zenproducts / head to head / reviewed
The useful question is which product fits the devices and people in your week. This comparison comes from Zen Products, the maker of Zen Passwords. It is not an independent security audit.
Zen Passwords
rounds won
draws
Bitwarden
rounds won
Our scoring, of our own product against a competitor, so read it with that in mind. Every round below says exactly what it was scored on. Facts about Bitwarden checked against their own published documentation on .
The verdict
The scorecard
Then the same 6 in detail, with what each side actually does and why the round went the way it did.
| Round | Zen Passwords | Bitwarden | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Devices and browser access | Apple apps and system AutoFill | Cross-platform apps and extensions | Bitwarden |
| 2. Storage and account setup | Local vault; optional personal iCloud | Hosted account or self-hosting | Draw |
| 3. The free limit | Five active items | Unlimited passwords and devices | Bitwarden |
| 4. Records beyond a login | Dedicated record types and custom fields | Vault types and custom fields | Draw |
| 5. Sharing | Personal vault | Shared vault options | Bitwarden |
| 6. Security evidence | Published crypto core; no independent audit | Published source and audit reports | Bitwarden |
| Final | 0 rounds | 4 rounds | Bitwarden |
Round 1
Zen Passwords
iPhone, iPad and Mac, with system AutoFill on supported Apple devices. No Android or Windows app.
Bitwarden
Apps across Apple, Windows, Android and Linux, with browser extensions.
Bitwarden. Choose around your actual devices. Zen Passwords cannot replace a cross-platform workflow.
Round 2
Zen Passwords
A local encrypted vault without a Zen account. Optional iCloud sync uses your Apple account.
Bitwarden
An account with hosted encrypted sync, or a self-hosted deployment.
Even. These are different operating models. Local use avoids a sync service; enabling iCloud still uses a cloud service. Self-hosting carries maintenance work.
Round 3
Zen Passwords
Five active items free; a paid upgrade is needed for a larger active vault.
Bitwarden
A free plan with unlimited passwords and devices; paid plans add features.
Bitwarden. Bitwarden is the more generous free option. Use the five-item Zen tier to test whether its workflow earns a purchase.
Round 4
Zen Passwords
Dedicated types for cards, bank accounts, identity details, Wi-Fi, licences and secure notes, alongside logins and passkeys.
Bitwarden
Login, card, identity and secure-note records, with custom fields.
Even. Try one record you actually keep. The labels and fields should make it easier to find and use later.
Round 5
Zen Passwords
A personal vault without a shared family or team vault.
Bitwarden
Shared organization collections and family or business options, subject to plan.
Bitwarden. If two people need ongoing access to the same credentials, choose a product with that sharing workflow.
Round 6
Zen Passwords
The key-derivation core is published with test vectors. The full app is not open source and has not had an independent audit.
Bitwarden
Published source and third-party audit reports. PBKDF2 and Argon2id are supported key-derivation options.
Bitwarden. A memory setting alone is not evidence that one whole product is safer. Consider implementation review, recovery, device security and your master password together.
Recommended
Choose Bitwarden
An import count is only the start of a migration.
Is Zen Passwords a free Bitwarden alternative?
It has a five-active-item free tier. Bitwarden offers a larger free vault, so compare paid requirements before switching.
Can I use Zen Passwords on Windows or Android?
No. Its apps are for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Keep a cross-platform manager if you need other operating systems.
Is Zen Passwords fully open source?
No. The key-derivation core is public, but the app is not. No independent audit of Zen Passwords is claimed.
Where should I start a migration?
Start with one test login, verify AutoFill and check your recovery information. The linked Bitwarden handover guide covers importing and checking the result.
Try five active items and test your everyday sign-in flow.
Zen Passwords on the App StoreProduct documentation checked on 21 September 2026. Check current plans and compatibility before a move.
Keep comparing
Everything claimed about Zen Passwords here is what the app does today. Everything claimed about Bitwarden is limited to things that have been true of it for years, checked against their own documentation. There are no prices on this page, because a price nobody re-checks goes wrong in public. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.