Do Bitwarden apps work with Vaultwarden?

Yes. Vaultwarden's README says it is compatible with the official Bitwarden clients and implements a nearly complete version of the Bitwarden Client API. Its web vault only works over HTTPS.

Is Bitwarden open source?

Its server code is AGPL-3.0, except code in the bitwarden_license directory, which is under the Bitwarden License.

What licenses do Bitwarden and Vaultwarden use?

Bitwarden uses a custom license. Vaultwarden uses the AGPL-3.0 license.

Which has more GitHub stars, Bitwarden or Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden has 69k stars and Bitwarden has 20k. Stars show attention; check recent commits and releases for maintenance.

What languages are Bitwarden and Vaultwarden written in?

Bitwarden is mainly written in C#. Vaultwarden is mainly written in Rust.

Bitwarden vs Vaultwarden

The official Bitwarden password manager server, self-hosted with Docker or used through Bitwarden's cloud. Unofficial Bitwarden compatible server written in Rust, formerly known as bitwarden_rs. Compare the capabilities you need, then check hosting, licensing and maintenance.

Bitwarden vs Vaultwarden
Attribute	Bitwarden	Vaultwarden
What it is	Bitwarden's official backend: APIs, database, and core infrastructure	Unofficial Bitwarden-compatible server, formerly bitwarden_rs
Written in	C# on .NET with ASP.NET Core	Rust
Install	Docker containers with install scripts for Linux, macOS, and Windows; Bitwarden lite as one image for personal use	Container images on ghcr.io, Docker Hub, and quay.io
Organizations	Paid-plan features after uploading a license from Bitwarden's cloud	Collections, groups, member roles, policies, event logs, and Directory Connector
License	AGPL-3.0, except the bitwarden_license directory under the Bitwarden License	AGPL-3.0
Support	Bitwarden, Inc.	Vaultwarden maintainers; its README asks users not to use Bitwarden support channels
Purpose	The official Bitwarden password manager server, self-hosted with Docker or used through Bitwarden's cloud.	Unofficial Bitwarden compatible server written in Rust, formerly known as bitwarden_rs.
Documented capabilities	APIs and database for the official Bitwarden apps, Docker install scripts for Linux, macOS, and Windows, Bitwarden lite single-image deployment, Self-hosted organizations with a license from Bitwarden's cloud	Personal password vault, Bitwarden client compatibility, Organizations and collections, Two-factor authentication
Best-fit workflow	Organizations that want Bitwarden's official server, support from Bitwarden, Inc., and their plan's paid features.	For experienced operators who want a Bitwarden-compatible server they control.
Check before choosing	Paid organization features need a license retrieved from Bitwarden's cloud. Bitwarden lite is meant for personal use and home labs, not business use.	An unofficial password server needs disciplined backups, updates, and authentication configuration.
Deployment options	Docker, Bitwarden lite	Docker
GitHub stars	20,289	69,008
License	Custom	AGPL-3.0
Self-hosted	Yes	Yes
Docker noted	Yes	Yes
Cloud / hosted	Yes	Not recorded
Primary language	C#	Rust
Last commit	2026-10-13	2026-10-10
Difficulty	Moderate	Easy
Content source	Editorial catalog entry	Editorial catalog entry
Metadata checked	Check the current repository	2026-10-14
Forks	1.8k	3.3k
Star growth	Not recorded	+645 (2026-10-01 to 2026-10-14)
Alternative to	Not recorded	1Password, Bitwarden

This comparison uses recorded capabilities, not hands-on performance tests. A capability missing from one record does not mean that product lacks it. Confirm edition, version and current pricing in the official documentation.

Bitwarden or Vaultwarden?

Both serve the same apps. Vaultwarden is an unofficial server that implements a nearly complete version of the Bitwarden Client API, and its README says it is compatible with the official Bitwarden clients. Pick Vaultwarden if you self-host for yourself, your family, or a small organization: its maintainers say they focus on that community, and its README describes it as a fit where running the official resource-heavy service might not be ideal. Its recommended install is a container image with its web vault bundled. It is not associated with Bitwarden, Inc., so report problems to the Vaultwarden project, not Bitwarden support.

Pick Bitwarden's official server when a business wants support from Bitwarden, Inc. and the features of a paid plan. A self-hosted Bitwarden organization gets its plan's paid features after you upload a license retrieved from Bitwarden's cloud, and only Families and Enterprise organizations can be imported to a self-hosted server. Bitwarden lite, which runs as one Docker image, is intended for personal use and home labs, not business use.

When to consider Bitwarden

Organizations that want Bitwarden's official server, support from Bitwarden, Inc., and their plan's paid features.

Paid organization features need a license retrieved from Bitwarden's cloud. Bitwarden lite is meant for personal use and home labs, not business use.

Bitwarden documentation and source

Bitwarden project page · Security

When to consider Vaultwarden

For experienced operators who want a Bitwarden-compatible server they control.

An unofficial password server needs disciplined backups, updates, and authentication configuration.

Vaultwarden documentation and source

Vaultwarden project page · Security