Bitwarden runs as a desktop app, browser extension, mobile app, command-line tool, and a self-hosted server. Pick a target below — every download button routes to the official build via our redirect.
Our redirect handler queries the GitHub Releases API at the moment you click. You always get the latest signed build. No mirroring, no file modification, no ads injected into the installer. More on supply-chain.
Native cross-platform apps built on Electron. Same vault data, same encryption, same UI across Windows, macOS and Linux.
Bitwarden for Windows 10 and 11 — full desktop app, Microsoft Store, or portable build that runs from a USB stick.
Bitwarden for macOS — Universal app for Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and older Intel Macs.
Bitwarden for Linux — pick the package format that matches your distribution.
The browser extension is, for most people, the primary way to use Bitwarden — autofill credentials, save new logins, generate passwords inline on signup forms.
Bitwarden extension for Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi, Arc, and any Chromium-based browser.
Bitwarden add-on from Mozilla Add-ons. Mozilla-recommended, full WebExtensions API.
Bitwarden add-on from the Edge Add-ons store — natively integrated with Microsoft Edge.
Bitwarden Safari extension is bundled with the macOS app — install via Mac App Store.
Native iOS and Android apps with biometric unlock (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint) and OS-level autofill in third-party apps.
Bitwarden for iOS — Face ID, Touch ID, and Apple Watch support.
Bitwarden for Android — Google Play, or F-Droid for de-Googled devices.
Bitwarden CLI (bw) — the same vault, scriptable. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Distributed as a single binary plus npm package and Scoop / Homebrew formulae.
The Bitwarden server is open source too. Run the entire stack on your own VPS, NAS, or homelab — the official Docker compose plus a separate setup guide.
Bitwarden signs every desktop installer. After downloading, you can verify the signature:
Right-click Bitwarden-Installer-X.X.X.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures tab. The signer should be Bitwarden Inc. with a valid certificate. SmartScreen will allow the file because of this signature.
From terminal:
codesign -dv --verbose=4 /Applications/Bitwarden.appLook for Authority=Developer ID Application: 8bit Solutions LLC (Bitwarden's legal entity).
Bitwarden publishes SHA256 sums alongside each release. Download the checksums.txt file from the same release page and verify:
sha256sum -c checksums.txtPhishing pages buy advertisements against "download bitwarden" queries — usually identical-looking landing pages serving a malware-laden installer. The URL bar is the only reliable signal: the installer should come from github.com/bitwarden, vault.bitwarden.com, or a recognised platform store. Our redirects always land on those sources.
Most people use the browser extension as primary — autofill on websites is the killer feature, and the extension does that without launching a separate app. The desktop app is useful as a backup vault viewer when the extension is locked, and for accessing the vault without needing the browser open. The web vault at vault.bitwarden.com is the fallback if you're on a borrowed device.
You can install the apps without an account, but the vault is empty until you sign in or self-host. The free tier signup is the no-friction path: email + master password, done. No payment info, no email verification before first use.
Same Bitwarden code, different packaging. Microsoft Store version is a UWP/MSIX bundle that auto-updates through Windows Update; the .exe is a traditional installer that updates itself in-app. Pick the Store version on managed Windows; pick the .exe everywhere else for faster startup.
Roughly 120 MB on Windows, 140 MB on macOS, 110 MB for Linux .deb. The Electron runtime accounts for most of that — the actual Bitwarden code is small. The mobile apps are 30-50 MB. The CLI is under 50 MB.
The Snap is published and maintained by Bitwarden directly (not a third-party packager). The .deb and .rpm builds are also signed by Bitwarden. AppImage is the most "raw" — no system integration, just a single executable.
Desktop app: yes, checks at launch and prompts for update install. Browser extensions: yes, the browser updates them automatically. Mobile apps: yes, through the App Store / Play Store. CLI: no — you re-download or npm install -g @bitwarden/cli for the latest. Self-hosted server: no — you pull the new Docker image manually.