Below, weve listed wallets you can buy or download. We suggest using the wallets listed or doing research before buying or downloading any wallet.

breadwallet, the great iPhone Bitcoin wallet, recently released an Android wallet. It offers the user control of private keys, an easy to use interface, and passcode support.

Now that you have a wallet set up, its time tolearn how to get some bitcoins.

We always recommend to order directly from the hardware seller. This is because someone can buy a hardware wallet, tamper with it, and sell it used. They could program it to steal any bitcoins or add a back door.

Check the table below for a quick comparison. Note:

Secondly, dont keep all of your coins in one place. Youll be crushed if you lose access to a wallet with all of your funds.

Wallet apps are built to run on different operating systems. Some wallets only work on desktop, but not on mobile.

This guide will show you how to create a bitcoin wallet and pick the best one.

If you want the best possible wallet, keep reading…

A Bitcoin wallet is simply an app, website, or device that manages Bitcoin private keys for you.

Keys come in pairs. The public key is used to encrypt the message whereas the private key decrypts the message. The only person with the private key is you. Everyone else is free to have your public key. As a result, everyone can send you encrypted messages without having to agree on a key beforehand. They simply use your public key and you untangle the gibberish by using your private key.

Lets say you use TREZOR with TREZORs myTREZOR wallet. TREZOR goes out of business and no longer supports myTREZOR wallet and it gets shut down.

There is a large selection ofAndroid wallets. Since Bitcoin wallets were originally banned by Apple, developers spent much of their time developing for Android.

As bitcoins are digital, cyber-criminals could, potentially, target your computers software wallet and steal them by accessing your private key.

First of all, dont rest your money in an exchange wallet. Keep your coins in an environment where you have complete control.

ABitcoin addressis like an account number, just better. The address denotes which wallet the coins should be sent to. Like a bank account number, where the difference lies in the wallets having multiple addresses. These can be customized by including payment request information such as an amount and a date of expiration.

Generating and storing private keys offline using a hardware wallet ensures that hackers have no way to reach your bitcoins.

Android wallets, iOS wallets and desktop wallets are all examples of this.

Electrumis a software wallet that enables you to set up a strong level of security very quickly. During the simple installation process, you are given a twelve word phrase that will allow you to recover all of your bitcoins in the event that your computer fails. Your wallet is also encrypted by default which helps protect your coins against hackers. Electrum is available for Windows, OSX, and Linux and is our recommended software wallet for beginners.Click here to download the right version for your operating system.

Encrypt wallets to provide additional security

All hardware wallets listed above work with other wallets. So, if the hardware wallet company goes out of business you will still be able to use your wallet with a different wallet like Electrum.

To some readers this might seem like a weird question. Truth is, people coming from a financial or business background are likely to expect Bitcoin to be a direct alternative to our current financial system. This is not the case.

You could, in just a few minutes, download Electrum on your computer. Once installed, youd setup your TREZOR and all of your transaction history and balance would get imported and be exactly the same. This is because Electrum will use the same 24-word seed you generated with TREZOR on setup.

Dont worry about your hardware wallet getting stolen, lost or damaged either; so long as you create a secret backup code, you can always retrieve your bitcoins.

Since this page is for Bitcoin wallets, we assume youre looking for a Bitcoin wallet.

The three most popular and best Bitcoin hardware wallets are:

Theres no one size fits all Bitcoin wallet. Wallets come on different platforms with different features.

Convenient; spending and receiving payments is easy and fast

Not safe for the secure storage of large amounts of bitcoins

Most hardware wallets add some special kind of tape on the packaging to try to make any tampering more noticeable. This is another reason we recommend only ordering from the hardware wallet company, and not from a website like eBay.

For now, its vital to keep in mind that the private keys are what you need to protect if you want to keep your bitcoin safe from hackers, user error, and other possible issues.

Yes, I need to store many different coins, tokens and cryptocurrencies

TREZOR and Ledger both have blog posts explaining their integrations with various Ethereum wallets.

You can also laminate your seed to protect against water damage or any other damage.

The private keys are what users need to protect to safely use the Bitcoin network without getting robbed. When you hand someone else control over your private keys, you are essentially making a deposit at that financial institution much like a deposit at any bank.

A wallet is basically the Bitcoin equivalent of a bank account. It allows you to receive bitcoins, store them, and then send them to others.

Bitcoin private keys are based on cryptography.Random number generators, also called RNGs, are used to create the private keys that secure bitcoins.

