Get Bitwarden: Visit the official Bitwarden pricing page →
At a Glance
| Spec | Value |
| Free plan | Yes — unlimited passwords and unlimited devices for 1 user |
| Premium | $19.80/year ($1.65/month, billed annually) |
| Families | $47.88/year for up to 6 premium accounts |
| Business | Teams $4/user/month; Enterprise $6/user/month (billed annually) |
| Best for | Anyone who wants a capable password manager without paying, or a cheap upgrade |
Short Verdict
Bitwarden’s free plan is one of the few free password managers that does not ration the basics: it syncs unlimited passwords across unlimited devices, and it includes passkey management, a password generator, and two-step login. Premium, at $19.80 a year, is cheap enough that the decision is less about price and more about whether you want a built-in authenticator, encrypted file attachments, emergency access, and vault health reports. For households and small businesses the per-user prices are also low. The main trade-off is polish rather than capability; if you want the most refined apps and are happy to pay more, see our 1Password review.
What Bitwarden Is
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that stores your logins, notes, cards, and identities in an encrypted vault. It uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning your vault is encrypted on your device and Bitwarden does not hold the key to read it. It runs as browser extensions plus mobile and desktop apps, and organizations can choose to self-host it instead of using Bitwarden’s cloud.
Pricing Breakdown
| Plan | Price | Users | Key inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | Unlimited passwords and devices, passkeys, password generator, two-step login, phishing protection, encrypted export, Bitwarden Send, free sharing with one other user |
| Premium | $19.80/year | 1 | Integrated authenticator (TOTP), 5GB encrypted file attachments, emergency access, vault health reports and alerts, priority support |
| Families | $47.88/year | Up to 6 | 6 premium accounts, unlimited sharing and collections, organization storage |
| Teams | $4/user/month | Per user | Centralized management, secure credential sharing, event logs, directory sync, SCIM provisioning |
| Enterprise | $6/user/month | Per user | Everything in Teams plus granular access control, passwordless SSO, enterprise policies, self-hosting, and a free Families plan for every user |
All prices are in USD on annual billing, before tax. Bitwarden lists free trials for Families, Teams, and Enterprise; the Enterprise trial is described as 14 days, while the pricing page does not state trial lengths for the other plans. Larger organizations can ask sales for a custom plan.
Free vs Premium: What Actually Changes
For most individuals the free plan covers daily use: you get every password on every device, autofill, passkeys, and secure sharing with one other person. Premium adds four things worth paying for. The integrated authenticator stores your two-factor codes next to the matching login, which is convenient but means one vault holds both factors, a trade-off some security-minded users prefer to avoid. Encrypted attachments (5GB) let you store documents such as scanned IDs. Emergency access lets a trusted person request your vault if something happens to you. Vault health reports flag weak, reused, and exposed passwords, which is the feature most likely to improve your actual security.
Pros
The free tier has no password or device caps, which is unusual among mainstream password managers. Premium costs less than $2 a month, and the Families plan spreads six premium accounts over $47.88 a year. The code is open source and the company offers self-hosting, so organizations that cannot store credentials in a vendor cloud still have an option. Enterprise includes a free Families plan for every employee, which encourages staff to protect personal accounts too.
Cons
Free sharing is limited to one other user, so a family or small team will need Families or Teams to share collections properly. Vault health reports, which help you find weak and reused passwords, are a Premium feature. The pricing page is not completely clear about which comparison rows are Premium-only, so check the specific feature you need before upgrading. Business pricing is billed annually per user, so a team that changes size often should account for that when budgeting.
Who It’s a Good Fit For
Individuals who want a real password manager for free, households that want premium features for everyone at under $4 a month, and small businesses that need shared vaults, event logs, and SCIM provisioning at $4 per user. It is also one of the few mainstream choices for organizations that require self-hosting.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
People who would rather pay more for a different set of apps and features may prefer 1Password; our 1Password review compares the two. If you share many logins with several people and do not want to pay at all, the free plan’s one-person sharing limit will get in the way.
Bottom Line
Bitwarden is the easiest password manager to recommend on value. The free plan is enough for most individuals, Premium at $19.80 a year is worth it mainly for vault health reports and emergency access, and the Families and Teams plans are priced well below most competitors. Start free, and upgrade only when you need sharing or the Premium reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Bitwarden really free? Yes. The free plan is permanent and includes unlimited passwords on unlimited devices for one user.
- How much is Bitwarden Premium? $19.80 per year, which works out to $1.65 a month.
- Can I self-host Bitwarden? Yes. Self-hosting is listed on the Enterprise plan, and the pricing page also mentions self-host options for Premium users.
- What does the Families plan cost? $47.88 per year for up to 6 users, each with premium features.
Sources
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