Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Keeper · 🔐 security
Keeper vs Vaultwarden
Bitwarden’s clients pointed at your own server; unofficial, capable, and now you are the outage. Here is how Vaultwarden ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Keeper ($3.75/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Vaultwarden
$0.00/mo · AGPL-3.0
Keeper vs Vaultwarden Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Keeper (Paid) | Vaultwarden (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $3.75 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $45 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $45) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $225 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $225) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $450 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $450) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopmobilewebself-hostedextensiondocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 65k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Keeper to Vaultwarden
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is an unofficial compatible server with no Keeper-style vendor SLA or support, and you own every backup, upgrade and outage.
How to deploy Vaultwarden
Docker or Podman container with a persistent /data volume and a reverse proxy for HTTPS
What it takes to run
Docker, a domain and HTTPS reverse proxy are the easy part; backups, upgrades and outages become the user's responsibility
Where your data lives
Client-encrypted Bitwarden-compatible vault data stored in SQLite by default, or MySQL/PostgreSQL, with attachments and configuration in the persistent volume
Why fork Vaultwarden instead of vibe-coding a Keeper clone?
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Keeper, manage a local encrypted credential vault and secure notes. The hard boundary is audits, enterprise controls, autofill, monitoring, recovery, and support, plus security assurance, infrastructure, and trust.
Keeper vs Vaultwarden FAQ
Is Vaultwarden a good free alternative to Keeper?+
Yes. Vaultwarden is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Keeper. Bitwarden’s clients pointed at your own server; unofficial, capable, and now you are the outage.
What is the catch when switching from Keeper to Vaultwarden?+
It is an unofficial compatible server with no Keeper-style vendor SLA or support, and you own every backup, upgrade and outage.
How much do you save switching from Keeper to Vaultwarden?+
Keeper costs $3.75/mo ($45/yr) per seat, whereas Vaultwarden is $0/mo. Switching saves $45/yr for a solo user, $225/yr for a 5-person team, and $450/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Vaultwarden instead of Keeper?+
Install: Docker or Podman container with a persistent /data volume and a reverse proxy for HTTPS. Setup: Docker, a domain and HTTPS reverse proxy are the easy part; backups, upgrades and outages become the user's responsibility
