Who writes it

Password Manager Notes editorial team. A small team that builds and maintains independent install guides for open-source software. Every command on this site is re-run on real Windows, macOS and Linux machines each time Bitwarden ships a desktop release. Every page names the date it was last verified and the release it was verified against, and the verification policy describes exactly what "verified" means. Corrections go through the contact page.

Why this site exists

Searching for a password manager returns a wall of "best of" lists paid for by affiliate commissions, followed by download portals that wrap installers in adware. Meanwhile the best free option, Bitwarden, publishes its entire source code and every installer on GitHub, where most people never look.

This site closes that gap. It gives you the one terminal command for your operating system, the exact file name on the current release, and honest comparisons with the alternatives, without hosting or modifying any software. If you want a second opinion, the official Bitwarden site is one click away on every page.

How the guides are verified

Every install command is re-run on a real Windows 11 PC, an Apple Silicon Mac and an Ubuntu machine whenever Bitwarden publishes a desktop release. Version numbers, file names, file sizes and download links on this site are not typed by hand: a script reads them from the GitHub API before every build, so the page you are reading matches release 2026.8.0 (August 20, 2026). The prose is re-read at the same time and the "last verified" date is bumped only when a person has done that. The full process is on the editorial policy page.

Independence and money

  • No affiliation with Bitwarden Inc.. Bitwarden is a trademark of Bitwarden Inc.; product screenshots come from its official brand kit and are used to describe the product.
  • No affiliate links. Nothing on this site earns a commission if you buy Bitwarden Premium or anything else.
  • No hosted binaries. Every download link points at github.com/bitwarden/clients.
  • The site is paid for by display advertising in clearly marked slots. Advertisers have no influence on what is recommended. See the advertising disclosure.

What is on the site

17 long-form guides covering installation on each operating system, comparisons with 1Password, LastPass, KeePass, Proton Pass, Apple Passwords and Google Password Manager, and step-by-step imports from browsers and other managers. Plus reference pages for the release history, the GitHub repository and how to spot a fake download.

Corrections

If something is wrong or out of date, tell us. Factual corrections are made within a few days and the page's verified date is updated. Disagreements about recommendations are welcome too; the comparison pages try to say plainly when a competitor is the better choice.