What Bitwarden is

The extension fills logins, generates strong passwords, and syncs an end-to-end encrypted vault across devices. Bitwarden's open-source code and published third-party audits are the right kind of evidence for this category.

Feature coverage

  • Password autofill and capture
  • Strong password generator
  • Encrypted cross-device sync
  • Passkey support
  • Secure notes and identities

What stands out

  • Open source with published third-party audits
  • Generous free personal tier
  • Large public footprint (7,000,000 users)

Tradeoffs to know

  • 4.3 rating, with autofill quirks a recurring complaint
  • Some conveniences require Premium
  • A vault is a high-value target—use a strong master password and 2FA

Is Bitwarden safe to use?

Bitwarden is one of the safer choices in its category by design: a zero-knowledge encryption model documented by the publisher, open-source code, 7,000,000 users, and steady updates. The disclosed PII and authentication categories are inherent to what a password manager does — a vault only works if it holds your credentials.

Page access Broad

Requests page-content access across sites. Broad access is not itself a red flag — the question is whether the job justifies the reach, and whether the publisher's record earns it.

Autofill requires reading and writing form fields. The disclosed PII and authentication categories are inherent to what a password manager does.

Store-disclosed data

  • Personally identifiable information
  • Authentication information

The Chrome Web Store lists personally identifiable information and authentication information among handled data categories. Bitwarden documents its zero-knowledge encryption model on its site.

Why does Bitwarden's listing disclose authentication information?

Because storing credentials is the product. A password manager cannot function without handling authentication data; the real safety question is how it is protected, and Bitwarden documents a zero-knowledge model in which only you can decrypt the vault.

Is it risky to keep every password in one extension?

Concentration is a real tradeoff for any password manager. The offsetting evidence here is the open-source code, the documented zero-knowledge model, and a large, stable public record — stronger assurance than most closed alternatives offer.

Is Bitwarden free?

The personal tier is free and covers core password management across devices; paid Premium, family, and business plans add reporting, TOTP, and sharing features.

How we judge this: our extension safety guide · how we rate

Pricing

Free personal tier; paid Premium, family, and business plans. Pricing and plan limits change more often than store metadata, so use the linked developer page as the final check before subscribing.

Alternatives

AlternativeuBlock Origin LiteAlternativePrivacy Badger

Sources

We used the official Chrome Web Store listing and first-party developer material. Public metrics can change after the fact-check date.

  1. Chrome Web Store listing

    Store facts and data categories.

  2. Bitwarden website

    Security model, plans, and documentation.

  3. Extension Reviewer methodology

    How we verify public claims and weigh tradeoffs.

View in Chrome Web Store Developer site

More in Privacy & security

See the privacy & security guide