.
• Securely share sensitive data with coworkers and across departments. 

5. Enterprise:

• $6/month per user, billed annually. Trial available. 
• Includes everything from the Teams plan, plus: some text
  • Single sign-on (SSO). 
  • Enterprise security policies. 
  • Self-hosting option. 

6. Larger Enterprises:

• Must contact Bitwarden for a custom quote (possible to get a lower price per user compared to Enterprise plan).
• Includes everything from the Enterprise plan plus a dedicated account manager. 
• Ideal for businesses with complex security needs that need to support hundreds or thousands users.

Evaluating Bitwarden’s security

Bitwarden uses comparable security protocols to 1Password, including: 

• Encryption standards: Bitwarden uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to secure users’ data both in transit and at rest and PBKDF2 SHA-256/Argon2 to derive users’ encryption keys. Before anything is sent to cloud servers for storage, Bitwarden always encrypts and/or hashes data on local devices. 
• Community-driven approach: Bitwarden is an open-source software tool, and as such, benefits from a community of developers and security experts who contribute to and verify security updates and patches. 

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Direct comparison: 1Password vs. Bitwarden

There are a variety of factors to consider when evaluating Bitwarden vs. 1Password to decide which option is best for your business. 

Usability and user experience

Both 1Password and Bitwarden offer user-friendly interfaces, easy-to-use features, and functionalities without steep learning curves. Some users may find 1Password’s user interface more intuitive and easily adopted, while others tend to prefer Bitwarden's open-source nature and the flexibility it affords. 

Security features face-off

Both 1Password and Bitwarden operate with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to secure user data in transit and at rest and PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) for key derivation, making it nearly impossible for someone to guess your account password through brute-force attacks.   

The most significant differences between 1Password vs. Bitwarden security features are 1Password’s Secret Key feature which adds an extra layer of security and Bitwarden’s open-source model that achieves continuous security improvements through community contributions. 

Assessing ROI

When evaluating the ROI for Bitwarden vs. 1Password, the factors to consider include cost, scalability, and integration capabilities. 1Password’s pricing plans are likely more suitable for large organizations with advanced security requirements. Bitwarden is a cost-effective password management solution that may be more suitable for smaller businesses or those with a tighter budget. 

Making the right choice for your business

When choosing between 1Password vs. Bitwarden for your organization’s password manager, it’s essential to consider your organization’s specific needs, security requirements, and software budget. Each option offers unique benefits and features that are better suited to different business sizes and priorities. Evaluating each tool’s features, pricing, and security features and then making use of the free trials is the best way to make an informed decision and choose the right password manager for your business. 

1Password vs. Bitwarden FAQs 

Here are some of the most common questions that come up from those considering 1Password and Bitwarden. 

What are the key differences between 1Password and Bitwarden?

The key differences between 1Password and Bitwarden include pricing structure, security features, and the level of flexibility offered. 1Password has more out-of-the-box security features and offers pricing plans suitable for larger organizations. Bitwarden utilizes an open-source mode for crowd-sourced security and offers more granular pricing plans than 1Password. 

Do 1Password and Bitwarden keep my account synced across devices. 

Yes, both 1Password and Bitwarden support synchronization across multiple devices and platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers via browser extensions.

Is it worth switching from Bitwarden to 1Password, or vice versa?

Deciding to switch from one tool to the other depends on your business’s specific needs and priorities. If your organization requires more advanced security features and you’re willing to pay a slightly higher price, 1Password might be worth the switch. If your business prioritizes cost-effectiveness and flexibility, hopping over to Bitwarden may be suitable.

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