Insight The 2026 password manager price increase: why paying still makes sense
The 2026 password manager price increase hit both 1Password and Bitwarden, and the cheapest paid plans are gone. A good password manager is still worth paying for, and most people can still pay a lot less than the headline rate.
By Vidyadhar. Published . 4 minute read.
The short version
In 2026 Bitwarden Premium nearly doubled (up 98%), 1Password Individual rose by about a third, and both family plans rose by about 20%.
Even after the rises, a paid password manager costs far less than the damage one reused, leaked password can do, and free tiers still exist.
Share a family plan, pay yearly and check what currency you are billed in to keep the cost down in the US, the UK and India.
The cheap password manager is gone. In 2026 the two names we get asked about most, 1Password and Bitwarden, both put up their prices, and Bitwarden's paid plan nearly doubled. Our view is simple: a password manager is still worth paying for, but you no longer have to accept the first price you see.
What changed in the 2026 password manager price increase
Bitwarden moved first. On 21 January 2026 it announced new prices for its Premium and Families plans, alongside new features: vault health alerts for weak, reused or exposed passwords, password coaching, five times more attachment storage and support for up to ten security keys. A phishing blocker was listed as coming soon. Based on the previous prices reported at the time, Premium went up by 98% and Families by about 20%. Bitwarden said current subscribers would get 15 days' notice before their next renewal, and existing Premium customers (plus a few early Families customers) get a one-time 25% loyalty discount on their first renewal at the new price. Even with that discount, the first Premium renewal works out about 49% higher than before.
1Password followed. In an email to customers reported on 24 February 2026, it said new prices would apply from 27 March 2026, at each customer's first renewal on or after that date. The company said its pricing had remained largely unchanged for many years. Reports put the rise for the yearly Individual plan at about 33% and for the yearly Families plan at about 20%.
| Plan (yearly billing) | Price rise | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden Premium | 98% (25% off the first renewal for existing customers) | Next renewal, after 15 days' notice |
| Bitwarden Families (up to six people) | About 20% | Next renewal, after 15 days' notice |
| 1Password Individual | About 33% | First renewal on or after 27 March 2026 |
| 1Password Families (up to five people) | About 20% | First renewal on or after 27 March 2026 |
One detail matters for readers in Europe. Reports said that in some locations, such as Europe, 1Password plans would be cancelled automatically if the customer did not approve the new price. If you pay 1Password in euros and got an email about the change, check your billing page to make sure your plan is still active.
Why a password manager is still worth paying for
The case for a password manager has not changed. It lets you use a different, strong password for every account, so one leaked password does not open your email, your bank and your shopping accounts all at once. Paid plans add the parts that help most after a breach: alerts for weak, reused and exposed passwords, emergency access and more ways to lock the account itself. Bitwarden added several of these to its paid plans at the same time as the price rise, so you get more for the higher price.
Put the cost in context, too. Bitwarden Premium still costs much less than 1Password Individual at their regular yearly prices (we calculated about 59% less), so a cheaper paid option still exists.
The obvious objection: the free options are good enough
This is a fair point, and for some people it is true. Bitwarden's free plan is unchanged and still covers unlimited logins on unlimited devices, plus free sharing between two people. Apple's Passwords app, built into iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, stores passwords, passkeys and verification codes, and works in Chrome or Edge on Windows through iCloud for Windows.
The limits show up when your life spans platforms or people. Apple's support page covers Apple devices and Windows only, with no mention of Android, which matters if your household mixes iPhones and Android phones. Bitwarden's free plan lacks vault health reports and the built-in authenticator. If you only use one platform and live alone, a free tool may be enough. If you share logins with family or switch between phone brands, a paid plan earns its keep.
How to pay less after the price rises
Start free. Try Bitwarden's free plan first. Upgrade only when you want breach alerts, the built-in authenticator or emergency access.
Share a family plan. Bitwarden Families covers six people and 1Password Families covers five. Shared between a full household, the cost per person is far below a single plan (by our sums, about 60% less per person for Bitwarden and about 70% less for 1Password).
Pay yearly. 1Password's pricing page says yearly billing saves up to 40% compared with monthly. New 1Password customers also get a first-year discount on yearly billing, but expect the renewal to be 33% higher than that first year.
Time your renewal. If you are a Bitwarden customer, watch for the 15-day notice and make sure the 25% loyalty discount is applied.
Check the currency. 1Password bills in US dollars, Canadian dollars or euros, and Bitwarden shows prices in US dollars only. Neither offers pounds or rupees, so UK and Indian readers pay in a foreign currency. Ask your bank or card provider whether it adds a fee for that.
Remember the refund rules. Bitwarden refunds paid plans less than 30 days old. 1Password does not refund past charges, so use its 14-day free trial before you commit.
What to do now
Check when your plan renews and what you will pay at that date. If you are on Bitwarden Premium alone, see whether a family plan shared with others in your home works out cheaper per person. If you are on 1Password and the new price stings, compare it with Bitwarden's free and paid plans before your renewal date. Whatever you choose, do not go back to reusing passwords to save money. That is the one choice that costs more in the end.
Our pick for Families and small teams who want a polished paid password manager
1Password
A polished, paid-only password manager with good family sharing, but no free plan and no refunds
Where these numbers come from
Price rises come from Bitwarden's own announcement and from news reports quoting 1Password's email to customers, with Bitwarden's previous prices taken from contemporary coverage. We calculated the percentages, including per-person family plan costs, from the published yearly prices.
Questions people ask
Why did password manager prices go up in 2026?
Bitwarden tied its rise to new paid features such as vault health alerts, password coaching, more storage and support for more security keys. 1Password told customers its pricing had stayed largely unchanged for many years and that it needed to keep investing in features and security.
How much did the 1Password price increase?
Reports put the rise at about 33% for the yearly Individual plan and about 20% for the yearly Families plan. The new price applies at your first renewal on or after 27 March 2026.
Is Bitwarden still free?
Yes. Bitwarden's free plan was not changed in 2026 and still covers unlimited logins on unlimited devices. It lacks vault health reports and the built-in authenticator, which need a paid plan.
Is a password manager worth paying for?
For most people who share logins with family or use more than one type of device, yes. Paid plans add breach alerts, emergency access and stronger login options, and a family plan brings the cost per person down sharply.
Can I pay for 1Password or Bitwarden in pounds or rupees?
No. 1Password bills in US dollars, Canadian dollars or euros, and Bitwarden shows prices in US dollars only. UK and Indian readers should check whether their card adds a fee for foreign-currency payments.