Bitwarden offers a password management solution that ensures the secure generation, storage, autofill, and monitoring of credentials for websites and applications. The free version of Bitwarden provides a secure vault for storing credentials, credit cards, identification documents, and text files. On the other hand, the Premium plan, which costs $10 per year, offers additional features such as encrypted file attachment sharing, advanced vault health reporting, and enhanced authentication. This guide compares the features of Bitwarden Free and Premium to help users make the right choice.
Bitwarden Free and Bitwarden Premium both provide users with a secure vault to store, monitor, and autofill their credentials, credit cards, identification documents, and text files. Users can install Bitwarden on an unlimited number of devices for both the Free and Premium plans. Importing and exporting vaults from other credential managers is also possible. Additionally, both plans offer secure credential generation and the ability to share vault items with one other user.
However, one of the key differences between Bitwarden Free and Premium is the encrypted file sharing feature. While the Free plan only allows the sharing of encrypted text, the Premium plan enables users to attach and share other file types as well.
Another distinction is seen in the vault health reporting feature. Bitwarden Free users can only check if their username or email address has been involved in any online data breaches. On the other hand, Premium accounts have access to advanced reports that provide a comprehensive overview of weak, exposed, and reused passwords. Premium users also receive recommendations for accounts where multi-factor authentication needs to be activated.
Bitwarden Free users can enable two-step login for their account using an authenticator app or email verification codes. In contrast, Bitwarden Premium users can utilize the Bitwarden authenticator app, which provides time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) for enhanced security. Integration with MFA providers YubiKey and Duo is also supported in the Premium plan.
For emergency situations, Bitwarden Premium allows users to designate an emergency contact who can request access to their vault.
In terms of customer support, Bitwarden Free provides access to an online self-help center and 24/7 email support. However, Bitwarden Premium users receive priority email support, ensuring faster responses.
To summarize, while Bitwarden Free offers essential password management capabilities across unlimited devices, Bitwarden Premium provides additional features such as encrypted file sharing, advanced vault health reporting, enhanced authentication, emergency access, and priority support. Depending on specific needs, upgrading to Bitwarden Premium for $10 per year may be worthwhile.
