Bitwarden is a password management option that securely creates, stores, autofills and screens qualifications for websites and applications. Bitwarden Free provides a safe vault for qualifications, charge card, recognition documents and text files. The Bitwarden Premium plan costs $10 each year and uses additional capabilities such as encrypted file attachment sharing, advanced vault health reporting and boosted authentication. This guide compares Bitwarden Free vs. Premium and supplies suggestions to assist you choose the right item.
Bitwarden Free vs. Bitwarden Premium: Comparison
| Functions | Free | Premium ($10/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden vault | Yes | Yes |
| Vault import/export | Yes | Yes |
| Secure credential generation | Yes | Yes |
| Vault sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypted file sharing | Text just | Text and accessories |
| Vault health reporting | Information breach just | Advanced reports |
| Bitwarden authenticator (TOTP) | No | Yes |
| Emergency situation gain access to | No | Yes |
| Concern support | No | Yes |
Function contrast: Bitwarden Free vs. Bitwarden Premium
Bitwarden vault
All Bitwarden users get access to a safe vault to shop, display and autofill credentials, charge card, identification documents and text files. Both Free and Premium users can set up Bitwarden on an unlimited variety of gadgets.
For those migrating from LastPass or another credential manager, Bitwarden can import vaults in a range of formats to streamline the procedure. You can likewise import conserved passwords from significant web browsers.
Figure A: Bitwarden’s encrypted file sharing feature. Image: Nicole Rennolds Both Bitwarden plans likewise supply safe and secure username and password generation and enable you to share vault products with one other user 
. Encrypted file sharing Figure B: Bitwarden’s encrypted file sharing function. Image: Nicole Rennolds Bitwarden permits users to send out encrypted files by means of links that you can password-protect, set to immediately erase or end after a specific amount of time and even restrict how many times they’re accessed. The Bitwarden Free plan permits you to send encrypted text just, whereas Bitwarden Premium users can attach other file types.
Vault health reporting
Bitwarden Free users can get in any username or email address to learn if it’s been discovered in any online data breaches.
Figure C: Bitwarden Free data breach report. Image: Nicole Rennolds Bitwarden Premium accounts get access to a complete suite of vault health reporting features. For instance, you can create a list of weak, exposed and reused passwords that require to be altered or accounts where you’ve failed to trigger multi-factor authentication.
Bitwarden Authenticator
Bitwarden Free users can allow two-step login, such as MFA, for their Bitwarden account using an authenticator app or e-mail confirmation codes. Bitwarden Premium users can utilize the Bitwarden authenticator app, which provides time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) for additional security. Premium plans likewise support combinations with leading MFA suppliers Yubikey and Duo.
Emergency gain access to
With a Bitwarden Premium account, you can designate an emergency contact who can request access to your vault in case of an emergency.
Priority assistance
Bitwarden Free users have access to an online self-help center in addition to 24/7 email support. Bitwarden Premium users get priority e-mail support, which guarantees quicker actions.
Need aid starting? Read our step-by-step guide on how to utilize Bitwarden.
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Bitwarden Free advantages and disadvantages
Pros of Bitwarden Free
- Manages unlimited passwords throughout limitless gadgets.
- Supports safe and secure vault sharing and sending encrypted text.
- Can browse data breach lists to learn if your account has actually been compromised.
Cons of Bitwarden Free
- Can’t send out encrypted file accessories.
- Does not provide additional security reporting.
- No access to the Bitwarden Authenticator.
Bitwarden Premium benefits and drawbacks
Pros of Bitwarden Premium
- Can send out up to 1 GB of encrypted file accessories.
- Access to sophisticated vault health reports.
- Bitwarden Authenticator and third-party MFA assistance.
Cons of Bitwarden Premium
- Can’t connect multiple user accounts.
- Top priority assistance is email-based only.
Method
We began by evaluating the Bitwarden website to compile basic information about the abilities, functions and pricing of the Free and Premium strategies. Next, we researched both items on websites like Reddit to get an understanding of how genuine customers utilize Bitwarden Free and Premium and which includes stick out the most. We then evaluated the Free version to see how it carried out and which capabilities are worth upgrading to.
Read our Bitwarden review for an in-depth look at its functions, prices and more.
Should your organization usage Bitwarden Free or Bitwarden Premium?
Both Bitwarden Free and Bitwarden Premium use safe and secure credential management for an unrestricted variety of items (including passwords, charge card and IDs) throughout an endless number of gadgets. Both items are for home users and do not have the team management capabilities required for organization use cases.
If you’re just trying to find credential management, the Bitwarden Free plan offers whatever you require to conserve, generate and autofill passwords across all your gadgets. If you’re likewise trying to find secure file sharing, improved MFA performance or sophisticated vault health reports, upgrading to Bitwarden Premium deserves the $10 annually.
Password supervisors like Bitwarden enable a more secure web browsing experience since they assist you produce stronger passwords and avoid reusing passwords throughout sites and applications. For even higher web defense, read our How to use a VPN guide.
