Bitwarden, the popular open-source password manager, has announced a change to its licensing model, confirming that its official app store releases will move to commercially licensed builds, while the GPLv3 version will remain available on GitHub.
Starting with the next release, applications distributed through stores like Google Play, Apple’s App Store, and browser extension marketplaces will use Bitwarden’s commercial license. This also applies to applications downloaded directly from the company’s website.
For existing users, nothing changes immediately. Bitwarden says no action is required, and all existing features will remain in both versions, including its free password management plan.
However, the announcement raises an important question about the future of Bitwarden’s open-source version.
In a follow-up discussion, a Bitwarden representative confirmed some upcoming components will be released exclusively under the commercial license. New features will be evaluated individually to determine which license applies, so the GPLv3 and commercial builds may not offer identical functionality in the future.
The company clarified that commercial-only functionality will mainly involve new enterprise features, products, and capabilities designed to provide a competitive advantage. Some premium features may also fall into this category, with decisions made case by case.
Importantly, Bitwarden maintains that it is not abandoning open source. Its GPLv3 codebase will continue to be developed and published on GitHub, where users can inspect the code, contribute changes, and create forks. Even commercially licensed components will remain publicly viewable, although they will not necessarily carry the same modification and redistribution rights as GPLv3 software.
It’s also worth clarifying that Bitwarden already uses a mix of open-source and commercial licensing in its repositories. So, this announcement just changes which builds the company distributes through official channels and clarifies the distinction between future open-source and commercial functionality.
For those running their own password management infrastructure, Bitwarden says the change does not affect self-hosting. The company also indicated that compatible third-party implementations can continue operating as before. According to Bitwarden, the licensing changes primarily concern organizations repackaging or reselling its software.
For now, existing users can continue using Bitwarden without any changes to their accounts or subscriptions. The GPLv3 version also remains available for those who prefer it.
For more details, see Bitwarden’s official announcement.
