Many people use weak passwords and reuse them on their accounts on multiple websites. This is completely not recommended. For safety and security reasons, you are supposed to use unique, strong passwords on all websites. And how do you ensure you are using a strong password? The answer is through a password manager.
A password manager works by storing your login information for the websites you are using. So, when the time comes you need to visit a particular website or check a specific account, you can log into them automatically.
This is exactly what Bitwarden does. But is that all it can offer as a password manager? What other features does it have and what are the pros and cons of using it? We’ll attempt to answer all these questions in this unbiased Bitwarden review.
About Bitwarden
Bitwarden is a free-to-use password manager that doesn’t have any limits on its password storage and number of devices used. However, for those who want to try its additional features, it comes with a Premium package that only costs $10 per year. Well, that’s actually a fair price for your security and protection, compared to LastPass’s rate, which reaches up to $36 per year.
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Regardless of what device you use, this password manager has got you covered. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, and macOS platforms. It also has a browser extension that supports popular browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Firefox, as well as the less common ones like Brave, TOR, and Vivaldi.
How to Use Bitwarden
Like other password managers, you can start using Bitwarden by setting up an account. Provide a valid email address, create a strong master password (you’ll use this to log in to your Bitwarden account), and then you’re all set.
What’s great about Bitwarden is that it gives you an idea whether or not the master password you’ve just generated is weak, acceptable, or strong. Plus, it doesn’t just look into the minimum length and the use of special characters. It also checks the use of simple patterns like !1234Abcd!1234Abcd. Even if the given password is long enough, Bitwarden will still rate it as weak.
Now, once you have an account, the next thing you should do is to download the app that is compatible with your device. After that, install it. Log in to your newly created account using the information you entered earlier. If it is a desktop computer, you may need to install the browser extension. For mobile devices, its creators suggest that you enable fingerprint authentication first.
Another great thing about Bitwarden is that when you’re switching from one password manager, you simply have to visit the online portal. And then, click Help and navigate to the Go To Web Vault section. Here, you can import all your passwords from your previous password managers be it Dashlane, LastPass, Keeper, or whatsoever. You can even import the passwords you stored in your browsers.
Bitwarden Features
You may ask, what features make Bitwarden stand out from the rest? Below are some of the features that free subscribers can try:
- End-to-end password encryption
- Completely open source
- Cross-platform apps
- Easy to use and install browser add-ons
- Free web browser access, anytime, anywhere
- Command-line tools that allow users to write and execute scripts on the vault
- Can be self-hosted
- Two-factor authentication
- Supports different operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android
Here are the added features that Bitwarden Premium users can enjoy:
- Additional 1GB encrypted file storage
- More 2FA options
- Customer support prioritization
Why Choose Bitwarden?
Among other password managers that exist in the market, why should you choose Bitwarden? We give you three reasons below.
Reason #1: Secure
This password manager seals and protects a user’s private information by using an end-to-end encryption method.
Reason #2: Open Source
Bitwarden is open source. This means its security levels and features can be improved by its global community of users.
Reason #3: Global Access
This tool is globally distributed and can support multi-platform sensitive data in about 40 different languages.
Bitwarden Pros and Cons
Before you even decide to sign up for a Bitwarden account, it is best that you get yourself familiar with its pros and cons. As with other password managers, Bitwarden has positive and negative aspects that may affect your decision. But don’t worry because we have listed them all below.
PROS:
- It supports a number of popular operating systems and web browsers.
- It allows you to import passwords from other password managers.
- It guarantees secure sharing.
- It uses two-factor authentication.
- It helps you generate strong passwords and fill in forms quickly.
- It’s free to use.
CONS:
- Its extension for Microsoft Edge may not always work properly.
- It has limited available support for iOS devices.
Our Verdict
If you are looking around for a secure yet free password manager, then you can give Bitwarden a try. It has features that go beyond the basics of a basic password management tool. And for an inexpensive premium package, it surely has some of the best, advanced features.
So, would you give it a try? If you’d ask us, our answer is why not? For a free password manager, these features are already more than you can ever ask for. And security-wise, Bitwarden doesn’t disappoint.
What other free password managers do you recommend? What features do you love about Bitwarden? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.