Exodus is the most popular multi-coin cryptocurrency wallet. It supports Bitcoin, ether, litecoin, dash, Golem and many more.

No matter which wallet you choose, remember:

Unless youre using a 25th word, someone who finds your 24 word seed can sweep your entire wallet.

The core innovation is that the hardware wallet must be connected to your computer, phone, or tablet before bitcoins may be spent.

Applebanned Bitcoin walletsfrom the App Store in February 2014, but reversed its decision a few months later. Luckily, there are now plenty of options for iOS users.

GreenBits is the native Android version of GreenAddress. Its a multi-signature wallet that also supports hardware wallets like TREZOR and Ledger.

Think of a hot wallet like your wallet today: you use it to store some cash, but not your life savings. Hot wallets are great if you make frequent payments, but not a good choice for the secure storage of bitcoins.

For those looking for mobility and security, we recommend the simply-titled Bitcoin Wallet mobile app. There is a version for bothAndroidandBlackBerry OS. It is a software wallet, so you retain complete control over your bitcoins. It also works well with QR codes and NFC, making transferring coins to someone elses phone easier than writing a check. Be sure to backup your wallet (with the included Backup Wallet feature) or you risk losing all your coins the next time you get too close to a pool.

If the random number generator is not random enough, that means someone else can recreate the private key of the hardware wallet easier. This attack has happened in the past with , a web wallet. Over 300 BTC were lost because fo did not use good RNG, so a hacker was able to generate the private keys again and steal coins.

Private keys aresecretcodes. Because hot wallets generate your private keys on an internet connected device, these private keys cant be considered 100% secure.

If youd prefer a wallet that stores bitcoins and also other coins and tokens, then be sure to select the first option.

A hardware wallet is a physical electronic device, built for the sole purpose of securing bitcoins.

Generate your private keys in a secure, offline environment

Think of a hardware wallet like your own underground steel vault. If you own a significant amount of bitcoin, you should strongly consider getting one!

What is your main use for the wallet going to be: secure storage or daily spending?

Is storing many different types of cryptocurrencies (like litecoin, ether, or ERC20 tokens) important to you?

The buttons are used to confirm transactions. In order to send a transaction, you must physically press or hold buttons on the devices. This is a security feature. If a hacker were to access the hardware wallet somehow, the hacker still would not be able to send a TX without physical access to the buttons. Read more about this in TREZORssecurity philosophy.

. (Except if using trivial amounts, in which cases keys may be created in a hot wallet).

We consider breadwallet, along with Copay (below), as the best bitcoin wallet for iPhone. Its open source and gives the user full control over their private keys. It also has a clean interface which makes the sending and receiving of bitcoins a pleasurable and super-simple process.

Lets discuss the types of bitcoin wallets and why you might want to use one kind over another.

Hot wallets are Bitcoin wallets that run on internet connected devices like a computer, mobile phone, or tablet. As hot wallets generate private keys on an internet connected device, these private keys cant be considered 100% secure.

Web wallets store your private keys online, where they are encrypted with a user-selected password. Although they offer the lowest level of security, online bitcoin wallets have the advantage of being accessible from any internet connected device.

The information contained in is for general information and educational purposes only. Accordingly, the information on this post is provided with the understanding that the author and publishers are not herein engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, investment, or other professional advice and services. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal, financial or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional.

Easiest way to store small amounts of bitcoin

Here are two examples where users got ripped off by leaving bitcoins in the care of a third party:

Frankly, you shouldnt need anything complicated if youre using the wallet for simple internet expenses or as a way to save money.

Some wallets, particularly online ones, also let you buy coins. Keep in mind that these come with larger exchange margins which are best left alone.

In the table below, youll notice we show which hardware wallets have screens.

First, acquire some Bitcoins. Go through an exchange in your country, ask an acquaintance to share, or if you want as seamless of an experience as possible. The purchased coins can then be sent to your wallet by specifying one of its addresses.

Other wallet types are hot wallets. This means they are wallets run on an internet connected computer.

Multiple private keys to deter breaches.

Multi-signature in this context means that the site requires a manual confirmation from you for your coins to be moved; this greatly improves security.

Private keysemerged as a way to communicate securely through insecure communication channels.

The first step in finding out which wallet is best for you is to determine what youll be using the wallet for.

We recommend keeping at least two backups of your seed in multiple locations.

The Ledger Nano S is the cheapest of the three hardware wallets with a screen; it costs about $95. Ledger, one of the most well-known Bitcoin security companies, released the device in August 2016.

