The Open Source Alternative to 1Password & LastPass

🩺 Vitals

📦 Version: v2026.1.0 (Released 2026-01-22)
🚀 Velocity: Active (Last commit 2026-01-30)
🌟 Community: 18.0k Stars · 1.5k Forks
🐞 Backlog: 179 Open Issues

🏗️ Profile

Official: bitwarden.com
Source: github.com/bitwarden/server
License: AGPL-3.0
Deployment: Docker
Data Model: SQL (MSSQL / Postgres in unified container)
Jurisdiction: USA 🇺🇸
Compliance: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR
Complexity: Moderate (3/5) - Standard Docker Stack
Maintenance: Moderate (3/5) - Regular Security Updates
Enterprise Ready: Very High (5/5) - SSO, Directory Sync, Policies

1. The Executive Summary

What is it? Bitwarden is the leading open-source password management platform for businesses and individuals. It secures passwords, passkeys, and sensitive data in an end-to-end encrypted vault. Unlike proprietary solutions, its codebase is fully auditable, ensuring no "backdoors" exist.

The Strategic Verdict:

🔴 For "Set and Forget": Caution. Self-hosting the official server requires maintenance. Consider the SaaS plan if you lack Ops resources.
🟢 For Digital Sovereignty: Strong Buy. Full control over your cryptographic keys and data location.

2. The "Hidden" Costs (TCO Analysis)

Cost Component	Proprietary (1Password)	Bitwarden (Self-Hosted)
License Fee	~$8/user/mo	$0 (AGPLv3)
Infrastructure	$0	~$20/mo (VPS)
Compliance	Vendor Cloud	100% Owned

3. The "Day 2" Reality Check

🚀 Deployment & Operations

Installation: The official self-hosted instance is deployed via a unifiedDocker container setup (Identity, Api, Admin).
Vaultwarden: Note that many home-lab users run "Vaultwarden" (a lightweight Rust rewrite), but for Enterprise use, the Official Server is recommended for support and feature parity.

🛡️ Security & Governance

Compliance: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR
Identity: Enterprise plans support SAML 2.0 and OIDC for integration with Okta, Azure AD, etc.

Bitwarden