Ledger and Trezor are the best hardware wallets at the moment and I own both of them. Which one I recommend is dependent on your personal preferences. In general, Trezor is more focussed on Bitcoin and security and Ledger is less expensive and more useful for altcoins. My favorite is the Trezor since my main focus is on Bitcoin and I love the more advanced hidden wallet function. However, your situation could be very different.
Why should you use a hardware wallet?
A hardware wallet is the only way to combine the usability of a mobile wallet with the security of cold storage. This means you can benefit from high level security while still being able to make transactions with ease and without harming the status of the cold storage. Furthermore, it is very complicated to set up a cold storage wallet properly, while the setup of a hardware wallet is fast and easy.
A hardware wallet is the best way to secure your crypto’s while you will still be able to make transactions
Let’s start with a WARNING
It is always better to order a hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer. When you order your device from a reseller you have to trust them that they didn’t tamper your device. Remember that you ALWAYS have to create your backup seeds yourself when you setup the device. In the past resellers have done the setup and printed the seed on a professional looking card. They were able to steel the funds!
When you order directly from the manufacturer you ONLY have to trust them and no other parties. When you are really paranoid or have astronomical amounts to store you can consider to create a multisig wallet using a Trezor and a Ledger as well. Then your funds can’t be stolen, even when Trezor or Ledger turns out to be fraudulent (what is not likely).
Ledger VS Trezor - Usability
I find the Trezor easier to use and more orderly. When you plug in your Trezor and go to the web wallet you can just browse through your wallets and only have to confirm an action or insert your pin now and then. On the Ledger you have to download apps and browse through a more complicated menu in the device. Also, the Trezor automatically redirect you to external wallets (like Myetherwallet) and with the Ledger you have to download it yourself first.
Ledger VS Trezor - Security
Trezor is also the winner on security. Although both have never been hacked, Ledger had more security issues in the past than Trezor. Also, the hidden wallet function, what greatly improves security because it secures your funds even when your seed or pin get compromised, is more extensive on the Trezor. With the Ledger you can only create one hidden wallet per cryptocurrency, while with the Trezor you can create an unlimited amount!
Ledger VS Trezor - Cryptocurrency support
The Ledger supports way more altcoins than the Trezor, so when you are mostly an alt investor / user the Ledger is obviously a better choice. Currently these coins are supported:
Trezor cryptocurrency support:
Bitcoin - BTC
Bitcoin Cash / Bcash - BCH
Bitcoin Gold / Bgold - BTG
Dash - DASH
Expanse - EXP
Ethereum - ETH (And all ERC-20 tokens)
Ethereum Classic - ETC
New Economic Move - XEM
Litecoin - LTC
Ubiq _UBQ
Zcash - ZEC
Ledger cryptocurrency support:
Bitcoin - BTC
Ark - ARK
Bitcoin Cash / Bcash - BCH
Bitcoin Gold / Bgold - BTG
Dash - DASH
Dogecoin - DOGE
Digibyte - DGB
Expanse - EXP
Ethereum - ETH (And all ERC-20 tokens)
Ethereum Classic - ETC
Hcash - HSR
Qtum - QTUM
Ripple - XRP
Stratis - STRAT
Komodo - KMD
Litecoin - LTC
Neo - Neo
Pivx - PIVX
Stealthcoin - XST
Stellar - XLM
Ubiq _UBQ
Vertcoin - VRC
Viacoin - VIA
Zcash - ZEC
And Ledger is currently working on support for:
Cardano - ADA
Monero - XMR
Decred - DCR
Groestlcoin - GRS
Lisk - LSK
Conclusion:
The Ledger is just cheaper (79 EUR) than the Trezor (89 EUR), but this difference is not relevant compare to the difference in features. When you are mostly in Bitcoin I think the Trezor is the best option and when you own many different altcoins you can better buy a Ledger. My favorite is by far the Trezor, but I also use the Ledger for my speculative alt investments. Both of them are great devices, a must have when you own cryptocurrencies!
Disclaimer
This is no financial advice, just my view on the market.
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Could you please explain how hard wallet works. Because I heard some refer to it – you got you coins stored on the hardware wallet; but i was under the impression that it stores only the private keys. It’s kind of hard to understand for newbies. If I lose the tresor/nano wallet but have my private keys written down will i be able to access the funds? and where i would go in this case to enter the wallet, some url/app? or it’s impossible to have a paper copy of your private keys if you use hard wallet? may be you have or can create an article for that topic, I think it will be usefull for many people. and is it hard to update firmware on them? what happens if the wallet gets water damage/or stops being recognized by a computer, does it mean your funds are lost? Thank you!!!
Thank you for the request, I answered most of your questions in a new post:
https://steemit.com/bitcoin/@michiel/a-hardware-wallet-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work
Only the firmware question I didn't answer, but updating firmware is an easy task.
As you said right in the beginning, these 2 are the best in the world, the safest.
Personally I like to use Ledger, but it is because I have a very wide portfolio. It all depends how your portfolio looks like, because they are both great, Trezor for people that focus mostly on BTC, while Ledger right now supports a lot more altcoins.
i own ledger nano s and i`m happy
Very useful videos and posts I use the LEDGER @michiel wallet
This comment has received a 0.18 % upvote from @speedvoter thanks to: @ferus.
Very handy video really it's a wonderful portfolio
You should use it thank you
Good and useful post @michiel for all bitcoin users I prefer trezor wallet
Very informative post about Ledger and Trezor wallet usability. These hardware wallet are very secure. Thanks for the helpful post sir @michiel.
hardware wallets are must to protect crypto
thanks for giving some best choices
Ledger is the best to use for crypto.Thanks for the knowledge
The hardware wallet is most secure.You compared step by step about Ledger and Trezor.
The LEDGER wallet is perfect for use in crypto
this is something very interesting to develop bitcoin for us in investing in the future.
@michiel Great post very helpful. Ever since the latest firmware update Ledger is really good.
Nice write up! Thank you for sharing :)
Good timing with this. I had been pondering this lately.
Article's title has delusions of grandeur. What if the best hardware wallet is neither a Ledger nor a Trezor?
I think you have done right to have chosen Trezor because your main focus is Bitcoin and I like this more sophisticated hidden wallet functionality. and I guess those who read even this will choose the same as you. because everyone wants to be safe. really very useful post @michiel and thank for everything. and success is always for you.
Now we have the Trezor Model T. What do you think about this model vs. the two previous wallets? Price wise its obvious, but what about the Apps both companies are developing, and the use cases? As everyday spending is becoming more common, easy to access vs security are gonna be huge deal breakers.