SFDIFY
In the Bitwarden vs 1Password decision, Bitwarden is the lower-cost, more flexible pick: Teams is listed at $4 per user per month billed annually, there is an always-free plan, and Enterprise adds SSO, policies and the option to self-host [1]. Its platform is open source [3]. 1Password costs more per seat, with Business at $8.99 per user per month billed annually [2], but it adds a Secret Key that is combined with each person's account password to create the encryption key [4]. Pick Bitwarden for price, a free tier or self-hosting; pick 1Password if you want its two-key model and are fine with paid, hosted plans.
How we chose
We compared the two tools a small-business owner or office manager would weigh when rolling out a team password manager: per-user price, minimum seats, how sharing and vaults work, admin controls, SSO and SCIM provisioning, the security model, self-hosting, platforms and free tiers. We then added the three alternatives most buyers also put on the shortlist: Proton Pass, Dashlane and Keeper.
Everything below comes from each vendor's own pricing, product and help pages, checked on 2026-11-11 and listed under Sources. We did not run hands-on trials, so there are no scores here.
Bitwarden vs 1Password at a glance
| Product | Best for | Starting business price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden | Cost-conscious teams, IT that wants self-hosting | Teams $4/user/month, billed annually [1] | Free plan; SCIM on Teams; SSO, policies and self-hosting on Enterprise ($6) [1] |
| 1Password | Teams that want a polished, cloud-only rollout | Teams Starter Pack $24.95/month for 10 members, billed annually [2] | Business $8.99/user/month adds identity-provider integrations [2] |
| Proton Pass | Privacy-focused teams on a tight budget | Pass Essentials $1.99/user/month (discounted), minimum 3 users [5] | SSO and SCIM on Pass Professional ($4.99) [5] |
| Dashlane | Teams that also want credential-risk monitoring | Omnix Password Management $8/user/month, billed annually [6] | 14-day free trial [6] |
| Keeper | Very small teams that may grow into enterprise controls | Business Starter $2.00/user/month for 5 to 10 users [7] | SCIM and SSO/SAML on Enterprise ($6.00) [7] |
Bitwarden — open source with a real free tier
Bitwarden describes itself as an "open source, end-to-end encrypted platform" for storing and sharing credentials and passkeys [3]. Its low-cost Teams plan covers the basics, and Enterprise adds the controls an IT lead will ask for later.
Verified features: Teams includes secure credential sharing, event logs, directory sync and SCIM provisioning ("Automate provisioning with SCIM") [1]. Event logs record "over 50 types of events" with timestamps, client type, IP address and user [1]. Enterprise adds granular access control, passwordless SSO integration, enterprise policies and the "Flexibility to self-host" [1]. The self-host option lets you "Run the Bitwarden server application on your own network or server" [1], and Bitwarden's help center documents installing it on your own Linux server, noting it can also be deployed on Windows machines [9]. On security, Bitwarden says it "conducts comprehensive annual audits that are shared transparently" and has completed SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 compliance [8].
Pricing: Teams is $4.00 per user per month and Enterprise is $6.00 per user per month, both billed annually [1]. There is also a free plan, which Bitwarden pitches as "basic password management today. Always free." [1]. Enterprise includes a free Families plan for all users [1].
Strengths: The lowest list price of the two main contenders, SCIM even on the cheaper plan, an open-source codebase with published third-party audits [3] [8], and the only option in this group whose fetched pricing page offers self-hosting [1].
Limitations: SSO, enterprise policies, custom roles and self-hosting sit on Enterprise, not Teams, so a company that needs SSO pays $6 rather than $4 per seat [1]. Self-hosting also means you run and patch the server yourself, which a team without IT staff may not want.
Best fit: Small businesses that want a free start, cheap per-seat pricing, or the option to keep the vault on their own infrastructure.
1Password — polished team plans with Secret Key security
1Password sells two self-serve business plans: a flat-price Teams Starter Pack for small teams and a per-user Business plan [2].
