LastPass vs Bitwarden
LastPass was the default password manager for years. Then it had multiple serious security breaches and lost a lot of trust. Bitwarden is open source, transparent, and has a genuinely useful free tier. This comparison used to be closer. It's not anymore.
Updated 2025-01-15 · 2026
LastPass
The well-known password manager with a trust problem
Strengths
- +Familiar interface that many people already know
- +Good browser extension and autofill
- +Admin console for business management is decent
Weaknesses
- -Major security breaches in 2022 - encrypted vaults were stolen
- -The breach response was slow and inadequate
- -Free tier was gutted - now limited to one device type
Best for
Organizations already locked into LastPass who haven't migrated yet
Bitwarden
Open source password manager you can actually trust
Strengths
- +Fully open source - anyone can audit the code
- +Excellent free tier - unlimited passwords, unlimited devices
- +Regular third-party security audits published publicly
Weaknesses
- -Interface isn't as polished as some competitors
- -Autofill can occasionally miss fields that LastPass catches
- -Business admin features are less mature than LastPass
Best for
Anyone who wants a trustworthy, affordable password manager - individuals and teams alike
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Severely limited - one device type only | Excellent - unlimited passwords and devices |
| Business pricing | $4/user/mo | $5/user/mo (Teams) or $4/user/mo (self-hosted) |
| Open source | No - closed source | Yes - fully open source |
| Security track record | Multiple breaches, encrypted vaults stolen in 2022 | Clean record, regular public audits |
| Self-hosting | Not available | Available - full control over your data |
| Browser extension | Good autofill | Good autofill, slightly less polished |
| Mobile apps | Solid on iOS and Android | Solid on iOS and Android |
| Password sharing | Yes, with shared folders | Yes, with organizations and collections |
| Admin console | More mature for enterprise | Good and improving, less enterprise polish |
| MFA options | TOTP, push notification | TOTP, FIDO2, Duo, and more |
The Verdict
Bitwarden is the better choice for almost everyone at this point. It's open source, has a clean security record, offers a genuinely useful free tier, and costs about the same for business plans. LastPass had a catastrophic breach in 2022 where encrypted vaults were actually stolen, and their response did not inspire confidence. The only reason to stay on LastPass is if migrating your organization would be too disruptive right now - and even then, you should be planning the move. For new setups, there's no good reason to choose LastPass over Bitwarden.
Beyond both: self-host Vaultwarden
Lightweight, Bitwarden-compatible server written in Rust. Minimal resources, full client support, and complete control over your vault data.
github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden →