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LastPass vs Bitwarden
Which is the better security for Mac in 2026?
We compared LastPass and Bitwarden across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. For most users in 2026, Bitwarden is the better choice because it's open source. Read our full breakdown below.
LastPass
Password manager
Free
VS
Bitwarden
Open source password manager
FreeOpen Source
Visual Comparison
Bitwarden
Bitwarden — Official Website
Our Verdict
For most users in 2026, Bitwarden is the better choice because it's open source. However, LastPass remains a solid option for users who prefer its unique features.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LastPass | Bitwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | Yes |
| Monthly Installs | N/A | N/A |
| GitHub Stars | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Security & Privacy | Security & Privacy |
Quick Install
LastPass
brew install --cask lastpassBitwarden
brew install --cask bitwardenLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is LastPass?
LastPass is one of the longest-running and most widely recognized password managers in the world, with a history stretching back to 2008 when it pioneered the concept of browser-based password management for mainstream users. Acquired by LogMeIn in 2015 and later spun off as an independent company in 2022 (under the ownership of private equity firms Francisco Partners and Elliott Management), LastPass serves millions of users with a cloud-based vault that stores passwords, credit cards, secure notes, addresses, and other sensitive information encrypted with AES-256 and PBKDF2-SHA256 key derivation. LastPass provides applications and browser extensions for macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, with a web vault accessible from any browser. Key features include auto-fill across websites and applications, a password generator, secure sharing between users, emergency access for designating trusted contacts, dark web monitoring that alerts when your credentials appear in known breaches, and a security dashboard that analyzes password strength and identifies reused or weak passwords. However, LastPass's reputation has been significantly damaged by a series of security incidents, most notably the major breach disclosed in December 2022, where threat actors accessed customer vault data including encrypted password vaults and unencrypted metadata such as website URLs. While the encrypted vault data theoretically requires the master password to decrypt, the breach exposed the reality that LastPass stored certain metadata in plaintext and used PBKDF2 with insufficient iterations for older accounts. A subsequent disclosure in 2023 revealed that the breach led to the theft of cryptocurrency from multiple users whose vault data was successfully decrypted. These incidents have fundamentally altered the trust landscape for LastPass, despite the company's subsequent security improvements including mandatory master password complexity requirements, increased PBKDF2 iterations, and infrastructure modernization. In 2026, LastPass has implemented significant security hardening and infrastructure changes, but the reputational damage persists in security-conscious communities. Pricing: Free (limited to one device type — mobile OR desktop), Premium at $3/month, and Families at $4/month for six users.
What is Bitwarden?
Bitwarden is the leading open-source password manager that has become the most frequently recommended alternative to proprietary solutions like LastPass and 1Password, particularly among security professionals, developers, and privacy advocates. Founded by Kyle Spearrin in 2016, Bitwarden was built from the ground up with the conviction that password management software should be fully transparent — all client-side code is open-source and publicly auditable on GitHub, allowing anyone to verify that the software does what it claims and nothing more. This transparency, combined with multiple independent third-party security audits by firms including Cure53 and Insight Risk Consulting, has established Bitwarden as one of the most trusted password managers in the industry. The application uses AES-256-CBC encryption with HMAC authentication, and all encryption and decryption happens locally on your device — Bitwarden's servers only ever see encrypted data. Bitwarden provides native applications for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, a web vault, and a command-line interface for automation. The vault stores passwords, credit cards, identities, secure notes, and SSH keys with support for custom fields and TOTP code generation. Bitwarden Send allows secure sharing of text or files with expiration controls. Self-hosting is a powerful differentiator — users can deploy Bitwarden on their own servers using official Docker images or the community-developed Vaultwarden for a lighter-weight implementation, providing complete control over data residency. In 2026, Bitwarden offers a generous Free tier with unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, Premium at $10/year, Families at $40/year for six users, and Teams/Enterprise plans starting at $4/user/month. The platform has continued to expand with passkey support, improved autofill, advanced enterprise features including SSO and SCIM, and regular security audits. Bitwarden's commitment to security transparency extends to its bug bounty program through HackerOne, regular penetration testing, and SOC 2 Type II certification. The platform supports advanced enterprise features including event logging, directory integration via SCIM, and SSO with SAML 2.0 and OpenID Connect.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Security Track Record and Trust
CriticalLastPassPoor
The 2022 breach exposed encrypted vault backups and unencrypted metadata. Subsequent cryptocurrency thefts were linked to the breach. Delayed disclosure and misleading communications eroded trust. While security has been improved since, the damage to reputation is lasting.