Verified features: The Teams Starter Pack includes 10 members, and you can add up to 10 more seats, for 20 members total [2]. Business adds "identity-provider integrations, expanded role-based vault sharing and permissions, Watchtower alerts" and broader admin reporting [2]. Business lists provisioning of users and groups with Azure AD, Google Workspace, Okta, OneLogin, Rippling and JumpCloud, plus event streaming to SIEM tools [2]. Apps cover macOS, iOS, watchOS, Windows, Android and Linux [2]. Every user gets "a free Families plan for personal use" [2]. The Secret Key is "34 letters and numbers" created on your own device, and it is combined with your account password "to create the full encryption key" [4]. 1Password says it is SOC 2 type 2 certified and that it publishes the results of independent audits [10].
Pricing: Teams Starter Pack is $24.95 per month billed annually ($299.40 a year) for 10 members, with extra seats at $4.99 per seat per month [2]. Business is $8.99 per user per month billed annually, or $107.88 per user per year [2]. Business comes with a 14-day free trial [2].
Strengths: The two-key model means someone who attacks 1Password's servers "won't be able to decrypt your data without your Secret Key" [4]. Identity-provider integrations are listed by name, and developer tools such as SSH key signing and a CLI come with the business plans [2].
Limitations: It costs more: $8.99 per user on Business against Bitwarden's $4 Teams and $6 Enterprise [1] [2]. The business pricing page lists paid plans and a trial, not a free tier [2], and none of the 1Password pages we fetched describe a self-hosted deployment. The Secret Key also adds a step for staff: 1Password says it has no record of the key and "can't recover it" [4], so each user needs to keep the Emergency Kit safe.
Best fit: Teams that want a guided, cloud-hosted rollout with named identity-provider integrations and are willing to pay more per seat.
Proton Pass — low-cost Swiss option
Proton Pass is Proton's password manager, and its business plans start lower than both main contenders [5]. It is the natural third option for anyone also comparing Proton Pass vs Bitwarden on price.
Verified features: Pass Essentials includes unlimited logins, browser, mobile and desktop apps, secure vault, item and link sharing, a built-in 2FA authenticator and Dark Web Monitoring [5]. Pass Professional adds SSO and SCIM, detailed activity logs, enterprise policies, SIEM integration and group sharing [5]. Proton says its encryption "is aligned with Swiss strong privacy laws" [5].
Pricing: Pass Essentials is shown at $1.99 per user per month and Pass Professional at $4.99, each with a minimum of 3 users and a 14-day free trial [5]. Both prices were shown with a discount label at the time of checking ("60% off" and "29% off"), so check the regular price at renewal [5]. For individuals, Proton Free costs $0.00 a month with unlimited logins, notes and credit cards [11].
Strengths: The lowest entry price here for SSO and SCIM, and a free personal plan [5] [11].
Limitations: Listed business prices carry promotional discounts [5], and the fetched pages do not describe a self-hosted option.
Best fit: Small, privacy-minded teams that want SSO without paying enterprise rates.
Dashlane — credential risk focus
Dashlane packages its business product as the Omnix platform, with Password Management, Credential Protection and Enterprise packages [6]. Buyers comparing Dashlane vs 1Password will find a similar per-seat price.
Verified features: Password Management covers password and passkey protection, autofill, secure sharing and admin vault policies [6]. The pricing page lists SSO and SCIM integrations [6].
Pricing: Omnix Password Management costs $8 per user per month billed annually and includes a 14-day free trial [6]. Omnix Enterprise is aimed at "organizations with more than 50 users" with custom pricing [6].
Strengths: Built-in options for detecting credential risk and phishing in the browser if you add Credential Protection [6].
Limitations: At $8 per user it is priced close to 1Password Business and above Bitwarden [1] [2] [6]. No free business tier is listed on the pricing page.
Best fit: Teams that care as much about spotting risky credentials as about storing them.
Keeper — tiered plans from tiny teams up
Keeper offers three self-serve password manager tiers for businesses [7]. Buyers weighing Keeper vs 1Password will notice Keeper's lower entry price.
Verified features: Business Starter includes an encrypted vault and admin console and credential sharing and autofill [7]. Business adds shared team folders, delegated administration and a free Family Plan for every user [7]. Enterprise adds "Advanced provisioning (SCIM, AD/LDAP, SSO/SAML)", role-based access control and developer APIs [7].
Pricing: Business Starter is $2.00, Business $4.00 and Enterprise $6.00 per user per month, billed annually [7]. Business Starter is described as "Protection for 5–10 users" [7].
