Choosing a password manager is a trust decision, so here is an honest comparison. We built NettForge, so we are not neutral, but we have kept to facts that are easy to check, and we say where the others are stronger. Checked October 2026. Companies change plans and features, so confirm the details on their own sites.
What to compare
- Security design. Is it zero-knowledge, how is the key made, and what can the provider still see?
- Track record. Years in the field, public reviews, and how past problems were handled.
- Price and currency. What it costs, and in which currency you are charged.
- Where it works. Apps, browsers, phones.
- The features you will use every day. Autofill, 2FA codes, passkeys, sharing, recovery.
- Special needs. For us, that is routers, switches, OLTs and network teams.
At a glance
| NettForge | 1Password | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-knowledge design | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Source code you can read | No | No (it publishes a security design paper) | Yes, open source |
| Run it on your own server | No | No | Yes, optional |
| Free plan that does not expire | Yes: unlimited passwords and devices | No: a free trial, then paid | Yes: unlimited passwords and devices |
| Charged in South African rand | Yes | Check their pricing page | Check their pricing page |
| Built-in 2FA codes | Yes (10 on Free, unlimited on Personal) | Yes | Yes (on paid plans) |
| Passkeys | Yes, on Personal and up | Yes | Yes |
| Router, OLT and WinBox login tools | Yes, built in | Not built in | Not built in |
| Network monitoring and tools | Yes (Polaris) | No | No |
| Years in the field | New | Many | Many |
| Enterprise single sign-on | Not on our plans today | Yes | Yes |
Questions to ask any password manager
- What can you see? Ask what the company still holds in readable form: email, plan, item types, website addresses?
- How is my key made? A slow, memory-hungry method such as Argon2id, or a high-iteration PBKDF2, protects a stolen vault better than a fast one.
- What if I forget my master password? A provider that can reset it for you can also be tricked into resetting it for someone else. Look for recovery kits and trusted contacts instead.
- How are problems handled? Look at how the company has explained past incidents, and whether it publishes its design.
- How do I leave? You should be able to export your data at any time, without a paid plan.
Who should pick what
Pick Bitwarden if open source, self-hosting or the longest public track record matter most to you. It is an excellent, widely trusted choice. Read the NettForge and Bitwarden comparison.
Pick 1Password if you want a polished product with a large ecosystem and strong business integrations, and you are comfortable paying in dollars. Read the NettForge and 1Password comparison.
Pick NettForge if you want a zero-knowledge manager with a real free plan, prices in rand, Autopilot sign-in, or if you run a network and want your passwords and your router logins in one place. See why a South African password manager, or how it works for MikroTik teams.
Thinking of leaving LastPass? Read what to look for in a LastPass alternative.
Wherever you land, moving your logins takes a few minutes.