BitwardenExcellent
No significant breaches. Open-source code enables community review. Regular third-party security audits (Cure53, Insight Risk Consulting) with public results. Bug bounty program on HackerOne. Self-hosting option eliminates cloud trust entirely.
Verdict: Bitwarden's clean security record and open-source transparency make it vastly more trustworthy.
Open Source Transparency
CriticalLastPassLimited
LastPass is proprietary closed-source software. Users must trust the company's security claims without ability to independently verify. No public source code, no community code review.
BitwardenExcellent
Fully open-source (GitHub). Anyone can inspect the code, identify vulnerabilities, and verify security claims. This transparency is fundamental to trust in a security product.
Verdict: For a tool that stores your most sensitive data, open-source transparency is a critical advantage.
Free Tier Generosity
HighLastPassPoor
LastPass restricted its free tier in 2021 to one device type (mobile OR desktop, not both). This effectively killed the free tier for most users, forcing either a paid upgrade or a migration to competitors.
BitwardenExcellent
Bitwarden's free tier includes unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, and cloud sync. It is one of the most generous free tiers in the password manager category. Most individuals can use Bitwarden for free indefinitely.
Verdict: Bitwarden's free tier is vastly more generous. LastPass's restricted free tier drove millions of users away.
Cross-Platform Quality
HighLastPassGood
Available on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and web with browser extensions. The apps are functional but have received criticism for interface inconsistencies and occasional auto-fill issues.
BitwardenExcellent
Native apps on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android with browser extensions for every major browser. Also available as a CLI tool. The experience is consistent and reliable across all platforms.
Verdict: Bitwarden provides broader platform coverage (including Linux) with more consistent quality.
Self-Hosting Option
MediumLastPassLimited
No self-hosting option. All data must reside on LastPass's cloud infrastructure.
BitwardenExcellent
Official self-hosting is available, and the community Vaultwarden project provides a lightweight alternative. Self-hosting gives complete data sovereignty while maintaining Bitwarden's excellent UX.
Verdict: Bitwarden's self-hosting option is unique among mainstream password managers.
Enterprise and Admin Features
HighLastPassGood
LastPass has mature enterprise features including SSO, directory integration (AD, LDAP, Azure AD), admin console, compliance reporting, and centralized policy management. These features have been refined over many years.
BitwardenGood
Bitwarden's enterprise features have matured rapidly with SCIM provisioning, SSO integration, admin console, and organization policies. While slightly younger than LastPass's enterprise offerings, they cover most enterprise needs.
Verdict: LastPass has a slight edge in enterprise maturity, but Bitwarden is closing the gap quickly.
Password Sharing
MediumLastPassGood
LastPass supports secure password sharing between users, with the ability to share individual items or folders. The Families plan allows sharing between six users with dedicated sharing centers and emergency access.
BitwardenGood
Bitwarden supports sharing through Organizations with configurable collections. The Families plan ($40/year for 6 users) provides shared vaults with granular access control. Bitwarden Send allows one-time secure sharing of text or files with expiration.
Verdict: Both offer solid sharing capabilities. Bitwarden Send provides a unique one-time sharing feature.
Who Should Choose Which?
1The Budget-Conscious Individual
Bitwarden
Bitwarden's free tier is the most generous in the password manager market, offering unlimited passwords across unlimited devices with no artificial restrictions. For users who need core password management without paying anything, Bitwarden delivers a fully functional experience. Even the Premium tier at $10 per year is a fraction of what competitors charge, making it the clear choice for anyone who wants professional-grade password security without a significant financial commitment.
2The Privacy and Security Purist
Bitwarden
Bitwarden's fully open-source codebase means every line of code is publicly auditable. Independent security researchers and the community continuously review the code for vulnerabilities. Combined with regular third-party security audits, Bitwarden's transparency provides a level of trust that proprietary password managers cannot match. For users who believe security tools should be verifiable rather than trusted on faith, Bitwarden's open-source nature is a fundamental advantage, especially given LastPass's history of security incidents.
3The Non-Technical User Who Wants Simplicity
LastPass
LastPass has invested heavily in user experience, providing an intuitive interface that guides new users through setup, password import, and security improvements. The browser extension is well-designed with clear autofill prompts and a straightforward vault interface. For users who are not technically inclined and want a password manager that works with minimal configuration, LastPass's polished onboarding experience and familiar interface make the initial adoption less intimidating than Bitwarden's more utilitarian design.
4The Self-Hosting Enthusiast
Bitwarden
Bitwarden is the only major password manager that offers a fully self-hostable server via Vaultwarden, a community-maintained Rust implementation of the Bitwarden server API. This means you can run your entire password infrastructure on your own hardware or VPS, ensuring that your encrypted vault data never touches third-party servers. For developers, sysadmins, and privacy advocates who want complete data sovereignty, this self-hosting capability is Bitwarden's killer feature that no competitor can match.