Strengths: A cheap starting tier and a clear upgrade path to SSO and SCIM [7].
Limitations: Business Starter caps out at 10 users, and SSO and SCIM require Enterprise [7].
Best fit: Very small teams that expect to grow into enterprise controls later.
How to choose a team password manager
Start with what your identity setup needs. If you already run Okta, Entra ID or Google Workspace and want accounts created and removed automatically, check where SCIM and SSO sit. Bitwarden includes SCIM on Teams but puts SSO on Enterprise [1]; 1Password lists identity-provider integrations on Business [2]; Proton Pass and Keeper keep SSO and SCIM on their higher tiers [5] [7]. Automated offboarding matters most when staff turnover is high, which is also why it pays to tie your password manager into your employee onboarding software checklist.
Next, decide where the data should live. Only Bitwarden's fetched pages offer self-hosting [1] [9]. If you would rather not run a server, skip self-hosting and use a vendor-hosted plan instead.
Then price your real headcount. For a 10-person team on annual billing, Bitwarden Teams lists at $4 per user [1], 1Password's Teams Starter Pack at a flat $24.95 per month for up to 10 members [2], and 1Password Business at $8.99 per user [2].
Finally, think about the security model your staff can live with. Bitwarden leans on open source code and published audits [3] [8]. 1Password adds a Secret Key that users must keep safe [4]. Neither replaces endpoint protection, so pair your choice with the antivirus software for small business you already run. If you are building your own internal tools and want them to plug into the same SSO, our SaaS development team can help scope that.
FAQ
Is Bitwarden or 1Password the better password manager for small business?
It depends on budget and hosting. Bitwarden Teams is $4 per user per month and Enterprise, which adds SSO and self-hosting, is $6 [1]. 1Password Business is $8.99 per user per month and adds identity-provider integrations [2]. Bitwarden suits price-sensitive teams; 1Password suits teams that want its Secret Key model [4].
Can you self-host Bitwarden or 1Password?
Bitwarden's Enterprise plan includes a self-host option to run the server "on your own network or server" [1], with documented Linux and Windows deployments [9]. None of the 1Password pages fetched for this article describe a self-hosted option, and its pricing page notes "Data stored in your currency's region" [2].
What does the 1Password Secret Key do in the 1Password vs Bitwarden comparison?
1Password combines a 34-character Secret Key with your account password to create the encryption key, and the key has 128 bits of entropy [4]. Bitwarden instead points to its open source codebase [3] and published annual audits [8].
How does Proton Pass vs Bitwarden compare on price?
Proton Pass Essentials is shown at $1.99 per user per month with a 3-user minimum, and Pass Professional, which adds SSO and SCIM, at $4.99 [5]. Bitwarden Teams is $4 and Enterprise $6 per user per month [1].
Do Bitwarden and 1Password have free plans?
Bitwarden offers a free plan it describes as "Always free." [1]. 1Password's business pricing page lists paid plans with a 14-day free trial rather than a free tier [2].
Our recommendation
For most small teams, start with Bitwarden: it is cheaper per seat, has a free plan to pilot with, and offers self-hosting on Enterprise [1]. Choose 1Password if you want its Secret Key protection [4] and a polished hosted rollout and can justify $8.99 per user [2]. If SSO on a tight budget matters most, look at Proton Pass Professional [5].
Sources
- Bitwarden Business Password Manager Pricing — checked 2026-11-11
- Business & Teams Pricing & Plans | 1Password — checked 2026-11-11
- Best Password Manager for Business, Enterprise & Personal | Bitwarden — checked 2026-11-11
- About your Secret Key | 1Password Support — checked 2026-11-11
- Business password manager | Proton for Business — checked 2026-11-11
- Business Password Manager Pricing | Dashlane — checked 2026-11-11
- Keeper Enterprise Password Manager Plans and Pricing — checked 2026-11-11
- Compliance, Audits, and Certifications | Bitwarden — checked 2026-11-11
- Linux Standard Deployment | Bitwarden — checked 2026-11-11
- Password Security Manager: Key Principles | 1Password — checked 2026-11-11
- Proton Pass: Pricing & Plans | Proton — checked 2026-11-11
