Keeper vs Bitwarden (2024): Benefits & Features Compared

eSecurity Planet content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

Keeper and Bitwarden are password manager products that help your business manage its application credentials across all platforms. Keeper is a strong solution for both small businesses and large enterprises. Bitwarden is great for mid-sized businesses and teams that want to self-host a password manager. I evaluated Keeper and Bitwarden’s features, business plans, and pros and cons so you can decide which solution is a better fit for your organization.

  • Keeper: Better for cost, MSP features, and enterprise add-ons ($2 per user per month for Business Starter license; $3.75 per user per month for Business license; contact for Enterprise pricing)
  • Bitwarden: Better for features, security, support, and administration ($4 per user per month for the Teams license; $6 per user per month for the Enterprise license)

Keeper vs Bitwarden at a Glance

This table analyzes some brief similarities and differences between Keeper and Bitwarden, including business plans, OS and browser support, and vault deployment options.

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
Price (Billed Annually)• Business Starter: $2/user/month
• Business: $3.75/user/month
• Enterprise: Request quote
• Teams: $4/user/month
• Enterprise: $6/user/month
Supported Operating SystemsmacOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOSmacOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS
Supported BrowsersGoogle Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, Internet ExplorerGoogle Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera 
Family PlansAvailable in all business plansAvailable in Enterprise plan
Password Vault OptionsDesktop app and mobile app are natively installed with offline storage and cloud sync; browser extensions are natively installed with cloud syncDeployed through Docker containers; self-hosted for Enterprise users
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Based on my analysis, Bitwarden is the better overall product, with a relatively inexpensive Enterprise plan and the option to self-host your PM instance. However, Keeper still impresses with its many advanced features and add-on security modules. Continue reading to see how I compared Keeper and Bitwarden, or jump down to see how I evaluated both products.

Keeper icon.

Keeper Overview

Better for Cost, MSP Features & Enterprise Add-Ons

Overall Rating: 3.8/5

  • Pricing: 4.2/5
  • Core features: 4.3/5
  • Advanced features: 2.3/5
  • Security: 4.4/5
  • Usability and administration: 4/5
  • Customer support: 3.2/5

Keeper is an enterprise password manager with plenty of basic features, as well as add-on modules for businesses that want advanced security functionality. Its core features include basic two-factor authentication, shared team folders, and activity reporting. Keeper is ideal for small teams that only need simple PM features and enterprises that want to purchase additional products like secrets management. Keeper also has a plan for managed service providers (MSPs).

Pros & Cons

ProsCons
Affordable Business Starter and Business plansLimited features in inexpensive plans
Good for advanced credential security needsCan’t be self-hosted
MSP password manager available Limited info about customer support options

Key Features

  • Secrets Manager: This add-on allows teams to remove hard-coded passwords from environments like configuration files and continuous integration and deployment software.
  • Passwordless authentication: Keeper supports passwordless solutions like mobile authenticator apps and one-time passwords.
  • Activity reporting: Your admins can view basic user statistics, or you can purchase the Advanced Reporting and Alerts add-on for improved visibility.
  • Temporary sharing: Teams can specify a specific time period in which a password can be shared.
  • Password recovery option: Teams can preset Account Recovery in case they forget their master password.

To learn more about these plans and pros and cons, check out our full review of Keeper.

BitWarden icon.

Bitwarden Overview

Better for Features, Security, Support & Administration

Overall Rating: 4.1/5

  • Pricing: 3.1/5
  • Core features: 4.6/5
  • Advanced features: 3/5
  • Security: 4.7/5
  • Usability and administration: 5/5
  • Customer support: 3.8/5

Bitwarden is a business password manager that offers plenty of flexibility to users, including the opportunity to host it on their own servers. Bitwarden is also an open-source password manager, so developers can view the source code themselves. Aside from basic features like 2FA and event logs, it offers advanced tools like the ability to create custom roles. Bitwarden is ideal for teams that want maximum control over their password manager deployment.

Pros & Cons

ProsCons
Inexpensive Enterprise plan No guest accounts or travel mode available 
Option to host on your business’s serversLimited customer support channels 
Open-source software solutionFree trial is only a week long 

Key Features

  • Policy management: IT admins can set security policies based on their business’s requirements, including mandatory 2FA and master password length.
  • Single sign-on: Bitwarden offers integrations with Okta, JumpCloud, OneLogin, Ping Identity, and Microsoft Entra ID, available through the Enterprise plan.
  • Self-hosting: Bitwarden gives businesses the option to host the software on their own hardware.
  • Vault health reports: These show reused and weak passwords in your environment and run locally on user clients so Bitwarden can’t access the unencrypted data.
  • Integrations with GitHub: If you’re using Bitwarden’s Secret Manager product, you can use the GitHub Actions integration to inject secrets into Actions workflows.

