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By: Ofir Beigel | Last updated: 11/08/20
Cryptocurrency wallet apps are programs that store and manage the private key for your Bitcoins on your computer’s hard drive or mobile phone. In this post, I’ll go over the most popular wallet apps out there.
Don’t like reading? Watch our 2 minute video recap
Summary of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency wallet apps
There is a wide variety of wallet apps for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies and it is important to know what features you are looking for before choosing a wallet. Several things to consider are ease of use, security, privacy, and coin support. For starters the best wallet ever would probably be Exodus.
Here are the best Bitcoin and cryptocurrency wallet apps:
Over 500
If you want a more detailed review of the different wallets keep reading, here’s what I’ll cover:
- Cryptocurrency wallet app
- Exodus
- Atomic wallet
- Zengo
- Edge
- Coinomi
- BRD
- Blockchain.com
- Samourai wallet
- Frequent questions
- Conclusion
1. Cryptocurrency App Wallet
Wallet apps, also called software wallets, are considered “hot wallets”, as they are connected to the Internet. This makes them by design, less secure than hardware wallets. However, for small amounts of Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency and for everyday use they are a good solution.
If you are new to the world of cryptocurrency wallets, I highly recommend that you watch this video so that this post makes more sense:
For large amounts of coins ALWAYS use cold storage wallets (i.e. wallets not connected to the Internet) such as a paper wallet or hardware wallet.
2. Exodus
Professionals: Intuitive, great customer support, DeFi integrations.
Versus: Limited, non-open source coin support
Platforms: Mac OS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android.
If you are just getting started with Bitcoin and are still trying to figure out everything that is going on, Exodus has you covered. Exodus launched in July 2016 and has gained significant momentum since then.
I’ll start with the disadvantage: it’s not open source. This means that developers can potentially inject malicious code into software without you knowing. And of course, when it comes to managing money, having a closed source program can raise some concerns.
However, since in any case, I suggest you use wallet apps for small amounts of Bitcoin (closed or open source), so this is not a big deal in my book. I never put an amount I am not willing to risk in any hot wallet (desktop, mobile or web).
Exodus also allows you to hold a variety of cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Litecoin, Dash, and more. The interface is super easy to understand and even beginners will have mastered it. If you find electrum off-putting, this is a great alternative.
Visit Exodus Read the full review
3. Atomic portfolio
Professionals: Support hundreds of assets, in-app cryptocurrency conversion, staking service
Versus: Less intuitive than other portfolios, relatively high exchange rates on atomic swaps
Platforms: Mac OS, Windows, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, iOS, Android.
If you are looking for an easy-to-use wallet to store not just Bitcoin, you can take a look at Atomic Wallet. Atomic Wallet is a multi-currency wallet that allows you to store up to 500 different coins and tokens in a single interface.
The wallet also allows you to use Atomic Swaps to trade some cryptocurrencies directly from within the wallet without the need for an exchange. For coins that don’t support atomic exchanges there is the option to use integrated services such as Changelly or ShapeShift to conduct trades.
Visit Atomic Wallet To be reviewed
4. Zengo Wallet
Professionals: Highly secure, no private key required, additional services such as buying and exchanging coins.
Versus: Limited coin support
Platforms: iOS, Android
ZenGo offers the world’s first keyless wallet with no compromise on security. The wallet protects the private key on the company’s server by applying advanced encryption measures, saving users the burden of protecting their keys themselves.
The wallet provides additional services such as buying Bitcoin and trading altcoins, which together with the industry standard rates make ZenGo very friendly for everyday use. ZenGo currently supports a number of coins, although many of the popular coins are not yet available.
Visit Zengo Read the full review
5. Edge wallet
Professionals: Suitable for beginners, multi-currency support, highly secure
Versus: Limited coin support
Platforms: iOS, Android.
Edge is an open source multi-currency mobile cryptocurrency wallet. In addition to its excellent security score, Edge is also known for its beginner features, such as lists of merchants that accept bitcoins and ways to buy discounted gift cards.
Edge is also known to have partnerships with companies that accept Bitcoins, who often offer discounts when using the app to make purchases.
Visit Edge Read the full review
6. Coinomi
Professionals: Multi-currency support, custom fees, in-app trading
Versus: No longer open source
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android.
Coinomi is the oldest multi-currency wallet in circulation. Coinomi supports over 1,770 different assets which is the broadest available support you will find from an unsecured wallet (i.e. a wallet that you are the sole owner of its private keys).
Coinomi also prides itself on increased privacy. There is no KYC bureaucracy to access your funds, no IP association, no identity link, and no transaction tracking. Coinomi servers make your requests anonymous by hiding your IP address from prying eyes.
Coinomi supports Segwit and dynamic and customized Bitcoin network rates.
Visit Coinomi Read the full review
7. BRD
Professionals: Suitable for beginners, multi-currency support, highly secure
Versus: Provides basic functionality, supports fewer coins than other wallets
Platforms: iOS, Android
BRD is a simple unsecured Bitcoin wallet “for essential needs”. This wallet is as easy to use as it gets. There are two main functions: sending and receiving.
Furthermore, you can use the app to buy BTC and ETH which will arrive directly in your wallet. The open source code helps make this wallet one of the safest wallets around.
Visit BRD Read the full review
9. Blockchain.com Wallet
Professionals: Intuitive, reliable and consolidated user interface
Versus: Very limited resource support, poor customer service reports.
Platforms: iOS, Android
The Blockchain.com wallet is one of the most popular and established Bitcoin wallets, existing since 2012. It is an unsecured mobile wallet that only supports a handful of major coins and a few stablecoins.
Users of the Blockchain.com wallet can buy, sell and store cryptocurrency, as well as trade cryptocurrencies and earn interest.
The wallet is available in more than 21 languages, making it suitable for billions of users around the world.
Visit Blockchain.com To be reviewed
8. Samourai wallet
Professionals: Top-notch privacy, anti-blacklisting feature for strict platforms
Versus: It only supports Bitcoin, only available on Android
Platforms: Android, iOS (future)
Samourai is a privacy and security focused Bitcoin wallet, which aims to keep your transactions and identity hidden. To help with this, Samourai Wallet incorporates a range of features including a coin mixer, new addresses for each transaction, and more.
Samourai Wallet is limited in both resource and platform support, currently available exclusively on Android and only supports Bitcoin.
Visit Samourai To be reviewed
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transfer money to my Bitcoin wallet?
- Open your wallet
- Find your Bitcoin address (long string of letters and characters starting with 1 or 3)
- Send Bitcoin to your wallet address
- Wait for 3 confirmations (recommended but not necessary)
How do I transfer money from my Bitcoin wallet to my bank account?
Banks don’t accept Bitcoin, so you’ll need to sell your Bitcoins for fiat currency (Dollar, Euro, etc.) on a Bitcoin exchange and then withdraw those funds from the exchange to your bank account.
11. Conclusion
There is no shortage of wallets for Bitcoin and this can be overwhelming for beginners at times. If you’re new to Bitcoin, start with Exodus and work your way up. If you feel you’re pretty technical, you can skip the exodus and head straight to Electrum.
In the end, try to tailor the wallet to your needs, as each of the wallets I’ve reviewed here has a different advantage.
I’d love to know about your favorite Bitcoin wallet in the comments section below.
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