Vaultwarden: Open-Source Password Manager Server Compatible with Bitwarden Clients

What is Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden is an unofficial open-source implementation of the Bitwarden password manager server that enables self-hosted password management with full Bitwarden client compatibility. Built as a lightweight alternative to official Bitwarden server written in Rust for performance and security, Vaultwarden provides complete password manager functionality while remaining compatible with all official Bitwarden clients. Over 50,000 users self-host Vaultwarden for secure password management with complete data ownership.

Unlike 1Password ($2.99-4.99/month) or LastPass ($2.99-4.99/month) where passwords are stored on company servers with trust required, Vaultwarden enables complete password data ownership on your own infrastructure. All Bitwarden official clients work seamlessly with Vaultwarden server.

Vaultwarden serves as the secure password management platform. Users store passwords and secrets securely. Teams share passwords safely without exposing them. Organizations maintain complete password data control.

Key Features and Capabilities

Password Management

• Secure Storage: Store passwords with AES-256 encryption
• Auto-Fill: Browser extension auto-fills passwords on login
• Password Generator: Generate strong random passwords
• Password Strength: Analyze password strength and identify weak passwords
• Password History: Maintain history of password changes
• Breach Monitoring: Check if passwords have been breached

Organization and Categorization

• Folders: Organize passwords into logical folders
• Collections: Group passwords by access level
• Tags: Tag passwords for categorization
• Favorites: Mark frequently used passwords as favorites
• Search: Quick search across all stored passwords

Sharing and Access Control

• Organizations: Create organizations for team password sharing
• Sharing: Share passwords with team members securely
• Permissions: Fine-grained permissions for shared items
• User Management: Manage team members and their access
• Access Logs: Track who accessed which passwords

Security Features

• End-to-End Encryption: Passwords encrypted before leaving client
• Two-Factor Authentication: Multi-factor authentication support
• Master Password: Single master password protects all data
• Session Timeout: Automatic logout after inactivity
• PIN Lock: Protect vault with PIN on mobile

System Requirements and Technical Specifications

Server Requirements

• Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, CentOS 7+) or Docker
• Runtime: Rust-compiled binary, no runtime required
• Database: SQLite (default) or MySQL/PostgreSQL
• RAM: 256MB minimum, 512MB recommended
• Storage: 1GB+ for vault data
• CPU: Single-core sufficient

Client Compatibility

• Works with all official Bitwarden clients
• Web app via browser
• Desktop apps: Windows, macOS, Linux
• Mobile apps: iOS, Android
• Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

Installation and Deployment

Docker Installation

docker run -d 
  --name vaultwarden 
  -p 80:80 
  -v vaultwarden_data:/data 
  -e DOMAIN=https://vault.example.com 
  vaultwarden/server:latest

# Access at http://localhost

Linux Installation

# Download Vaultwarden binary
wget https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden/releases/download/latest/vaultwarden-linux-x86_64.zip
unzip vaultwarden-linux-x86_64.zip

# Create data directory
mkdir -p /var/lib/vaultwarden/data

# Run Vaultwarden
./vaultwarden

# Access at http://localhost:8000

Use Cases

Enterprise Password Management

Organizations use Vaultwarden for secure password management. Employees share credentials safely. Password governance ensures compliance.

Families and Personal Use

Individuals use Vaultwarden for personal password management with self-hosting. Complete privacy is assured with self-hosted server.

Advantages

• Complete Data Ownership: Passwords on your infrastructure
• Bitwarden Compatible: Works with all official Bitwarden clients
• Lightweight: Minimal resource requirements
• Easy Deployment: Docker makes deployment simple
• Cost Effective: Free versus paid Bitwarden
• Privacy Focused: No tracking or telemetry

Pricing and Licensing

Software Cost: Completely free and open-source under GPL License