Bitwarden vs Vaultwarden
Both are alternatives to 1Password. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Vaultwarden vs Bitwarden — same comparison, one verdict.
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.
Vaultwarden
A lightweight, self-hosted Bitwarden-compatible server.
Vaultwarden is a resource-light server that speaks the Bitwarden protocol, so you run your own vault backend and use the official Bitwarden clients against it. It fits on the smallest VPS or a homelab box.
Side by side
| Bitwarden | Vaultwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 88 | 95 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | No | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 (clients) / AGPL (server) | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Generous free tier; paid from about $1/month; self-host free | Free / self-host |
Bitwarden is Macrostack's recommended 1Password alternative, so it's our pick here.
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
Vaultwarden
Strengths
- +Runs on tiny hardware
- +Works with official Bitwarden apps
- +You fully own the vault data
Trade-offs
- −You are responsible for backups and TLS
- −Unofficial (community) server
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.