What happens to my passwords if I cancel Bitwarden Premium?

Your passwords are safe. Bitwarden's free tier still stores unlimited passwords. You only lose premium features like advanced 2FA, encrypted file storage, and vault health reports. All your saved passwords remain accessible.

Is Bitwarden free tier good enough?

Yes, Bitwarden's free tier is one of the most generous in the password manager space. It includes unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, and basic two-factor authentication. Premium mainly adds advanced 2FA options, 1GB encrypted file storage, and emergency access.

How do I cancel a Bitwarden Families or Teams plan?

Organization plans (Families, Teams, Enterprise) are managed through the organization settings by the admin. Go to your Organization settings, then Billing, then Subscription to cancel. Only the organization owner or admin can cancel.

Last verified: February 2026

How to Cancel Your
Bitwarden Premium Subscription

Downgrading from Bitwarden Premium? Your passwords stay safe -- all of them. The free tier still gives you unlimited passwords on unlimited devices. Here is how to cancel Premium in 2 minutes flat, and what you actually lose (spoiler: not much).

Quick Overview

Difficulty

Easy

Time

~2 minutes

Method

Web Vault

Cost

$10/year

Cancel Bitwarden Premium via Web Vault

Log in to the Bitwarden Web Vault

Go to vault.bitwarden.com and log in with your email and master password. You need to use the web vault -- you cannot manage your subscription from the browser extension or mobile app. If you self-host Bitwarden, there is no subscription to cancel since you manage it yourself.

Open Settings then Subscription

In the web vault, click Settings in the left sidebar. Then click Subscription or Premium Membership. This page shows your plan status (Premium Individual at $10/year), expiration date, and payment method. You cannot manage billing from the browser extension or mobile app -- it must be done through vault.bitwarden.com.

Click Cancel Subscription

Click Cancel Subscription or Cancel Premium. Bitwarden keeps it refreshingly simple here -- no aggressive retention screens or guilt-trip pop-ups. Confirm your cancellation. Your premium features stay active until the end of your current billing period.

Verify and relax

Check that your subscription page shows the cancellation. You should receive a confirmation email. Your passwords, logins, and vault data are completely safe -- they remain in your free Bitwarden account. Nothing gets deleted.

Pro Tip: Export Your Vault First (Just in Case)

While your passwords stay safe in the free tier, it never hurts to have a backup. Go to Tools > Export Vault in the web vault to download an encrypted or unencrypted backup of all your passwords before making any account changes. Store it securely.

What Happens After You Cancel Bitwarden Premium?

Every single password stays safe in your vault

This is the big one. Your vault with all passwords, logins, secure notes, credit cards, and identities remains fully intact on the free tier. Bitwarden's free plan includes unlimited passwords on unlimited devices -- browser extension, mobile app, desktop app, all of it keeps working. You can also export your vault at any time via Tools > Export Vault in the web vault.

Premium features deactivate

You lose access to advanced 2FA methods (like YubiKey and FIDO2), 1GB of encrypted file attachments, vault health reports, and emergency access. Basic TOTP authenticator and standard 2FA continue to work on the free tier.

File attachments become read-only

If you stored file attachments in your vault (a Premium feature), you can still view and download them, but you cannot upload new ones. Consider downloading any attachments you need before your Premium expires.

Re-upgrading is simple

If you change your mind, upgrading back to Premium is instant. Just go to Settings > Subscription in the web vault and resubscribe. All your premium features reactivate immediately. No data is ever lost in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my passwords if I cancel Bitwarden Premium?

Absolutely not. Your entire vault -- passwords, logins, secure notes, identities, and credit card info -- stays intact on the free tier. Bitwarden's free plan includes unlimited passwords across unlimited devices. Premium is just for extra features.

Can I get a refund from Bitwarden?

At $10/year, refund requests are uncommon, but Bitwarden does handle them on a case-by-case basis. If you were recently charged and want a refund, contact Bitwarden support at bitwarden.com/contact. Be polite and explain your situation.

How do I cancel a Bitwarden Families plan?

Families and Teams plans are managed through the Organization settings. The organization owner needs to go to the Organization > Settings > Subscription page and cancel from there. Individual family members cannot cancel the plan themselves.

What if I subscribed through the App Store?

If you subscribed to Bitwarden Premium through the Apple App Store or Google Play, you need to cancel through those platforms. On iPhone: Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions > Bitwarden. On Android: Google Play > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.

What is the difference between canceling Premium and deleting my Bitwarden account?

Canceling Premium just stops your $10/year payment and downgrades you to the free tier. Your vault, passwords, and all data remain intact. Deleting your account is permanent and wipes everything. For most people, canceling Premium is all you need -- the free tier includes unlimited passwords, unlimited devices, and a password generator. Only delete your account if you truly want to leave Bitwarden entirely.

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How to Cancel Your Bitwarden Premium Subscription