Vaultwarden vs Bitwarden
Both are free/open-source alternatives to 1Password. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Vaultwarden
TOP PICKA 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.
Bitwarden
Open-source password manager with optional self-hosting.
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.
Side by side
| Vaultwarden | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 95 | 88 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 (clients) / AGPL (server) |
| Pricing | Free / self-host | Generous free tier; paid from about $1/month; self-host free |
Vaultwarden is Macrostack's recommended 1Password alternative, so it's our pick here.
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
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
More 1Password head-to-heads
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.