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9 Best Crypto Software and Hardware Wallets

updated:
18. June 2022
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In this article, we will introduce the Best Crypto Software and Hardware Wallets that we tested and are our choice in both categories, hot and cold wallets.

No matter what your use of digital assets is, you need to keep them safe. We use different digital wallets to store, send, receive, or exchange our cryptos.

We will examine and introduce the main features, differences, supported currencies, and best use cases for selected wallets.

Our overall winner is Trezor Model T, an industry-leading hardware wallet with a strong security track record.But if you are looking for more, keep reading the article.

Best Crypto Software and Hardware Wallets

  • Great for beginners and user friendly
  • Free
  • Supports a large number of crypto assets (including NFTs)
  • Access to DApps across multiple blockchains
  • Connects with Coinbase Exchange

Supported Tokens

100,000+

Price

Free

  • Solid security features
  • Compatibility with hardware wallets
  • Android/iOS mobile app

Supported Tokens

Bitcoins, Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens

Price

Free

  • Support for a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and 125 blockchains
  • Built-in exchange
  • Zero fees
  • Easy-to-navigate interface
  • Great security, no reported hacks

Supported Tokens

1770+

Price

Free

  • Easy to use
  • Open-source software
  • No KYC
  • Private keys are kept on the internet browser.
  • You can connect multiple wallets
  • Mobile and as a browser extension

Supported Tokens

Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens

Price

Free

  • Easy-to-navigate and visually appealing interface
  • Supports over 150 cryptocurrencies
  • Compatible with Trezor
Supported Tokens

291

Price

Free

  • Support for Defi and NFT
  • Supports 5500+ coins and tokens
  • Increased device's volume compared to Nano S
  • Durable steel case

Supported Tokens

5500+ (including NFTs)

Price

79 USD (79 EUR)

  • air-gapped security cold wallet
  • big color LCD screen
  • open-source Firmware
  • 10000+ coins and tokens 
  • protects against remote and physical attacks
  • DApps and cold staking
Supported Tokens

10.000+

Price

119 USD

  • Color touchscreen available
  • Open-source firmware
  • Store cryptocurrency, passwords and other keys
  • Super secure and easy to use, also of EAL5+ certificate
Supported Tokens

1816

Price

260 USD (249 EUR)

The Best Crypto Hardware Wallet: Trezor Model T

Price: 260 USD (249 EUR)

Satoshi Labs launched the Trezor Hardware Wallet in 2014, and by being the first hardware wallet on the market, it has fast become the industry standard for hardware wallets. Trezor Model T combines highly secured hardware and a colorful touchscreen-based user interface.

It's an advanced and improved version of its predecessor, Trezor One. Model T supports over 1800 tokens and comes with an SD card slot to encrypt the PIN and added layers of security compared to competitors, e.g., Shamir's Secret Sharing method of splitting keys and no Bluetooth connectivity.

You can connect your Model T to a computer or smartphone (not supported for iPhone) with Micro-USB. Model T communicates with your computer via Trezor Bridge app. It has a built-in SD-card slot to encrypt your PIN.

The wallet is compatible with 15 other wallets and exchanges.

Recently the price of Model T jumped relatively high from the initial cost of around 180 USD, and it's at 260 USD for Model T at the moment.

Pros
  • Color touchscreen available
  • Open-source firmware
  • regular firmware updates
Cons
  • No mobile application
  • Plastic case
  • Price has gone up

Model T is excellent for everybody hodling many different cryptocurrencies and looking for an industry-leading hardware wallet with a strong security track record.

The Best Crypto Hardware Wallet for Beginners: Ledger Nano S Plus

Price: 79 USD (79 EUR)

Ledger was founded in 2014 and became one of the most trustworthy providers of digital wallets.

They have two models on the market - Ledger Nano S Plus and Ledger Nano X. Ledger Nano S Plus is the newer and updated version of its predecessor, Nano S, with Defi and NFT support. Nano S is no longer available for sale.

With Nano S Plus, you can manage over 5,500 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, ERC20 tokens, NFTs, and many more. The wallet has robust security; the private keys are stored in a secure chip locked with a PIN code, EAL5+ certified, verified by the ANSSI, and tamper-resistant.

