We make Private Password Generator. Bitwarden’s generator is a good tool, and we’ve tried to show where it beats ours. If anything here is out of date, email [email protected] and we’ll fix it.
Both are free and neither needs an account. Choose Bitwarden if you want your new password saved in an open-source password manager, or need passwords longer than 64 characters. Choose Private Password Generator if you want pronounceable passwords, 20 passwords at once, your own word list, or an entropy and crack-time readout for every password.
Try it here. The password is made on this page and never sent anywhere.
Which one should you use?
Choose Bitwarden if you:
- want to save and autofill passwords in a free password manager
- care that the generator’s code is open source
- need passwords up to 128 characters, or a username generator
Choose Private Password Generator if you:
- want a password you can say out loud
- need a batch of 5, 10 or 20 passwords
- want to see entropy in bits and a crack-time estimate
Bitwarden vs Private Password Generator at a glance
| Feature | Private Password Generator | Bitwarden password generator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Account needed | No | No |
| Password types | Random characters, passphrase, pronounceable | Random characters, passphrase; usernames on a separate tool |
| Length | 8 to 64 characters | 5 to 128 characters |
| Skip look-alike characters | Yes (I, l, 1, O, 0, o and a few quote marks) | Yes, “avoid ambiguous characters” |
| Required character types | At least one of each type, optional | Minimum count of numbers and of symbols |
| Passphrase word list | 198-word built-in list, or paste your own (64+ words) | EFF long list, 7,776 words |
| Passphrase options | Separator, capitalize, add a number | Separator, capitalize, add a number |
| Several passwords at once | 5, 10 or 20 | Not mentioned |
| Strength shown as | Entropy in bits plus estimated crack time | Strength label |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Saves and autofills | No; you paste it into your password manager | Yes, in Bitwarden’s free apps |
Where is the password made, and can you check?
Private Password Generator builds every password in your browser with crypto.getRandomValues, the browser’s cryptographic random number generator. It never sends the password to our server and never saves it. We remember only your settings for next time.
Bitwarden’s advantage here is openness. Its generator code is open source, so security researchers can read exactly how it works.
Our code isn’t open source, so we give you a test instead. Load the page, switch off your Wi-Fi, and keep generating. Open your browser’s developer tools and watch the Network tab while you click Generate: the password never appears in any request.
How do the passphrases compare?
This is the most important difference, and Bitwarden has the edge by default.
Bitwarden draws passphrase words from the EFF long word list, which has 7,776 words. Each word adds about 12.9 bits of entropy, so six words give about 77 bits.
Our built-in list is smaller: 198 everyday words, about 7.6 bits per word. Six words give about 46 bits, which our own meter rates weak. For anything important, choose 8 or more words, or open “Use my own word list” and paste the EFF long list. The tool ignores the dice numbers in the EFF file, and the entropy readout updates to match the list you pasted.
On options the two tie. Both let you pick a separator, capitalize words and add a number. Our custom list is the extra: you can use a list in another language, or the EFF short list if you want shorter words.
Which one has more ways to make a password?
Both make random-character passwords and passphrases. Bitwarden goes longer: up to 128 characters against our 64. Its minimum-numbers and minimum-symbols settings help with sites that demand two digits.
We add a third mode, pronounceable passwords built from syllables, such as Nemsar49-Vatjin. Each syllable adds about 8.9 bits. These suit a Wi-Fi password you read to a guest or a streaming login you type with a TV remote.
We also make passwords in batches of 5, 10 or 20 with one click, which saves time when you set up several accounts or need test data.
Which one tells you more about strength?
Bitwarden shows a strength label as you change the settings. We show the number behind it: entropy in bits and an estimated crack time against an attacker testing a trillion guesses per second on a stolen database.
The number is useful when you’re deciding how far to go. A 16-character random password with symbols has about 103 bits. Drop the symbols and it falls to about 95. Add a word to a passphrase and you can watch the crack time grow.
Do you need an account?
No, for either web tool. Bitwarden’s page says its generator is free with no account required. Ours works the same way.
Where Bitwarden is the better choice
Bitwarden is a full password manager with a generous free plan: unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, autofill and secure notes. Inside its apps the generator saves what it makes, keeps a generator history, and offers a username generator. If you want one free tool that creates and stores passwords, Bitwarden does both and we don’t.
Bitwarden also wins on open source code and on maximum length.
Use both
The two work well together. Make the passphrase for your Bitwarden master password here, offline, with 8 or more words from a large list. Then let Bitwarden generate and save the random passwords for your other accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bitwarden password generator really free?
Yes. Bitwarden’s online generator is free and doesn’t need an account. The generator in its apps is also included on the free plan, which covers unlimited passwords on unlimited devices. Private Password Generator is free too, with no account and no paid tier.
Is Bitwarden’s generator open source?
Yes. Bitwarden publishes its code, including the generator, so anyone can inspect it. Private Password Generator isn’t open source, but you can confirm it sends nothing: load the page, go offline, and watch your browser’s Network tab while you generate.
How many words should a passphrase have?
It depends on the word list. With the EFF long list, which Bitwarden uses, six words give about 77 bits. With our 198-word built-in list, use 8 or more words, or paste the EFF list. Aim for 75 bits or more for important accounts.
What’s the difference between a passphrase and a pronounceable password?
A passphrase joins whole random words, such as Turtle-Scarf-Yarn-Denim62-Fox-Cedar. A pronounceable password strings random syllables together, such as Nemsar49-Vatjin. Pronounceable passwords are shorter for the same strength. Passphrases are easier to remember.
Can I use a Diceware or EFF word list?
Yes, in Private Password Generator. Open “Use my own word list” on the Passphrase tab and paste at least 64 words. Dice numbers are ignored, and the entropy figures update. Bitwarden uses the EFF long list.
Can I generate a password here and store it in Bitwarden?
Yes. Copy the password, open Bitwarden, and paste it into the password field of a new or existing login. We never see or keep the password, so your Bitwarden vault holds the only saved copy.
The verdict
Bitwarden is the better choice if you want a free generator that also saves and fills your passwords, or if open source code matters to you. Private Password Generator is the better choice for pronounceable passwords, batches, custom word lists and a clear strength number. For passphrases, Bitwarden’s default list is stronger per word, so use 8 or more words or paste the EFF list here.
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