Trezor and Ledger have coexisted as the leading manufacturers of two of the most popular cryptocurrency hardware wallets in the world since 2014.
They’re still releasing new products, and this guide compares each of their bestsellers to see how they stack up against one another.
The prices and information used in this comparison are accurate as of November 21, 2019.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific
provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.
The latest Ledger has a solid price advantage over the Trezor, coming in at about $40 cheaper. And you can find even lower prices on older models.
Ledger Nano S vs. Trezor One
Wallet
Release year
Price
Trezor One
2014
$55
Ledger Nano S
2014
$59
On these too, the Trezor comes in a fraction cheaper. This is par for the course for Ledger, which has cemented its position in the market in part by being one of the cheapest full-featured hardware wallets around.
Winner: Ledger
While the 2014 model of the Ledger is just a few dollars more than the Trezor from the same year, you’ll save significantly more going with the Ledger on the newest model. With free shipping on top of that, Ledger ends up even further ahead.
Both Ledger and Trezor have maintained similar security records across their devices.
Wallet
Notable hacks
Trezor One
None
Trezor Model T
None
Ledger Nano S
None
Ledger Nano X
None
There have never been confirmed reports of anyone losing their cryptocurrency with any of these wallets due to a fault in the wallet itself.
Both Trezor and Ledger have previously had their products flagged for allegedly being vulnerable if someone manages to get their hands on the device itself, but no serious practical attacks have been demonstrated.
Both also offer similar seed phrases, and similar security features such as duress passwords and hidden wallets.
Both wallets have similar security track records, but they achieve this security in quite different ways.
Trezor hardware wallets. These forego the use of secure elements, opting instead for open-source wallet design and firmware.
Ledger hardware wallets. These use secure elements in the wallets themselves, while the firmware itself remains closed source for now.
There is no industry consensus on which method provides better security, and neither is guaranteed to be 100% secure. It’s a constantly evolving area and these differences are the subject of ongoing debate. Both companies have taken periodic pot shots at the other.
In March 2019, Ledger announced that its security team had managed to crack Trezor wallets due to vulnerabilities resulting from its lack of a secure element, but the main vulnerabilities were quickly fixed.
The use of secure elements is considered industry best practice for a reason.
Trezor’s claim to open-source firmware creates a false distinction because it’s not possible to verify whether that’s the firmware in any given device without destroying it.
The reason Ledger’s firmware isn’t open source is because of non-disclosure agreements, not because it relies on secrecy for security.
Winner: Ledger
Trezor’s open-sourcing does offer a degree of reassurance that’s absent from Ledger. However, it’s not the be-all and end-all.
Arguably, Ledger’s higher sales figures could present a similar point in its favor. If there are more Ledger devices on the market, there’s more certainty of it being unhackable in the wild. Plus, Ledger is in the process of open-sourcing its firmware, although to date it’s been slow going.
Also, Trezor did have an actual vulnerability at once point back in 2015, while as far as anyone knows Ledger never has. It was quickly fixed after discovery, but involved using an oscilloscope to analyze the device’s power usage in a way that would let an attacker decipher private keys.
The Ledger team found another similar vulnerability in Trezor wallets in 2019, along with other potential issues.
Plus, secure elements are widely regarded as the industry standard, so popular opinion may be on Ledger’s side.
One of the main usability features on hardware wallets is the size and clarity of the screen, and both the Trezor and the Ledger have made significant upgrades to their screen in the most recent generation.
Wallet
Screen size
Trezor One
128×64 pixels
Trezor Model T
240×240 pixels
Ledger Nano S
128×32 pixels
Ledger Nano X
128×64 pixels
The Trezor Model T, in particular, is distinguished by its uncommonly large screen.
The reason a large screen can make hardware wallets easier to use is because you need to be able to clearly read details, such as wallet addresses, on the screen to confirm them against what’s on your phone or computer when you’re sending funds.
This larger screen size does equal a slightly bulkier shape though.
Wallet
Dimensions
Weight
Trezor Model T
64 x 39 x 10mm
16g
Ledger Nano X
72 x 18.6 x 11.75mm
34g
The Trezor is a squarer device than the Ledger, although it’s less than half the weight. In either case, though, they’re both small enough that you’d be hard-pressed to really feel the difference.
Other than the dimensions, the primary difference when actually using the devices might be that the Trezor has a touchscreen while the Ledger has physical buttons instead.
Winner: Trezor
The larger color touch screen brings more intuitiveness to the Trezor Model T.
Software-wise, Ledger and Trezor both offer a degree of standardization for their devices by providing programs specially designed to pair with the wallets. When you want to use a specific currency, you can download the individual cryptocurrency “app” for your wallet.
Winner: Ledger
Ledger supports more cryptocurrencies, and not all of the ones missing from Trezor are obscure.
Most notably, Trezor hardware wallets lack support for DAG-based cryptocurrencies such as IOTA and NANO.
No. Devices are thoroughly and publicly tested before they’re released into the market, with sizable bug bounties for anyone who can discover vulnerabilities.
Some devices had subpar security before hitting the market, but all the most popular wallets, including those from Ledger and Trezor, are regarded as extremely secure.
Other than the price, the Trezor Model T has a large touchscreen instead of physical buttons, is faster and supports more cryptocurrencies.
The Ledger Nano X offers mobile support while the Ledger Nano S doesn’t. It also has a larger screen and a more powerful processor.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly
volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of
future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information.
You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory
requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may
have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
Andrew Munro is the cryptocurrency editor at Finder. He was initially writing about insurance, when he accidentally fell in love with digital currency and distributed ledger technology (aka “the blockchain”). Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, and has written guides about everything from industrial pigments to cosmetic surgery.
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