Comparison

Bitwarden Password Manager vs Proton Authenticator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bitwarden Password Manager

Secure your digital life by generating and storing unique, strong passwords for all your accounts in an end-to-end encrypted vault. Access your data securely across unlimited devices and share sensitive information with others.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted password vault
  • Unlimited password and passkey storage
  • Cross-platform access
  • Secure data sharing
  • Built-in password generator
  • Advanced 2FA support
Features
Read full description

Recognized as best password manager by PCMag, The Verge, CNET, G2, and more! SECURE YOUR DIGITAL LIFE Secure your digital life and protect against data breaches by generating and saving unique, strong passwords for every account. Maintain everything in an end-to-end encrypted password vault that only you can access. ACCESS YOUR DATA, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ON ANY DEVICE Easily manage, store, secure, and share unlimited passwords and passkeys across unlimited devices without restrictions. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE TOOLS TO STAY SAFE ONLINE Utilize Bitwarden for free with no ads and or selling data. Bitwarden believes everyone should have the ability to stay safe online. Premium plans offer access to advanced features. EMPOWER YOUR TEAMS WITH BITWARDEN Plans for Teams and Enterprise come with professional business features. Some examples include SSO integration, self-hosting, directory integration and SCIM provisioning, global policies, API access, event logs, and more. Use Bitwarden to secure your workforce and share sensitive information with colleagues. More reasons to choose Bitwarden: World-Class Encryption Passwords are protected with advanced end-to-end encryption (AES-256 bit, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256) so your data stays secure and private. 3rd-party Audits Bitwarden regularly conducts comprehensive third-party security audits with notable security firms. These annual audits include source code assessments and penetration testing across Bitwarden IPs, servers, and web applications. Advanced 2FA Secure your login with a third-party authenticator, emailed codes, or FIDO2 WebAuthn credentials such as a hardware security key or passkey. Bitwarden Send Transmit data directly to others while maintaining end-to-end encrypted security and limiting exposure. Built-in Generator Create long, complex, and distinct passwords and unique usernames for every site you visit. Integrate with email alias providers for additional privacy. Global Translations Bitwarden translations exist for more than 60 languages, translated by the global community though Crowdin. Cross-Platform Applications Secure and share sensitive data within your Bitwarden Vault from any browser, mobile device, or desktop OS, and more.

About

Proton Authenticator

Securely manage your two-factor authentication codes with an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator app. It offers seamless cross-device syncing, effortless import from other apps, and robust backup options, all protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Take control of your digital security with a trusted and private solution.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync
  • Effortless import from other authenticators
  • Secure backup and export
  • Swiss privacy by design
  • Open source and transparent
  • Offline support
Features
Read full description

Get the authenticator trusted by millions — from Proton Mail, the world's largest encrypted email provider. Proton Authenticator is open source, end-to-end encrypted, and protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Protect all your new accounts and strengthen security on your existing ones. Proton Authenticator keeps your 2FA codes secure, accessible, and completely private — with full control over where your data is stored. KEY FEATURES Local-First Storage:Your 2FA codes are stored entirely on your device, giving you complete control over your data. Effortless Import: Migrate from Google Authenticator, Authy, or any other app in seconds. Secure Backup & Export: Retain full control of your data with easy backup and restore options. Swiss Privacy by Design: Built under Switzerland's strongest data protection regulations. Open Source & Transparent: Auditable code. No tracking. No ads. Take control of your digital security with encryption you can trust. Free to use: No Proton account required, ad-free. Offline support: On mobile and desktop apps No other 2FA app provides this combination of security and privacy. Trusted by millions. Built by Proton. Take control of your digital security today. Terms of service: https://proton.me/legal/terms Learn more: https://proton.me

Screenshots

Bitwarden Password Manager4 screens
Proton Authenticator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bitwarden Password Manager at 4.8 against Proton Authenticator's 4.4. Bitwarden Password Manager also leads on ratings volume (34K vs 242) and chart position (#174 vs unranked). Proton Authenticator's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bitwarden Password Manager holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bitwarden Password Manager has 34K ratings behind it against 242, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Bitwarden Password Manager's written reviews are positive against 56% of Proton Authenticator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bitwarden Password Manager ships an update fortnightly, Proton Authenticator weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Bitwarden Password Manager versus Proton Authenticator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBitwarden Password ManagerProton Authenticator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (34K ratings) — better4.4 (242 ratings)
Positive reviews66.9% of reviews — better55.9% of reviews
Number of ratings34K — better242
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#174 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBitwarden IncProton AG

Customer experience

Bitwarden Password Manager

All ratings34,168 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews2,204 reviews
Positive66.9%
Neutral6.9%
Negative26.2%

Proton Authenticator

All ratings242 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews247 reviews
Positive55.9%
Neutral20.2%
Negative23.9%

User reviews

Bitwarden Password Manager

From 34K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
  • 🔒 Secure and encrypted storage
  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
  • 💡 Affordable premium subscription
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Inconsistent auto-fill behavior
  • 🐛 Issues with syncing and accessing passwords
  • 🐛 Unreliable master password verification
  • 🐛 Glitches with recent app updates

Proton Authenticator

From 242 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Cross-platform support
  • 🔒 Secure cloud sync
  • 👍 Easy import from other authenticators
  • 🚀 Convenient 'next' feature for codes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy UI (scrolling jitters, random sorting)
  • 👎 Lack of customization options (pin favorites, change icons)
  • 🐛 Sync/login issues on iPad

Bugs and requests

Bitwarden Password Manager

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inability to edit or delete existing login entries
  • Crashes when trying to access the vault
  • Sync issues causing loss of password data
  • Master password not working after updates
  • Auto-fill not working consistently across apps and websites

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to add attachments to records
  • Improved password sharing functionality
  • Option to view password history
  • Hierarchical folder structure for better organization
  • Automatic password update detection and prompts

Proton Authenticator

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Sync/login loop on iPad
  • 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
  • Screen strobing on iPad
  • Duplicate entries after import

Requested features

5 requests
  • PIN unlock for desktop
  • Alphabetical sorting option
  • Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
  • Native macOS app
  • Option to hide item icons

In-app purchases

None

Bitwarden Password Manager

No in-app purchases

None

Proton Authenticator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bitwarden Password Manager free?
Bitwarden Password Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Proton Authenticator free?
Proton Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bitwarden Password Manager or Proton Authenticator?
Bitwarden Password Manager is rated higher. Bitwarden Password Manager averages 4.8 out of 5 from 34K ratings, while Proton Authenticator averages 4.4 from 242 ratings.
Do Bitwarden Password Manager or Proton Authenticator have ads?
Neither Bitwarden Password Manager nor Proton Authenticator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bitwarden Password Manager or Proton Authenticator?
Bitwarden Password Manager ships an update fortnightly, and Proton Authenticator weekly. Most recently, Bitwarden Password Manager was updated on October 18, 2026 and Proton Authenticator on October 16, 2026.

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