Vaultwarden vs Proton Pass
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.
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
| Vaultwarden | Proton Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 95 | 62 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first | Yes | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary hosted service (client apps open-source, GPL-3.0, audited) |
| Pricing | Free / self-host | Free tier; paid from about $2/month (or bundled in Proton Unlimited) |
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
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
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.