LastPass vs. Bitwarden in 2025: Putting Two Affordable Password Managers Head to Head

Many users are still understandably nervous about using LastPass since its most recent data breach in 2022.1 That’s why you won’t find it on our list of the best password managers. Of course, we get the appeal of its free plan that supports unlimited passwords. Thankfully, LastPass has updated its security practices significantly since then.

We recently spent weeks testing Bitwarden and LastPass head-to-head. They both offer free plans and affordable paid plans, except Bitwarden has never experienced a data breach. Let’s dig in to find out if Bitwarden or LastPass is the right choice for you.

>> Learn More: Understanding Password Managers

Security: Keeping Your Data Safe

LastPass experienced a data breach in 2022 that raised lasting concerns about its security. The attackers managed to break through LastPass’s storage, but because vaults are encrypted, no passwords were exposed.

To get a bit more technical, LastPass uses 256-bit AES encryption to secure data stored in user vaults. Bitwarden actually uses the same encryption, and it’s also what the U.S. government uses to secure confidential data.2 With current technology, this encryption method is essentially impossible to crack using brute-force methods. That’s what kept the passwords safe during the LastPass attack.

With that context, let’s go over how LastPass and Bitwarden are preventing future data breaches from occurring.

Preventing Data Breaches

Data breaches are often the root cause of passwords being leaked. Bitwarden has never experienced a data breach partially thanks to its open-source code. This allows security researchers globally to continuously audit their code and help Bitwarden patch vulnerabilities quickly.

LastPass, learning from their last breach, went through a systematic overhaul of their security systems. We learned that they now undergo regular third-party security audits.

Authentication Methods

All password managers require a master password to unlock the vault, but master passwords are still just passwords that can be stolen. That’s why it’s important for password managers to support two-factor authentication (2FA) methods that establish the identity of users every time they try to log in.

We tested LastPass and Bitwarden’s 2FA methods. It’s good that they both support multiple 2FA methods, including authenticator apps, SMS, and hardware keys like YubiKey. Bitwarden edges ahead slightly by offering email-based 2FA even on its free tier, while LastPass reserves its advanced 2FA options for premium users.

User Experience: Daily Life with LastPass and Bitwarden

Password managers are meant to make your life easier while improving your online security. We already covered the security aspect, so let’s dive into the usability of LastPass vs. Bitwarden.

Interface Design and Navigation

We found LastPass’s interface polished and intuitive. It’s a password manager we think anyone can pick up and start using. We easily navigated through settings and features. Although simple, the browser extension felt particularly sharp. It’s the kind of tool that sits idly in the background until you need it.

Bitwarden’s approach is more utilitarian. It is functional, but it’s not as flashy as other password manager apps we’ve tried. Bitwarden’s app actually looks a little dated, but that doesn’t make it hard to use. In fact, we think it’s simple and straightforward, but at the same time, it offers extensive customizations for power users. We particularly like how the desktop apps and browser extensions incorporate keyboard shortcuts to speed up workflows.

Password Generation and Management

During testing, both services excelled at generating strong passwords, but their approaches differed slightly. LastPass’s password generator includes helpful presets for different security levels. It also remembers your preferences. We generated100 passwords and found LastPass slightly faster at suggesting passwords with appropriate complexity based on website requirements.

On the other hand, Bitwarden’s generator offers more granular control. It let us specify exact character requirements. This is useful when dealing with websites that have unusual password rules. We particularly appreciated Bitwarden’s passphrase generator, which creates memorable yet secure combinations of words instead of conventional passwords. We checked, and all passwords generated by Bitwarden scored highly in our password strength checker.

Password Sharing

LastPass’s sharing center lets you share passwords with detailed and customizable permission settings. We like this approach for sharing streaming service credentials with family members or office tools with coworkers. The only problem we had is that LastPass doesn’t allow sharing passwords with others who don’t have a LastPass account.