Your all-important private keys are maintained in a secure offline environment on the hardware wallet, fully protected even should the device be plugged into a malware-infected computer.

Is Bitcoin asafe wayto store value digitally? Are we wise to save our coins on our computer? Its true that online wallets are necessarily more dangerous than offline wallets. However, even offline wallets can be breached, meaning that security in the Bitcoin world depends largely on following good practices. Just like you would avoid flailing your bills about in a dangerous place, you should make sure to keep your passwords and keys as safe as possible.

. This helps to protect against the loss of your bitcoins due to hard drive failure or some other problem or accident. Ideally you should have a duplicate set of backups kept off-site to protect against the possibility of fire, robbery, etc.

Yes, all of these wallets work withEthereumLitecoinand many other coins.

Hardware wallets are secure, offline devices. They store your private keys offline so they cant be hacked.

KeepKey was released in September 2015 and was the second hardware Bitcoin wallet to offer a screen. The KeepKeys larger screen gives it some extra security features that the Nano S and Trezor lack.

Theseeds generatedby hardware wallets are meant to be written down only. By taking a picture of your seed with an internet connected phone, you put your entire wallet on a device that is connected to the internet and easier for hackers to get into. Please do not do this!

Each wallet has pros and cons, and different wallets are built to solve different problems.

TREZOR launched in August 2014 as the first Bitcoin hardware wallet, offering secure bitcoin storage plus the ability to spend with the convenience of a hot wallet. TREZOR is a small, thumb-sized device.

Sorry, we did not find any wallets that match your criteria. Please try again.

Lets be honest. Its unreasonable to expect anyone else to make this decision for you. After all, your preference depends entirely on your personality and needs. So just be honest with yourself.

You can think of a wallet as your personal interface to the Bitcoin network, similar to how your online bank account is an interface to the regular monetary system.

Bitcoin Wallets let us send, receive and store Bitcoin amounts all the way down to theSatoshi unit.

Coinbaseis a web wallet with a simple design and a number of very useful features that make it excellent for beginners. You can send and receive bitcoins via email and buy and sell bitcoins directly from Coinbase.

This means you can even use one on a malware infected computer.

Historically, before the advent of public key cryptography, the greatest cryptographic weakness was the inability to communicate the key that makes sense of encrypted messages. As a solution, the use of two keys (public and private) entered the picture.

Desktop wallets are downloaded and installed on your computer. If privacy is your main concern, the Bitcoin core wallet is a good option since it does not rely on third parties for data.

Your specific needs should determine the wallet you use, as there is no best bitcoin wallet.

Electrum wallet is an easy to use desktop wallet for Mac, Windows and Linux. Its east and fast to setup so you can start sending and receiving bitcoins right away.

GreenAddress is a multi-signature Bitcoin wallet available on the web, desktop, Android, and iOS. GreenAddress is compatible with hardware wallets like TREZOR, Ledger Nano, and the HW.1.

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is how Coinbase works with hardware wallets.

Electrum is a light weight Bitcoin wallet for Mac, Linux, and Windows. Electrum was created in November 2011. The main features of Electrum are: support for hardware wallets (such as TREZOR, Ledger Nano and KeepKey), and secure Bitcoin storage using an offline computer. Electrum is a good option for both beginners and advanced users.

Some hot wallets allow access to funds across multiple devices

If you do end up taking the easier route, just press a button to generate a new address for your wallet.

The Ledger Nano S is the cheapest hardware wallet. Hardware wallets secure your coins by storing them offline and away from hackers. The Ledger Nano S supports more coins than any other hardware wallet, like bitcoin, litecoin, ether and more. It can be used with any desktop computer or Android device.

Mycelium is the most popular Bitcoin wallet on Android. Its very easy to use for sending and receiving payments. Backing up your wallet is also simple, since Mycelium makes it very clear with setup and backup instructions.

Bitcoins simply consist of a string of data. Thats why they can be stored anywhere. You could paint Bitcoin on a wall with your blood. Nobody does that though. Hopefully.

Bitcoin wallets contain private keys; secret codes that allow you to spend your bitcoins.

Too many people in the past have lost money from hacks like Bitfinex and Mt. Gox.

Your bitcoins are only safe if the private key was generated securely, remains a secret, and–most importantly–is controlled only by YOU!

There are plenty of options for each operating system.

Bitcoin Wallet, or Schildbach Wallet, was the first mobile Bitcoin wallet. Bitcoin Wallet is more secure than most mobile Bitcoin wallets, because it connects directly to the Bitcoin network. Bitcoin Wallet has a simple interface and just the right amount of features, making it a great wallet and a great educational tool for Bitcoin beginners.

