Secure sharing of any texts (free version) including credentials, and files (paid versions) with others via "Send", i.e. sending a URL, via any means, that retrieves the sent information that can have expiration/deletion time, maximum access limit, and password[18][41]
Use an organization (such as family) and permission-based collections to securely share vault entries: 2 users + 2 collections for free and premium versions, and 6 users + unlimited collections for family plan.[18][25][42]
Designation of Bitwarden users as emergency contacts (for paid versions) that can request for account access in an emergency[18][43]
In January 2021, in its first password-protection program comparison, U.S. News & World Report selected Bitwarden as "Best Password Manager".[57] In February, with competitor LastPass about to drop a feature in its free version, CNET recommended Bitwarden as the best free app for password synchronization across multiple devices,[58] while Lifehacker recommended it as "the best password manager for most people."[59]
Critics have praised the features offered in the software's free version, and the low price of the premium tier compared to other managers.[58][60][61][62] The product was named the best "budget pick" in a Wirecutter password manager comparison.[45] Bitwarden's secure open-source implementation was also praised by reviewers.[60][63]
However, the software was criticized for its lack of additional features,[60][64] and some reviewers noted its basic and less intuitive interface compared to other password managers.[61]
History
2016-2017
Bitwarden debuted in August 2016 with an initial release of mobile applications for iOS and Android, browser extensions for Chrome and Opera, and a web vault. The browser extension for Firefox was later launched in February 2017.[65] In February 2017, the Brave web browser began including the Bitwarden extension as an optional replacement password manager.[66]
In January 2018, the Bitwarden browser extension was adapted to and released for Apple's Safari browser through the Safari Extensions Gallery.[67]
In February 2018, Bitwarden debuted as a stand-alone desktop application for macOS, Linux, and Windows. It was built as a web app variant of the browser extension and delivered on top of Electron.[68] The Windows app was released alongside the Bitwarden extension for Microsoft Edge in the Microsoft Store a month later.[69][70]
In March 2018, Bitwarden's web vault was criticized for embedding unconstrained third-party JavaScript from BootstrapCDN, Braintree, Google, and Stripe. These embedded scripts could pose as an attack vector to gain unauthorized access to Bitwarden users' passwords.[71] These third-party scripts were removed as part of the Bitwarden 2.0 Web Vault update, released in July 2018.[72]
In May 2018, Bitwarden released a command-line application enabling users to write scripted applications using data from their Bitwarden vaults.[9][73][74]
In June 2018, Cliqz performed a privacy and security review of the Bitwarden for Firefox browser extension and concluded that it would not negatively impact their users. Following the review, Bitwarden was made available as an optional password manager in the Cliqz web browser.[75]
In October 2018, Bitwarden completed a security assessment, code audit, and cryptographic analysis from third-party security auditing firm Cure53.[76][77][78][79]
2020
In July 2020, Bitwarden completed another security audit from security firm Insight Risk Consulting to evaluate the security of the Bitwarden network perimeter as well as penetration testing and vulnerability assessments against Bitwarden web services and applications.
In August 2020, Bitwarden achieved SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 certification.[80][81]
In August 2021, Bitwarden announced that network assessment (security assessment and penetration testing) for 2021
had been completed by the firm Insight Risk Consulting.[18][85]
2022
In September 2022, the company announced $100M series B financing; the lead investor was PSG, with the existing investor, Battery Ventures, participating.[86][87] The investment would be used to accelerate product development and company growth to support its users and customers worldwide.[86][87]
2023
In January, Bitwarden announced the acquisition of Swedish startup Passwordless.dev for an undisclosed amount.[88]
Passwordless.dev provided an open source solution allowing developers to easily implement passwordless authentication based on the standards WebAuthn and FIDO2.[88][89]
Bitwarden also launched a beta software service allowing third-party developers the use of biometric sign-in technologies including Touch ID, Face ID and Windows Hello in their apps.[88]
In February, Bitwarden published network security assessment and security assessment reports that were conducted by Cure53 in May and October 2022 respectively.[90]
The first related to penetration testing and security assessment across Bitwarden IPs, servers, and web applications.[91]
The second related to penetration testing and source code audit against all Bitwarden password manager software components, including the core application, browser extension, desktop application, web application, and TypeScript library.[92]Ghacks reported that "No critical issues were discovered during the two audits. Two security issues that Cure53 rated high were discovered during the source code audit and penetration testing. These were fixed quickly by Bitwarden and the third-party HubSpot. All other issues were either rated low or informational only."[93]
^"Privacy Shield: Bitwarden Inc". Privacy Shield Network. International Trade Administration. 5 December 2020. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
