The quiet renovation at Bitwarden (blog.ppb1701.com)

Article summary

Bitwarden, a password management company, has undergone significant changes, including a change in CEO and a shift in values, with the new CEO having a background in mergers and acquisitions. The company has also removed the 'Always free' promise from its website and has not announced these changes publicly. The author suggests that these changes may indicate a shift towards preparing the company for sale. The changes have raised concerns among users about the company's commitment to its free tier and open-source principles.

Main themes

• Password management
• Company changes
• Private equity involvement
• Open-source principles
• User trust
• Business model shifts

What commenters say

• The removal of the 'Always free' promise and the change in CEO are concerning signs that Bitwarden may be preparing for a sale or shifting its business model.
• The company's actions, such as quietly rewriting its values and hiking prices, are eroding user trust and may drive users to seek alternative password management solutions.
• Some users are willing to pay for Bitwarden's services and do not mind the price increase, but are concerned about the sneaky and unannounced changes.
• The involvement of private equity in the company is a red flag, as it may prioritize profits over user interests and lead to further changes that compromise the service.
• Users are considering alternative password management solutions, such as Vaultwarden, Proton Pass, and Keepass, due to concerns about Bitwarden's direction.
• The company's commitment to its free tier and open-source principles is crucial to its users, and any changes to these aspects may lead to a loss of user trust and loyalty.
• Some users believe that the company's actions are a classic example of the 'enshittification' cycle, where a company lures users in with promises and then changes its terms and conditions to prioritize profits.