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Bitwarden vs Keycloak

Bitwarden and Keycloak are both security & identity tools. Bitwarden is aimed at freelancers and developers, while Keycloak is aimed at enterprise and developers. Both have a free plan.

Bitwarden

Open-source password manager

Keycloak

Open-source identity and access management

PricingOpen source · $2Open source
Starting price$1.65/moNot published
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Built forFreelancers, Developers, Small businessesEnterprise, Developers
Platformsweb, macos, windows, linux, ios, androidweb
CountryUS · 2016US · 2014
Rating——

Choose Bitwarden if

Individuals and businesses who want solid, audited security at the lowest cost.

  • Best free password manager
  • Open source and self-hostable
  • Very low business pricing

Look elsewhere if: Users who prioritize the most polished UX (1Password).

Choose Keycloak if

Organizations needing self-hosted enterprise IAM.

  • Free and open source
  • Enterprise-grade features
  • Full control over identity data

Look elsewhere if: Startups wanting simple hosted auth (Clerk, Auth0).

Bitwarden vs Keycloak pricing

Bitwarden

  • Free$0Unlimited passwords and devices
  • Premium$1.65/moBilled annually at $19.80; security reports, emergency access
  • Families$3.99/moBilled annually at $47.88; up to 6 users
  • Teams$4/user/moBilled annually; shared collections, event logs
  • Enterprise$6/user/moBilled annually; SSO, SCIM, policies

Keycloak

  • Open source$0Apache 2.0, self-hosted
  • Red Hat buildCustomCommercial support subscription

Bitwarden · Key features

  • Unlimited vault items and devices on the free plan
  • Passkeys, TOTP authenticator (Premium) and emergency access
  • Shared collections, roles and policies for teams
  • SSO, SCIM and self-hosting (Enterprise)
  • Secrets Manager for developers
  • Open source with regular third-party audits

Cons

  • UI less polished than 1Password
  • Autofill reliability varies by site
  • Fewer integrations with device trust tools

Keycloak · Key features

  • SSO via OIDC and SAML
  • User federation with LDAP/AD
  • Identity brokering and social login
  • MFA and password policies
  • Fine-grained authorization
  • Admin and account consoles

Cons

  • Operationally complex
  • UI and theming are dated
  • Upgrades require care

Bitwarden vs Keycloak: FAQ

Do Bitwarden and Keycloak have a free plan?

Yes, both Bitwarden and Keycloak have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, Bitwarden or Keycloak?

Bitwarden lists small businesses as a core audience, while Keycloak is aimed more at enterprise and developers.

Not sure yet?