This cold wallet supports a USB-C connection and a 128x64 px screen but has no Bluetooth or battery. It runs on BOLOS, an operating system developed by the team, and is integrated into the secure chip of Ledger Hardware wallets.

Ledger wallets work nicely with the Ledger Live application on your mobile or desktop. Ledger Live is an easy-to-use app that is great for beginners or experienced users, as it does the job needed.‍

Pros
  • Support for Defi and NFT
  • Ledger Live app
  • Durable steel case
Cons
  • No touchscreen
  • Closed source firmware
  • Had a marketing database breached

Ledger Nano is great for everybody looking to store many tokens, including NFTs, with an affordable, easy-to-use, and highly-secured hardware wallet.

The Best Crypto Software Wallet for Desktop: Exodus

Price: Free

Exodus is a software (hot) wallet that supports various cryptocurrencies and comes with an in-built exchange that you can easily use to buy or sell assets.

Exodus doesn't have two-factor auth but provides a recovery phrase and a built-in backup. The team behind Exodus created a beautiful and thoughtful user interface that enables an easy-to-use experience for everybody using the wallet.

All private keys and transaction data are stored on the users' local devices. In addition, we love that Exodus is compatible with Trezor wallets, which helps you to keep your assets more secure.

You can top up your assets using Visa, Mastercard, bank transfer, or Apple Pay (not supported in the US).

You can download mobile or desktop apps for free. Your transactions are processed quickly, which results in slightly higher fees.

You can use Exodus for staking and receiving rewards for your holdings right in the wallet, which helps you earn some passive income on your stored assets.

Pros
  • Easy-to-navigate and visually appealing interface
  • Supports over 150 cryptocurrencies
  • Compatible with Trezor
Cons
  • No fee support for alt-coins
  • No multi-signature support or two-factor authentication
  • No crypto-to-fiat transactions.

Exodus is great for anyone looking for a well-built desktop wallet with a beautiful and easy-to-use user interface, built-in exchange, and integration with Trezor wallets to secure your funds.

The Best Crypto Software Wallet for Mobile: ZenGo

Price: Free

ZenGo is an Israel-based company founded in 2018, with headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Zengo is a non-custodial keyless crypto wallet available as a mobile app. It allows you to buy, sell, trade, and send crypto through the mobile app.

The ZenGo team replaced private key or seed phrase with threshold signature cryptography that creates two secret shares – one gets stored on your mobile device (in the cloud), the other on their servers. Since they don't hold your keys, you have complete control of your funds.

They developed a simple and intuitive UI with great security, which makes it great for beginners. Their app is available for iOS and Android devices. ZenGo is open-source.

You can buy, trade, send and receive BTC, ETH, and 70+ crypto assets directly from the wallet. So, compared to other wallets, they offer more limited support for different assets.

You have to store the personal keyless backup on Apple or Google Cloud. An encrypted copy is stored on the ZenGo server- Only your biometric face or finger scan can access the encrypted share. ZenGo doesn't have access to your funds.

You can reach their support team 24/7.

Pros
  • Easy-to-use app with smooth UI
  • Safe
  • Offers Crypto rewards and earning interests
  • Good customer service
  • No need for private keys
  • Fast setup
Cons
  • Available in only some countries
  • Available only on mobile
  • Have to store Keyless Recovery Backup on iCloud or Google Drive
  • Not fully non-custodial
  • No Ethereum staking
  • No payment card

It's great for beginners and experienced looking for a simple solution and doesn't require complex trading dashboards.

Here you can read the full ZenGo Review.

The Best Crypto Software Wallet for Web 3.0: MetaMask

Price: Free

MetaMask is the most popular hot wallet (non-custodial) used in Web3 that allows you to buy, store, send and swap tokens. It was founded in 2016 by Aaron Davis.

It's a free and secure browser extension that you can easily set up and use to interact with any Ethereum dApp. It is available on both Android and iOS.

MetaMask is built for the Ethereum Blockchain, but many other networks and tokens are supported, e.g., Smart chain, Binance, Fantom, Avalance, Polygon, etc. Bitcoin is not supported.

After adding the networks, you can conveniently switch between different main and test networks directly on your browser.

