Bitwarden
Open-source password manager with hosted and self-hosted options
If your goal is to stop paying hosted Bitwarden Premium, the core vault can be self-hosted or replaced with KeePass-style local storage; the caveat is security responsibility.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- managed hosting
- premium support
- emergency access
- polished admin
- reduced security maintenance risk
Why people still pay
They pay because a professionally maintained security service is cheap relative to the downside of mistakes.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- A user-owned Linux server, domain/DNS control, sufficient disk and memory, and the selected upstream release documentation. Record actual image names and required variables rather than guessing.
- Implementation components: Docker Compose around the selected upstream application, pinned release/image digest and persistent volumes. Caddy for HTTPS, environment templates without secrets, and operator scripts for backups, upgrades and restore.
- Scope boundary: Vaultwarden is a separate community implementation; official Bitwarden support and enterprise guarantees are not implied.
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Optional external skill: sharp-edges — Review security-sensitive APIs and configuration for dangerous defaults and easy-to-misuse interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: agent-browser — Automate browser interaction using accessibility snapshots, element references and reproducible navigation workflows. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — operating records: pinned Vaultwarden release, server configuration, persistent database/files, client connections and backup inventory
Project rule — preserve this invariant: Never expose an unconfigured public vault or log unlock secrets; recovery must preserve every upstream-required persistent file, not only the SQL database.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: A restored isolated instance opens a known test vault through a compatible client; missing required backup files fail restoration visibly.
Implementation plan
Phase 1
Select and document the upstream release. Prepare a private Vaultwarden deployment using its documented configuration, HTTPS and official compatible clients. Provide preflight, start, consistent backup and restore-to-separate-volumes scripts rather than writing a vault server. Record the release, documented host requirements and upstream deployment reference. Start in an isolated staging directory. Keep these exclusions explicit: Vaultwarden is a separate community implementation; official Bitwarden support and enterprise guarantees are not implied.
Phase 2
Configure the maintained application. Record pinned Vaultwarden release, server configuration, persistent database/files, client connections and backup inventory Configure supported environment variables, credentials, volumes and database connections. Use upstream installation and migration procedures; do not create a replacement application schema, authentication service or dashboard. Preserve this rule: Never expose an unconfigured public vault or log unlock secrets; recovery must preserve every upstream-required persistent file, not only the SQL database.
Phase 3
Use the upstream workflow. Perform the stated workflow through the upstream interface or its documented CLI. Add an operator helper script only when the working slice explicitly calls for it; do not build a new input/review/output frontend. Back up before each upgrade, retain the previous image and configuration, and check upstream schema migration notes; a container rollback alone may not reverse a database migration.
Phase 4
Review access and failure states. Generate unique administrator secrets, restrict exposed ports and disable public signup if the deployment is private. Keep backups encrypted and credentials outside the repository. Document health checks, reconnect/restart steps and how missing configuration is surfaced by the upstream service. Keep public and administrative endpoints separate.
Phase 5
Recovery and upgrades. Capture the complete database and persistent file set consistently. Rehearse recovery into separate volumes and document the supported rollback point. Document upstream migration compatibility before an upgrade, the retained rollback point and the sequence for restoring configuration, data and files.
Phase 6
Operator handoff and acceptance. A restored isolated instance opens a known test vault through a compatible client; missing required backup files fail restoration visibly. Record actual staging observations separately from these proposed checks. Deliver the pinned configuration, secret-free environment template, backup/restore runbook and any explicitly scoped helper scripts; do not claim equivalence to managed hosting.
WORKING SLICE Prepare a private Vaultwarden deployment using its documented configuration, HTTPS and official compatible clients. Provide preflight, start, consistent backup and restore-to-separate-volumes scripts rather than writing a vault server. Operate this scoped Bitwarden-inspired deployment through the maintained upstream application. Record its configuration and failure states; do not rebuild its schema, interface or services. Architecture - Docker Compose around the selected upstream application, pinned release/image digest and persistent volumes. - Caddy for HTTPS, environment templates without secrets, and operator scripts for backups, upgrades and restore. Prerequisites and limits A user-owned Linux server, domain/DNS control, sufficient disk and memory, and the selected upstream release documentation. Record actual image names and required variables rather than guessing. Outside this release: Vaultwarden is a separate community implementation; official Bitwarden support and enterprise guarantees are not implied. Configuration and correctness pinned Vaultwarden release, server configuration, persistent database/files, client connections and backup inventory Invariant: Never expose an unconfigured public vault or log unlock secrets; recovery must preserve every upstream-required persistent file, not only the SQL database. Back up before each upgrade, retain the previous image and configuration, and check upstream schema migration notes; a container rollback alone may not reverse a database migration. Security and privacy Generate unique administrator secrets, restrict exposed ports and disable public signup if the deployment is private. Keep backups encrypted and credentials outside the repository. Recovery and export Capture the complete database and persistent file set consistently. Rehearse recovery into separate volumes and document the supported rollback point. Implementation order 1. Phase 1 — Select and document the upstream release. Prepare a private Vaultwarden deployment using its documented configuration, HTTPS and official compatible clients. Provide preflight, start, consistent backup and restore-to-separate-volumes scripts rather than writing a vault server. Record the release, documented host requirements and upstream deployment reference. Start in an isolated staging directory. Keep these exclusions explicit: Vaultwarden is a separate community implementation; official Bitwarden support and enterprise guarantees are not implied. 