When comparing Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline) vs Bitwarden, the Slant community recommends Bitwarden for most people. In the question“What are the best offline password managers?” Bitwarden is ranked 2nd while Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline) is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Bitwarden is:
Bitwarden is open source and can therefore easily be reviewed and checked for security. Its Github repository is accessible [here](https://github.com/bitwarden).
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Unique extension design
The extension is a remote autofill framework without storing passwords or requiring sign-in. Its design can help minimizing the security risks caused by browser vulnerabilities.
After you scan the QR code on a desktop browser to confirm filling, your password will be encrypted on your mobile app first, then sent to the cloud server via a mobile browser, and finally arrive at the extension to be decrypted and filled in.
Check this to know more details.
Pro Security chip encryption
The app protects your data with your phone's security chip, the same chip used by smartphone wallet to protect payment cards.
NFC Card in Android Pay.
iOS Apple Pay components.
Pro Backup & restore
You can back up all your data including passwords, OTP, attachments etc, with AES-256 and PBKDF2 encryption.
The app also allows you to send your backup password to your friends in encrypted form in case you forget it. Friends help save the encrypted backup password but cannot decrypt it, let alone access your database.
Pro Hundreds of terrific account templates
The app provides many account templates including tech giants like Google, crypto wallets like Binance, email accounts like CTemplar, game accounts like Steam, etc.
You can use these templates to save all your accounts' security information like recovery codes, security questions and answers, etc.
Pro Autofill login
2 taps to autofill your username and password on mobile apps or browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Every time you use autofill, you must authenticate with your biometric or master password to unlock the app. So even if you temporarily lend your phone to someone else, you don't have to worry about them abusing autofill to sign in and spy on your accounts.
Pro Apple ID security template
You can use it to save passwords, recovery codes, receipts, security questions and answers, etc.
There are also some helpful security tips about how to protect your Apple ID.
Pro OTP authenticator (2FA)
You can use the app to help enable 2FA for other platform accounts. The password, OTP, and recovery codes of an account can be saved together.
For example see this.
Pro Save attachments and notes
You can add attachments to save the photos of your ID cards, driver licenses, etc. in the app. Like other data, your notes and attachments are well protected with secure chip encryption and sandbox isolation.
Pro Save payment cards
As long as you enter the card number, ID Guard Offline app can automatically identify the card issuer, card organization and so on. It is easier than ever to store payment card information.
Pro Anti malicious fraud
When you use autofill, the app can identify fake apps, display the requested information, automatically match the filling account, etc.
These security designs can prevent malicious apps or websites from defrauding your password with hidden password boxes, forged login interfaces, etc.
Pro Biometric or master password authentication
Every time you open the app, you are required to authenticate with biometric. If you have set a master password for extra protection, you can also unlock the app by entering the correct master password.
Pro Verifiable security technologies
They shared a lot of blogs to show how to verify their security technologies like security chip encryption, true offline, autofill phishing detection, extension security design, etc.
Check out tech blogs.
Pro Find back master password
With other password managers, if you forget your master password, your can't unlock your database forever. But this app is different. It allows you to send your master password to your friends in encrypted form in case you forget it. Friends help save the encrypted master password but cannot decrypt it, let alone access your database.
Pro Excellent password generator
Its password generator allows you to fine control special characters to satisfy complex password requirements like containing certain symbols, the same characters cannot be sequential.
See here.
Pro No ads, no tracking
Neither the app nor the extension has trackers.
You need to be careful if you’re using a password manager with trackers. Because hackers may attack these trackers to steal your passwords.
See this
Pro Supports multiple platforms
The app supports iOS and Android. The extension supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
The extension only can be used with the help of the app because all your data is safely stored in the app on your phone with secure chip encryption and sandbox isolation, while the extension does not keep any data.
See this
Pro Clean and intuitive UI
After unlocking the app, you will see all the stored accounts' logos and names on the main interface. Tap a tag, like Tools, you can see the accounts with that tag.
Pro Import & export
Support importing CSV files exported from Chrome/Edge/Firefox/Safari/Myki or importing them with zip encryption mode.
You can also export your data from ID Guard Offline app in CSV or JSON format with password encryption.
Pro Timeline (account history)
Automatically record the changing histories of your accounts. This feature would be very helpful if you are using some platforms that ask for the last 3 passwords when changing a new one.
Pro Add multiple tags
The app will automatically tag your stored accounts to help you manage them by categories. You can also add custom tags.
Pro Password meter
When you enter a password to save, the app will automatically detect its strength and let you know if it is a weak password.
Pro Auto-lock
To prevent someone from peeking at your passwords when you walk away temporarily, ID Guard Offline app will auto-lock if no interaction within 30 seconds.
Pro Easy to use
So easy to use some features, like 1 tap to add account, 2 taps to autofill password.
The first time you open the app, it will ask you to use biometric authentication or set a master password as the protection method to protect your data. After finishing that step, you can go into the app’s main interface and start using it. It's straightforward to use without extra setup or redundant introductions.
Pro Minimum permissions
- Access camera: Scan QR code to save or fill passwords.
- Use fingerprint hardware: Use fingerprint recognition to authenticate user (Cannot steal fingerprint data).
- Appear on top of other apps: An autofill bar will appear on top of the input box when autofill is enabled.
- Foreground service: Display the autofill bar when using accessibility service and let user know which app is displaying the floating bar.
- Google Play billing service: Unlock PRO features on Google Play. Google Play connects to the network to authorize user.
