How long does the LastPass to Bitwarden migration take?

**30 to 60 minutes for full migration**. LastPass export + Bitwarden import takes ~5 minutes for a 300-entry vault. Verification (test on 10 random sites + sensitive accounts) takes 15-30 minutes. Bitwarden 2FA configuration and permanent LastPass account deletion add 10 minutes. Our test on 312 entries: 45 minutes total, zero password data loss (binary attachments require manual re-upload).

Do I need to pay for Bitwarden Premium to migrate?

**No**. Migration is possible with the **free unlimited Bitwarden Free plan**. The import tool is included in all plans (free, Premium, Families, Business). You can migrate 100% of your LastPass entries to Bitwarden Free without paying. If you then want Premium features (YubiKey 2FA, health reports, emergency access), upgrading to Premium $10/year remains optional.

What if the LastPass export fails?

If the classic LastPass export (Account Options → Advanced → Export) fails (timeout, empty page), try: (1) **Browser extension export** (LastPass icon → My Vault → Account → Advanced → Export → CSV), often more reliable. (2) **Batch export**: select by folder in My Vault → Move → export folder by folder. (3) **Offline mode**: briefly disconnect from internet after export to avoid timeout. (4) Last resort: manually enter critical accounts (bank, primary email), then export the rest.

Is the exported CSV file plaintext? How to secure it?

**Yes, the LastPass CSV is plaintext** — each password is directly readable. During migration, this file represents a major risk. **Recommended protocol**: (1) Export on personal offline PC. (2) Import into Bitwarden immediately. (3) **Permanently delete** the CSV with a shred tool (Linux: `shred -uvz file.csv`, Windows: `cipher /w:folder`, macOS: `srm -v file.csv`). NEVER leave this file on disk after import. NEVER on cloud (Dropbox, Drive, iCloud). NEVER emailed.

Should I keep my LastPass account after migration?

**No, delete permanently**. As long as your LastPass account exists, your old data can still be compromised (LastPass has already had major breaches). Permanent deletion procedure: (1) Account Settings → Delete Account. (2) LastPass requests email confirmation. (3) Confirm. (4) Account deleted within 24-48h. (5) Verify 1 week after you can no longer log in. Important: first verify Bitwarden contains all your accesses.

LastPass to Bitwarden Migration: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

📌 You can migrate to either vault: the procedure below (LastPass export → import) is identical for Bitwarden and for NordPass. Bitwarden stays in the title because it's the open source / self-host option, but follow that link if you want the "plug-and-play at $1.49/month" route. The steps stay valid — only the destination vault changes.

If you still use LastPass in 2026, it's urgent to migrate. The December 2022 breach exposed encrypted vaults of millions of users, and post-incident transparency was insufficient. This guide details the full procedure to migrate to NordPass (recommended for 90% of users) or Bitwarden (power-users) in 30 to 60 minutes, with zero data loss.

Migration tested on 312 entries: 45 minutes, zero password loss, transparent transition for the end user.

01 — Why Migrate Now

LastPass suffered in December 2022 one of the largest password manager breaches in history:

Exfiltration of encrypted vaults of millions of users
Weak master passwords potentially crackable offline by attackers
Post-incident transparency deemed insufficient by security community
Several real cases of compromised user accounts in the following months

Conclusion: as long as you use LastPass, attackers have all the time to brute-force your master password. Migration is not optional.

02 — Express Procedure (5 Steps)

Export your LastPass vault to CSV
Create a NordPass account (or Bitwarden) with strong master password (16+ characters)
Import the CSV into Bitwarden via web portal
Verify all is present + test 10 random sites
Permanently delete the LastPass account + shred the CSV

Total time: 30-60 minutes depending on vault size.

03 — Step 1: Export LastPass

Classic method: lastpass.com → My Vault → Account Options (user icon top-right) → Advanced → Export → CSV.

LastPass will generate a lastpass_export.csv file with all your passwords in plaintext. Keep this file safe (personal PC, ideally offline).

If classic export fails:

Use the LastPass browser extension instead of web portal
Export by folders (select Move → export subset)
Briefly disable internet after export to avoid timeout

04 — Step 2: Create a Strong Bitwarden Account

Go to bitwarden.com → Get Started → Create Account.

Master password: 16+ random characters OR EFF passphrase of 5+ words (e.g., correct-horse-battery-staple-mercury — without dashes or memorize exactly, but as length example). This master password must NEVER be used elsewhere. If you want to generate a strong random candidate first, use our password generator.

Region: EU if European (GDPR data residency). US by default.

Plan: Free to start. You can upgrade to Premium later if needed.

05 — Step 3: Import the CSV

File format: Select "LastPass (csv)". Bitwarden automatically recognizes the LastPass format and maps fields correctly.

Upload: Select your CSV file → Import.

Our test on 312 entries: import 100% successful in 45 seconds, folder structure preserved, identities and payment cards correctly recognized.

Limit: binary attachments (PDF, images stored in LastPass) are not exported by LastPass. You'll need to re-upload them manually after import (Premium plan for encrypted storage).

06 — Step 4: Verify

This is the longest but crucial step.

Counters: compare entry count (LastPass dashboard vs Bitwarden Tools → Statistics). Must be identical.
Test 10 random sites: try logging in via Bitwarden on 10 random vault sites. Autofill should work.
Sensitive accounts: priority test bank, primary email, admin/financial accounts. Verify 2FA if configured.
Folders/Tags: verify your folder structure is preserved.
Identities and cards: if you had any in LastPass, verify they're in Bitwarden Items → Identities / Cards.

If all is conforming, proceed to step 5.

07 — Step 5: Permanent Deletion

Enable 2FA on Bitwarden first: Settings → Security → Two-step Login → Authenticator app. Scan QR with Google Authenticator/Authy, back up recovery codes in safe place.

Delete the CSV:

Linux: shred -uvz lastpass_export.csv
macOS: srm -v lastpass_export.csv (or rm -P on HFS+)
Windows: cipher /w:C:\path\to\folder (overwrite folder)

Delete the LastPass account: Account Settings → Delete Account → confirm by email → wait 24-48h. Verify 1 week after your LastPass login is refused.

08 — Post-Migration: Good Habits

Bitwarden master password: never reuse elsewhere
Bitwarden 2FA enabled (TOTP minimum, hardware YubiKey in Premium)
Regular export of your Bitwarden vault (Tools → Export Vault) encrypted
Monthly health audit if Premium (HIBP + weak + reused reports)
Bitwarden auto-update on all your devices

★ Audit Cure53 2024 · ✓ Plan gratuit · Cross-platform

Try NordPass Free →Native LastPass import 5 min · $0 for 1 device · $1.49/mo multi-device→

09 — Going Further

Complete 2026 Bitwarden review
Bitwarden vs 1Password
Vaultwarden self-host tutorial
Best LastPass alternatives 2026 — full comparison of all migration destinations

Procedure tested on 3 different LastPass accounts (vaults of 50, 312 and 847 entries) between January and June 2026. All migrations succeeded with zero password data loss. Binary attachments required manual re-upload.