Vault passkeys vs device-bound passkeys
A passkey is a key pair: the website keeps the public key and your side keeps the private key, which NordPass describes as never leaving your device. When you sign in, the two keys are matched and no password is typed.
Where the private key lives is the decision. A passkey on a hardware security key stays on that key. A passkey saved in Apple Passwords or Google Password Manager syncs within that ecosystem: Apple through iCloud Keychain on your approved Apple devices, Google across devices signed in to the same Google Account. A passkey saved in Bitwarden, 1Password or NordPass is available wherever that vault app supports passkeys, which can span Apple, Android and Windows.
The trade-off is simple. Vault passkeys follow you across ecosystems and can sometimes be shared; they also depend on the vault account staying healthy, so your vault login and recovery plan matter more once passkeys live there.
Where each vendor says passkeys work
| Question | Bitwarden | 1Password | NordPass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Passkey management and usage listed on Free, Premium and Families | All plans are paid; passkey help pages do not restrict by plan | Not listed as a Free vs Premium difference |
| Browser | Browser extension | Browser extension on Mac, Windows and Linux, and Safari on iPhone and iPad | Passkeys saved and offered like other items |
| Mobile | iOS 17.0 or later; Android 14.0 or later (Android: primary login credential only) | Android 14 or later; iOS through AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys | iOS through the Autofill Passwords and Passkeys setting |
| Desktop app | Windows and macOS desktop apps, through each system passkey provider setting | Not covered in the pages we read | Not covered in the FAQ we read |
| Per item | One passkey per login item | Stored as an item; can be shared | Multiple passkeys per account shown; cannot be viewed; can be shared |
| Export | Included in JSON exports; direct transfer by Credential Exchange on iOS 26+ and Android 14+ | Only from the iOS and Android apps (Credential Exchange); not from desktop | No option to import or export NordPass passkeys |
| Unlock the vault with a passkey | Yes, in the web app and Chromium extensions; up to five passkeys; unlock needs PRF support | Not covered in the pages we read | Passwordless sign-in described as in development |
Using a passkey to open the vault itself
Bitwarden documents passkey login for the web app and Chromium-based browser extensions, with up to five passkeys per account. Unlocking the vault without the master password requires a passkey set up for vault encryption and PRF support in both the browser and the authenticator; otherwise you use your master password or a PIN. Bitwarden notes Windows 10 has known issues with PRF passkeys and that you still need your master password if a passkey is lost. It will not let you save a passkey for a Bitwarden account inside Bitwarden.
NordPass says in its passkey FAQ that it is working on passwordless sign-in for NordPass and Nord Account. It also warns users who sign in to Nord Account with Google not to depend solely on NordPass for their Google login.
We did not find a 1Password help page on unlocking the account with a passkey during this research, so we make no claim either way.
Portability: the question to ask first
Passwords move between managers in a CSV file. Passkeys do not, because the private key is designed not to be readable. Each vendor handles this differently.
Bitwarden includes passkeys in its JSON export and supports the FIDO Credential Exchange Protocol on iOS 26 and later and Android 14 and later, where both apps must support it. 1Password can export passkeys only from its iOS and Android apps; from desktop you would create new passkeys on each website. NordPass says there is no option to import or export its passkeys to other password managers.
A passkey that cannot be moved is not lost forever: most sites let you add a second passkey or fall back to another sign-in method. But re-enrolling 40 accounts by hand is an afternoon of work, which is why portability belongs in the decision.
Checklist for moving to passkeys
- Pick one home for passkeys and turn off saving in the others to avoid scattered credentials.
- Confirm your phone meets the vendor minimum: Bitwarden lists iOS 17 and Android 14; 1Password lists Android 14.
- Keep a second way in for important accounts: a second passkey on a hardware key, or recovery codes from the site.
- Protect the vault: strong master password, two-step login, and a written recovery plan.
- Do not store the passkey for your password manager account inside the same password manager.
- Remember that deleting a passkey in 1Password does not remove it from the website; remove it in the site account settings too.
- Before committing, check how your chosen vault exports passkeys.
Questions before you decide
Can I move passkeys from 1Password to Bitwarden?
1Password says passkeys can be exported only from its iOS and Android apps using Credential Exchange. Bitwarden supports Credential Exchange on iOS 26 and later and Android 14 and later, where both apps must support it.
Are passkeys free in Bitwarden?
Yes. Bitwarden lists passkey management and usage on its Free plan as well as Premium and Families.
Can I share a passkey with family?
NordPass and 1Password both say passkeys can be shared like other vault items. NordPass notes passkeys cannot be viewed.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Bitwarden: pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bitwarden: storing passkeys Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bitwarden: log in with passkeys Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bitwarden: autofill on iOS Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- 1Password: save and sign in with passkeys in your browser Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- 1Password: export your data Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- 1Password: autofill on Android Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- 1Password: autofill on iPhone and iPad Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordPass: Passkeys FAQs Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- NordPass: how to enable NordPass autofill on iOS Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Apple: use the Passwords app to create, manage, and share passwords and passkeys Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Google: use passwords and passkeys across your devices Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.