1Password vs Bitwarden comparison for 2025

Encryption

1Password and Bitwarden both use 256-bit AES encryption – one of the strongest encryption algorithms on the market. But it’s pretty standard for a password manager. They also both employ the PBKDF2 password hashing to protect your master password and are built on a zero-knowledge architecture, meaning that no one, not even the providers themselves, has access to the passwords and other data stored on the password managers.

Multi-factor security

1Password and Bitwarden have taken a security-first approach and offer multiple MFA options. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides an additional layer of security by requiring further identity verification beyond just username and password during logins. I always look for it when reviewing password managers.

1Password enables you to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) using email, authenticator apps (e.g., Authy or Google Authenticator), physical security keys (e.g., YubiKey or Titan), and by pushing notifications to your mobile phone using Duo Security.

Bitwarden Free users can set up a two-step login with email, authentication apps, and FIDO U2F security keys. Meanwhile, Bitwarden’s Premium users can use Duo Security and YubiKey,in addition to email, authenticators, and FIDO U2F security keys

Both providers also enable biometric authentication methods – facial and fingerprint recognition. 1Password takes it a step further and has the iris recognition option, which is another type of biometric recognition that uses cameras to perform a scan of your iris, which is unique in its high accuracy. The majority of devices don’t offer this capability, however.

Password importing

Regarding password import, both 1Password and Bitwarden offer easy bulk imports for your passwords. While 1Password’s process is more intuitive, Bitwarden provides more import options. However, while 1Password’s process is more seamless and user-friendly, Bitwarden provides more import options.

This is important because the password import process must be as easy and smooth as possible whenever you start using a password manager (or switch to a new one).

I really like the fact that you can import passwords to 1Password from browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Safari), password managers (Dashlane, KeePass, KeePassX, Delinea Secret Server, LastPass, RoboForm, and others), and files (CSV, 1pux, or 1pif).

You can also import passwords to Bitwarden from browsers, other password managers like 1Password, and CSV and JSON files.

One major downside of Bitwarden’s importing process is that file attachments can only be migrated manually because they aren’t included in Bitwarden’s bulk import operations. I think this could be improved to ease the process.

Privacy policy

Although 1Password and Bitwarden support zero-knowledge architecture to maintain password privacy, both still collect some user data. 1Password records the account’s type, payment method, IP address, account holder’s name, and email address. Bitwarden records the same data as well as device information and other online identifiers.

Although both services might share data with the government and law enforcement for a valid reason, 1Password’s privacy policy is more favorable to users because the provider doesn’t easily share information with third parties.

Third-party security audits

Both 1Password and Bitwarden have been independently audited numerous times. Here’s more information about the latest 1Password February 2025security audits and the Bitwarden July 2024 security audits.

Independent third-party audits are crucial for any company that aims to protect users’ data, so I always check if they are routinely implemented.

Hence, the security operations of both password managers have been validated by SOC (Security Operation Center). Compliance with SOC 2 requirements is important because it proves a company prioritizes information security.

1Password is SOC 2 Type 2 certified, and Bitwarden is SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 compliant. This certifies that both can ensure security, confidentiality, availability, privacy, and processing integrity.

Account and password recovery

Whether you use 1Password or Bitwarden, both require creating a master password to unlock your login details, payment card information, and other sensitive data. But what if you forget the master password? I noticed many users worry about this. Fortunately, both providers offer multiple password recovery options.

1Password’s Emergency Kit is a PDF document with your account details and password. I want to add that keeping digital and printed copies of the Emergency Kit stored safely is essential. I find the Emergency Kit especially handy, as you can recover your password and account details ASAP. Bitwarden has prepared a similar document that you can download, called the security readiness kit, which contains sensitive login credentials. The only downside is that you have to fill it in yourself.

1Password’s Families, Teams, Business, or Enterprise plan users can request a family organizer or team administrator to restore their access, which is a nice addition. It's usually a quick process, depending on how prompt the organizer or administrator will be.

