Ledger Wallet: Compare wallets, features and security

If you’re searching for a hardware wallet you can use to safely store your crypto private keys, there’s arguably no bigger name on the market than Ledger. The French crypto security company offers a choice of four popular hardware wallets, each of which can be used to hold thousands of coins and tokens.

But how do these wallets work, are they safe and which is the best Ledger wallet for you? Keep reading to find out.

What is a Ledger wallet?

A Ledger wallet is a hardware wallet used to store cryptocurrency private keys. Ledger wallets are made by French firm Ledger, founded in 2014, and there are four different models to choose from.

While cryptocurrency doesn’t exist in physical form, Ledger wallets do. Entry-level Ledger hardware wallets look a lot like the USB thumb drives that you plug into the USB port on your computer, while higher-end models feature touchscreens.

Is Ledger a cold wallet?

Yes, Ledger crypto wallets are cold wallets. “Cold” refers to the fact that a Ledger wallet stores your private keys offline on a physical device, providing additional security for your crypto assets.

A cold wallet is recommended if you’re looking for a safe and secure way to manage your digital assets, offering protection against hacking, malware and phishing attacks. But if you’re searching for a wallet that offers quick and convenient transactions, a hot wallet—one that is connected to the internet—may be a better choice.

Types of Ledger wallets

There are four types of Ledger wallets:

• Ledger Nano S Plus
• Ledger Nano X
• Ledger Flex
• Ledger Stax

Keep reading to learn more about each type and how they compare.

Price (USD)	Supported assets	Wallet type
Ledger Nano S Plus
Ledger Nano S Plus Wallet	$55	15,000+	Hardware	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The Nano S Plus is the entry-level Ledger wallet. This means it's affordably priced and easy to use, but it still offers a high level of security for over 5,500 crypto assets. It features a 1.09-inch monochrome OLED display and allows you to manage your crypto holdings on Android and desktop devices. Pros & cons Pros CC EAL6+ security rating Supports over 5,500 cryptocurrencies Supports NFTs Affordable price tag Cons No Bluetooth Not iOS compatible
Ledger Nano X
Ledger Nano X Wallet	$149	5,500+	Hardware	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Like the Nano S Plus, the Ledger Nano X is quite similar in appearance to a USB thumb drive. While it's almost double the price of its more affordable brother, it adds handy features like Bluetooth connectivity, iOS compatibility and five hours of battery life during normal use. And of course, it also provides support for over 5,500 coins and tokens. Pros & cons Pros Supports Bluetooth Works on both Android and iOS devices CC EAL 5+ security rating Support for over 5,500 crypto assets Cons Expensive compared to the Nano S Plus No touchscreen
Ledger Flex
Ledger Flex	$249	5,500+	Hardware	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The first thing you notice about the Ledger Flex is that it boasts a 2.84-inch secure touchscreen designed to make it easier to sign and approve transactions. It also offers Bluetooth, NFC and USB connectivity for added convenience with security provided by a CC EAL6+ certified secure chip. Pros & cons Pros User-friendly touchscreen Multiple connectivity options Over 5,500 coins and tokens supported Up to 10 hours of normal-use battery life Cons Price is getting up there Doesn't support wireless charging Protective magnetic case is available for an extra cost
Ledger Stax
Ledger Stax Wallet	$399	5,500+	Hardware	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it If you're looking for Ledger's top-of-the-line wallet, the Stax is it. The Stax's headline feature is a 3.7-inch electronic ink (E Ink) curved touchscreen, which ensures seamless and convenient transaction signing. A protective magnetic shell is included too, while wireless charging and 10 hours of battery life round out the list of features. Pros & cons Pros Large touchscreen Wireless Qi charging Customizable Compatible with Android, iOS and desktop devices Magnetic case included Cons Expensive Not a huge range of extra features to justify the price tag

loading

How do Ledger crypto wallets work?

There are two parts to a Ledger wallet. The first is a mobile and desktop app (Ledger Live) that you can use to create transactions.

But before any transaction can be executed, it needs to be sent to the second part of the wallet, the physical Ledger device, where your private keys are stored. You can verify the transaction on your hardware wallet, which is then signed by the device before being completed.

Ledger wallets offer users the following features.

Secure Element chip

A Ledger wallet generates and stores your private keys in a chip inside the physical wallet. Known as the Secure Element chip, this tamper-proof chip runs Ledger’s custom operating system and is responsible for signing transactions.

Ledger PIN

When you set up your Ledger Wallet, you can create a 4-8 digit PIN code. This PIN is used to unlock your wallet and sign transactions, and it should never be shared with anyone.

Supported coins and tokens

In conjunction with the Ledger Live app, Ledger wallets support over 500 cryptocurrencies and NFTs. But Ledger devices are also compatible with over 50 third-party software wallets, so they can be used to store the private keys for over 5,500 coins, tokens and NFTs.

Connectivity

All four Ledger wallets offer USB-C connectivity. Bluetooth is also supported on the Nano X, Flex and Stax wallets, while the Stax wallet supports NFC as well.

Recovery phrase

If you lose your Ledger wallet, all four models have a 24-word secret recovery phrase you can use to regain access to your private keys. An encrypted digital backup is also available with an optional subscription to Ledger Recover.

What is the best Ledger wallet?

The Ledger Nano S Plus is the best Ledger wallet—for several reasons.

For starters, it took out three categories in our list of the best crypto wallets, including the best overall title, the wallet that offers the best value and the best wallet for staking.

When you focus on features, there’s plenty to like about the complete package the Ledger Nano S Plus offers. It supports over 5,500 tokens, letting you keep the private keys for all your crypto assets and NFTs in cold storage, and the Ledger Live app makes it easy to buy crypto and stake your tokens. Best of all, a CC EAL6+ security rating means you can rest assured that your crypto holdings are safe.

