Secure transfer · Comparison
PasteOkay vs Bitwarden Send: encrypted text with or without a vault
Bitwarden Send is excellent when both sides already live in Bitwarden. PasteOkay is what you use when the recipient should not need an account at all.
Updated · 4 min read · PasteOkay is our own product, so read this as a vendor comparison. Features were checked in October 2026.
In short
- Choose PasteOkay when the recipient has no Bitwarden account, or when you want a no-signup paste with an expiry and a manage link.
- Choose Bitwarden Send when you already use Bitwarden and want sharing inside a security product your team has approved.
- Features and prices were checked in October 2026; verify the current details with each provider.
PasteOkay
Choose PasteOkay when the recipient has no Bitwarden account, or when you want a no-signup paste with an expiry and a manage link.
- No account for the sender or the recipient
- A short link that opens in any browser
- Expiry, password and burn after reading without a vault
Bitwarden Send
Choose Bitwarden Send when you already use Bitwarden and want sharing inside a security product your team has approved.
- Part of a mature password manager ecosystem
- Encrypted text and file sends
- Access limits and expiry built into the product
Side by side
| Capability | PasteOkay | Bitwarden Send |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | Yes for the sender |
| Recipient account | No | No |
| Client-side encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Password protection | Yes | Yes |
| Expiry control | 10 minutes to 30 days | Presets and custom |
| Access limit | Burn after reading | Maximum access count |
| File attachments | No | Yes on paid plans |
| Price | Free, PRO $5 once | Free tier, paid plans |
A dash means the feature is not offered in the standard flow. Plans and limits change; verify the current details with each provider before relying on them.
The account is the catch
Bitwarden Send is a strong product. The sender creates a Send from a Bitwarden account, the content is encrypted, and the recipient opens a link in a browser. Expiry and access limits are part of the flow, and files are supported on paid plans.
The requirement is at the front door: you need an account to create a Send. That is reasonable for a password manager, but it is friction when you just need to hand a line of text to somebody outside the organisation.
PasteOkay removes the vault
PasteOkay has no vault to unlock. You open the page, paste, choose an expiry and optionally a password, and send the link. The recipient does not need an account, an app or an invitation.
The encryption model is comparable in spirit: the browser holds the key material that matters. PasteOkay also stores the paste encrypted at rest, and the manage link lets the author delete it without contacting support.
Which workflow is safer?
Bitwarden Send has the advantage of living inside a product with organisation policies, audit tooling and a familiar security posture. PasteOkay has the advantage of being usable by anyone with a browser and a link, including a client or a contractor who will never install a password manager.
Which one should you choose?
Choose PasteOkay if
- The recipient has no account and should not need one
- You want a simple text handoff with an expiry
- You need a manage link for deletion without a vault
Choose Bitwarden Send if
- Your team already standardises on Bitwarden
- You need to send a file as well as text
- You want sharing governed by a password manager
Frequently asked questions
Does Bitwarden Send require an account?
Yes, creating a Send requires a Bitwarden account. The recipient can open the link without one. PasteOkay requires no account for either side.
Is PasteOkay as secure as Bitwarden Send?
Both encrypt content and support passwords. Bitwarden is a larger security product with organisation controls. PasteOkay is a focused paste service with a smaller feature surface, which is easier to reason about for a one-off link.
Can PasteOkay send files?
No. It is text-only. Bitwarden Send supports file attachments on paid plans, so it is the better choice when the payload is a document or an archive.
Do both support burn after reading?
PasteOkay has an explicit burn after reading option. Bitwarden Send uses a maximum access count, which can achieve a similar one-read behaviour depending on the plan and settings.
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No account. Choose a lifetime, add a password if you need one, and encrypt in your browser when the text should never reach the server in readable form.