To recover your account access to Bitwarden, you will get a recovery code when you set up 2FA. Alternatively, you can get a Bitwarden master password hint emailed to your inbox – but that’s only if you have set up a hint. Both methods are quick and efficient, but rely on you having done your homework.

Password generator

Instead of easily guessable combinations, like password123, qwerty, or trustno1, you want to create passwords that are long and have both upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Fortunately, 1Password and Bitwarden provide user-friendly password generators. First off, the 1Password Strong Password Generator enables you to generate random passwords, passphrase passwords (memorable passwords), or PINs. Additionally, you can modify password length, capitalization, and types of characters.

Bitwarden’s password generator generates both passwords and passphrases. I found that you can customize it more than with the 1Password password generator – this doesn’t change the fact that 1Password generates unique and complex passwords. The default password length is 14 characters, but you can easily push it up to 128 characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t find an option to generate PINs.

You can also try the Bitwarden Password Strength Testing Tool to see how long it would take to crack your password.

Password sharing

1Password and Bitwarden provide secure password-sharing methods, ensuring you don't risk your accounts or sensitive information by sharing passwords via unsafe methods like messengers or SMS.

With 1Password, you can share passwords and saved items with others using a single link. I tested it and found you can specify who to share the link with and when it expires. I also liked that users of Families, Teams Starter, and Business plans can share entire vaults – very useful when more information needs to be shared.

I found Bitwarden’s password-sharing feature a bit more clunky. For a long time, the free plan didn’t allow password sharing. Now, both free and Premium account users can share passwords with one other user. You’ll need to upgrade to Families to share passwords with up to 6 other users.

Nonetheless, I really like the Bitwarden Send tool, as it offers end-to-end encryption for top-notch confidentiality. The files you share have randomly generated and secure links that you can share via text, email, or another convenient communication channel.

Encrypted file storage

Both password managers offer encrypted file storage, but 1Password is the clear winner here. It provides up to 5GB of encrypted storage – one of the biggest I’ve seen among password managers. In comparison, Bitwarden only offers up to 2GB, which also comes in a combination of 1GB of personal storage and 1GB of organization storage. Bitwarden users can purchase more storage in 1GB increments.

Travel mode

Travel Mode is 1Password’s standout feature. It provides an added layer of security to protect your data while you're traveling. It’s the only password manager that offers such a feature.

Travel Mode allows you to store selected login credentials and other sensitive information in a separate vault, protected with an additional layer of security. Until you disable the Travel Mode, those protected vaults will be hidden from anyone who accesses your device.

Weak password monitoring

1Password and Bitwarden monitor weak passwords and other vulnerabilities. 1Password has a suite of security tools, called the Watchtower, that monitors your password health and urges you to change old, weak, or reused passwords. It also scans the web for compromised logins and provides security updates from websites where your credentials are stored.

Similarly, Bitwarden has a Vault Health feature, which is responsible for monitoring password health and reporting on reused, exposed, and weak passwords. It also notifies you about compromised websites, inactive two-step logins, and whether any of your data has been breached.

Automatic backups

Only 1Password offers automatic backups, which gives it extra points in this comparison. 1Password automatically backs up all of your login credentials and other sensitive information stored in your account daily. So, in case you lose your device or you accidentally delete anything, you’ll be able to access all the backed-up data via your 1Password account. Sadly, Bitwarden cannot compete in this section, as it simply does not offer automatic backups.

Self-hosting

Bitwarden is in the lead when it comes to self-hosting, as 1Password doesn’t offer such a tool. The self-hosting add-on is especially handy for organizations, as it gives more control over how data is managed. For instance, if you're a small business owner who wants to keep company passwords on your own servers for added security, self-hosting gives you full control over where your data is stored and who has access to it.

Autofill

Naturally, both 1Password and Bitwarden have autofill.It’s a core feature which allows you to login with a single click, simplifying login and payment processes.

