Bitwarden vs Proton Pass
The two best free managers go head to head. Both open source, both audited, both without catches.
We may earn a small commission through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Bitwarden
Open source, audited, and the best free plan around.
Proton Pass
Swiss privacy with free email aliases built in.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Bitwarden | Proton Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.7 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Price | From $1.65/mo | From $1.99/mo |
| Free plan | ||
| Best for | Almost everyone | Privacy-focused users |
| Category | Free & open source | Free & open source |
| Provider | Bitwarden Inc. | Proton AG |
| Visit Bitwarden | Visit Proton Pass |
Our verdict
This is the luxury problem among duels. You cannot really choose wrong. Proton Pass holds the unique card of email aliases and fits perfectly if you already use Proton Mail or VPN. Bitwarden is more mature, imports and integrates with everything, and its $10-a-year premium tier with 2FA codes and emergency access is unmatched value.
On points, Bitwarden wins. Privacy enthusiasts with Proton accounts grab Proton Pass.
“The free plan does everything most people need, the code is open source, and the audits are public. Our first recommendation for almost everyone.”Editorial team, on Bitwarden
“The free email aliases are a genuine invention. A different address for every store, so your real one never leaks. Swiss, open source, and generous for free.”Editorial team, on Proton Pass
Frequently asked questions
Bitwarden or Proton Pass: which free password manager should I choose?
Bitwarden, on points. It is the more mature product, imports from almost anything, and integrates everywhere. Choose Proton Pass if you want its email aliases, or if you already use Proton Mail or Proton VPN and would rather keep everything in one place. Both are open source, audited, and free without catches, so this is a duel you cannot really lose.
Which is cheaper if I upgrade, Bitwarden or Proton Pass?
Bitwarden. Premium is $1.65 a month, billed as $19.80 a year, against $1.99 a month and $23.88 a year for Proton Pass Plus. Guide prices on annual billing, last checked August 2026. Both add built-in 2FA codes and sharing; Bitwarden adds emergency access for a trusted contact, Proton Pass unlimited aliases. Plus may already sit inside a wider Proton subscription.
What are Proton Pass email aliases, and do I actually need them?
An alias is a separate address that forwards to your real inbox, so a webshop never learns your actual email and a leak there cannot be tied to your other accounts. Proton Pass Free includes 10 of them; Plus makes them unlimited. Genuinely useful if you sign up for a lot of services. If that is not your problem, Bitwarden covers the rest better.
How hard is it to move between Bitwarden and Proton Pass?
Not hard, and easiest in Bitwarden's direction, since it imports from nearly every manager. Export your vault from the old app, import it into the new one, delete the export file, then set up two-factor and recovery again before closing the old account. Aliases are the exception. They belong to Proton, so leaving Proton Pass means rethinking those addresses first.