Bitwarden vs Proton Pass
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
It's close: Bitwarden edges it 9.1 to 9.0, so the right pick depends on what you need. Bitwarden wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Proton Pass on 2, with 1 tied.
People who want a secure, cross-platform password manager without paying
Privacy-minded people who want a free password manager with email aliases
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Bitwarden | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Privacy & Security | Privacy & Security |
| Category rank | #2 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Developer | Bitwarden Inc. | Proton AG |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Bitwarden better than Proton Pass?
It's close: Bitwarden edges it 9.1 to 9.0, so the right pick depends on what you need. Bitwarden wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Proton Pass on 2, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Bitwarden or Proton Pass?
Bitwarden: Free plan; Premium $19.80/year, Families $47.88/year for up to six people. Proton Pass: Free plan; Pass Plus is $2.99 a month, billed $35.88 a year. On value for money, Bitwarden scores higher.
Do Bitwarden and Proton Pass work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web.
Which is more private, Bitwarden or Proton Pass?
Proton Pass scores higher on privacy (9.7/10). Open source and end-to-end encrypted, under Swiss privacy law. App Store label: only diagnostics, not linked to you. Google Play lists no data shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Bitwarden
- Free plan has no device or password limits
- Open source with regular third-party audits
- Premium upgrade is still inexpensive
- Interface and autofill feel less refined than 1Password
- Built-in authenticator and attachments need Premium
Bitwarden is the best free password manager and the best value overall. The free plan syncs unlimited passwords across unlimited devices, the code is open source and regularly audited, and you can even self-host it. Premium now costs $19.80 a year, still cheap, and adds a built-in authenticator, file attachments, emergency access and health reports. The interface is plainer than 1Password's, but recent updates keep smoothing it out.
Full Bitwarden review
Proton Pass
- Free plan has no device or password limits
- Email aliases keep your real address private
- Open source with a clean privacy label
- Free plan caps aliases at 10
- 2FA codes and dark web monitoring need Plus
Proton Pass has one of the most generous free plans of any password manager. You get unlimited logins on unlimited devices, passkeys, a password generator and 10 hide-my-email aliases, so sites never see your real address. It's open source and end-to-end encrypted, from the team behind Proton Mail. Pass Plus adds unlimited aliases, a built-in 2FA authenticator, dark web monitoring and emergency access for $2.99 a month billed yearly.
Full Proton Pass review
