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Free Bitwarden alternatives
Every pick starts with a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest way to test a full workflow for zero dollars. Start free and upgrade only when it earns it.
What is the best free alternative to Bitwarden?
Proton VPN is the free Bitwarden alternative we recommend first. Proton VPN is the pick when you want privacy purists, journalists, and proton suite users who want audited open-source apps, plus anyone who needs a free vpn that actually respects them., and it leads on privacy jurisdiction & legal protection. It scores 4.6 in our testing, and at $2.99/mo it keeps the monthly bill reasonable. See the full ranked list below to compare every pick.
3 free alternatives worth your time
Proton VPN
4.6 out of 54.6Open-source Swiss VPN with a genuinely useful free plan, five straight years of no-logs audits, and 20,000-plus RAM-only servers.
Proton VPN is the pick when you want privacy purists, journalists, and proton suite users who want audited open-source apps, plus anyone who needs a free vpn that actually respects them., and it leads on privacy jurisdiction & legal protection.
Why this swap
Best for: Pick Proton VPN if you want an open-source, audited virtual private network with a generous free plan backed by strict Swiss privacy laws.
Watch out: Proton VPN encrypts your internet connection. It does not store login credentials, generate passkeys, or provide password vault autofill.
Verdict: Choose Proton VPN for network traffic encryption and privacy. Choose Bitwarden for credential storage and two-factor authenticator tokens.
- Permanent free plan with unlimited data, no ads, and no credit card required.
- Five straight years of independent no-logs audits by Securitum, latest passed in May 2026.
Dashlane
4.3 out of 54.3Password manager with a built-in VPN.
Dashlane is the pick when you want password manager with a built-in vpn., and it leads on ease of use.
Why this swap
Best for: Pick Dashlane if you want a password manager bundled with a built-in Hotspot Shield VPN, dark web credential leak alerts, and an app-like guided interface.
Watch out: Dashlane's free plan is restricted to 25 passwords on one device, and paid plans start at $4.99 a month, making it significantly more expensive than Bitwarden Premium.
Verdict: Choose Dashlane for an all-in-one password manager and VPN bundle. Choose Bitwarden for transparent open-source code and unmatched value.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Proton Pass
4.3 out of 54.3Encrypted password manager from the Proton suite.
Proton Pass is the pick when you want encrypted password manager from the proton suite., and it leads on ease of use.
Why this swap
Best for: Pick Proton Pass if you already use Proton Mail or Proton Drive and want an encrypted password manager with unlimited hide-my-email email aliases built in.
Watch out: Proton Pass is newer than Bitwarden, with fewer advanced enterprise policy controls and a smaller open-source community testing base.
Verdict: Choose Proton Pass for smooth integration with the Proton privacy ecosystem and email aliases. Choose Bitwarden for mature cross-platform client stability and self-hosting options.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Bitwarden vs the free alternatives
| Tool | Our score | From | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden | 4.7 | $0.83/mo | Yes | Individuals, families, and businesses that want an audited, open-source password manager with a genuinely unlimited free plan, optional self-hosting, and an affordable $10 per year premium tier |
| Proton VPN | 4.6 | $2.99/mo | Yes | Privacy purists, journalists, and Proton suite users who want audited open-source apps, plus anyone who needs a free VPN that actually respects them. |
| Dashlane | 4.3 | $4.99/mo | Yes | Password manager with a built-in VPN. |
| Proton Pass | 4.3 | $1.99/mo | Yes | Encrypted password manager from the Proton suite. |
Who stands behind the picks
Bitwarden
- Company
- Bitwarden Inc.
- Founded
- 2015
13 hours of testing 3 review rounds Verified 2026-07-01
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