Bitwarden alternatives: 5 open-source picks
Bitwarden costs $1.65/mo — $19.80 a year. These 5 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Vaultwarden, KeePassXC and Passbolt Community Edition. All 5 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Bitwarden’s clients pointed at your own server; unofficial, capable, and now you are the outage.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installDocker or Podman container with a persistent /data volume and a reverse proxy for HTTPS
dataClient-encrypted Bitwarden-compatible vault data stored in SQLite by default, or MySQL/PostgreSQL, with attachments and configuration in the persistent volume
the catch vs BitwardenIt is unofficial and may lag Bitwarden's proprietary or enterprise features, while support, backups and uptime move to you.
setupDocker, a domain and HTTPS reverse proxy are the easy part; backups, upgrades and outages become the user's responsibility
facts verified 2026-08-11
A vault file on your disk with excellent autofill; syncing and sharing are deliberately somebody else’s job.
licenseGPL-2.0+
runson your machine
installNative Windows, macOS and Linux package
dataOne encrypted KDBX database file on disk; syncing means placing that file in a separate cloud or shared-folder service
the catch vs BitwardenIt trades Bitwarden's built-in sync, sharing and account recovery for a single vault file that you must synchronize and back up safely yourself.
setupThere is no built-in sync, sharing or recovery, so the user must choose a sync method and manage conflicts and backups
facts verified 2026-08-11
A team password vault with real sharing and a server stack that expects an adult in the room.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installUbuntu or Debian package, or Docker deployment, followed by browser-extension setup
dataPassword secrets are OpenPGP-encrypted; account, sharing and audit metadata live in SQL, while users' private keys and recovery kits remain client-side
the catch vs BitwardenIt requires substantially more server and OpenPGP key administration while offering a narrower, team-first experience than Bitwarden.
setupA server, database, domain, TLS, SMTP and key-recovery process are required before anyone can use it
facts verified 2026-08-11
Passwords, passkeys, and disposable inboxes in one vault; self-host it and mail delivery joins your chores.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup and browser/mobile apps, or a Linux Docker Compose install script for self-hosting
dataVault secrets and received-email contents are encrypted client-side; the hosted or self-hosted server stores ciphertext, with an offline cache on clients
the catch vs BitwardenIt does not yet match Bitwarden's mature Organizations, broad client ecosystem and recovery and sharing workflows.
setupNone for the hosted service; self-hosting needs a Linux server, Docker, DNS/TLS and mail routing
facts verified 2026-08-11
Battle-tested identity and access management server with SSO, OIDC/SAML, federation, and admin console
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Vaultwarden · Passbolt Community Edition · Keycloak
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
PadlocThe live site hides a stalled repo: last commit March 2025 and production self-hosting docs never really arrived.
how to choose a Bitwarden alternative
Easiest to get running
KeePassXC — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Vaultwarden, with 65,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 5, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Runs on your own machine, no server
KeePassXC — nothing to host, your data stays on your disk.
Works on your phone
Vaultwarden has a mobile app on iOS and Android.
Needs real ops to self-host
Passbolt Community Edition and Keycloak are capable but expect someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing one.
what you give up by leaving Bitwarden
- managed hosting
- premium support
- emergency access
- polished admin
- reduced security maintenance risk
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Bitwarden alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaultwarden | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android, self-hosted, browser-extension | 65,000 | 2026-08 |
| KeePassXC | GPL-2.0+ | one-click install | macos, windows, linux, browser-extension | 28,300 | 2026-08 |
| Passbolt Community Edition | AGPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, ios, android, self-hosted, cli, browser-extension | 6,100 | 2026-08 |
| AliasVault | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, ios, android, self-hosted, browser-extension | 2,400 | 2026-08 |
| Keycloak | Apache-2.0 | self-host, real ops | self-hosted, web | 28,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Bitwarden
They pay because a professionally maintained security service is cheap relative to the downside of mistakes. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $19.80 a year.
questions about switching from Bitwarden
Is there an open-source alternative to Bitwarden?
Yes: Vaultwarden, KeePassXC, Passbolt Community Edition and 2 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Bitwarden?
Our verdict is YES. Vaultwarden (65k stars), KeePassXC (28k stars), Keycloak (28k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Bitwarden — self-host with docker and stop paying $1.65/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/bitwarden.
What is the easiest open-source Bitwarden alternative to set up?
KeePassXC — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Bitwarden alternative?
By GitHub stars, Vaultwarden (65,000). KeePassXC is next with 28,300.
