Bitwarden Inc. review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Bitwarden suits readers who want a password manager with a free plan and a low paid tier. The paid plan costs $1.65 per month and the same $1.65 on the long term, with a 30 day money back window, and it is built for a business audience.
Key facts
- Best for
- Cheap, audited password and passkey storage with a free plan to start.
- Monthly price
- $1.65 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Long-term plan price
- $1.65 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Money-back period
- 30 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- US (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- TOTP (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web browser extensions, Web vault, Command line interface, F-Droid (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Owner
- Bitwarden, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Longest plan (months)
- 12 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Bitwarden, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2016 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Business
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- bitwarden.com
Password managers
- Price from
- $1.65 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web browser extensions, Web vault, Command line interface, F-Droid (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Family plan
- Up to 6 users (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Passkeys
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Security audit
- Annual third-party source code audits and penetration tests by Cure53 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Encryption
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, AES-CBC 256-bit for vault data, PBKDF2 SHA-256 or Argon2 key derivation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- TOTP (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Bitwarden, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2016 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
- Elsewhere
- WikidataWikipediaLinkedInXgithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan plus a paid tier at $1.65 per month, with a family plan for Up to 6 users
- Passkeys are supported
- End to end encryption that keeps vault data unreadable to the provider
- Annual third party source code audits and penetration tests by an outside security firm
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no live chat or phone line
- The 30 day money back window is shorter than the 12 month long term term
- It is aimed at business users, so sharing is built around teams rather than single accounts
Who it suits
- People who want a password vault and an authenticator in the same app
- Small teams that need a family plan for Up to 6 users
- Readers who put weight on outside testing, since source code reviews run every year
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users who want passwords handled inside their own device system, listed at $0.99 per month
- Sinew Software Systems users, whose plan is $1.99 per month
- MEGA users who want a VPN in the same subscription, at $3.99 per month
Audits, logging and jurisdiction
Ownership sits with Bitwarden, Inc., and the terms fall under US jurisdiction. Vault data is protected with end to end encryption the provider cannot read, and the source code goes through annual third party audits and penetration tests by an outside security firm, so readers see outside testing rather than internal assurance alone.
How Bitwarden Inc. compares
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Bitwarden cost per month?+
The paid plan is $1.65 per month, and the long term plan is $1.65. A free plan is offered as well, so the paid tier is optional for basic vault use. Rivals sit either side of it, with Apple Inc. at $0.99 and MEGA at $3.99 per month.
Is there a free version of Bitwarden?+
Yes, a free plan is offered, so a vault can be set up without paying. The paid tier adds the wider sharing options, a family plan for Up to 6 users and totp inside the vault. Passkeys are supported across the service.
How is vault data protected?+
Vault data sits behind end to end encryption the provider cannot read, so the keys never leave the reader's side. The source code also goes through annual third party audits and penetration tests by an outside security firm. Passkeys and totp sit in the same protected vault.
Which platforms does Bitwarden run on?+
Clients cover Windows, macOS and Linux. That spans desktop systems, phones, browser extensions, a web vault and a command line interface, so one subscription reaches every device a reader owns. F-Droid builds are listed too, for anyone who prefers that source.
Can one subscription cover a family or small team?+
A family plan covers Up to 6 users, which suits a household or a small team sharing one subscription. The paid plan is $1.65 per month, with the long term option at $1.65. The service is built for a business audience, so shared use is the main draw.
What happens if I change my mind after paying?+
Paid subscriptions carry a 30 day money back window, which is shorter than the 12 month term on the long term plan. Anyone picking the long term option should weigh that window against the full term before paying for it.
How does the price compare with Apple, Sinew and MEGA?+
The paid plan is $1.65 per month. Apple Inc. is listed at $0.99 per month, Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 and MEGA at $3.99, so Bitwarden costs less than two of the three, with a free plan underneath it.
Where is Bitwarden based and which rules apply?+
Ownership sits with Bitwarden, Inc., the company is based in the United States, and the terms fall under US jurisdiction, so US contract terms apply. The service is built for a business audience, so teams are the case those terms describe.
How do I get help from Bitwarden?+
Support runs through email, help centre and community, which means email, a help centre and a community forum rather than a live chat line or a phone number. Self service documentation carries most of the load, so quicker answers depend on searching it first.
Sources
- bitwarden.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Founded, Headquarters, Owner
“Founded in 2016, Bitwarden serves over 80,000 businesses and more than 15 million users in over 180 countries and 50+ languages.”
- bitwarden.com/compliance checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Encryption
“Bitwarden uses AES-CBC 256-bit encryption for your vault data, and PBKDF2 SHA-256 or Argon2 to derive your encryption key.”
- bitwarden.com/download checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“Install Bitwarden on macOS, Windows, and Linux desktops with native applications”
- bitwarden.com/help/is-bitwarden-audited checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Security audit
“Bitwarden regularly conducts comprehensive third-party security audits with notable security firms. These annual audits include source code assessments and penetration testing across Bitwarden IPs,...”
- bitwarden.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Family plan, Features, Free plan, Long-term plan price, Longest plan (months), Pricing model, Passkeys, Price from, Monthly price, Support channels
“Families $3.99 per month, up to 6 users, billed annually at $47.88”
- bitwarden.com/terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Money-back period
“this Agreement ... are governed by the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of California ... exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in the State of...”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Devices, Server countries, No-logs audit.
Related by the facts
Bitwarden Inc.
Cheap, audited password and passkey storage with a free plan to start.