Bitwarden vs. LastPass: Which is better? [2023] | Zapier

A password manager securely stores all of your passwords in one place, so all you have to do is remember one password instead of, say, 300. Out of the top password managers, Bitwarden and LastPass are two favorites.

I’ve been using LastPass to manage my passwords for over two years, so I’m already very familiar with it. Still, I spent time testing the ins and outs of both options—creating, updating, and using login credentials on various types of websites and testing each platform’s unique capabilities to uncover which is right for whom. Read on for my analysis of Bitwarden vs. LastPass.

Bitwarden vs. LastPass at a glance

Unlike full-service platforms used to meet an entire business’s accounting or website-building needs, Bitwarden and LastPass serve a relatively straightforward purpose: password management. This makes them much more similar than they are different, but if I had to break down which app is right for whom:

• Bitwarden is best for users looking for a platform with advanced security insights and the most affordable pricing.

• LastPass is best for those who prioritize a seamless, user-friendly experience.

What’s not different

Bitwarden and LastPass have a lot of similar features—after all, they serve basically identical purposes. Here’s what’s more or less the same between the two password managers:

• Customer support: Both companies offer assistance after you fill out a support form. Free resources and training are also available.

• Password generation: Both platforms automatically generate strong and unique passwords. 

• Encryption: LastPass and Bitwarden both use military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.

• Zero-knowledge security: Both companies operate on a zero-knowledge security model, so they can’t help you recover your password if you forget it.

• File storage: Both platforms provide encrypted file storage, so you can add important documents like your birth certificate, SSN, and more.

• Categorization: Both platforms enable you to create folders to separate and categorize your login credentials.

• Desktop apps: LastPass and Bitwarden both have a desktop app.

• Browser extensions: Both platforms have extensions for all major browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Bitwarden hasn’t given us any reason to doubt its protection of user data

Don’t get me wrong: both Bitwarden and LastPass do a very thorough job of protecting user data. Both platforms are fully encrypted and are regularly audited by expert security firms. Hopefully you aren’t surprised to hear this—after all, the whole point of passwords is data security.

That said, LastPass did have a recent security breach that may cause some folks to raise an eyebrow (or panic and change all of their passwords immediately). In August 2022, LastPass confirmed that its infrastructure was breached.

While company leadership initially assured users that no customer data was compromised, statements on November 30 and December 22 confirmed the hacker acquired access to customer data—yikes. In response, LastPass rebuilt its entire development environment, improved its alerting capabilities, rotated all potentially affected credentials, and provided next steps for its users to safeguard themselves.

LastPass’s response was as good as a data protection company’s reaction to a massive data breach could be, but still, it’s not a good look. For this reason, at least as of early 2023, Bitwarden earns the title of the more secure platform.

LastPass offers a modern design and user-friendliness at the expense of some advanced features

Since I’ve been using LastPass to manage my passwords for a while, I was already really familiar with the platform’s offerings. It’s also why Bitwarden’s advanced features stuck out like a sore thumb (uh, but in a good way).

For example, LastPass provides a relatively basic security dashboard. I received an overall security score (don’t judge me), an alert board for the really important security notices, and a “dark web monitoring” section listing which of my email addresses have been spotted in shady corners of the internet and should be monitored. I could also view my at-risk passwords to see which ones were weak and/or reused.

Its insights were enough to prompt me to update my main password and several of my other passwords, but they simply don’t stack up to Bitwarden’s multitude of security report options.

As you can see, Bitwarden goes the extra mile with its reporting. Unlike LastPass, the platform reports on which of my passwords have been exposed in a data breach, which unsecured websites I have saved, and which sites don’t have two-step authentication enabled.

Bitwarden also gives the user more customization capabilities when generating and saving passwords. Both apps offer a really cool random password generator, but Bitwarden’s has some unique features, including the option to create a username and passphrase, to include or avoid ambiguous characters, and to specify a minimum quantity of numbers and special characters.

