Vaultwarden: A Lightweight, Self-Hosted Bitwarden Server in Rust

Why This Matters

If you're a fan of Bitwarden’s open-source password manager but dread the resource-heavy official server, Vaultwarden (formerly bitwarden_rs) is a game-changer. Written in Rust, this unofficial server implementation stays lean while maintaining full compatibility with Bitwarden’s clients. It’s perfect for self-hosters who want security without the bloat.

What It Does

Vaultwarden is a drop-in replacement for the official Bitwarden server, supporting all core features:

• Secure password storage & syncing
• Browser extensions, mobile apps, and desktop clients
• End-to-end encryption
• 2FA (TOTP, YubiKey, etc.)

Unlike the official server (which requires MSSQL and .NET), Vaultwarden runs on SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL and sips resources—ideal for a Raspberry Pi or small VPS.

Why It’s Cool

1. Rust-Powered Efficiency: Minimal memory usage (~10MB idle) and fast performance.
2. Easy Self-Hosting: Docker-friendly (docker-compose up and you’re done).
3. Extras: Optional features like admin panels, SMTP for alerts, and WebSocket notifications.
4. AGPLv3 Licensed: Fully open-source, no vendor lock-in.

How to Try It

1. Quick Start with Docker:

   docker run -d --name vaultwarden -v /vw-data/:/data/ -p 80:80 vaultwarden/server:latest
   

   (See the docs for advanced setups.)

2. Connect Your Bitwarden Client: Point it to your server URL—no client modifications needed.

Final Thoughts

Vaultwarden is a rare gem: a lightweight alternative that doesn’t sacrifice functionality. If you’re self-hosting Bitwarden (or considering it), this is the way to go. The Rust rewrite makes it snappy, and the community support (46k+ GitHub stars) speaks volumes.

Try it out: GitHub Repo | Docker Image

Pro tip: Pair it with a reverse proxy (like Caddy or Nginx) and Let’s Encrypt for a bulletproof setup. Happy (lightweight) vaulting! 🔒