In today’s digital age, password management is a key part of cybersecurity.
Vaultwarden is an open-source and lightweight alternative to the commercial cloud service Bitwarden that enables efficient password management with the option of hosting on your own infrastructure.
How does the Vaultwarden password vault work?
Vaultwarden uses modern encryption methods for secure password storage. All passwords are encrypted on the client side using AES-256, PBKDF2 and other security mechanisms, which means that even the server operator cannot access them. Data is synchronized between devices over a secure connection, providing protection against eavesdropping and attacks.
Vaultwarden also allows you to organize passwords into folders, share login credentials between team members, and store other sensitive information such as notes, payment details, or security keys.
Automatic search for login credentials
One of Vaultwarden’s main functions is to automatically whisper login credentials to web applications and services based on domain detections, IP addresses, and other metrics, which can of course be configured. This feature saves time and eliminates the risk of using weak or repetitive passwords. To access secrets stored in the vault, you can use:
- Browser extensions – When you install an extension on Chrome, Firefox, Edge or any other supported browser, Vaultwarden automatically recognizes login forms and offers the saved data.
- Mobile app – On Android or iOS phones, you can use the auto-fill integration in the system.
- Desktop application – Users can easily copy passwords or use keyboard shortcuts to fill in login credentials.
Comparison with popular offline solution
KeePass is a popular offline password management solution that also offers a high level of security, but requires manual synchronization between devices. In contrast, Vaultwarden offers several undeniable advantages:
| Functions | KeePass | Vaultwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256, PBKDF2 |
| Synchronisation between devices | Manual | Automatic |
| Support for team sharing | Limited | Fully supported |
| Browser extensions | No | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Yes, but without synchronisation | Yes, with synchronisation option |
Switching from KeePass to Vaultwarden
For KeePass users who want the convenience of a synchronised vault, switching to Vaultwarden is easy. The procedure is as follows:
1. Exporting data from KeePass – In KeePass, choose File > Export and select CSV or the more modern and complex XML format.
2. Import to Vaultwarden – Log in to the Vaultwarden web interface, go to Tools > Import Data and select the format you chose when exporting in the previous step.
3. Data upload – Confirm the data transfer to the target vault with the Import data button, or specify the collections to which the KeePass password structure will be imported.
4. Check and delete the original CSV file – After a successful import, we recommend deleting the original file to avoid the risk of misuse.
Host Vaultwarden as a service
For maximum security of your passwords and full control over your Vaultwarden instance, we recommend hosting on a dedicated URL with an HTTPS certificate. We offer the option of professionally hosting Vaultwarden in our datacenter with maximum security and support.
