Self-Hosted

Vaultwarden: your vault, your rules

Q: Is Vaultwarden compatible with official Bitwarden apps?

Yes. Vaultwarden implements the full Bitwarden API. All official Bitwarden browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps work with it. Just point them to your server URL.

Q: How secure is self-hosted Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden uses the same client-side encryption as Bitwarden. Your vault is encrypted with AES-256 before it leaves your device. The server never sees your master password or unencrypted data.

Q: Can I import passwords from 1Password or LastPass?

Yes. Export your vault from 1Password, LastPass, or any other manager as CSV or JSON. Then import it through the Bitwarden web vault interface. The process takes under a minute.

Q: How do I set up HTTPS for Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden requires HTTPS for browser extensions to work. Use a reverse proxy like Caddy or Nginx Proxy Manager in Docker. Caddy handles Let's Encrypt certificates automatically.

Q: How do I back up my Vaultwarden data?

Back up the Docker data volume, which contains the SQLite database and attachments. Use a cron job with rsync or restic for automated daily backups to a separate location.

Q: Does Vaultwarden support organizations and password sharing?

Yes. Vaultwarden supports organizations, collections, and shared folders. You can create teams, assign access levels, and share credentials securely between members.

Your own password manager with full Bitwarden compatibility.
Your passwords stay on your hardware, not in someone else's cloud.

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Vaultwarden in a nutshell

A full Bitwarden-compatible server in a single lightweight container.

Full Bitwarden API

Compatible with all official Bitwarden browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps. No modified clients needed.

2FA and TOTP

Built-in TOTP authenticator, FIDO2/WebAuthn support, and Duo integration. Protect your vault with multiple authentication layers.

Password sharing

Share credentials securely through organizations and collections. Set read-only or full-access permissions per user.

Organizations and collections

Create teams with shared vaults. Organize credentials into collections and control access by group or individual.

Emergency access

Designate trusted contacts who can request access to your vault after a configurable waiting period.

Ultra-Lightweight

Uses about 50 MB of RAM. Written in Rust, runs in a single container. Perfect for low-resource VPS instances.

Vaultwarden vs 1Password

Your vault. Encrypted on your hardware. Not in a US cloud.

Feature	Vaultwarden + VPS	1Password
Data ownership	Your server, your data	1Password's cloud (US/Canada)
Source code	Open source (AGPLv3)	Closed source, proprietary
Per-user pricing	Flat VPS price, unlimited users	$7.99/user/mo
Bitwarden app support	All official Bitwarden apps	1Password apps only
Premium features	All features free (TOTP, attachments, Send)	Premium tier required

Install Vaultwarden in 5 minutes

Docker Compose on your VPS. HTTPS is required for browser extensions.

Connect and install Docker

ssh root@your-server-ip

apt update && apt install -y docker.io docker-compose-v2

Create docker-compose.yml

cat <<'EOF' > docker-compose.yml
services:
  vaultwarden:
    image: vaultwarden/server:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - vw-data:/data
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:8080:80"
    environment:
      - DOMAIN=https://vault.example.com
      - SIGNUPS_ALLOWED=true

volumes:
  vw-data:
EOF
docker compose up -d

Set up HTTPS and connect

Put a reverse proxy (Caddy or Nginx) in front of port 8080 with a valid SSL certificate. Then open your domain and create your account. Disable SIGNUPS_ALLOWED after setup.

Recommended VPS specs

Personal

1-5 users

512 MB RAM
1-5 users

Recommended

Small team

5-50 users

1 GB RAM
5-50 users

Organization

100+ users

2 GB+ RAM
100+ users

See all VPS Linux plans

Vaultwarden FAQ

Is Vaultwarden compatible with official Bitwarden apps?

How secure is self-hosted Vaultwarden?

Can I import passwords from 1Password or LastPass?

How do I set up HTTPS for Vaultwarden?

How do I back up my Vaultwarden data?

Does Vaultwarden support organizations and password sharing?

Still have questions? Contact our support team

Own your password vault

Passwords under your control. Bitwarden-compatible.

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