To top it off, the Nano S Plus offers all this at an affordable price point of US$79, so it’s easy to see why it’s the best Ledger wallet.

Is Ledger wallet safe?

Yes, Ledger wallets are a safe option for storing your cryptocurrency private keys. Cold hardware wallets are generally viewed as a safe and secure storage method for crypto assets.

Ledger wallets offer PIN code protection, secure chips, recovery phrases and the added security of offline cold storage. Ledger also has its own product security team, the Donjon, that tries hacking into its own products to try to find their weaknesses.

Has a Ledger wallet ever been hacked?

There are a couple of Ledger security breaches worth mentioning.

First, in July 2020, Ledger’s marketing database was breached, and the phone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses of over 270,000 Ledger users were later posted on a hacking forum. In response, Ledger issued a statement that featured the following:

“To be very clear: This data breach has no link nor impact on our hardware wallets, the app or your funds. Your crypto assets are safe. While very truly and sincerely regrettable, this breach concerns only e-commerce related information.”

The second incident occurred in December 2023, when Ledger Connect Kit, a Javascript library that connects websites to wallets, was compromised in a phishing attack.

Ledger later promised to reimburse the US$600,000 lost by victims of the hack. The French firm also emphasized that the exploit was limited to third-party decentralized applications and did not affect the integrity of Ledger hardware.

Is the QFS Ledger wallet legit?

We’re not willing to sign off on the legitimacy of QFS Ledger.

In March 2024, Quebec’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) issued an investor alert warning that QFS Ledger is not authorized to solicit investors in Québec. The warning listed the following other business names used: QFS Ledger Ultra Stellar, LLC; QFS and Quantum Financial Ledger. Several online sources also list scams related to the acronym QFS.

If you want to get a Ledger wallet, make sure you order a Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex or Stax directly from the official Ledger website.

Do Ledger wallets come with an app?

All four Ledger wallets are compatible with the Ledger Live app. Available on mobile and desktop, the app allows you to create transactions that you can then verify with your Ledger hardware wallet.

You can use the app to:

• Store thousands of crypto assets and track your portfolio.
• Buy cryptocurrencies with a credit card, debit card or bank transfer through third-party service providers Paypal, Ramp, MoonPay and Sardine.
• Swap from crypto to crypto without using fiat currency.
• Stake crypto and track your returns in the Earn section.
• Access decentralized apps.

The app is free to download from the Apple App Store, Google Play and the Ledger website.

Is it safe to have the Ledger app on your phone?

Yes, the Ledger Live app is safe to use. This desktop and mobile app is used to create transactions and manage your crypto assets. But the private keys for your cryptos remain on the physical Ledger wallet, and they’re not stored on your mobile device.

Just make sure you only ever download the app from an official app store or directly from Ledger.

Summary of Ledger wallet app reviews

Reviews for the Ledger Live app are generally positive across the App Store and Google Play. Positive reviews mention factors like a user-friendly interface, simple set-up process and the security of Ledger cold wallets. However, there are some complaints about app glitches and Bluetooth connectivity issues.

* Ratings as of March 5, 2025

Pros and cons of using a Ledger wallet to store your crypto

How do Ledger wallets compare to other types of crypto wallets?

Ledger wallets are a solid option if you’re searching for a hardware crypto wallet, but they’re far from the only option out there. One popular alternative is the Trezor Model T which, like Ledger wallets, can be used to secure over 5,000 coins and tokens. It features a touchscreen and advanced features like multisignature protection and Taproot support, so it may be more suited to more experienced crypto users. Learn more in our Trezor Model T review.

The Trezor Safe 3 is a popular entry-level option that uses a CC EAL6+ certified Secure Element chip. It supports thousands of cryptocurrencies and allows you to send, receive, stake and trade your coins and tokens in Trezor Suite.

The COLDCARD Mk4 is our pick for the best Bitcoin wallet in our best wallets guide. While it doesn’t have the same functionality and ease of use as a Ledger wallet, it does offer a high level of security with its own microprocessor and two chips from different vendors. But it only supports Bitcoin, so it’s not suitable for holding multiple crypto assets.

Check out our guide to the best hardware wallets for more information.

Bottom line

Ledger wallets offer a high level of security for your crypto assets and a user-friendly platform you can use to manage those assets. But the right wallet for you will depend on your personal preferences and crypto usage needs, so compare Ledger’s offerings to find the best Ledger wallet, then see how it stacks up against the competition before deciding if it’s right for you.

Frequently asked questions about Ledger

• Is Ledger a good wallet for Bitcoin?

  Yes, a Ledger wallet is worth considering if you need somewhere to store Bitcoin private keys. Ledger wallets not only provide offline storage for private keys, but you can also use the Ledger Live app to buy, send, receive and swap BTC.

• Can you store XRP in a ledger wallet?

  Yes, Ledger wallets support XRP. You can also use the Ledger Live app to buy, send, receive and swap XRP.

• How does XRP Ledger (XRPL) work?

  The XRP Ledger is not associated with Ledger hardware wallets—instead, it's a feature of the cryptocurrency known as XRP. The XRP Ledger is a peer-to-peer blockchain network built for business, and it uses a consensus protocol to process transactions.

• When was the first version of the Ledger cryptocurrency wallet released?

  Ledger released its first wallet in 2016. The Ledger Nano S was the company's first wallet.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Stacie Hurst as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

Tim's expertise

Tim has written 510 Finder guides across topics including:

• Banking
• Personal Loans
• Car Loans
• Stock Trading
• Cryptocurrency