Bitwarden vs Vaultwarden
Editor take
Pick Bitwarden for the official, vendor-maintained server. Pick Vaultwarden for a lightweight Rust server that implements the Bitwarden client API.
Pros and cons
Each app's own strengths and weaknesses, plus the specs where Bitwarden and Vaultwarden differ.
Bitwarden
Pros
- Vendor-maintained server
- Single-container Lite option
- Lite runs on SQLite or Postgres
- SSO and SCIM for organizations
Cons
- Standard install needs MSSQL
- SSO and SCIM need Enterprise
- Lite is not for business use
Vaultwarden
Pros
- Bitwarden-compatible API
- Lightweight Rust server
- Organizations, Send and emergency access
- Built-in admin page
- Completely free
Cons
- Unofficial Bitwarden server
- Web vault needs HTTPS
- Some API gaps
Bitwarden vs Vaultwarden: specs side by side
Every spec for both apps in one table. Values in bold are where one app has the edge, and amber ones are worth a second look before you install.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + Paid | Advantage: Free |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Install options | Docker only | Docker only |
| Clients | iOS · Android · macOS · Windows · Linux | iOS · Android · macOS · Windows · Linux |
| Web UI | Yes | Yes |
| Architecture | x86 + ARM | x86 + ARM |
| Stated minimum | 200 MB RAM · 1 GB | Not stated |
| Containers | 1The app alone | 1The app alone |
| Database | SQLite | SQLite |
| Runtime | .NET | Rust |
Common questions
Is Vaultwarden the same as Bitwarden?
No. Vaultwarden is an unofficial server written in Rust that implements the Bitwarden client API, and it is not affiliated with Bitwarden, Inc.
Does Vaultwarden support organizations?
Yes. It covers organizations with collections, password sharing, member roles and groups. Send, emergency access and an admin page are in there too.
What does the official Bitwarden server need?
The standard deployment ships with a Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) database. Bitwarden Lite is a single container for personal and homelab use, and it needs at least 200 MB of RAM. It can use SQLite, MySQL or MariaDB, PostgreSQL or MSSQL.
Can I run Vaultwarden without HTTPS?
The web vault requires HTTPS, so put Vaultwarden behind a reverse proxy.
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