Read our detailed review of Bitwarden if you’re interested in learning more about its features and usability.

Better for Pricing: Keeper

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
Lowest Pricing TierBusiness Starter: $2/user/monthTeams: $4/user/month
Mid-Range Pricing TierBusiness: $3.75/user/monthEnterprise: $6/user/month
Most Extensive PlanContact for quoteContact for quote
Free Trial14 days 7 days
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Winner: Although both have affordable pricing plans, Keeper gets the edge for its inexpensive Business Starter and Business plans.

Keeper’s Business Starter plan, ideal for startups and restricted to 10 or fewer users, costs $2 per user monthly. The annual billing rate doesn’t change the cost. The Business plan is a good choice for any SMB and is one of the least expensive rates in the password management industry at $3.75 per user. However, if your business wants advanced features, you’ll likely need to purchase the Enterprise plan instead. This is the drawback of Keeper’s inexpensive plans.

Keeper pricing plans.

Bitwarden also has great pricing — while its $4-per-user Teams price may be too expensive for the smallest of businesses, its Enterprise pricing shines at only $6 for plenty of advanced features, including the ability to self-host. The only unclear part of Bitwarden’s pricing is when a company should request a quote. The website says companies with hundreds or thousands of employees can request one, so I recommend reaching out to Bitwarden if you do have a large team.

Bitwarden pricing plans.

Better for Core Features: Bitwarden

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
Two-Factor AuthenticationBasic for all plans; advanced in Enterprise planAvailable in both plans with multiple authentication methods
Single Sign-OnEnterprise planEnterprise plan
Browser AutofillBoth plansBoth plans
ReportingActivity reporting in all plansVault health reports in both plans
Secure Password SharingShared team folders in all plansBoth plans
Mobile SupportAndroid & iOSAndroid & iOS
Active Directory IntegrationEnterprise planBoth plans
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Winner: Bitwarden’s excellent list of features, particularly in the Enterprise plan, makes it a good choice for larger businesses that want advanced capabilities on a budget.

Keeper offers plenty of password management features, including activity reporting, shared team folders, and team management. Its Business plan is a little limited, and you need to request a quote if your business is looking for features like single sign-on, advanced two-factor authentication, or an integration with Active Directory. But if you’re just looking for a range of basic features, like simple 2FA and unlimited device access, Keeper’s a great choice.

Shared folders in Keeper.

Both of Bitwarden’s plans offer vault health reports, multiple options for two-step login, and user groups. Enterprise customers also have access to customizable roles, policy creation, and a directory connector for more streamlined user provisioning. Keep in mind that while this tier is called Enterprise, it’s directly priced at $6 per user monthly. Its extensive feature set for the price makes it a great option for mid-sized and large teams.

Bitwarden reports.

Better for Advanced Features: Bitwarden

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
Secrets ManagementThrough Secrets Manager add-onThrough Bitwarden Secrets Manager product
Automated User ProvisioningMultiple methods offered through Enterprise plan, including SSO and email auto-provisioningThrough Active Directory, Okta, OneLogin, JumpCloud
Security AlertsThrough Advanced Reporting and Alerts add-onOnly through email
Integrations with GitHub and GitLabPart of the Secrets Manager add-onGitHub Actions
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Winner: Bitwarden wins this category because it offers more advanced capabilities without having to purchase an add-on.

Keeper offers plenty of nice-to-have features that are particularly useful for the largest enterprises. Teams that want additional security measures alongside their basic PM capabilities will find plenty here. However, many of the advanced features are part of the Enterprise plan, where pricing varies depending on your business needs. Keeper has more advanced alert options than Bitwarden — you just have to purchase the Advanced Reporting and Alerts module.

User management in Keeper.

Bitwarden includes plenty of nice-to-have features, including the ability to create custom roles and policies. It also offers vault health reports in both its business plans, while Keeper doesn’t. While many of its impressive tools fall under the Enterprise plan, it’s a relatively inexpensive option for larger organizations, so don’t let the name throw you off. Like Keeper, Bitwarden doesn’t offer guest accounts or travel mode for its business users.

Single sign-on in Bitwarden.

Better for Security: Bitwarden

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
Zero-Knowledge Encryption ModelYesYes
Breach HistoryCleanClean
Encryption Type and Key Derivation Format256-bit AES; PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256256-bit AES; PBKDF2 SHA-256
Vendor AuditsFedRAMP environment audited annuallyMultiple different audits per year; reports available
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Winner: I awarded Bitwarden the top spot in the security category because of its transparent audit reports.

Keeper has a strong security portfolio, using a zero-knowledge approach to keep user decryption keys out of Keeper’s cloud vault. The authentication key that operates when using a master password employs PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 with 1,000,000 iterations. Keeper does have regular audits of its FedRAMP environment; its website states that they happen annually. But it doesn’t provide links to the individual reports, which is why Bitwarden gained the edge here.