Your private keys are encrypted and stored locally on your web browser, not on a Metamask server. Compared to hardware wallets, where you keep your keys offline, anyone can access your wallet if they get access to your computer. For that reason, it's essential to have strong passwords in place.

MetaMask is open-source.

Through MetaMask, you can connect with most DApps and interact with them in a safe and permissionless approach, meaning that your private keys are not linked to them.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Open-source software
  • No KYC
  • Private keys are kept on the internet browser.
  • You can connect multiple wallets
  • Mobile and as a browser extension
Cons
  • Doesn't support Bitcoin

Metamask's is great for everyone looking for an easy-to-use wallet, available on mobile and desktop, that supports thousands of tokens across multiple blockchains and seamless interaction with dApps.

The Best Crypto Software Wallet for Multi-Coin Support: Coinomi Multi Blockchain Wallet2

Price: Free

Coinomi wallet was founded in 2014 and has had an impressive record of being hack-free since then. As a result, this non-custodial (hot) crypto wallet gained a good reputation among crypto enthusiasts.

Coinomi is free to use, and you pay for the network fees.

One of the biggest benefits of Coinomi is that it supports a broad range of tokens, more than 1,770 across 125 blockchains, which is the most compared to other non-custodial wallets. It supports more than 1,770 cryptocurrencies, including NFTs.

They have solid security measures; your private keys are encrypted and stored on your local device. You can keep anonymity as you don't need to go through the KYC process to use Coinomi.

Coinomi is available on desktop and mobile, including Android and iOS but compared to Exodus isn't compatible with hardware wallets.

Some additional great features are cold staking, the possibility to customize the language, set currency preference, native segwit support, and so on.

Pros
  • Support for a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and 125 blockchains
  • Built-in exchange
  • Zero fees
  • Easy-to-navigate interface
  • Great security, no reported hacks
Cons
  • Does not support 2-Factor Authentication (2-FA)
  • Not open-source

Coinomi is a good option for beginners and experienced investors looking for a mobile wallet that supports a wide range of assets in one place, has an easy-to-navigate interface, and has strong security.

The Best Crypto Software Wallet for Beginners: Coinbase Wallet

Price: Free

Coinbase Exchange is one of the most known and popular cryptocurrency exchanges, usually categorized as the market's most beginner-friendly. The same goes for Coinbase Wallet.

Due to its compatibility with the Coinbase exchange platform, you can safely store your digital assets in the wallet. It's also compatible with hardware wallets, such as Ledger, Trezor, and KeepKey.

You can store, send and receive over 500 cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum ERC-20 tokens, Layer 2 scaling solutions like Polygon and Optimism, and NFTs.

Coinbase wallet is non-custodial, which means you have control over your digital assets.

Coinbase Wallet is available as a mobile app or browser extension that you can use to connect with Ledger wallets. You can top your wallet with credit, debit card, or bank transfer.

Coinbase has excellent security and is protected by Secure Enclave technology that stores private keys and 2FA to control access. You can also enable Google Authenticator and protect your mobile app with a PIN.

You do not need a Coinbase Exchange account to use the Coinbase wallet.

Pros
  • Great for beginners and user friendly
  • Free
  • Supports a large number of crypto assets (including NFTs)
  • Access to DApps across multiple blockchains
  • Connects with Coinbase Exchange
Cons
  • High transaction fees

Coinbase is great for all beginners looking for a free, easy-to-use digital wallet to store cryptocurrencies and NFTs. If you already have a Coinbase account, you can conveniently connect it to your Coinbase wallet.

The Best Crypto Software Wallet for Bitcoin: Mycelium Bitcoin Wallet

Price: Free

Mycelium Wallet was one of the first providers in the digital wallet space. They started in 2008.

This non-custodial wallet offers many features and complexity for more experienced traders. However, if you are looking for a wallet for a diverse portfolio, Mycelium is not the best choice, as it is Bitcoin-focused and supports Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens.

Mycelium puts a strong emphasis on security. Your private keys are encrypted, and assets are processed with a PIN code. You can enable Tor connection to connect to the network through an anonymous address for an extra layer of security.

Mycelium is open source, and you can create "watch-only" accounts where you can check your account's balance without adding your keys. It also allows integration with hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger for an additional layer of security.

