EU Password Managers: Bitwarden vs Proton Pass vs Enpass vs NordPass

Read time: 8 min | Last updated: January 2026

TL;DR: Bitwarden for self-hosters and open-source fans. Proton Pass if you’re in the Proton ecosystem. NordPass for easy switching from LastPass. Enpass if you want local-only storage.

The LastPass breach in 2022 was a wake-up call. Encrypted vaults stolen. Master passwords potentially crackable with enough time.

1Password didn’t get breached. But they moved to AWS. Your vault lives on Amazon servers now, accessible under US jurisdiction.

Password managers hold everything. Email logins, bank accounts, work credentials. If there’s one thing to keep out of US cloud infrastructure, it’s this.

The Quick Comparison

	Bitwarden	Proton Pass	Enpass	NordPass
Country	US (but self-hostable)	Switzerland	India (local storage)	Lithuania
Open-source	Fully	Fully	No	No
Self-hosted	Yes	No	Yes (local only)	No
Free tier	Yes	Yes	Trial	Yes
Pricing	$10/year	€48/year	$24 lifetime	€36/year
Zero-knowledge	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Bitwarden: The Open-Source Standard

US company, but fully open-source and self-hostable. If you don’t trust their servers, run your own.

What Makes It Different

Everything is open-source. Client code, server code, everything. Thousands of eyes on the security. And you can host it yourself if you want complete control.

What’s Good

Truly open-source. Not “trust us, it’s encrypted.” The code is public. Security researchers verify the claims.

Self-hosting option. Run Vaultwarden (community server) on your own hardware. Zero trust required.

Cross-platform everything. Browser extensions, mobile apps, desktop apps, CLI. Works everywhere.

Excellent free tier. Unlimited passwords, unlimited devices. Premium is $10/year for 2FA, file attachments, reports.

Industry-respected. Recommended by security professionals. Regular audits published.

What’s Not

US jurisdiction. If you use their hosted service, data is on US servers.

Interface is functional, not beautiful. Gets the job done, but won’t win design awards.

Organization features cost. Teams and sharing require paid plans.

Best For

Security-conscious users who want verifiable claims
Self-hosters wanting complete control
Anyone on a budget (free tier is great)
Migrating from LastPass or 1Password

Proton Pass: Swiss Security Meets Password Management

From the makers of ProtonMail. Same zero-knowledge approach applied to passwords.

What Makes It Different

Proton’s track record. Same company that built ProtonMail and Proton VPN. Swiss jurisdiction. Zero-knowledge proven over a decade.

What’s Good

Proton ecosystem. One account for email, VPN, Drive, Calendar, and Pass. Seamless.

Email aliases built-in. Generate random email addresses for signups. Hide your real email, reduce spam.

Hide-my-email feature. Create unlimited email aliases that forward to your inbox.

Swiss privacy. Not just encryption. Swiss laws protect against foreign data requests.

Open-source. All apps are open-source and audited.

What’s Not

Newer product. Launched 2023. Less mature than Bitwarden or 1Password.

Ecosystem lock-in. Best with Proton apps. Less compelling standalone.

Limited features. Basic password management. No advanced sharing or organization tools yet.

Price. €48/year for Pass Plus. More expensive than Bitwarden.

Best For

Existing Proton users (Mail, VPN)
Those who want email aliases integrated
Swiss jurisdiction priority
Privacy maximalists

Enpass: Local Storage Only

Indian company, but here’s the twist: they store nothing. Vaults live on your devices or your own cloud.

What Makes It Different

No Enpass servers involved. Your vault syncs through your own cloud (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or WebDAV). They never see your data.

What’s Good

You control storage. Put your vault on iCloud for Apple devices. Google Drive for Android. Self-hosted WebDAV for paranoia. Your choice.

One-time purchase option. $24 for lifetime access. No subscriptions.

Feature-rich. Watchtower for breach alerts, tags for organization, multiple vaults.

Cross-platform. Everything works. Desktop apps are native, not Electron.

What’s Not

Trust your sync provider. If you use iCloud, that’s still US jurisdiction. Enpass encrypts, but the file lives on Apple servers.

Not open-source. You’re trusting Enpass’s encryption implementation.

Desktop apps cost. Free tier is mobile-only. Desktop requires premium.

Smaller community. Fewer extensions, less third-party support.

