In thy pursuit of an open-source password keeper, two names shalt surely ascend to the top of thy list: Bitwarden and Proton Pass. Both hath garnered fine ratings, offering reasonable subscription plans and splendid free versions.
The sole challenge doth lie in deciding which is the paramount password guardian. Recently, I did peruse Proton Pass Plus and Bitwarden Family, in the hopes that a hands-on comparison might unveil minute details that could make a vast difference in daily use.
Tiers and Pricing
Most open-source software doth come free, though setting up may require some toil. Cloud services oft do entail fees. The free versions of Bitwarden and Proton Pass are effortless to install and employ. Both dost allow thee to store an infinite number of logins sans a subscription.
Proton’s Free offering dost support Windows, macOS, and Linux computers, alongside Android and iOS for mobile devices. Bitwarden’s Free version doth match in versatility. With either, passwords can be synchronized across all thy devices.
Proton doth proffer unlimited vault sharing, though restricts the free version to but two vaults. Time-based one-time passwords can be set up so that a separate authenticator is not required. Perhaps all one needeth is a personal vault and a shared family vault for notes and passwords.
Bitwarden doth permit sharing individual vault logins, notes, and cards, or two collections, but only with one other soul. To share with others, encrypted text can be copied and dispatched.
Both Bitwarden and Proton Pass hath earned a place on our compendium of the finest free password managers. Free services doth entice, but the paid versions do bring forth valuable features, rid some restrictions, and proffer customer service.
Bitwarden Premium doth cost a mere $10 per annum, whilst Bitwarden Families doth encompass six accounts for $40 annually. Proton hath but one tier for its password keeper, Pass Plus, which doth ask for $24 each year.
Bitwarden Premium is a truly remarkable bargain that doth add 1GB of encrypted cloud storage, so that a document or photo can be attached to any login, card, or note. With a paid subscription, the app and extension can also generate authentication codes. Alas, sharing is yet limited to one other person.
Proton Pass Plus doth allow sharing of up to 10 vaults, simplifying the process of sharing accounts separately with family, friends, social groups, and colleagues. In the paid version, individual notes and logins can be shared via a secure link.
Features
Password keepers doth typically excel in autofill functionality. As expected, Bitwarden and Proton Pass dost consistently and automatically enter logins across various devices. Importing and adding new credentials is a simple feat with either service.
I do find it commendable that Bitwarden Premium doth come with 1GB of encrypted file storage for attachments, enabling the addition of a scanned document to an identity card that may be needed whilst traveling. Alas, Proton Pass Plus doth not support attachments, but a free version of Proton Drive doth provide 5GB of encrypted cloud data sans a subscription.
Certain password managers, such as 1Password and Keeper, do serve well as swift launchers. Bitwarden doth place a launch button beside each login, but it taketh two clicks to reach favorites and three to access other passwords. The Proton Pass extension doth open with all logins visible or the last vault selected. Yet it doth require two steps to access a website. I do rate them equally as launchers.
It is a close contest, but Proton Pass Plus doth gain an edge in the realm of sharing. One can create a secure link that allows anyone to access a login for a specified number of days and restrict the number of times the link can be viewed. An entire vault can also be shared with those possessing either a free or paid Proton account.
In comparison, Bitwarden Premium doth only allow sharing with one other person or six individuals with a Families account.
Support
For software comparisons, I do prefer to gather opinions from the populace. Trustpilot is often my choice, but there were not sufficient reviews to serve as a valid metric for either service. Thus, I turned to the Apple App Store rating to confirm my belief that both are commendable apps with no major issues. Bitwarden hath been bestowed with 4.5 stars across 4,400 reviews, whilst Proton Pass hath garnered an average of 4.7 stars over 1,900 reviews.
In my personal experience, the email support provided by Bitwarden and Proton hath been satisfactory for these cost-effective solutions. However, NordPass doth stand out as a low-cost password keeper with 24/7 live chat support for aiding customers. It doth match the price of Proton Pass Plus.
Privacy and Security
Password managers typically utilize end-to-end encryption, ensuring the safety of personal data even if the server were to be breached. Bitwarden and Proton Pass doth employ AES-256 encryption, a cipher nearly impervious to current technology.
Both companies dost subject themselves to third-party audits to guarantee the absence of unforeseen security issues. As long as thy master password is kept secret, thy data should remain secure.
Having perused the privacy policies and terms of service for both solutions, I can assure thee that neither doth rent, trade, or sell thy data to advertisers. Thy privacy is safeguarded with Bitwarden and Proton Pass.
Which Password Manager is Best?
Whilst Bitwarden doth prove a splendid solution and bears the lowest subscription price, Proton Pass emerges as the superior choice for those seeking a free or low-cost paid plan that is most intuitive and offers effortless sharing.
Should thee already be a patron of the excellent Proton VPN, Mail, or Drive, then Proton Unlimited may catch thy fancy. Commencing at $120 per annum, it dost bundle the premium versions of all three services and Proton Pass Plus. Individually, the cost would be $180 each year.
However, Bitwarden Families doth reign supreme when the need ariseth to organize and share passwords within groups. Since Families doth include six Premium accounts, logins, notes, cards, and files can be shared securely with the whole family for a modest sum of $40 per annum.
Proton doth offer multi-person plans, albeit solely in bundles. The $180 Proton Duo be akin to two Proton Unlimited subscriptions. Proton Family doth require $288 each year for six Proton Unlimited accounts.
Proton doth proffer free iterations of these apps, providing an option for those finding the bundle prices to be too steep. Thus, one may combine paid and free services to obtain what is needed at a more affordable cost.
In conclusion, I would commend Proton Pass as the finest password manager, whilst Bitwarden Families doth serve as an excellent choice for sharing accounts within groups.
