An introductory guide to Bitwarden

Most people manage dozens of online accounts, such as work and personal emails, banking, social media, shopping, and streaming services. An easy shortcut is to reuse the same password across accounts or use something memorable. But this approach comes with real risks. A data breach at one website means that every account using the same password is also compromised.

According to a World Password Day Survey, 25% of respondents reuse passwords across 11-20+ accounts, and 54% rely on memory. More than a third (36%) admitted to using personal information in their credentials that is publicly accessible on social media (60%) platforms and online forums (30%).

"The more a password is reused, the more opportunities there are for data and money to be stolen. If a reused password gets leaked as part of a data breach, hackers then have the key to other online accounts." — Georgetown University's Information Security Office

A password manager like Bitwarden solves these problems by securely managing all passwords in one place and making it easy for users to generate strong, unique passwords for every account.

A password manager is a software tool that securely stores and manages users’ passwords for them. Password managers, such as Bitwarden, use secure encryption processes to ensure that strong passwords are generated and secured inside a vault that only the user can access. Users need only remember one master password to access all their logins, eliminating the burden of managing dozens of complex credentials across devices and accounts.

Bitwarden has been recognized by WIRED Magazine as the password manager best for most people:

"Bitwarden is secure, open source, and free with no limits. The applications are polished and user-friendly, making the service the best choice for most users." — WIRED

• Generate and store unique, strong passwords for each online account without worrying about reused or weak credentials

• Receive alerts if a password has been compromised in a data breach and change it before it's exploited

• Share passwords securely with family members or colleagues

• Access passwords from anywhere on any device with automatic syncing across all platforms

Bitwarden offers flexibility in how users access their passwords:

Desktop applications — Applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux allow users to install Bitwarden directly on their computers.

Browser extensions — Bitwarden integrates with web browsers, including Google Chrome, Edge, Safari, and more, making password access seamless while browsing.

Mobile apps — Users can download Bitwarden from the App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android), or F-Droid to access their vault on mobile devices.

Visit the download page to get started.

Most password managers offer cross-platform support, allowing users to access their passwords from multiple devices. Whether using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, users can sync passwords across all their devices. This means the same password manager works on all devices, and passwords are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Many password managers also provide browser extensions and mobile apps, making it easy to manage passwords on the go. 

Individual users can choose from three account options:

• Basic free account — Unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, and all core features at no cost. Includes an unlimited vault, free sharing with another user, Bitwarden Send, username and password generator, email alias integration, and advanced two-factor authentication.

• Premium account — $1.65 per month (billed annually at $19.80). Includes all core features plus the integrated authenticator, vault health alerts, password coaching, phishing blocker, file attachments, emergency access, and security reports.

• Families account — $3.99 per month (billed annually at $47.88). Includes six premium accounts, unlimited sharing, unlimited collections, and organizational storage for the whole family.

Organizations need password management solutions that scale with their teams. All businesses, regardless of size, should implement a company-wide password manager.

• Teams — $4 per user per month, billed annually. Includes premium features and the ability to share sensitive data across departments and throughout the organization.

• Enterprise — $6 per month per user, billed annually. Includes premium features, a complimentary Families plan for all users, and advanced options like passwordless single sign-on (SSO) and account recovery.

• Custom solutions — Companies with hundreds of thousands of employees should contact Bitwarden Sales for a quote tailored to organizational scale.

Around 60% of organizations experience a cyberattack in a given year, and 49% struggle with employees using unauthorized devices or software. A company-wide password manager helps address both challenges.

Bitwarden Password Manager encrypts all user data before it leaves the device, meaning only the user can access their passwords. Even the Bitwarden team cannot unlock the vault. This zero-knowledge encryption approach ensures passwords remain secure at all times.

Bitwarden is also open source, so anyone can review and audit the codebase on GitHub. The platform undergoes regular third-party security assessments and penetration testing to maintain the highest standards.

Setting up Bitwarden Password Manager takes just three minutes and only requires an email address and a main password.

The main master password is the key to the vault, so it needs to be strong, unique, and something never used before. A passphrase — "12 gallons of horseshoe berries" — combines randomness with memorability, making it stronger than a traditional password while remaining easy to type.

Users should store the master password in a safe location. There is no way to reset it if forgotten. Users can optionally add a password hint — a reminder of the password without revealing it — or note where the password has been stored. This safety feature helps with account recovery if the password is misplaced.

Go to bitwarden.com/pricing and choose the plan that fits your needs. Once you select the account type, enter an email address, name, and main password. Re-type the password to confirm it.

Add an optional main password hint or note where the password has been stored. Agree to the terms and submit.

If the browser asks to save the password, click "never." Then log in again using the email and password.

Once logged in, users will be prompted to verify their email address. Check for the email that will be sent to the account to verify. Then return to the login page and log in to begin using the vault.

For a much more extensive guide about using Bitwarden, view the Bitwarden Password Manager Beginner's Guide video. It covers two-factor authentication (2FA), the Bitwarden browser extension, automated identity storage, and more. There are many resources in the Learning Center to help users learn how to use the Bitwarden Password Manager.

Individuals can use a free Bitwarden account and upgrade to Premium whenever ready.

Teams and businesses can start a free 7-day Teams trial or 7-day Enterprise trial to explore Bitwarden for the organization.

Ready to explore Bitwarden? Visit the Learning Center to learn more or check out the free, live weekly demo to speak directly with the Bitwarden team.