Trezor vs Ledger: Investor’s Guide 2026

Here's a look at Ledger vs. Trezor, focusing on key features crypto users should consider when choosing the best crypto wallets to secure their digital assets.

Winner: Tie

Both brands keep private keys offline on the device. Every current model from both companies uses a secure element, the same type of tamper-resistant chip used in passports and payment cards. The main difference is how much of the code you can inspect. Trezor publishes its firmware, while part of Ledger's device software stays closed.

Trezor: The Safe 3 and Safe 5 use an Infineon secure element certified to Common Criteria EAL6+, and the Safe 7 adds a second chip, TROPIC01. Multi-share Backup, based on the SLIP39 Shamir standard, splits your recovery seed into several shares and works on the Safe 3, Safe 5, Safe 7, and Model T. The discontinued Trezor One and Model T have no secure element. In 2020, Kraken Security Labs showed that someone with about 15 minutes of physical access to either device could extract the encrypted seed. In 2024, Ledger's Donjon demonstrated a sophisticated supply-chain attack against the Safe 3 that could bypass Trezor's firmware-integrity check after the device's microcontroller was physically tampered with. Trezor says the Safe 5 is not affected.

Ledger: Ledger devices keep keys in a secure element certified to EAL6+ on every model except the Nano X, which is certified to EAL5+. The chip also drives the device screen, so malware on a connected computer or phone cannot change what you see when you approve a transaction. The Nano Gen5, Flex and Stax add Clear Signing, which shows transaction details in readable form, and Transaction Check, which flags common scams before you sign.

Learn whether Ledger reports to the IRS.

Using a Ledger hardware wallet by itself does not cause your trades to be reported to the IRS. Under the IRS instructions for Form 1099-DA, a company that only provides hardware or software that lets users control their own private keys is not acting as a broker. Exchanges and other providers you use to buy, sell or swap crypto, including partners inside Ledger Wallet, may still file Form 1099-DA for those trades. Moving coins between your own wallets is not a sale. Since Jan. 1, 2025, you must track cost basis separately for each wallet or account.

Winner: Ledger

Ledger Wallet puts buying, selling, swapping, staking and NFT viewing in one app, and it supports staking on more coins than Trezor Suite. In both apps, partner providers carry out most of these services.

Trezor: Trezor Suite handles buying, selling and swapping inside the app, and it stakes ETH, SOL, ADA and TRX. Coins that Suite does not cover, such as ATOM, work through third-party wallet apps.

Ledger: Ledger Wallet lets you buy, sell, swap and stake crypto and view Ethereum and Polygon NFTs from one app. Partner providers such as Kiln, Lido and Figment run the staking, and third parties run buys and swaps. Every Ledger device works with these features.

Winner: Trezor

Both brands start at $59. Trezor's color touchscreen model and its flagship both cost less than Ledger's touchscreen models.

Trezor: Trezor currently sells the Safe 3 ($59), Safe 5 ($129) and Safe 7 ($249). The Trezor One and Model T are discontinued, and Trezor says it still supports them with updates.

Ledger: Ledger sells the Nano S Plus ($59), Nano X ($99), Nano Gen5 ($179), Flex ($249) and Stax ($399). The original Nano S is no longer in production.

Winner: Ledger

Ledger supports staking for a broader range of cryptocurrencies, allowing users to earn rewards on more assets. Interested in crypto staking? Learn what our experts have to say about crypto staking taxes.

Ledger: Ledger Wallet lists staking for ETH, SOL, ADA, DOT, TRX, ATOM, XTZ, NEAR, OSMO, CELO, EGLD and INJ. Its Earn section adds assets such as AVAX, POL and BNB through partner providers.

Trezor: Trezor Suite supports staking for ETH, SOL, ADA and TRX, and Everstake runs the ETH staking. Other coins need a third-party wallet app.

Winner: Ledger

Ledger supports more types of cryptocurrencies than Trezor, and Trezor has been slower to add some popular altcoins.

Trezor: Trezor says it supports thousands of coins and tokens but does not publish a total. It does not support Polkadot (DOT), and Cosmos Hub (ATOM) works only through third-party wallet apps.

Ledger: Ledger says its devices and Ledger Wallet support more than 15,000 coins and tokens across dozens of blockchain networks. Available features vary by asset, and some cryptocurrencies still require compatible third-party wallet apps.

Winner: Ledger

Both brands now have mobile apps for iOS and Android. Ledger keeps the edge because every Ledger model except the Nano S Plus works fully with iPhone, and its app has more built-in services.

Ledger Wallet: The app (formerly Ledger Live) is available for iOS and Android. You can send, receive, buy, swap, stake and track crypto in it. The Nano X, Nano Gen5, Flex and Stax connect to a phone over Bluetooth. The Nano S Plus connects to Android phones over USB and does not work with iPhone.

Trezor: Trezor Suite is available for iOS and Android, and every Trezor model works with Android over USB. On iPhone, the Safe 3 and Safe 5 can check balances, buy and receive crypto. The Safe 7 connects to an iPhone over Bluetooth and can do everything the desktop app does.

Winner: Trezor

Trezor's commitment to open-source software makes it the preferred choice for those who prioritize transparency.

Trezor: Trezor publishes its firmware and Trezor Suite code on GitHub, so anyone can read and build it. The Safe 3 and Safe 5 also contain a secure element from Infineon that runs closed supplier code.

Ledger: The Ledger Wallet app is open source. The device operating system is only partly open: Ledger publishes its device apps and developer kit, but the low-level secure element code is not public.

Winner: Ledger

Ledger offers a more user-friendly experience, especially for beginners, due to its integrated software and comprehensive platform.

Trezor: The Safe 5 and Safe 7 have color touchscreens with haptic feedback, and the Safe 7 adds Bluetooth and wireless charging. The Safe 3 uses two buttons. Trezor Suite covers buying, swapping and staking for major coins, but other coins need third-party apps.

Ledger: The Ledger Wallet app puts account management, buying, swapping, staking and device settings in one place. The Nano Gen5, Flex and Stax have E Ink touchscreens, and the Nano X and Nano S Plus use two buttons.

Learn more about Bitcoin cold storage.