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Any Apple-devices users here? Why would I use this instead of Apple built-in password manager?

ErneX 4y ago
I use Bitwarden mainly because I can self host the server (vaultwarden). And even though I don’t use Windows much, it’s nice that I can use the win client there.
deliriumchn 4y ago
other than getting out of icloud passchain jail, none. Personally I use bitwarden so I can have unified access to passwords on my windows laptop, iphone and android phones.
selykg 4y ago
I think the biggest is simply having access to your data on non-apple devices and non-apple browsers. I.e. using it in Chrome or Firefox or whatever browser you want, as long as there's an extension that supports the browser it's likely available. You can store a lot more data in Bitwarden as well, including custom fields, so you aren't stuck with just a username and password and optional 2FA. With Bitwarden you can do security questions, a notes field, etc. Sharing with family is another big feature. Sharing your cable login, wifi password, streaming services, etc. There's a whole list of them, but I think those are sort of the top 3 for me.
- sleepybrett 4y ago
  Keychain supports a 'secure note' type item which is just a blob you could drop some structured data into, but no way to specify a custom fancy form.
  - selykg 4y ago
    Right, but I often leave notes in my login items themselves. If the account doesn't use an email address to authenticate I might just put the email address in so if that email ever gets shut down I know which accounts need to be migrated, as an example of why I might do that.
- burntalmonds 4y ago
  Apple released a Windows app that lets you access your keychain passwords. There's also a chrome extension.
  - aniforprez 4y ago
    Neither of which help me on my android phone or my Linux machine...
gurjeet 4y ago
> Why would I use this instead of Apple built-in password manager? Because BitWarden works on more devices than what Apple supports.
bodge5000 4y ago
Its nice to have something thats OS independant. Maybe you have no plans on leaving apple now, but surely you wouldn't want to rule it out ever happening in the future. Using an external password manager just means one less pain point for migrating. Its the same with any OS, or any technology for that matter.
InTheArena 4y ago
I tried bitwarden, and went back to 1Password. My ecosystem needs to be a bit independent for apple, just in case Apple starts acting like google, and locking users out of their accounts forever. The apple keychain has a really awful interface (surprising for apple) and family management is poor.
- jbaczuk 4y ago
  Not sure I understand, why did you switch back?
  - InTheArena 4y ago
    Ahh. Didn't tackle that - integration and user interface primarily.
    - jbaczuk 4y ago
      Oh, ok I misread the original post. Yeah I have had trouble with the browser extensions for 1Password for the last few years, will probably switch to self hosting bitwarden soon.
      - mdaniel 4y ago
        heh, if you think the 1P browser extensions are rough, you're going to really get a kick out of the tire-fire that the BW ones are
        jbaczuk 4y ago
        well i'm not using them anyway, so maybe i can save some money and not have to trust a 3rd party
lern_too_spel 4y ago
The Apple built-in password manager is worse than the Chrome built-in password manager because the Apple built-in password manager is not cross platform. The Chrome built-in password manager is worse than the Bitwarden password manager because it doesn't support credential sharing.

I use Bitwarden mainly because I can self host the server (vaultwarden). And even though I don’t use Windows much, it’s nice that I can use the win client there.

deliriumchn 4y ago

other than getting out of icloud passchain jail, none. Personally I use bitwarden so I can have unified access to passwords on my windows laptop, iphone and android phones.

selykg 4y ago

I think the biggest is simply having access to your data on non-apple devices and non-apple browsers. I.e. using it in Chrome or Firefox or whatever browser you want, as long as there's an extension that supports the browser it's likely available. You can store a lot more data in Bitwarden as well, including custom fields, so you aren't stuck with just a username and password and optional 2FA. With Bitwarden you can do security questions, a notes field, etc. Sharing with family is another big feature. Sharing your cable login, wifi password, streaming services, etc. There's a whole list of them, but I think those are sort of the top 3 for me.

sleepybrett 4y ago
Keychain supports a 'secure note' type item which is just a blob you could drop some structured data into, but no way to specify a custom fancy form.
- selykg 4y ago
  Right, but I often leave notes in my login items themselves. If the account doesn't use an email address to authenticate I might just put the email address in so if that email ever gets shut down I know which accounts need to be migrated, as an example of why I might do that.
burntalmonds 4y ago
Apple released a Windows app that lets you access your keychain passwords. There's also a chrome extension.
- aniforprez 4y ago
  Neither of which help me on my android phone or my Linux machine...

gurjeet 4y ago

> Why would I use this instead of Apple built-in password manager? Because BitWarden works on more devices than what Apple supports.

bodge5000 4y ago

Its nice to have something thats OS independant. Maybe you have no plans on leaving apple now, but surely you wouldn't want to rule it out ever happening in the future. Using an external password manager just means one less pain point for migrating. Its the same with any OS, or any technology for that matter.

InTheArena 4y ago

I tried bitwarden, and went back to 1Password. My ecosystem needs to be a bit independent for apple, just in case Apple starts acting like google, and locking users out of their accounts forever. The apple keychain has a really awful interface (surprising for apple) and family management is poor.

jbaczuk 4y ago
Not sure I understand, why did you switch back?
- InTheArena 4y ago
  Ahh. Didn't tackle that - integration and user interface primarily.
  - jbaczuk 4y ago
    Oh, ok I misread the original post. Yeah I have had trouble with the browser extensions for 1Password for the last few years, will probably switch to self hosting bitwarden soon.
    - mdaniel 4y ago
      heh, if you think the 1P browser extensions are rough, you're going to really get a kick out of the tire-fire that the BW ones are
      - jbaczuk 4y ago
        well i'm not using them anyway, so maybe i can save some money and not have to trust a 3rd party

lern_too_spel 4y ago

The Apple built-in password manager is worse than the Chrome built-in password manager because the Apple built-in password manager is not cross platform. The Chrome built-in password manager is worse than the Bitwarden password manager because it doesn't support credential sharing.