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Bitwarden Premium review

Priced at $16.00.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

72%

What is the CHOICE Expert Rating

CHOICE Expert rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

Good points

• Includes data breach report.
• Syncs data across platforms automatically.
• Very easy to capture logins in Chrome.

Bad points

• No guidance on how to enable the password manager is given during installation on Android or iOS.
• Foreign exchange fee incurred.
Recommended View more details.

We recommend password managers that have a CHOICE Expert Rating of 75% or higher.

No
CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

The CHOICE Expert Rating, our overall score, is made up of the ease of use score (50%), password management score (40%) and sync score (10%). It represents how the program works across the board on multiple platforms – Windows/Web, Android, and iOS.

72%
Ease of use score View more details.

We look at how easy the password manager is to use by assessing: installation (20%), capture (30%), using passwords (30%), and categorisation and maintenance (20%).

64%
Password management score View more details.

How the software rates for password management overall. The desktop platform is used to judge password generators and changing of passwords, as many apps tell you to change passwords via a web browser. Password changes initiated on Android and iOS apps often take you to or tell you to use the main website, therefore we only judge password changes made through Chrome.

77%
Sync score View more details.

How well the software syncs passwords across devices. The maximum score for sync is 90%, which is given if the sync is automatic, and the score reduces depending on how many steps are required to enable sync, and how easy those steps are to follow.

90%
Tester comments
Bitwarden wasn't as easy to set up as most of the other services on test; there was no initial guidance on data imports in Windows or Chrome, and there were no prompts on how to set it up as the main handler of logins on Android and iOS. Once up and running, it was fine at capturing and using logins across Chrome, Android, and iOS.
Price View more details.

Purchase price in Australian dollars as of July 2023 for a 12-month subscription across multiple devices (premium version), including any bank fees where applicable. US prices have been converted to Australian dollars where applicable. Some programs offer cheaper-per-unit 'family pricing' for multiple users. Some programs offer a free version that may be limited in features or limited to a single device.

$16.00
Free version available View more details.

Whether the software offers a free version. Note that a free version may have reduced features.

Yes
Free option notes View more details.

We list what's missing from the free version as compared to the paid version.

No emergency access, limited vault health reports, no encrypted file attachments, no priority support, no Bitwarden Authenticator
Encryption claim View more details.

What encryption level does the program claim to run?

AES-256
Secure sharing of passwords View more details.

Whether the software allows the secure sharing of passwords.

No
Master password reset View more details.

The process, if any, to reset the master password if you forget it.

Data lost if master password is forgotten, unless trusted emergency contact was set up
Types of information stored View more details.

What type of information the program will store for you.

Logins, notes, credit cards, identity
Data export View more details.

What types of export formats will it let you use?

CSV, JSON and password protected JSON for all data
Windows
Yes
macOS
Yes
Linux
Yes
Android
Yes
iOS
Yes
Chrome plugin
Yes
Firefox plugin
Yes
Edge plugin
Yes
Safari plugin
Yes
Opera plugin
Yes
Website
bitwarden.com
Family plan available View more details.

Whether the software is available in a multi-user family plan and how many users are included.

Yes (up to 6 users)
Cloud sync View more details.

Whether the software will synchronise password information to the cloud to share between logged-in devices.

Yes
Cloud sync notes View more details.

The type of mechanism or service used for cloud synchronisation.

Passwords stored online
Local/Wi-Fi sync View more details.

Whether the password manager can sync your vault between devices over a local Wi-Fi network.

No
Portable USB version View more details.

Whether you can run the password manager on a removable USB for added security.

No
Sync across platforms View more details.

Whether the software will synchronise password information across different types of computing devices.

Yes
Multiple vaults View more details.

Whether the software allows the use of multiple secure password vaults.

No
In-app browser View more details.

Does the program/app include its own web browser that's activated from within the software?

No
Security warnings View more details.

Whether the software provides any special warnings related to the security of your passwords.

Breached password check
Web access with no plugins View more details.

Whether the software provides access to your vault via the web without requiring special browser plugins.

Yes
Import from browsers View more details.

Whether the software can import existing passwords from web browsers.

Yes (once exported)
Password generator View more details.

Whether the software can generate secure passwords for you.

Yes
Two-factor authentication View more details.

This security feature adds a second step to the login process, such as an additional one-time password that is sent to your smartphone via text message. Also known as two-step authentication.

Yes (via authenticator app, YubiKey, Duo, WebAuth, email)
Actionable password strength report View more details.

Whether the software provides a report on password strength facilitating security improvement.

Yes (via Security Report)
Secure notes View more details.

Whether the software allows for the secure storage of various kinds of general information.

Yes
Digital legacy View more details.

Whether the software provides for the sharing of information with trusted users in the event of death or disablement.

Via Emergency Access; must add an emergency contact email address
Member reviews

Average rating