Hardware wallets are a good choice if youre serious about security and convenient, reliable Bitcoin storage.

Understanding how bitcoin wallets work is an important aspect of safely using this new technology. Bitcoin is still in its early years of development and wallets will become much more user-friendly in time.

TREZOR launched in August 2014 as the first Bitcoin hardware wallet, offering secure bitcoin storage plus the ability to spend with the convenience of a hot wallet. TREZOR is a small, thumb-sized device.

This guide will help you to find the best Bitcoin wallet for YOU!

Instead, we store BTC on computers because we need them handy to trade. After all, we need to be connected to the internet to send value from one wallet to another over the Blockchain.

A wallet built for both frequent transactions and security

If, however, youre planning to run a Bitcoin centered business make sure to use advanced wallets that support automated mass payments.

Securing your bitcoins properly is the most important step for any Bitcoin user.

In reality, its not bitcoins that need to be stored and secured, but the private keys that give you access to them.

Once you get the hang of things, it is better to move your coins off of Coinbase and into a wallet mentioned above like theLedger Nano S. Coinbase is a good place to buy bitcoins and learn how it works, but not a good solution for long term storage.

Samourai is 100% the best available Android wallet. It has the most features, the best privacy and its developers are constantly working to add the latest Bitcoin features to the wallet. Samourai Wallet has been around for more than 3 years and its code is fully open source.

Its a good rule of thumb to never trust anyone else with your money.

Last of all, use trusted online wallets (if at all). Dont just trust anyone with your money. Make sure that the online wallet provider has a reputation of upholding the highest possible security standards.

Bitcoin wallet addresses are case sensitive, usually have 34 characters of numbers and lowercase letters, start with either a 1 or a 3, and never use 0, O, l and I to make every character in the address as clear as possible. Thats a lot to take in. But dont worry. What they consist of is largely irrelevant to you. Just know theyre a string of characters that denote a destination on the Bitcoin Blockchain.

Hardware wallets are more secure than any other software wallet, like one that runs on your Android or iOS device, or desktop. However, hardware wallets have some unique security risks to be aware of.

Edge is an easy to use Bitcoin wallet for iPhone and Android. Its familiar login feature makes using the app a breeze for people new to bitcoin. The wallet also creates automatic backups, so you dont have to worry about the technicalities of performing manual wallet backups.

Wallets are built for different purposes. Some are made for secure storage, while some are geared towards people who make daily transactions.

Dont store coins on exchanges! Bitcoin users have lost over $1 billion worth of bitcoins in exchange hacks and scams. Control your own private keys.

With Bitcoin you have the privilege – but also the responsibility – to safeguard your own money. There have been countless scams related to Bitcoin that could have been prevented had people not entrusted others with their bitcoins.

Use a different address for every transaction.

Ledger Nano S, KeepKey and TREZOR all work with:

At the end of the day, all of this can go over your head without much danger. Just remember that its good to know what youre dealing with. Bitcoin wallets make use of a fundamental cryptographic principle that we use for things ranging from https for websites or sending anonymous tips to Wikileaks. Most importantly, by understanding private keys youll have a much easier familiarizing yourself with Cold Storage wallets.

Samourai is 100% the best available Android wallet. It has the most features, the best privacy and its developers are constantly working to add the latest Bitcoin features to the wallet. Samourai Wallet has been around for more than 3 years and its code is fully open source.

One last thing to keep in mind when it comes to bitcoin wallets is that there is a difference between a wallet and a bank. Some Bitcoin users viewCoinbaseas a Bitcoin wallet, but companies like this operate much more like banks.

Bitcoin hardware wallets keep private keys separate from vulnerable, internet-connected devices.

Each day, new Bitcoin scam wallets are added to the Google Play Store and Apple app store that aredesigned to steal peoples bitcoins.

Some wallets, like Electrum, allow you choose in how many blocks your transaction should be confirmed. The faster you want your payment to go through, the more you will have to pay miners for confirming your activity. We find here another difference between Bitcoin wallets and Bank accounts. Given the right wallet, the control and oversight that we have over our transactions is far more extensive than that of the traditional banking system.

Some wallets may be geared towards security, while some wallets may be more focused on privacy.

Wallets secure funds by guarding our private keys. These private keys act as the proof of ownership for our Bitcoins. As such, a Bitcoin wallet is like a key to your safe deposit box on the Blockchain.

