Proton Pass vs Bitwarden
Get Proton Pass for email aliases, dark web monitoring and Swiss privacy. Get Bitwarden for the cheapest premium plan ($19.80 a year) and self-hosting.
Disclosure: PickedTech is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or how we rank them. How we make money.
How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Choose Proton Pass if you want email aliases, you want dark web monitoring or you already use Proton Mail or Proton VPN. Choose Bitwarden if you want the cheapest premium plan, you want to host your own vault or you prefer more customization. Premium (yearly): $2.99/mo ($35.88/yr) vs $1.65/mo ($19.80/yr).
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Check Proton Pass pricing (opens in a new tab)Check Bitwarden pricing (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Proton Pass | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Unlimited logins and devices | Unlimited passwords and devices |
| Premium (yearly) | $2.99/mo ($35.88/yr) | $1.65/mo ($19.80/yr) |
| Family (6 users, yearly) | $4.99/mo ($59.88/yr) | $3.99/mo ($47.88/yr) |
| Email aliases | 10 free; unlimited on Plus | No |
| Dark web monitoring | Yes | No (breach reports) |
This comparison uses Security.org’s and Cybernews’s head-to-heads, PCMag’s[5][6] reviews and both companies’ pricing pages, with prices checked October 2026.
Proton Pass vs Bitwarden: side-by-side
| Proton Pass | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Unlimited logins and devices | Unlimited passwords and devices |
| Premium (yearly) | $2.99/mo ($35.88/yr) | $1.65/mo ($19.80/yr) |
| Family (6 users, yearly) | $4.99/mo ($59.88/yr) | $3.99/mo ($47.88/yr) |
| Email aliases | 10 free; unlimited on Plus | No |
| Dark web monitoring | Yes | No (breach reports) |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | United States |
How much do they cost?
Proton Pass plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | |
| Pass Plus | $2.99/mo yearly | $4.99 month to month |
| Pass Family | $4.99/mo yearly | $6.99 month to month |
| Proton Unlimited | $9.99/mo yearly | Includes Mail, VPN, Drive |
Bitwarden plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | |
| Premium | $1.65/mo | Billed $19.80/yr |
| Families | $3.99/mo | Billed $47.88/yr; 6 users |
What are the pros and cons?
Proton Pass: pros
- Hide-my-email aliases
- Dark web monitoring
- Swiss privacy, audited by Cure53 (Security.org)
Proton Pass: cons
- Costs more
- No self-hosting
Bitwarden: pros
- Cheapest premium plan
- Self-hosting
- Open source, audited
Bitwarden: cons
- No email aliases
- Missed password fields on some sites in Security.org’s tests
Which should you choose: Proton Pass or Bitwarden?
Both are secure and open source. Proton Pass adds more privacy tools; Bitwarden is cheaper and more flexible.
Choose Proton Pass if…
- You want email aliases
- You want dark web monitoring
- You already use Proton Mail or Proton VPN
Choose Bitwarden if…
- You want the cheapest premium plan
- You want to host your own vault
- You prefer more customization
Free plans
Privacy
Security.org notes Proton is based in Switzerland, while Bitwarden is in the US, where the government could request server data. Both use zero-knowledge encryption, so vault contents stay encrypted.
More password managers
See best password managers, Bitwarden vs 1Password and NordPass vs 1Password. Using Proton VPN too? See our Proton VPN review.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton Pass better than Bitwarden?
Which is cheaper?
Are both free plans unlimited?
Are they open source?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Security.org: Proton Pass vs Bitwarden (security.org)
- Cybernews: Proton Pass vs Bitwarden (cybernews.com)
- Proton: Pass pricing (proton.me)
- Bitwarden: Pricing (bitwarden.com)
- PCMag: Proton Pass review (uk.pcmag.com)
- PCMag: Bitwarden review (pcmag.com)
Related
Best Password Managers of 2026
1Password is the best password manager for most people. Bitwarden is the best free and cheapest paid option, and Proton Pass has the best free plan with email aliases.
comparisonBitwarden vs 1Password
1Password is Wirecutter’s top password manager and the more polished app. Bitwarden is Wirecutter’s budget pick: its free plan covers unlimited devices, and Premium is $19.80 a year, less than half of 1Password’s price.
comparisonNordPass vs 1Password
1Password is Wirecutter’s top password manager and the easier one to set up across devices. NordPass is PCMag’s Editors’ Choice for premium features and is about $12 a year cheaper.
reviewProton VPN Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?
Swiss privacy branding, a real free tier and transparent intro pricing — with the usual VPN caveat to check renewal math.