5The Small Business Owner
Bitwarden
Bitwarden's Teams plan at $4 per user per month offers shared vaults, user groups, directory integration, and event logs at a price point that is significantly lower than LastPass Teams. For small businesses with 5-20 employees, the annual cost difference can be substantial. Bitwarden also supports emergency access, allowing designated team members to request vault access if someone is unavailable, which is important for business continuity.
6The Enterprise Security Team
Bitwarden
Bitwarden Enterprise includes SSO integration, SCIM provisioning, custom roles, granular access policies, and detailed audit logging. The open-source transparency gives security teams confidence in the underlying cryptographic implementation. LastPass Enterprise offers similar features, but the multiple security breaches in 2022-2023 have eroded trust among enterprise security professionals. Many organizations have migrated from LastPass to Bitwarden specifically because of these security incidents.
7The Cross-Platform Power User
Bitwarden
Bitwarden offers native applications for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and a web vault accessible from any browser. It also provides a full-featured CLI tool for scripting and automation. For users who regularly switch between different operating systems and want a consistent experience everywhere, Bitwarden's broad platform support with feature parity across all clients makes it the most versatile choice.
Migration Guide
Lastpass → Bitwarden
In LastPass, go to Advanced Options > Export > LastPass CSV File. In Bitwarden, go to Tools > Import Data > select 'LastPass (csv)'. The import handles passwords, secure notes, and folders. After import, verify all entries, then delete the exported CSV file and deactivate your LastPass account.
Bitwarden → Lastpass
In Bitwarden, export as CSV. In LastPass, import via Advanced Options > Import. While technically possible, this migration is rarely recommended given the security concerns with LastPass.
Pro Tips
After migrating from LastPass, change passwords for your most critical accounts (banking, email, cloud services) as a precaution, since the 2022 breach exposed encrypted vault data.
Final Verdict
Overall Winner
Bitwarden
9.5/10
Winner
5.5/10
Runner-up
Bitwarden wins decisively on every metric that matters: security trust, pricing, open-source transparency, free tier generosity, and cross-platform quality. LastPass's 2022 breach and subsequent trust erosion make it difficult to recommend for new users. For existing LastPass users, migration to Bitwarden is strongly recommended.
Bottom Line: Choose Bitwarden. It's more secure, more transparent, cheaper, and more generous. There is no compelling reason to choose LastPass over Bitwarden in 2026.
Video Tutorials
Bitwarden Tutorial | The Full Beginners Guide
Jason Rebholz • 285.1K views
Bitwarden tutorial 2026 | Learn how to use this password manager in minutes!
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How to Use Bitwarden to Manage Your Passwords
David V. Kimball's Bonus Channel • 2.7K views
How To Set Up Bitwarden On Mac 2025 (Security Guide)
Wisrly Tutor • 111 views
Frequently Asked Questions
LastPass has implemented security improvements, but the fundamental trust has been damaged. Encrypted vault data was stolen, meaning attackers could attempt offline brute-force attacks on weak master passwords. Users with strong master passwords are likely safe, but the precedent of poor security practices and delayed disclosure is concerning.
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Related Technologies & Concepts
2022 LastPass BreachCure53VaultwardenAES-256PBKDF2GoTo (LogMeIn)Zero-Knowledge ArchitecturePasskeys
2022 LastPass Breach (Security incident that exposed encrypted vault backups and unencrypted metadata.), Cure53 (Security firm that has audited Bitwarden.), Vaultwarden (Community self-hosted Bitwarden server.), AES-256 (Encryption used by both products.), PBKDF2 (Key derivation function used by both.), GoTo (LogMeIn) (Parent company of LastPass.), Zero-Knowledge Architecture (Encryption model where the server cannot access user data.), Passkeys (FIDO2 passwordless authentication supported by Bitwarden.)
Related Topics
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- LastPass experienced a major security breach in 2022 exposing encrypted vault backups.[cite-lastpass-breach]
- Bitwarden Premium costs $10/year.[cite-bitwarden-pricing]
- Bitwarden has been audited by Cure53.[cite-bitwarden-audit]
- 1LastPass - Password Manager
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 2LastPass Security Incident
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 3Bitwarden - Open Source Password Manager
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 4Bitwarden Pricing
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 5Bitwarden Security Audit by Cure53
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
Research queries: LastPass vs Bitwarden 2026 security comparison; LastPass breach 2022 impact; Bitwarden security audits