If you’re like most people, you can be overwhelmed by the number of passwords created, used, and remembered in your daily life. Password managers like Bitwarden and LastPass make these tasks easier.
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What is Bitwarden?
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager for personal, business, and team use that stores credentials in a secure vault. People using it can also store other types of sensitive information and transmit it securely to others.
What is LastPass?
Last pass is a password manager that aims to remove barriers that frustrate people when trying to log into services or encourage them to ignore best practices for using passwords. LastPass’s tools can also auto-fill credentials, giving users faster access.
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Bitwarden vs LastPass: Feature Comparison
Features | Bitwarden | Last pass |
---|---|---|
open-source | Yes | Nope |
Self-hosted deployment option | Yes | Nope |
Cross-platform password management | Yes | Yes |
Account recovery option for lost master passwords | Nope | Yes |
Automatic dark web monitoring | Nope | Yes |
Head-to-head comparison: Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Password storage and use
Bitwarden helps people generate, store and secure their passwords from any location or device. If a user has a work account, they can specify which teams or people have certain passwords, allowing productivity to flow without unnecessary obstacles. Bitwarden also supports several two-step login methods. These make it harder for hackers to obtain and use passwords. The company uses end-to-end encryption, and even its employees cannot see the stored content.
Security experts note that humans are often the weakest links in a security strategy. LastPass has a built-in password generator to make it easier for users to set passwords that hackers won’t crack. It also offers single and multi-factor authentication options. The company also recently announced a passwordless login feature, showing that it’s heading into the passwordless future that many people envision. Users also have the option of sharing their passwords with someone they trust.
Vault Management
In addition to storing passwords, people can put identity and payment details as well as free-form text notes in the Bitwarden Vault. There is also a search field and a filter to facilitate faster search for a particular stored information. Vault Health and Data Breach reports allow users to see if their vaults or contents contain vulnerabilities that could help cybercriminals wreak havoc. The star icon next to Vault entries highlights information to make it more accessible later.
The LastPass Vault works similarly to Bitwarden’s in that it can store other sensitive content in addition to passwords and users can bookmark items they want to access more quickly later. . LastPass Vault users can also launch websites directly from its interface. Alternatively, they can use the LastPass browser extension to automatically capture new passwords they create and put them in the vault. The LastPass Vault has unlimited capacity. However, LastPass says users should expect a performance hit when keeping more than 2,000 items.
Usability
People consistently report that Bitwarden is easy to use and install, whether on your phone or on a computer. When creating new passwords, it’s possible to add brief notes about them or move them to a subfolder, which might help with better organization. The Bitwarden Send feature provides an easy and secure method to give information to someone else. This works even if the recipient is not also using Bitwarden.
LastPass makes it easy for people who start using it after trying competing products for the first time. It can import details from dozens of other password managers. People who subscribe to a LastPass Family plan can put their passwords in shareable folders, making them accessible to those who need them while maintaining protection.
Choosing Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Most people who use both of these products find them simple to learn and use on a regular basis, even without deep technical knowledge. If you run into a problem, comprehensive support sections are available on company websites and you have the option of getting personalized help when needed.
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If pricing is a concern, both companies are very transparent about costs. Both Bitwarden and LastPass have free versions, although their functionality is limited. If you’re open to a premium plan, Bitwarden’s personal options range from $10-40/month when billed annually. Business plans are charged at a per-user rate ranging from $3 to $6, depending on your billing cycle.
Premium versions of LastPass for personal use cost $3 or $4/month on an annual billing cycle, depending on whether you get it for yourself or opt for a family plan. For businesses, the price is $4 or $6/month per user.
Compromised and weak passwords are two major security issues in today’s internet-centric world. These products can help you set strong passwords and keep them secure, all without racking your brains every time you need to log in to a service. Since they have similar features, consider taking the time to learn about some of the minor differences before committing to them. You can also use the free versions of both long enough to see which one you prefer.