LastPass comes with its own unique options, like generating passwords that are easy to read or say, but I feel that Bitwarden’s username and minimum-character options make it the platform to beat for password generation.

Bitwarden’s added customization options don’t end there. The app enables users to enter multiple URIs (encompassing both URLs and URNs/names, such as ISBNs) for its passwords. For example, if I wanted to use the same login information for multiple sites, I could add both sites’ URIs to one Bitwarden item. Plus, for added security, Bitwarden gives users the option to re-prompt their main password when autofilling for certain sites.

Despite Bitwarden’s advanced features, you can’t deny its interface feels a little dated when put side by side with LastPass. LastPass’s interface displays all of your websites in a block layout (which I personally love) using large logos that are more accessible. You can also sort folders and website names alphabetically or by most recently used to quickly find what you need.

The Bitwarden interface, while also simple, feels a bit outdated and awkward. While LastPass’s content expands and retracts to adapt to the size of the browser, Bitwarden leaves a lot of unused white space when the user expands their browser.

I felt the same way about each platform’s desktop application. LastPass is visually appealing, has legible contents, and feels fun. Bitwarden makes me feel like I’m about to send an email on Microsoft Outlook (no offense, Outlook).

One of the most convenient aspects of using a password manager is that it automatically fills in your login credentials. If you only have one account for a website in LastPass, your credentials will autofill without you needing to lift a finger. If you have more than one account, just click the LastPass logo that appears next to user input boxes, and fill the box with the correct info in two clicks.

Bitwarden has a similar autofill feature, but it requires an extra step. Instead of automatically autofilling your information or providing a cute little icon that expands to show all your accounts, you have to right-click, navigate to Bitwarden, hover over Auto-fill, then select your account.

I know—exhausting, right? Ok, not quite. But LastPass certainly does a better job of prioritizing user experience by making autofill as painless as possible.

Bitwarden’s next UX hiccup involves saving new passwords. LastPass’s pop-up box asking whether you want to save a new password mimics Google’s—it’s attention-grabbing and clear.

Bitwarden’s, on the other hand, is all too easy to miss.

See that teeny-tiny bar under the URL? That’s Bitwarden’s pop-up for remembering your password. LastPass’s red branding helps make it stand out, while Bitwarden’s blue branding, coupled with its use of small text and pop-ups, makes it relatively inaccessible.

Ok, last Bitwarden design diss (promise!). LastPass makes it easy to modify your passwords—just click the wrench icon that appears when hovering over the website in your dashboard, and you’ll see the edit interface below.

Meanwhile, Bitwarden doesn’t offer a way to edit your information. You can only copy existing usernames and passwords or override existing credentials when you change them on a site.

Bitwarden’s free plan is much more generous and is a bit more financially accessible for individuals

Bitwarden’s free plan is relatively extensive, granting you access to all core features including unlimited storage of logins, access on any device, free sharing for two users, a password generator, and 24/7 email support. Meanwhile, LastPass’s free plan only grants you access on one device type (desktop or mobile) and doesn’t provide access to personal support.

While Bitwarden clearly has the upper hand when comparing free versions, the two solutions’ paid plans are a bit more comparable. Take a peek at LastPass’s pricing plans as well as Bitwarden’s to compare each option.

As you’ll likely notice, the two platforms have very comparable business pricing, though Bitwarden does take off a dollar per user for those who opt for annual billing. The biggest price difference is for Premium plans for individuals. LastPass charges $36 per year for its Premium plan for individuals, whereas Bitwarden only charges $10 per year.

Bitwarden vs. LastPass: Which is best for you?

When it comes to password security, both Bitwarden and LastPass have what it takes to get the job done. Ultimately, Bitwarden is best for those seeking the most advanced security features and the lowest-cost option for password management. LastPass, on the other hand, is best for those who want to save time and headache by investing in a seamless and user-friendly password management experience.

If you’re new to password managers, LastPass’s recent security breach probably shouldn’t deter you from choosing the platform. It was a huge deal and a publicity nightmare, but it also prompted the company to move forward with stricter security standards.

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