1Password vs Bitwarden: which password manager should you pick?
Once you’ve accepted that you need a password manager, the next question is which one. There are plenty, but two come up again and again for good reason: Bitwarden and 1Password. Both are excellent and either will transform your security. Here’s an honest look at how they differ, so you can pick the one that fits how you live.
The short answer
- Choose Bitwarden if you want unbeatable value and like the idea of open-source software you can trust.
- Choose 1Password if you want the most polished, hand-holding experience and great family sharing, and don’t mind paying for it.
You really can’t go wrong either way. The worst choice is the one most people make: no password manager at all.
Bitwarden
Bitwarden’s headline feature is that its free tier is genuinely usable — unlimited passwords across all your devices, for nothing. It’s open-source and independently audited, which means experts can and do check how it works. Paid Premium is around £8 a year, which is almost a rounding error for what you get.
The trade-off is that the interface is plainer and a little more technical in places. It does the job beautifully; it just doesn’t hold your hand quite as much.
1Password
1Password is the polished one. It’s a pleasure to use, with a clean design, helpful security check-ups that flag weak or breached passwords, and a genuinely excellent family plan that makes sharing logins with a partner or parents simple. Support is first-rate, which matters if you’re nervous about the whole idea.
The trade-off: there’s no free tier — it’s subscription-only, at roughly £3 a month. For many people the smoother experience is worth it; for others it’s money Bitwarden doesn’t ask for.
Which should you pick?
- Most individuals: Bitwarden. The price is unbeatable and it does everything you need.
- Families, or anyone who wants it to feel effortless: 1Password. The polish and sharing are worth the fee.
Both now support passkeys — the password replacement that's rolling out everywhere. If you're choosing today, that's one less thing to worry about later. See [passkeys explained](/articles/what-are-passkeys/).
Whichever you pick, the setup is the same gentle process — walk through it with how to set up a password manager. Still not sure the whole concept is safe? Here’s why password managers are safe, and a wider look at the best free password managers. More in our password managers section.