Bitwarden vs Proton Pass
Both are alternatives to 1Password. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Proton Pass vs Bitwarden — same comparison, one verdict.
Bitwarden is open source (GPL-3.0 (clients) / AGPL (server)) and Proton Pass is not (Proprietary hosted service (client apps open-source, GPL-3.0, audited)) — so the real question is whether you want to own the password managers stack or rent it.
Bitwarden
TOP PICKOpen-source and free forever — the easy pick for most people.
Bitwarden is a mature, audited, open-source password manager. Use its low-cost hosted plan or self-host the server for full control, with clients on every platform.
Proton Pass
End-to-end encrypted password manager from the Proton privacy suite.
Proton Pass is a hosted, end-to-end encrypted password manager (passwords, passkeys, 2FA codes, and hide-my-email aliases) from the Swiss privacy company Proton. Its apps are open-source and independently audited, but the service runs on Proton's servers — you can't self-host it. It's the easy, no-server option for people who want strong privacy without running infrastructure.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| Bitwarden | Proton Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 88 | 62 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first data | No | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 (clients) / AGPL (server) | Proprietary hosted service (client apps open-source, GPL-3.0, audited) |
| Pricing | Generous free tier; paid from about $1/month; self-host free | Free tier; paid from about $2/month (or bundled in Proton Unlimited) |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 4 GB for the official self-hosted stack | — |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $20–35/mo — which is more than the hosted plan costs | — |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 2 hours | — |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Moderate, and non-negotiable. Security updates are not optional here. | — |
Bitwarden is Macrostack's recommended 1Password alternative, so it's our pick here.
Weighing both against staying on 1Password? Is 1Password free? What it actually costs →
Bitwarden
Strengths
- +Independently audited
- +Cross-platform clients
- +Self-host option
Trade-offs
- −Official self-host stack is heavier than Vaultwarden
- −Cloud plan still a third-party host
Proton Pass
Strengths
- +End-to-end encrypted — Proton cannot read your vault
- +Open-source, independently audited client apps
- +Zero setup — no server to run or maintain
- +Includes passkeys, 2FA, and hide-my-email aliases
Trade-offs
- −Hosted on Proton's servers — you cannot self-host it
- −The service itself is proprietary; only the client apps are open
- −Your vault lives in Proton's cloud, not on hardware you own
- −Full features require a paid plan
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose Bitwarden
if you want the source and the option to fork it, and you would rather run it on your own hardware, and independently audited.
Choose Proton Pass
if end-to-end encrypted — Proton cannot read your vault.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — official self-host stack is heavier than Vaultwarden, and hosted on Proton's servers — you cannot self-host it. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
Bitwarden vs Proton Pass — common questions
Is Bitwarden a better fit than Proton Pass for password managers?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: Bitwarden scores 88 to Proton Pass's 62 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. Proton Pass earns its place on a different axis — end-to-end encrypted — Proton cannot read your vault. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
Neither of these is local-first by default, so plan the exit at the point you adopt rather than later. Export what matters on a schedule instead of trusting you can retrieve it on demand — that is the most common way a password managers migration turns into a project instead of an afternoon.
Can I self-host Bitwarden?
Bitwarden can be self-hosted; Proton Pass cannot, so it stays on the vendor's infrastructure whatever you do.
Are Bitwarden and Proton Pass both alternatives to 1Password?
Yes — both appear in our 1Password comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off 1Password and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.