Bitwarden is the opposite. With its Send feature, you can share passwords with anyone. It creates a secure, shareable link you can set to expire after a set period of time or once viewed. For extra security, you can set a password for the link as well. It’s not just for passwords either, as it can also send files. We used the feature to share sensitive documents with contractors and it worked.

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Business and Enterprise Features

We tested both LastPass and Bitwarden as personal password managers, but upon checking, we found that they also have great features to offer to businesses.

LastPass offers advanced reporting, customizable security policies, and over 1,200 pre-integrated single sign-on applications. We think it’s a good option for larger organizations that need a robust password management solution.

On the other hand, Bitwarden is an affordable option for smaller teams, with prices starting at $4 per month per user. Their option for self-hosting is the standout feature. For extra security, businesses can choose to store all organization data locally on a self-hosted server rather than Bitwarden’s servers.

Pricing Comparison: LastPass vs. Bitwarden

LastPass and Bitwarden both have free plans that can store unlimited passwords. LastPass’s free tier is similar to that of NordPass in that you can only stay logged in on one device at a time. We found that out when we compared LastPass and NordPass. On the other hand, Bitwarden lets you use the free password manager on unlimited devices. For more free options, head over to our list of the best free password managers.

As for premium plans, Bitwarden’s prices are lower across the board and they offer more features. For example, Bitwarden’s individual plan allows for unlimited password sharing with anyone, even people who don’t use Bitwarden. LastPass limits password sharing to other LastPass users. Here’s an overview of both providers’ plans:

Special Features Worth Noting

LastPass and Bitwarden also offer a few special features that could make one a better fit for you than the other. Let’s talk about those features here.

LastPass Unique Offerings

LastPass’s intuitive security dashboard made it easy for us to find at-risk passwords.

For emergency access, LastPass allows you to designate contacts who can request vault access if you become incapacitated. After a set waiting period, they’ll automatically be granted access if you do not deny the request. As you’ll see in our Keeper review, it’s the same system they use.

While it’s not a unique feature, we also found LastPass’ security dashboard to be well designed and easy to understand. It quickly showed us which passwords were at risk by checking its strength and whether they’ve been compromised. From there, we could head over to our account, change our password, and it automatically saved in LastPass. As you’ll see in our cybersecurity tips guide, changing passwords frequently helps keep your accounts safe.

Bitwarden Unique Offerings

Bitwarden’s offline capabilities are better than LastPass. All of its features are still available offline, including a local vault sync that syncs to the cloud when you reconnect to the internet. This provides reliability in areas with poor internet connectivity.

Bitwarden also includes more encrypted cloud storage capacity than LastPass with their premium plans. Every user gets 1 GB of storage and family plans include an additional 1 GB for shared items. Then, you can expand that storage capacity for $4 annually per additional GB.

Performance and Reliability of LastPass vs. Bitwarden

We conducted speed tests on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices to evaluate real-world performance. Bitwarden consistently synced new entries faster, typically within two to three seconds across devices. LastPass occasionally experienced delays of 10 to 15 seconds, though this improved with smaller vaults.

As for browser extensions, LastPass felt more responsive on Chrome and Edge, while Bitwarden performed better on Firefox. Both struggled slightly on Safari, especially when it came to detecting password fields to auto-fill. Even with recent updates, neither made our list of the best password managers for Safari.

For mobile apps, we found Bitwarden more reliable. We experienced fewer crashes and login issues, particularly on Android devices. LastPass’s iOS app, however, integrated better with Apple’s ecosystem, supporting more sophisticated Face ID and Touch ID implementations. That said, neither made our lists of the best Android password managers or the best iPhone password managers.

>> Other Options: The Best Windows Password Managers of 2025

Conclusion

After extensive testing, we found both LastPass and Bitwarden to be effective password managers. LastPass shines with its polished interface and automated features. Its history of data breaches remain a concern, but we’re happy to see it make improvements through third-party audits.

As for Bitwarden, offer solid security measures with offline capabilities. Premium plans are affordable, too, starting at $10 per year. Ultimately, using either password manager will improve your security, but we recommend Bitwarden for its transparency, price, and spotless track record.