They have a partnership with Simplex, which enables users to buy Bitcoin directly with a credit card. You can also buy BTC and ETH via a bank account.

It's available as a mobile app only. But while the Android app version supports the Ethereum and Bitcoin networks, the iOS version only supports the Bitcoin network.

Pros
  • Solid security features
  • Compatibility with hardware wallets
  • Android/iOS mobile app
Cons
  • Not for beginners
  • Limited coin options
  • Lack of a desktop version
  • No two-factor authentication
  • Mobile-only

Mycelium is a good option for all more experienced Bitcoin traders.

The Best New Generation Hardware Wallet: Ellipal Titan

Price: 119 USD

Ellipal Ltd was established in 2018 with HQs in Hong Kong. The company focuses on cryptocurrency security and blockchain services.

Ellipal Titan is an air-gapped cold hardware wallet completely isolated from the network and protected from network attacks. The wallet communicates through QR codes, so there is no need for USB, Bluetooth, WIFI, NFC, or Cellular connection.

The hardware wallet case is made of aluminum and silicon with no ports. The keys will be deleted if somebody tries breaking into or tampering with the device. It is also dust and waterproof.

It comes with a large screen touch that makes it convenient to use.

The wallet supports over 10,000 tokens and 40 blockchains, which is quite impressive. They are also constantly adding support for new ones.

You can use the wallet with the Ellipal mobile app, available on iOS and Android.

Pros
  • Air-gapped security cold wallet
  • Big color LCD screen
  • Open-source firmware
  • 10000+ coins and tokens
  • Protects against remote and physical attacks
  • DApps and cold staking
Cons
  • Firmware update is a bit more complicated
  • No desktop application

Ellipal Titan is a great option for anyone looking for a completely offline new-generation hardware wallet for a high-security level and additional features like deep integration of Dapps. In addition, the price is competitive compared to other available wallets on the market.

Here you can read the full Ellipal Titan review.

FAQs

What is the best crypto wallet for me?

There are more and more providers of digital wallets, hardware, and software on the market. With more and more choices, it is also more challenging to select the most suitable. Besides considering your use case and the type of crypto user, you need to research and choose a safe wallet that offers the support you need.

Here are some essential points to consider:

1- Security and the reputation of the wallet provider - you need to research each provider's security features and check their reputation.

2 - Hardware (cold) vs. software (hot) wallet - A hardware wallet would be a better choice if you are a long-term investor with a considerable amount of digital assets that you need to keep safe; a software wallet would be a better way to go if you are a trader.

3 - User Interface - Are you a beginner or an experienced user? Are you looking for easy to navigate wallet with limited features, or are you an experienced user that needs more complex features?

4 - Multi-Currency support vs. Bitcoin only - Is your portfolio diverse, and are you investing and trading more rare tokens and NFTs? Do you need your wallet to support that, or do you have just a couple of favorite ones, and are you not planning to expand?

5 - Free or Paid wallets - while software wallets are mostly free, you need to pay for the hardware wallets. The most secured ones can also cost a couple of hundred dollars.

6 - Mobile or Desktop - how do you primarily want to use your wallet?

Which is the safest Crypto Wallet?

Cold (hardware) wallets are considered more secure as they are not connected to the internet; some don't even support Bluetooth connection and are entirely air-gapped, like Ellipal or SecuX. In this way, they are protected from online hackers.

On the other hand, hot (software) wallets are connected to the internet and come in the form of custodial and non-custodial wallets. With the non-custodial, you are in control of your private keys. Non-custodial are considered more secure, as you are your bank.

However, while this could mean that you are more secure, it also has a negative side. If you are not careful enough and don't protect your keys and use strong passwords, you can lose your keys and lose access to your assets.

Security has to come from both ends - from the provider of the wallets and you as a user.

Is it worth getting a crypto wallet?

Definitely! With the rise of cryptos and getting into a decentralized world where we are becoming responsible for our funds, we should protect our digital assets best.

Keeping funds on central exchanges exposes you more in case the exchange goes bankrupt or potential remote attacks.

Conclusion

You should keep your digital assets safe, and we hope our introduction and the selection of the best wallets help you get a better overview.

It highly depends on your use case, so do good research and consider what you need.

If you think we missed some wallets or have some recommendations, let us know in the comments.