Apple Passwords vs Bitwarden
We give Apple Passwords a 3.6 GPA and Bitwarden a 4.0, out of 4.0. Bitwarden grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apple Passwords
Apple's free password and passkey app for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Bitwarden
Open-source password manager with a free plan and self-hosting
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAApple PasswordsExcellent | 4.0GPABitwardenExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AIt's free on the App Store with no in-app purchases shown. Paid password managers typically start at about $2.99 a month, and this one never asks. | APremium is $1.65 a month, billed as $19.80 a year. That's a little over half the $2.99 or so that password managers typically start at. Families covers up to 6 people for $3.99 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full app costs nothing: AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes, leak alerts and shared groups. Sync between your devices runs on iCloud Keychain with your Apple Account. | AFree for good, with unlimited logins, passkeys, notes and cards on unlimited devices. Most people could stay here. What you don't get is file attachments, the built-in authenticator and emergency access. |
| Features | BPasswords, passkeys, two-factor codes, Wi-Fi passwords, alerts for leaked passwords and sharing with a group. Solid basics. But a password can sit in only one group, exports are unencrypted CSV files, and reviewers miss folders and secure notes. | APasswords, passkeys, autofill, a password and username generator, and Send, which shares a secret by a link that disappears. Premium adds two-factor codes and 5 GB of encrypted attachments. You can even run it on your own server. |
| Ease of use | A4.7 from about 803,000 App Store ratings. Logins you save through AutoFill just turn up in the app, and it fills two-factor codes without you opening it. | A4.8 from about 33,500 App Store ratings. Sign up free and your logins fill in across your devices. Running your own server is optional, and most people will never go near it. |
| Platforms and integrations | BiPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, plus Windows through iCloud for Windows with extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox. No Android or Linux version. It needs iOS 18 or macOS Sequoia 15 or later. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension. Business plans add directory sync, SCIM and single sign-on. No common device is left out. |
| Best for | free passwords and passkeys on Apple devices | a free password manager on every device |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Apple Passwords and Bitwarden. How we grade
Where they differ
- Apple Passwords is free. Bitwarden starts at $1.65 per month, billed annually at $19.80 (Premium).
- Only Bitwarden lists a web app.
- Only Bitwarden lists Linux and Android apps.
- Bitwarden is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Apple Passwords | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $1.65 per month, billed annually at $19.80 (Premium) |
| Free plan | Listed as free on the App Store with no in-app purchases shown. Syncing between devices uses iCloud Keychain on an Apple Account. | Free for 1 user: unlimited logins, passkeys, notes, cards and identities on unlimited devices, a password generator and text-only Send. No file attachments or integrated authenticator. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial of the Families, Teams and Enterprise plans, started from the sign-up pages the pricing page links to |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Apple | Bitwarden, Inc. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | bitwarden.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Apple Passwords
- People whose devices are all Apple and who want a password manager at no cost
- Families and housemates who share a handful of logins
- Apple users with a Windows PC who need their passwords in Chrome, Edge or Firefox
Bitwarden
- People who want a free password manager on unlimited devices
- Users who prefer open-source software or want to self-host
- Organizations that want per-user pricing with SSO and SCIM available
Worth knowing
Apple Passwords
- There is no Android or Linux version. On Windows it runs through iCloud for Windows, with extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
- The App Store listing requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or visionOS 2 or later, and the Mac guide starts at macOS Sequoia 15.
- A password or passkey can be shared with only one group, and every member needs iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 or later.
- Exports are unencrypted CSV files, and Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts cannot be exported.
Bitwarden
- The free plan leaves out file attachments, the integrated authenticator, vault health reports and emergency access.
- Individual plans share items with only one other Bitwarden user; unlimited sharing starts with Families.
- Listed prices are based on annual subscriptions, and taxes are not included.
- SSO integration and enterprise policies require the Enterprise plan.
Key features
Apple Passwords
- One place for every credential
- Lists app and website passwords, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts, with sorting and search.
- AutoFill and iCloud Keychain sync
- Logins saved through AutoFill appear in the app automatically and are available on every device signed in to the same Apple Account with Passwords turned on in iCloud settings.
- Passkeys
- Creates and saves passkeys for sites and apps that support them and signs in with Touch ID or Face ID. Passkeys are stored in iCloud Keychain.
- Verification codes
- Two-factor verification codes can be set up inside Passwords and filled in automatically without opening the app.
- Security recommendations
- Alerts you when a saved password has been found in a data leak and recommends changing weak or compromised passwords.
- Shared groups
- Share passwords, passkeys and Sign in with Apple accounts with a group of contacts. Everyone in the group can change the shared items and add their own.
Bitwarden
- Unlimited free vault
- The free plan stores unlimited logins, passkeys, notes, cards and identities and works on unlimited devices through browser, mobile and desktop apps.
- Open source
- Bitwarden's code is open source, and the company describes its security as independently verified.
- Passkeys, autofill and generator
- Stores and manages passkeys alongside passwords, autofills logins across devices and generates strong passwords and usernames.
- Bitwarden Send
- Shares sensitive information through a link that disappears. Free accounts can send text only; file sharing comes with paid plans.
- Self-hosting
- Bitwarden can be deployed on premises or in a private cloud. Families and Enterprise organizations can be moved to a self-hosted server.
- Business controls
- Teams adds event logs, directory synchronization and SCIM provisioning. Enterprise adds policies, SSO integration and granular access control.
Plans
Apple Passwords
Free$0
The full app on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, with AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes and shared groups.
Bitwarden
Free$0
1 user. Unlimited passwords and passkeys on unlimited devices, a password and username generator, and two-step login.
Premium$1.65
per month, billed annually at $19.80
Adds the integrated authenticator, 5 GB of encrypted file attachments, emergency access, security reports and priority support.
Families$3.99
per month for up to 6 users, billed annually at $47.88
6 premium accounts with unlimited sharing and collections, plus shared organization storage.
Teams$4
per user / month, billed annually
Secure credential sharing for a team, event logs, directory synchronization and SCIM provisioning.
Enterprise$6
per user / month, billed annually
Everything in Teams, plus enterprise policies, passwordless SSO integration, granular access control and self-hosting.
Ways to pay less
Apple Passwords
No public discounts listed.
Bitwarden
- Other savings
Free Families plan for Enterprise users
Bitwarden's pricing page states that the Enterprise plan includes a free Families plan for all of its users.