But the price can be worth it if you own a significant amount of bitcoins. A hardware wallet will protect a few hundred in Bitcoin just as effectively as a few million.

Set a strong password and close all ports and maintain a strict firewall.

Thirdly, double check the target address. Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed, so dont lose your coins forever to a stranger!

Also, what we said above goes for ALL exchanges. Use Bitstamp? Cool! Once you buy bitcoins on Stamp, send the coins to your hardware wallet. The same goes for Kraken, Poloniex, or any other exchange or service that holds your coins!

Coinbase does not work directly with hardware wallet. You should, however, send bitcoins from Coinbase directly to your hardware wallet once you buy. Never store bitcoins on Coinbase or any other exchange for long periods of time.

Think of a hot wallet like your wallet today: you use it to store some cash, but not your life savings. Hot wallets are great if you make frequent payments, but not a good choice for the secure storage of bitcoins.

Create backups of your private keys

This is not to say that bitcoin banks are inherently bad. Companies like Coinbase have done wonders for bringing more users into the ecosystem. It is simply important to remember thatwhoever controls the private keys controls the bitcoin attached to those keys.

Investing or saving? Then a hardware wallet will keep your coins safe.

A misunderstanding of this point has led to hundreds of millions of US dollars being lost in the past, so its important to understand this critical difference in how Bitcoin private keys can be stored.

A Bitcoin wallet is the first step to using Bitcoin.

You selected selected iOS and Secure. Hardware wallets are the only secure wallets, and they dont work with iOS (only desktop and Android). Please try again.

In the near future, certain devices may eventually come with pre-installed wallets that interact with the blockchain without the users knowledge.

Hot wallets are Bitcoin wallets that run on internet connected devices like a computer, mobile phone, or tablet.

Hackers would have to steal the hardware wallet itself, but even then, it can be protected with a PIN code.

Just enter your wallet preferences and well show you the best wallet for your needs.

Keeping your seeds in fire proof safes can help protect in the event that the storage location isburned down.

Another option is to put your seed into metal manually using stamps, or usingcryptosteel.

You dont need a Bitcoin account. There is no such thing really. You just need a wallet. The only accounts you might encounter are online wallets that are separated into various accounts via a user system.

We also did a detailedcomparison of the three main ones: Ledger Nano S, Trezor, and KeepKey.

The hardware wallet tells me to write down the 24 word seed on paper.Should I take a picture of the seed with my phone as a backup?

So, yes, use a hardware wallet in conjunction with Coinbase. Buy on Coinbase, then send to hardware wallet.

How to generate a new Bitcoin Address varies between wallets. Some manage your addresses for you. Others give you full control. As with many other Bitcoin technologies, the option to dirty your own hands is always open.

. This helps prevent the physical theft of your funds in the event that your device or hardware wallet is stolen.

A full-featured Android app enables access to all account functions on the go. Coinbases founders have a proven startup track record and have raised money from very prominent venture capitalists. This gives Coinbase a level of legitimacy unparalleled in the Bitcoin space. They are also one of the only large Bitcoin companies to never suffer a major hack.Click here to sign up.

BRD is a mobile wallet for both Android and iOS. Its clean interface makes it easy to use for beginners. It supports bitcoin and ether.

One way to help prevent this is to use the hardware wallets custom 25th word. TREZOR, for example, allows you to add a 25th word to the 24 word seed. This means that you can technically add your own RNG to the computer generated RNG to ensure your private key will be truly based on good RNG.

Screens provide extra security by verifying and displaying important wallet details. Since the hardware wallet is nearly impossible to hack, its screen is more trustworthy than data displayed on your computer.

Otherwise, a software wallet will send and receive bitcoins just fine. Best of all, software wallets are free.

Edge is an easy to use Bitcoin wallet for iPhone and Android. Its familiar login feature makes using the app a breeze for people new to bitcoin. The wallet also creates automatic backups, so you dont have to worry about the technicalities of performing manual wallet backups.

To avoid theft, scams, and any other loss of funds, follow these three basic principles:

We also recommend a few other wallets, but not for the beginning Bitcoin user. If you are up for more of a challenge,Armoryis a good choice for those requiring the highest possible security, and the originalBitcoin-Qtclient is also trusted and worth learning how to use.

Coinomi is the most popular multi-coin cryptocurrency wallet for iOS and Android. It supports over 100+ coins including bitcoin, litecoin, ether, dash and more.

We only list wallets that have published and open-sourced their code.