Bitwarden just raised its price 98%. NordPass didn't. That single fact changed this comparison.
For years the answer to "NordPass vs Bitwarden" was simple: Bitwarden's free tier is unbeatable, and if you needed to pay, Bitwarden at $10 a year was hard to argue with. January 2026 changed that. Bitwarden Premium jumped from $9.99 to $19.80 per year, and NordPass at $17.16 per year now undercuts it while offering dark web monitoring Bitwarden still doesn't include at any paid tier.
I've tested both tools hands-on. Here's the actual breakdown.
Try NordPass Free for 30 Days, No Credit Card Required
Try NordPass Free →Pricing: NordPass wins at the paid tier in 2026
| Plan | NordPass | Bitwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes, unlimited passwords, 1 active device | Yes, unlimited passwords, unlimited devices |
| Premium (annual) | $17.16/year ($1.43/mo) | $19.80/year ($1.65/mo) |
| Family | $2.79/mo for 6 users | $3.99/mo for 6 users |
| Dark web monitoring | Included in Premium | Not available at any tier |
| Email masking | Included in Premium | Not included |
| Free trial | 30 days, no credit card | 30-day free trial |
The Bitwarden free tier advantage is real: unlimited devices with no restriction. NordPass free limits you to one active device at a time, so you have to log out on your phone before using it on your laptop.
But at the paid tier, NordPass now costs $2.64 less per year and includes more features.
Security: Both are strong, with one real difference
Bitwarden uses AES-256-CBC encryption, is open source, independently audited, and has a zero-knowledge architecture.
NordPass uses XChaCha20, also zero-knowledge and independently audited.
The honest answer: both are secure enough that your encryption is not your weakest link. Your weakest link is your master password and whether you reuse it.
One real difference: Bitwarden is fully open source. NordPass is closed source.
Features: Where they actually differ
Dark web monitoring
NordPass Premium includes a breach scanner. Bitwarden does not offer this at any price.
Email masking
NordPass includes email masking. Bitwarden has integrations but no native masking.
TOTP authentication storage
Bitwarden Premium supports storing 2FA codes in the vault. NordPass does not.
Open source + self-hosting
Bitwarden is open source and can be self-hosted. NordPass cannot be self-hosted.
The ETH Zurich factor
In February 2026, ETH Zurich researchers published a paper documenting attacks against several password managers under a compromised-server model, including Bitwarden. This does not mean Bitwarden is unsafe for normal threat models, but it is relevant context.
Full breakdown: ETH Zurich Found 27 Flaws in Password Managers
Who should choose what
Choose NordPass if...
- You want dark web monitoring included.
- You want the cheaper paid option in 2026.
- You are switching from LastPass and want an easy trial path.
- You prefer a more polished UI.
Choose Bitwarden if...
- You want the best free password manager.
- You need built-in TOTP storage.
- You require open source and/or self-hosting.
- You already use it and are satisfied with the workflow.
Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best free tier | Bitwarden |
| Best paid value 2026 | NordPass |
| Dark web monitoring | NordPass |
| Open source | Bitwarden |
| TOTP storage | Bitwarden |
| Self-hosting | Bitwarden |
If you're paying for a password manager in 2026, NordPass gives you more for less. If you want free, Bitwarden is still the answer.
Try NordPass Free, No Credit Card Required
Start Free Trial →Affiliate disclosure: SPG earns a commission if you purchase NordPass through our link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure policy.