Ledger vs Trezor (2026): which one should you buy?
Ledger and Trezor make almost every hardware wallet worth buying, and both keep your keys safe. They differ in how open their software is, how you connect them and how you back them up. Here is how the two brands compare, and which model from each to look at for your budget.
We earn a commission from both Trezor and Ledger if you buy through the links on this page, at no cost to you, so neither brand pays us more to be recommended. Disclosure.
The short answer
Choose Trezor if
- You want firmware that anyone can read and check: Trezor publishes all of it.
- You prefer a backup split into several shares, kept in different places.
- You only hold Bitcoin: every model comes in a Bitcoin-only edition.
Choose Ledger if
- You mostly use your phone: most models have Bluetooth and a battery and work with iPhone.
- You want the widest choice of screens, from a small Nano to the large E Ink Stax.
- You hold less common coins: Ledger has the larger app catalog.
Brand to brand
| Trezor | Ledger | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $59 – $249 | $69 – $399 |
| Open-source firmware | Yes, all of it | Apps only, not the operating system |
| Secure element chip | Yes, on every current model | Yes, on every model |
| Bluetooth models | Safe 7 | Nano X, Nano Gen5, Flex, Stax |
| Touchscreen models | Safe 5, Safe 7 | Nano Gen5, Flex, Stax |
| Bitcoin-only edition | Safe 3, Safe 5, Safe 7 | None |
| Recovery phrase | 12, 20 or 24 words, or several shares that each hold part of the key | 24 words. Optional paid encrypted backup (Ledger Recover) |
| Works with iPhone | Safe 7 fully; Safe 3 and Safe 5 in a limited way | Every model except the Nano S Plus |
Model against model
Each brand has a model at roughly the same price at each level. Prices are US list prices.
Entry level
| Trezor Safe 3 | Ledger Nano S Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59 | $69 |
| Screen | Monochrome, two buttons, 0.96" | Monochrome, two buttons, 1.1" |
| Connects by | USB-C | USB-C |
| Battery | No | No |
| Open-source firmware | Yes | Partly (apps, not the OS) |
Close to a tie. The Safe 3 costs less and is fully open source. The Nano S Plus has a slightly bigger screen but does not work with iPhone. Both have two buttons and a cable only.
Mid range
| Trezor Safe 5 | Ledger Nano X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $99 |
| Screen | Color touchscreen, 1.54" | Monochrome, two buttons, 1.1" |
| Connects by | USB-C | USB-C, Bluetooth |
| Battery | No | Yes |
| Open-source firmware | Yes | Partly (apps, not the OS) |
Different choices. The Safe 5 has a color touchscreen but no Bluetooth or battery. The Nano X costs less and works on the go with Bluetooth, but keeps the small two-button screen.
Premium
| Trezor Safe 7 | Ledger Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $249 |
| Screen | Color touchscreen, 2.5" | E Ink touchscreen, 2.8" |
| Connects by | USB-C, Bluetooth, wireless charging | USB-C, Bluetooth, NFC |
| Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source firmware | Yes | Partly (apps, not the OS) |
Same price and both wireless. The Safe 7 has a color screen, an aluminum body and open-source firmware. The Flex has a larger E Ink touchscreen that stays readable in sunlight. Ledger also sells the Stax, with an even bigger curved screen.
US list prices on trezor.io and shop.ledger.com on Oct 29, 2026. Both brands run sales often and charge different prices in other countries, so check the final price at checkout.
See all 8 models with photos and specs
Security record
Neither brand has had a device hacked remotely. The incidents that made the news involved customer data or software around the devices.
Ledger: in 2020 a breach of its online shop database leaked the emails of about a million customers and the home addresses of about 270,000, which led to years of phishing. In 2023, a code library used by crypto apps to connect to Ledger devices was tampered with for a few hours, and users of those apps lost money. The same year, Ledger Recover drew criticism because it showed that the firmware can export an encrypted copy of the recovery phrase, if the user turns the service on.
Trezor: in 2020 researchers showed that the recovery phrase could be pulled out of the older Trezor One and Model T with physical access and lab equipment. The current Safe models added a secure element chip to stop that. In 2024, an outside support ticket system was accessed and the contact details of about 66,000 customers were exposed.
In practice, the biggest risks are phishing and fake devices, and the same rules apply to both brands: buy from the maker, never type your recovery phrase into a website or app, and expect support never to ask for it.
Questions
Is Trezor safer than Ledger?
Neither is clearly safer. Trezor lets anyone check its firmware. Ledger keeps more of its code closed but has a long record without a remote attack on its devices. Your own habits matter more: where you keep the recovery phrase and whether you check every address on the screen.
Can I move from Ledger to Trezor, or the other way?
Yes. Both accept the standard 24-word recovery phrase (BIP-39), so typing your Ledger phrase into a Trezor brings back the same coins, and the reverse works too. A Trezor backup made of several shares or 20 words only works on another Trezor.
Which is better for beginners?
Whichever has the bigger screen in your budget, since you check every address on it. The Trezor Safe 5 and Ledger Flex are the easiest to use. If you only use a phone, pick a Ledger with Bluetooth or the Trezor Safe 7.
Do Ledger and Trezor support the same coins?
Both support Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and thousands of tokens. Ledger supports more niche coins through its app catalog. Check the maker’s list before buying if you hold something unusual.