Vendor-designed graph of Keeper login methodology.

Bitwarden has a page about its audits and compliance posture where it lists recent reports, including multiple ones for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Types of reports include web app and desktop app security assessments, SOC 2 and SOC 3, and network security assessments. It uses PBKDF2 SHA-256 and performs 600,001 iterations of hashes when creating encryption keys on the client’s device. Like Keeper, Bitwarden has a clean breach history.

Bitwarden's infographic of the master key hashing and key derivation process.

Read more about different types of network security solutions, like vulnerability scanning and threat intelligence, and how they help protect your network.

Better for Usability & Administration: Bitwarden

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
Open SourceCommander CLI is open source but overall solution is notOpen source; source code is accessible
Browser SupportChrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, Internet ExplorerChrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, Tor
DocumentationBoth user guides and enterprise guides availablePlenty of user documentation
Group ManagementAvailable in Enterprise planAvailable in both plans
Command Line InterfaceYesYes
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Winner: Bitwarden wins this category for being open source and offering a self-hosted option.

Keeper has extensions for many popular web browsers as well as some lesser-used ones like Opera and Brave. Keeper Commander CLI, available through the Enterprise plan, allows developers to script the majority of the platform using the command line. This includes the Secrets Manager and the administrative console. Keeper has plenty of documentation available for both the business plans and the Enterprise plan.

Keeper command line interface.

Bitwarden supports many of the same browsers as Keeper and has visually appealing, easy-to-read documentation for its users. It offers employee group management in both of its business plans and has a command line interface that experienced team members can use to manage their password manager environment. Bitwarden’s open-source code means developers can view the codebase and discuss with other developers.

Illustration of Bitwarden command line interface.

Better for Customer Support: Bitwarden

Keeper logo.Bitwarden logo.
24/7 SupportYes, according to websiteYes, according to website
Support ChannelsEmailEmail
Product DemoYesYes
Technical Account Manager or Dedicated Service RepresentativeNoNo
Visit KeeperVisit Bitwarden

Winner: Bitwarden’s slightly more transparent about its customer support, although neither vendor provides much information.

It’s challenging to find a clear breakdown of Keeper’s support options. One knowledge base article mentions an email address, but it’s six years old and doesn’t look like it’s been updated. Keeper does say it offers 24/7 support, however. It offers both a live demo by request and a YouTube demo video that potential customers can watch when they want. Keeper doesn’t offer a dedicated customer service rep or technical account manager for customers.

Keeper user guides.

Bitwarden similarly doesn’t provide much information about its support team, but its pricing breakdown lists priority support available for both the Teams and Enterprise plans. Its website lists an email address from which customers will receive support emails. Bitwarden also claims to offer 24/7 support; it doesn’t have phone or live chat, but customers give the support team high overall reviews. Bitwarden doesn’t offer a CSM or technical manager.

Bitwarden help center.

Who Shouldn’t Use Keeper & Bitwarden?

Although Keeper and Bitwarden are both stellar business password managers, they aren’t ideal solutions for all organizations and won’t suit some common use cases and needs.

Who Shouldn’t Use Keeper

You may not want to consider Keeper if your business fits one of these descriptions:

  • Large businesses on a tight budget: If you’re looking for a password manager with plenty of features but a lower price point, Keeper’s Enterprise plan may be too expensive.
  • Smaller teams that want advanced tools: Features like SSO don’t appear in some of Keeper’s SMB-focused plans.
  • Businesses that want to host on their own servers: Keeper doesn’t offer a local vault deployment option.

Who Shouldn’t Use Bitwarden

Look at other PM options if your business is in the following categories:

  • Organizations that want multiple support channels: If you’re looking for rapid support options like phone and live chat, Bitwarden might not be the best pick.
  • Teams looking for extra perks: Bitwarden has plenty of features but does lack a couple nice-to-have tools like guest features and travel mode.
  • Tiny teams that need an inexpensive plan: Bitwarden doesn’t have an extremely low-cost plan for startups like some of its competitors.

3 Best Alternatives to Keeper & Bitwarden

Keeper and Bitwarden are strong PM solutions, but they aren’t ideal for every use case. If neither product sounds like a fit for your organization’s needs, consider 1Password, RoboForm, or LastPass instead.

1Password logo.RoboForm logo.LastPass logo.
Monthly Pricing (Billed Annually)• Teams: $19.95 for up to 10 users
• Business: $7.99/user
• 1-10 users: $3.30/user
• 11-25 users: $3/user
• 26-100 users: $2.91/user
• 101-1,000 users: $2.50/user
• Team: $4/user
• Business: $7/user
Free Trial14 days14 days14 days
Key FeaturesGuest accounts, secure vault sharing, SSO integrationsSCIM integrations, 2FA, user and group managementDark web monitoring, account recovery options, SCIM integrations
Visit 1PasswordVisit RoboFormVisit LastPass

1Password

1Password is a popular PM solution that offers a large range of both basic and advanced password management features to customers. It provides multiple 2FA mobile app options, integrations with multiple identity providers, and temporary guest accounts. Advanced features include integrations with SIEM tools and customizable security policies.