Best For

Users who want local-first storage
Those who prefer one-time payments
iCloud/Google Drive users who want encryption layer
Privacy-conscious who distrust all cloud password managers

NordPass: From the VPN Company

Lithuanian company behind NordVPN. Entered password management in 2019.

What Makes It Different

NordSec’s scale. Large company, resources for security investment, EU jurisdiction.

What’s Good

EU-based. Lithuania. Full GDPR compliance. No US jurisdiction concerns.

Polished apps. Clean interface, fast performance. Feels modern.

XChaCha20 encryption. Uses newer encryption algorithm than typical AES.

Password health. Breach monitoring, weak password detection, reuse alerts.

Family plan. 6 accounts at reasonable price.

What’s Not

Not open-source. You’re trusting NordSec’s claims without verification.

VPN company concerns. NordVPN has had security incidents. Some users are cautious.

Pricing changes. NordSec frequently changes pricing and features. Hard to predict costs.

Limited free tier. Paid tier really needed for practical use.

Best For

Existing NordVPN users
Those who want EU jurisdiction without self-hosting
Users prioritizing modern interface
Families needing shared plan

The Self-Hosting Question

Self-hosting a password manager is serious. Get it wrong and you lose everything.

Bitwarden/Vaultwarden Self-Host

Pros:

Complete control
No subscription fees
Works with official clients

Cons:

You manage security
You manage backups
You manage availability

Requirements: Server, technical knowledge, backup strategy, time.

Who should do it: Organizations with IT resources. Home labbers who understand the responsibility. Nobody who isn’t prepared to maintain it forever.

Local-Only (Enpass, KeePass)

Pros:

No servers to maintain
No subscription fees
Maximum privacy

Cons:

You handle sync
Device loss = vault access issues
No sharing features

Feature Comparison

Feature	Bitwarden	Proton Pass	Enpass	NordPass
TOTP built-in	Premium	Paid	Yes	Premium
Email aliases	No	Yes	No	Yes
Password sharing	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes
Breach monitoring	Premium	Paid	Yes	Yes
Emergency access	Yes	No	No	Yes
File attachments	Premium	No	Yes	No

Migration Difficulty

Switching password managers is easier than you’d think.

From LastPass

All four import LastPass CSV exports cleanly. Export from LastPass, import to new manager, done.

From 1Password

Most support 1Password 1PUX format. Export, import, verify, done.

The Process

Export from old manager (CSV or native format)
Import to new manager
Verify critical accounts work
Update browser extensions
Delete export file securely
Use new manager for 2 weeks
Delete old manager account

Pricing Breakdown

For individual use, per year:

Manager	Free	Premium	What Premium Adds
Bitwarden	Unlimited	$10	TOTP, attachments, reports
Proton Pass	Limited	€48	Unlimited aliases, vault sharing
Enpass	Mobile only	$24 (lifetime)	Desktop apps
NordPass	Limited	€36	Breach scanner, sharing

Bitwarden is cheapest. Enpass wins long-term with lifetime option.

My Recommendation

Choose Bitwarden if:

Open-source verification matters to you
You want to self-host
You want the best free tier
Budget is a concern

Choose Proton Pass if:

You already use ProtonMail
Email aliases are important
Swiss jurisdiction is a priority
You want one account for everything

Choose Enpass if:

You want local-only storage
One-time purchase appeals to you
You already use iCloud/Google Drive
You don’t need sharing features

Choose NordPass if:

You want EU jurisdiction without technical setup
You use NordVPN already
Interface polish matters
You need family sharing

FAQ

Is Bitwarden really US-based?

Yes, but you can self-host. Or trust that zero-knowledge encryption means they can’t read your data even if forced. The code is open for verification.

What happened to LastPass?

Encrypted vaults were stolen in 2022. With weak master passwords, attackers could potentially decrypt them offline with enough time and computing power.

Should I use browser’s built-in password manager?

For casual use, Chrome/Safari password managers are fine. For security-conscious users, dedicated managers offer better features and cross-platform sync.

What about KeePass?

KeePass is excellent but dated. Fully local, fully open-source, but the UX is from 2003. KeePassXC is a modern fork worth considering.

Try Them

Bitwarden: bitwarden.com - Free forever
Proton Pass: proton.me/pass - Free tier available
Enpass: enpass.io - Free mobile
NordPass: nordpass.com - Free tier

See also:

7 Password Managers That Won’t Sell Your Vault – Honest guide
EU Alternatives to LastPass
EU Alternatives to 1Password
Why EU Software Matters

Last updated: January 2026

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