- Hide overlay windows: Hide overlay windows to prevent overlay attacks (Android 12+).
No FULL NETWORK ACCESS. TRUE offline. Minimize the attack surface and can never leak any data or be attacked via the network.
Check its permissions on Google Play
Pro Add custom logos
They pre-downloaded and packaged numerous platforms’ logos into the app. When you enter an app name to use its template to save a new account, the app will automatically show you the appropriate logo.
You can also select a picture from your system albums as your custom logo. And yet, if you are an Android user, you can pick logos from the installed apps on your phone.
See this
Pro No signup or login
Neither require sign-up and login nor collect personal information. They have no idea who you are, let alone bother you with ad tracking or promotional emails.
Pro Open source
Bitwarden is open source and can therefore easily be reviewed and checked for security. Its Github repository is accessible here.
Pro Free
It is easy to start as the majority of features are on the free version.
Pro Cross-platform syncronisation
Automatically synchronises across various devices and platforms. Passwords get fully encrypted locally before leaving the computer.
Pro Clean interface with no ads
No ads, no tracking.
Pro Native mobile apps for iOS and Android
Pro Many browser plugins
There are plugins for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, Edge, Vivaldi and Tor Browser.
Pro Strong, easy to use built-in password genarator
No need to think of individual passwords. This can be easily accomplished with an easy to use built-in password manager.
Pro Extremely strong encryption algorithm
End-to-end AES-256 bit encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256.
Pro Two-step authentication
Offers 2FA with Authy, Google Authenticator or via email.
Additionally, the Pro Version has Duo Security with Duo Push, SMS, phone call, and U2F security keys: YubiKey (any 4 series device or YubiKey NEO) and FIDO U2F (any FIDO U2F certified key).
Pro Web vault
Possibility to manage passwords without installing the app or the browser plugin.
Pro Supports multi-logins on one site
You can store multiple logins on the same website.
Pro Multifactor authentication
Pro Secure notes
Very easy to add personal notes.
Pro Command line interface
You could retrieve passwords in the scripts.
Pro Auto-fill remembers last user
When a site has multiple credentials (like I have for some brokers and banks), then the most recently used is automatically populated (if auto-fill is opted). This feature is unique (to my knowledge) and spectacular (especially for sites that log you off frequently and re-logging in is required).
Pro Digital unlock works fairly well
Android app is a little slow and buggy, but it works well and has been improving.
Pro Self-host your own server
Host your own server via Docker for small installations or by package for multiple servers.
Pro Almost complete free version
The features included in the free version are totally sufficient for most personal uses. No limitation of devices synching.
Pro Dark theme
Pro Easy to use
Pro Use hardware based biometrics to unlock Bitwarden
You can use Windows Hello or Apple's TouchID on PC to unlock desktop applications and browser extention.
Pro Nested folders
Folders can be created within folders.
Pro Regular expressions can be used in URIs
It can also be used for sites where the domain changes frequently.
Pro Easy import/export
Just copy CSV text.
Pro Save data on the web
Save data on the web.
Pro Enterprise ready
Using enterprise subscribtions you can share password entries among your colleagues via 'collections' or with other companies that are connected to yours. You decide if it's your personal entry or a companies.
Pro Auto-fill by specifying the form with the selector of css
Auto-fill by specifying the form with the selector of css.
Cons
Con Closed source
Not being open source means that you have to trust them for what they say. Trusting someone with all your passwords is never a good idea.
Con Lack of desktop clients
It might seem that whole world is "mobile" now. But that's not true. A lot of people use their notebooks or even desktop computers to work from. Lack of Linux and Windows clients holds this back.
But it has an extension that supports Chrome, Firefox and Edge. You can autofill passwords on desktop browsers with the help of the app.
Here is a post to share how the extension works.
Another post to introduce the extension's security designs.
Con Chinese company
ID Guard Offline is owned by Bluespace Tech, a company based in Guangdong, China.
Con Password generator only uses 8 special characters !@#$%^&*
Whereas a desktop keyboard has 30+ special characters. This greatly reduces the possible passwords that can be generated.
Con Unable to remove duplicates
If you import more than one times, it will store its duplicates and there is no duplicate remover on these apps.
Con Passwords cards can be tricky for newbies
The fields can be difficult to understand for newbies. For example, some login pages can add a field for the password name differently at the same time as the password's field will contain a password. When changing the password, they sometime end corresponding and can give headaches to some users.
Con Cloud-based
You're storing your passwords on servers and you have to trust them.
Con Cannot update data while offline
Requires Internet connection.
Con Saving new credentials isn't as easy as it should be
When registering on a new site, Bitwarden pops up a button to ask if you'd like to save credentials (as most equivalent products do). But the button disappears VERY quickly, so often requires manual entry of passwords
Con Input of new login needs a 'signed-up with e-mail = 'example@wherever.org' functionality
Often sites won't be able to reset your password if the corresponding e-mail used in sign-up is unknown.
Con Lack of communication between instance opened in one session
If you use the client's desktop's app, multiple browsers extensions; they all work almost totally independently. Using more RAM as database is opened each time and asking for login more often. Some other passwords managers use desktop's client to open the database and extensions communicate with it in this case. If there's no desktop's, they'll work as standalone extensions.
Con The autofill sucks
The autofill is tedious - many clicks/taps required to trigger it. It doesn't help that the extension is slow to open.
Con Cannot store images of ID card, etc
Attachments available in premium.
Con Web browser extension doesn't recognise login required
User has to scroll/search for web site login details as it is not found automatically.