If you are like most people, you can be overwhelmed by the number of passwords created, used and remembered in your daily life. Password managers like Bitwarden and LastPass make those tasks easier.
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What is Bitwarden?
Bitwarden is an open source password manager for personal, business and team use that stores login credentials in a secure vault. People who use it can also store other types of sensitive information and send it to others securely.
What is LastPass?
LastPass is a password manager that aims to remove the obstacles that frustrate people when they try to log into services, or encourage them to ignore password usage best practices. LastPass tools can also autofill login credentials, giving people faster access.
TO SEE: Password Breach: Why Pop Culture and Passwords Don’t Mix (Free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Bitwarden vs. LastPass: Feature Comparison
| Functions | Bitwarden | LastPass |
|---|---|---|
| open source | Yes | no |
| Self-hosted deployment option | Yes | no |
| Cross-platform password management | Yes | Yes |
| Account recovery option for lost master passwords | no | Yes |
| Automatic dark web monitoring | no | Yes |
Head-to-head comparison: Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Password storage and usage
Bitwarden helps people generate, store and secure their passwords from anywhere or on any device. If a user has a business account, they can specify which teams or people have certain passwords, allowing productivity to happen without unnecessary hurdles. Bitwarden also supports several two-step login methods. These make it more difficult for hackers to obtain and use passwords. The company uses end-to-end encryption and even its employees cannot see the stored content.
Security experts note that: people are often the weakest links in a security strategy. LastPass has a built-in password generator to make it easier for people to set passwords that hackers can’t crack. It also offers single sign-on and multi-factor authentication options. The company also recently announced a passwordless login feature, showing that it is moving towards the password-free future that many people are envisioning. Users also have the option to share their passwords with a trusted person.
Vault Management
In addition to storing passwords, people can place identity and payment information and free text notes in the Bitwarden vault. There is also a search field and filter to make it easier to find a particular piece of stored information faster. The Vault Health and Data Breach reports let people see if their vaults or content contain vulnerabilities that could help cybercriminals do damage. The star icon next to vault entries allows you to add favorite information to make it more accessible later.
The LastPass vault works similarly to Bitwarden’s, in that it can store other sensitive content in addition to passwords, and allow people to favorite the items they want to access later more quickly. LastPass Vault users can also launch websites directly from the interface. Alternatively, they can use the LastPass browser extension to automatically capture new passwords they create and place them in the vault. The LastPass Vault has unlimited capacity. However, LastPass points out that people should expect performance drops when they maintain more than 2,000 items there.
User friendliness
People consistently report that Bitwarden is easy to use and install, both on your phone and on a computer. When creating new passwords, there is the option to add short notes about them or move them to a subfolder, both of which can help in better organization. The Bitwarden Send feature provides a secure and easy method of giving information to someone else. It works even if the recipient is not using Bitwarden as well.
LastPass makes it easy for people who start using it after trying competing products first. It can import details from dozens of other password managers. People who subscribe to a LastPass family plan can put their passwords in shareable folders so they can be accessed by those who need them, while maintaining protection.
Choosing Bitwarden vs. LastPass
Most people who use these two products find them easy to learn and use regularly, even without extensive technical knowledge. If you run into a problem, extensive support sections are available on the companies’ websites and there is the option to get personalized help when needed.
TO SEE: Mobile Device Security Policy (Tech Republic Premium)
If pricing 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’re open to a premium plan, Bitwarden’s personal options range from $10-40 per month on annual billing. The business plans are billed at a per-user rate ranging from $3-6 depending on your billing cycle.
Premium versions of LastPass for personal use cost $3 or $4 per month on an annual billing cycle, depending on whether you get it just for yourself or opt for a family plan. For businesses, the price is $4 or $6 per month per user.
Compromised and weak passwords are two major security vulnerabilities in today’s Internet-centric world. These products can help you set strong passwords and keep them secure, all without breaking your brain every time you have to log in to a service. Since they have similar characteristics, consider taking the time to learn some of the minor differences before committing to any of them. You can also use the free versions of both long enough to see which one you prefer.