2. Phase 2 — Configure the maintained application. Record pinned Vaultwarden release, server configuration, persistent database/files, client connections and backup inventory Configure supported environment variables, credentials, volumes and database connections. Use upstream installation and migration procedures; do not create a replacement application schema, authentication service or dashboard. Preserve this rule: Never expose an unconfigured public vault or log unlock secrets; recovery must preserve every upstream-required persistent file, not only the SQL database. 3. Phase 3 — Use the upstream workflow. Perform the stated workflow through the upstream interface or its documented CLI. Add an operator helper script only when the working slice explicitly calls for it; do not build a new input/review/output frontend. Back up before each upgrade, retain the previous image and configuration, and check upstream schema migration notes; a container rollback alone may not reverse a database migration. 4. Phase 4 — Review access and failure states. Generate unique administrator secrets, restrict exposed ports and disable public signup if the deployment is private. Keep backups encrypted and credentials outside the repository. Document health checks, reconnect/restart steps and how missing configuration is surfaced by the upstream service. Keep public and administrative endpoints separate. 5. Phase 5 — Recovery and upgrades. Capture the complete database and persistent file set consistently. Rehearse recovery into separate volumes and document the supported rollback point. Document upstream migration compatibility before an upgrade, the retained rollback point and the sequence for restoring configuration, data and files. 6. Phase 6 — Operator handoff and acceptance. A restored isolated instance opens a known test vault through a compatible client; missing required backup files fail restoration visibly. Record actual staging observations separately from these proposed checks. Deliver the pinned configuration, secret-free environment template, backup/restore runbook and any explicitly scoped helper scripts; do not claim equivalence to managed hosting. Acceptance A restored isolated instance opens a known test vault through a compatible client; missing required backup files fail restoration visibly. Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees. Optional agent guidance Optional external skill: [sharp-edges](https://github.com/trailofbits/skills/blob/main/plugins/sharp-edges/skills/sharp-edges/SKILL.md) — Review security-sensitive APIs and configuration for dangerous defaults and easy-to-misuse interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Optional external skill: [agent-browser](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-browser/blob/main/skills/agent-browser/SKILL.md) — Automate browser interaction using accessibility snapshots, element references and reproducible navigation workflows. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission. Project rule — operating records: pinned Vaultwarden release, server configuration, persistent database/files, client connections and backup inventory Project rule — preserve this invariant: Never expose an unconfigured public vault or log unlock secrets; recovery must preserve every upstream-required persistent file, not only the SQL database. Project rule — acceptance evidence: A restored isolated instance opens a known test vault through a compatible client; missing required backup files fail restoration visibly.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md
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Bitwarden pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| free (individual) | $0 | $0 | 1 user; unlimited passwords, passkeys and devices; share with 1 other Bitwarden user; text-only Send. |
| free organization | $0/workspace | $0/workspace | 2 users and 2 collections; unlimited vault items. |
| premium | — | $1.65 | 1 user; unlimited passwords/devices; 5 GB personal attachment storage; up to 10 hardware security keys.Annual-only public price: $19.80/year; taxes excluded. |
| families | — | $3.99 | Up to 6 users; unlimited collections; 5 GB personal storage plus 5 GB organization storage.Annual-only public price: $47.88/year; taxes excluded. |
| teams | — | $4/user | Unlimited users and collections; Premium features for every seat; 5 GB personal plus 5 GB organization storage.Published price is per user/month billed annually; 7-day business trial. |
| enterprise | — | $6/user | Unlimited users and collections; includes SSO, account recovery, self-hosting and 1 Families sponsorship per user.Published price is per user/month billed annually; 7-day business trial. |
free tierFree individual: 1 user, unlimited passwords/passkeys/devices, sharing with 1 other user; Free organization: 2 users and 2 collections.
billingpublished prices are annual subscriptions; no public month-to-month prices displayed; taxes excluded
hidden costsExtra encrypted storage costs $0.33/GB/month; organization seats added by invitations are prorated, and unused purchased seats remain billable until the subscription seat count is reduced.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-11 · pricing source ↗
Questions about Bitwarden
Can you build your own Bitwarden with AI?
The verdict is yes for the scoped workflow. If your goal is to stop paying hosted Bitwarden Premium, the core vault can be self-hosted or replaced with KeePass-style local storage; the caveat is security responsibility.
What does the Bitwarden build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Prepare a private Vaultwarden deployment using its documented configuration, HTTPS and official compatible clients. Provide preflight, start, consistent backup and restore-to-separate-volumes scripts rather than writing a vault server. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: managed hosting; premium support; emergency access. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the Bitwarden prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this Bitwarden project take?
The catalogue estimate is weekend for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing Bitwarden?
managed hosting; premium support; emergency access; polished admin; reduced security maintenance risk. They pay because a professionally maintained security service is cheap relative to the downside of mistakes.
What price is this guide comparing against?
The recorded Premium plan is $1.65/mo (annual effective per month), checked 2026-08-07. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.
What can I use instead of building Bitwarden?
Vaultwarden: Bitwarden’s clients pointed at your own server; unofficial, capable, and now you are the outage. KeePassXC: A vault file on your disk with excellent autofill; syncing and sharing are deliberately somebody else’s job. Passbolt Community Edition: A team password vault with real sharing and a server stack that expects an adult in the room. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/bitwarden/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.