If you’re like most people, you’re probably overwhelmed by the number of passwords created, used, and remembered in your daily life. Password managers like Bitwarden and LastPass make those tasks easier.
Move in:
What is Bitwarden?
Bitwarden is an open source password manager for personal, corporate and group use, storing login information in a secure vault. Those who use it can also store other types of sensitive information and securely transmit it to others.
What is LastPass?
LastPass is a password manager that aims to remove obstacles that frustrate people trying to sign in to services or encourage them to bypass password best practices. Tools from LastPass can also autofill logins, helping people get access faster.
UNDERSTAND: Password Breach: Why Pop Culture and Passwords Don’t Go Together (Free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Bitwarden vs. LastPass: Feature Comparison
| Featured | Bitwarden | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Right | No |
| Self-hosted deployment option | Right | No |
| Cross-platform password manager | Right | Right |
| Account recovery option for lost master password | No | Right |
| Automatic dark web monitoring | No | Right |
Head-to-head comparison: Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Store and use passwords
Bitwarden helps anyone create, store and secure their passwords from any location or device. If users have a business account, they can specify which groups or people have certain passwords, so that productivity happens without unnecessary hurdles. Bitwarden also supports several two-step login methods. These make it harder for hackers to get and use passwords. The company uses end-to-end encryption and even their employees cannot view the stored content.
Security experts note that people are often the weakest link in a security strategy. LastPass has a built-in password generator to make it easy for anyone to set passwords that hackers won’t be able to crack. It also offers single sign-on and multi-factor authentication options. The company also recently announced a passwordless login feature, indicating it is moving towards the passwordless future many envision. Users also have the ability to share their passwords with a trusted person.
Vault Management
In addition to storing passwords, people can include identification and payment details as well as free-text notes into the Bitwarden vault. There is also a search field and filter to facilitate faster searching of a particular stored piece of information. Vault Health and Data Breach reports allow anyone to see if their vault or content contains any security holes that could help cybercriminals wreak havoc. The star icon next to vault entries allows prioritizing information to make it easier to access later.
LastPass vault works similarly to Bitwarden in that it can store sensitive content other than passwords, and people can favorite items they want to access faster later. LastPass vault users can also launch websites directly from within its interface. Alternatively, they can use the LastPass browser extension to automatically capture the new passwords they generate and put them in the vault. Vault LastPass has unlimited storage. However, LastPass points out that people should expect performance drops when maintaining more than 2,000 entries there.
User friendly
People keep reporting that Bitwarden is easy to use and install, whether on your phone or computer. When creating new passwords, there is the option to add a brief note about them or move them into a subfolder, both of which can aid in improved organization. The Bitwarden Send feature provides a secure and simple way to provide information to others. It works even if the recipient is not using Bitwarden.
LastPass makes things easy for people who start using it after trying competing products for the first time. It can import details from dozens of other password managers. LastPass family plan subscribers can place their passwords in shareable folders, making them accessible to those who need them while maintaining protection.
Choose Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Most people who use these two products find them simple to learn and use regularly, even without extensive technical knowledge. If you run into problems, there are comprehensive support sections available on the companies’ websites and the option to get personalized help when needed.
UNDERSTAND: Mobile device privacy policy (TechRepublic Premium)
If price is a concern, both companies are very transparent about costs. Bitwarden and LastPass both have free versions, although they are limited in features. If you open the premium plan, Bitwarden individual options range from $10-40/month when billed annually. Business plans are billed at a per-user rate ranging from $3-6, depending on your billing cycle.
The premium versions of LastPass for personal use cost $3 or $4/month in annual billing cycles, depending on whether you’re just downloading it for yourself or opting for a family plan. family. For business, the price is $4 or $6/month per user.
Compromised passwords and weak passwords are two major security problems in today’s internet-centric world. These products can help you set strong passwords and secure them, all without straining your brain every time you need to log into a service. Since they have similar features, consider spending some time learning about some of the minor differences before committing. Alternatively, use the free versions of both long enough to see which you prefer.