Autofill works seamlessly with 1Password’s browser extension, with the prompt popping up when you’re trying to log in. When testing 1Password’s desktop app, I found the autofill feature requires you to first click on the 1Password icon and then choose the login item before you can sign in. If it suggests more than one item, you also need to scroll down and search through the saved credentials, which can be a bit of a hassle.

When I was using Bitwarden’s autofill feature via a browser extension, I had to right-click the box, click on Bitwarden’s icon, search for the right login entries, and then click Autofill.

Desktop apps

Both password managers offer user-friendly desktop apps that are compatible with operating systems.

1Password’s desktop app works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. I liked its minimalistic and straightforward interface, which, despite the abundance of features, doesn’t overwhelm the user. All of the core features are easily accessible without you having to delve deep. The desktop app also allows you to customize the vault into categories to fit your storage needs.

The 1Password menu was easy to navigate. On the left, you have the All Items, Favorites, and Watchtower menus. You can also easily access Logins, Secure Notes, and Identities from the same menu.

Bitwarden’s desktop app is also compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It’s designed with ease of use in mind from setup to management. Installation was quick and simple for me, taking only a few minutes. The interface was also clean and user-friendly, with all features neatly organized and easily accessible.

However, I noticed that the web app has more features than the desktop app. For instance, you can’t set up multi-factor authentication on the desktop app, and the app itself is quite bare.

In the menu on the left, I could navigate to All Items, Favorites, Bin, Login, Card, Identity, and Secure Note folders.

Browser extensions

When it comes to browser extension compatibility, 1Password and Bitwarden offer extensive support across various browsers. Both provide extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave. However, I found Bitwarden even more versatile, as it also supports Opera, Vivaldi, DuckDuckGo, and Tor – though only the latest versions.

1Password’s extension impressed me with its comprehensive set of features, rivaling its standalone apps in functionality. I could perform nearly all tasks available in the desktop app, including password imports, using Travel Mode, and locking the extension for added security. This made the 1Password extension exceptionally powerful and convenient, and I appreciated not having to switch between the extension and the desktop app for most tasks.

In terms of functionality, Bitwarden’s extension includes features such as autofill, password generator, and basic vault management. While these features are sufficient for everyday use, I needed to access the web or desktop app for more advanced tasks, which was a bit of a hassle.

Mobile apps

Both 1Password and Bitwarden excel in mobile device compatibility, offering robust apps for Android and iOS devices. Bitwarden’s mobile apps, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, impressed me with their intuitive and fully functional design, mirroring the core features of its browser and desktop apps.

1Password's mobile apps also stood out with their sleek, user-friendly interface. The apps are highly customizable – I could add or remove preferred sections from the home page andpin desired items to the app's home page for quick but secure access.

I especially liked that the mobile app has nearly all of the same functionalities of the desktop version, including advanced features like Watchtower and secure sharing. This makes the 1Password mobile app a powerful tool for managing passwords on the go, and I found it incredibly convenient.

Both 1Password and Bitwarden offer a comprehensive knowledge base with step-by-step guides and FAQs.

If you can’t find your answer there, or need personalized assistance, you can contact 1Password and Bitwarden support agents via email, social media, or community forums. I tested both providers’ customer support, and the difference was obvious. I messaged 1Password via X and received a reply stating, “We provide short-form assistance over social media, with email being our primary support platform for anything more complex or investigative”. They replied to me within 15 minutes, but 1Password clearly wants you to use email support for more serious issues. When I tried contacting Bitwarden on X, there was no option to send a message.

Then, I contacted 1Password’s support by email. On the first time it took only 8 minutes to get a response, but on another occasion I had to wait for about 6 hours to get a reply for a similar question. Bitwarden’s email support was also not that fast – I only received a reply after more than one hour.

Although I didn’t get immediate replies while contacting both 1Password and Bitwarden, the support agents were friendly and efficiently resolved my problems.

Overall, there’s no winner when it comes to 1Password vs Bitwarden support, as neither offer live chat, with the exception of 1Password’s chatbot, or phone support for immediate action.