1Password’s Teams plan costs $19.95 for up to 10 users monthly, and its Business plan costs $7.99 per user monthly. While the Business plan is one of the most expensive in the password manager market, you get what you pay for — 1Password is excellent-quality software.

If you’re interested in learning more about this option, read our review of 1Password, including its pros and cons.

Guest account permissions in 1Password.
Guest account permissions in a 1Password vault

RoboForm

RoboForm is a password manager ideal for small businesses and restricted budgets, but it offers plenty for larger teams, too. Core features include password recovery options and importing and exporting password data. RoboForm also offers administrative features like group provisioning, security policy management, and SCIM integrations with Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and OneLogin.

RoboForm is priced on a scale, starting at approximately $3.30 per user monthly for teams of 1-10 and decreasing as the number of users increases. It’s a good choice for smaller businesses, but it’s also an inexpensive and high-quality option for large businesses.

To learn more about this product, read our full review of RoboForm, including more detailed pricing information.

Group management in RoboForm.
Group management feature in RoboForm

LastPass

LastPass is a password manager known for its easy-to-use interface and features. It provides account recovery options like preset fingerprint or face recovery and offers dark web monitoring features so you can see if your credentials have been compromised. LastPass integrates with Microsoft Sentinel and Splunk so you can sync your password management to SIEM tools for improved security reporting and alert procedures.

LastPass costs $4 per user monthly for its Teams plan and $7 per user monthly for the Enterprise plan. It also offers multiple support channels, including 24/7 phone and web customer service. Few password managers have phone support, so consider LastPass if that’s a priority for your security team.

Read more in our in-depth LastPass review, including information on its security posture and recent breaches.

Security score and dark web monitoring in LastPass.
Representation of your team’s overall password security score in LastPass

If you’re interested in learning more about the top PM solutions, read our guide to the best password managers for businesses.

How I Compared Keeper & Bitwarden

I created a product scoring rubric to evaluate Keeper and Bitwarden, with six major categories buyers look for. I weighted the six categories with a certain percentage based on importance, and the products received their final score based on the criteria weights and how well they met each criterion. The rubric considered pricing plans, core password management features, advanced capabilities, security measures the vendors take, administration, and customer support options.

Core Features – 20%

I evaluated whether Keeper and Bitwarden offered the most important password management features, including two-factor authentication, browser autofilling, and support for mobile devices. I also considered whether these features were available in multiple plans or just the most expensive ones.

Security – 20%

I considered Keeper and Bitwarden’s encryption procedures and transparency, as well as the ability to look at their recent audit reports. I also scored them based on their breach history.

Usability & Administration – 15%

I evaluated the availability of product documentation or user guides, support for a variety of web browsers, and whether the products are open source. I also looked at the option to use a command line to manage Keeper and Bitwarden.

Pricing – 15%

To evaluate both solutions’ pricing, I compared the cost of each business plan, typically priced per user on a monthly basis with annual billing. I also looked at the availability and length of free trials for both Keeper and Bitwarden.

Advanced Features – 15%

I looked at Keeper and Bitwarden’s more advanced offerings, like secrets management, automated user provisioning, and security alerts. I also evaluated whether customers have to pay more for these features.

Customer Support – 15%

I scored Keeper and Bitwarden based on the support channels they had available, such as email. I also considered whether the support teams were available 24/7 and whether the vendors offered product demos for the software.

Bottom Line: Keeper vs Bitwarden

Keeper and Bitwarden are both fantastic password managers, but one may be a better fit for your business than the other. If you’re looking for additional security solutions to pair with your password manager, consider Keeper and its add-ons, like secrets management and advanced reporting. If you’d like maximum control over your business’s PM environment, look at Bitwarden’s self-hosting option and open-source codebase.

If you’d like to learn more about passkeys and other password management technologies, read our guide to passkeys, MFA, SSO, and passwordless authentication next.

Get the Free Cybersecurity Newsletter

Strengthen your organization’s IT security defenses by keeping up to date on the latest cybersecurity news, solutions, and best practices. Delivered every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

Jenna Phipps Avatar

Subscribe to Cybersecurity Insider

Strengthen your organization’s IT security defenses by keeping abreast of the latest cybersecurity news, solutions, and best practices.




Top Cybersecurity Companies

Get the Free Newsletter!

Subscribe to Cybersecurity Insider for top news, trends & analysis