Bitwarden is a popular open-source password manager and secrets management platform that supports self-hosting. Founded in 2016, it provides secure vaults, user management, and cross-platform clients for individuals, teams, and enterprises. Self-hosting Bitwarden is common in organizations that need full control of secrets and credential storage while maintaining compliance with security policies.
| Edition |
Latest Version |
Release Date |
Docker Image |
| Bitwarden (Standard) |
2026.2.0 |
February 2026 |
ghcr.io/bitwarden/bitwarden:2026.2.0 |
| Bitwarden Lite |
2026.2.0 |
February 2026 |
ghcr.io/bitwarden/lite:2026.2.0 |
| Web Vault |
2026.2.0 |
February 2026 |
Included |
💡 Tip: Bitwarden Lite (released December 2025) is the new official single-container deployment option for personal/home lab use. For enterprise deployments with organizations, use the standard Bitwarden server.
- Encrypted password vaults – Zero-knowledge encryption with AES-256 bit encryption
- Organization and team sharing – Granular access controls and collection management
- Cross-platform clients – Web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), mobile (iOS, Android), and browser extensions
- Self-hosted deployment – Full control over data and infrastructure
- SSO integration – SAML 2.0, OpenID Connect, and Azure AD support (enterprise)
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) – TOTP, WebAuthn/FIDO2, YubiKey, and hardware security keys
- Emergency access – Designate trusted contacts for vault access
- Audit logs and event reporting – Comprehensive activity tracking
- Bitwarden Secrets Manager – Separate product for DevOps infrastructure secrets (SSH keys, API keys, certificates)
- Passkey support – FIDO2/WebAuthn passkey authentication (2025+)
- Access Intelligence – Dark web monitoring and breach detection (2025+)
- Enterprise password management – Centralized credential storage with policy enforcement
- Team secret sharing – Secure collaboration on sensitive credentials
- Self-hosted credential vaults – Full data sovereignty and compliance
- DevOps secrets management – Infrastructure and application secrets via Bitwarden Secrets Manager
- Personal password management – Bitwarden Lite for individuals and families
- Compliance requirements – SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR-ready deployments
- Backend: .NET 6/7/8, ASP.NET Core
- Database: Microsoft SQL Server (standard), SQLite/PostgreSQL/MySQL (Lite)
- Frontend: Angular, TypeScript
- Container: Docker, Docker Compose, Kubernetes
- Reverse Proxy: Nginx, Traefik, Caddy
- Identity: Duende IdentityServer, OpenID Connect, SAML 2.0
¶ Standard Bitwarden Server
- 11 Docker containers for full deployment
- Services: API, Web Vault, Identity, SSO, Notifications, Events, Admin, Migrations, MSSQL, Redis, Nginx
- Requires: 4GB+ RAM, 2+ CPU cores, 10GB+ storage
- Single Docker container deployment
- SQLite database (default) or external PostgreSQL/MySQL/MSSQL
- Requires: 512MB RAM, 1 CPU core, 1GB+ storage
- 100% compatible with official Bitwarden clients
- Server components: AGPL-3.0 (open source)
- Client applications: Various open-source licenses
- Enterprise features: Commercial license required (SSO, SCIM, advanced policies)
- Bitwarden Lite: Free with optional premium subscription
- ✅ Open-source and actively maintained
- ✅ Self-hosted deployment fully supported
- ✅ Bitwarden Lite GA since December 2025 (v2025.11.1)
- ✅ Latest release: 2026.2.0 (February 2026)
- ✅ 10+ million users, 50,000+ businesses worldwide
- ✅ Headquarters: Santa Barbara, California, USA
¶ History and References
- Bitwarden Secrets Manager – Infrastructure and application secrets for DevOps teams
- Bitwarden Passwordless.dev – FIDO2 WebAuthn passkey authentication for developers
- Bitwarden Authenticator – TOTP generator for 2FA
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