1Password
Polished apps, Watchtower alerts, Travel Mode and a Secret Key. $47.88/year Individual.
- $47.88/yr
- 14-day trial
- Travel Mode
Security & privacy
1Password vs Bitwarden: which password manager?
Short version: Bitwarden is the better value, with a genuinely useful free plan and Premium at $19.80 a year; 1Password is the more polished app, with extras like Travel Mode and a Secret Key, at $47.88 a year.
1Password has no free plan: Individual lists at $3.99 a month billed yearly ($47.88), with a 14-day trial. Bitwarden’s free plan covers unlimited passwords on unlimited devices and sharing with one other person; Premium is $19.80 a year. Both support passkeys and work on every major platform.
Based on 1Password · Bitwarden
Which one should you buy?
Bitwarden
Free plan with unlimited devices; Premium $19.80/year; open source.
- Free plan
- Open source
- $19.80/yr Premium
Prices are official list prices as of October 2026 and can change. We don’t use affiliate links on this site. How we choose.
The short answer: Bitwarden if you want free, open source or the lowest cost. 1Password if you want the smoothest apps and features such as Travel Mode, and don’t mind paying more. Both are far better than reusing passwords.
This is a focused guide. For the full category with every pick, read the best password manager.
1Password vs Bitwarden: feature by feature
Swipe the table sideways to see both →
| Spec | Best experience1Password | Best valueBitwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47.88/yr Individual; first-year promos for new customers | Free; Premium $19.80/yr |
| Free plan | No (14-day trial) | Yes, unlimited passwords and devices |
| Family plan | Families $71.88/yr, up to 5 people | Families $47.88/yr, up to 6 people |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Extras | Secret Key, Travel Mode, Watchtower | Self-hosting option, TOTP on Premium |
| Platforms | All major platforms | All major platforms |
| Best for | People who want it to just work | Budgets, open-source fans |
| Plans | See plans | See plans |
Why pick 1Password?
Against Bitwarden, 1Password’s advantage is how it feels every day: autofill is fast and reliable across browsers and phones, vaults are easy to organize, and Watchtower flags weak, reused or breached passwords clearly.
It adds security extras Bitwarden doesn’t match directly. Your account is protected by a Secret Key in addition to your password, and Travel Mode lets you temporarily remove chosen vaults from your devices before crossing a border.
The cost: no free plan, and $47.88 a year for one person at list price as of October 2026 (1Password has offered new customers $2.99 a month for the first year). That is more than double Bitwarden Premium.
Great if you
- Want the most polished apps
- Travel internationally with sensitive data
- Are happy to pay for convenience
Skip it if you
- Want a free plan
- Want open-source software
- Want the lowest price
Key specs
- Price
- $47.88/year Individual (list, Oct 2026)
- Platforms
- All major platforms and browsers
- Passkeys
- Supported
- Free plan
- No
1PasswordPrices are list prices on each official site as of October 2026; taxes, promotions and renewals vary. These are not affiliate links.
See plans on the official site Why pick Bitwarden?
Bitwarden’s free plan is the best in the category: unlimited passwords, unlimited devices and free sharing with one other person. Many people never need to pay.
Premium at $19.80 a year adds a built-in authenticator for two-factor codes and vault health reports. Its code is open source and independently audited, and technical users can even self-host.
Apps are functional but less refined than 1Password’s, and autofill can take an extra tap or two.
Great if you
- Want free or very cheap
- Value open source and audits
- Share with one other person
Skip it if you
- Want the slickest apps
- Want Travel Mode
- Want the simplest setup for non-technical relatives
Key specs
- Price
- Free; Premium $19.80/year (list, Oct 2026)
- Free plan
- Unlimited passwords, unlimited devices
- Source
- Open source
- Passkeys
- Supported
BitwardenPrices are list prices on each official site as of October 2026; taxes, promotions and renewals vary. These are not affiliate links.
See plans on the official site How to choose between 1Password and Bitwarden
Security-wise, both are strong choices that use end-to-end encryption. The difference is cost, polish and a few features.
Budget
Free or $19.80 a year (Bitwarden) vs $47.88 (1Password). Over five years that adds up.
Who else will use it
Less technical family members often find 1Password easier. For two people, Bitwarden’s free sharing may be enough.
Travel
If you cross borders with sensitive work data, 1Password’s Travel Mode is unique.
Open source
If you prefer software you or auditors can inspect, Bitwarden is open source.
1PasswordPrices are list prices on each official site as of October 2026; taxes, promotions and renewals vary. These are not affiliate links.
See plans on the official site 1Password vs Bitwarden: common questions
Is Bitwarden as secure as 1Password?
Both use end-to-end encryption and are independently audited. 1Password adds a Secret Key; Bitwarden is open source. Either is a big upgrade over reused passwords.
Does 1Password have a free plan?
No. It offers a 14-day free trial.
Can I move from 1Password to Bitwarden?
Yes. Bitwarden can import a 1Password export.
Which is cheaper for families?
Bitwarden Families is $47.88/yr for up to 6 people; 1Password Families is $71.88/yr for up to 5 (list prices, October 2026).
Do both support passkeys?
Yes, both store and sync passkeys.
How we compared them
We compared both companies’ official pricing pages and feature documentation as of October 2026: plans, free tiers, family limits and security features. Prices are list prices before taxes and promotions.
We have not hands-on tested these products; we compare published specifications, independent measurements and manufacturer documentation, and we update this page when models change. Read the full methodology.
What sources did we use?
- 1Password: pricing (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Bitwarden: pricing (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Bitwarden: enhanced Premium plan announcement (accessed October 23, 2026)