There are dozens of wallets to choose from when it comes to protecting your private keys. Hardware, software, metal, paper, each with its own tradeoffs. Remember: if you don’t have your own private keys, you don’t actually own bitcoin – you only own one promissory note for BTC!
We consider that each user is free to use any wallet that suits him better, each with its use, with its functionalities and specifications. But what you have to keep in mind is just one single “law”: Not Your Keys = Not Your Bitcoins. Here we are going to put a list of purses that this law respects and that we have tested and used ourselves.
But I’m sure that there are still people who come to say: but someone has “recommended” such a wallet app, I have heard that it is good … but it is not on this list. To all those who ask this question I give a simple answer: they are NOT here on this list because ARE NOT WORTH MENTIONING or worse they have been shown that they can steal your BTC / keys / have bugs / they are not reliable. This is why we are NOT going to mention it here. We don’t waste time with garbage. Bitcoin is a very serious thing and we treat it very seriously. Yes, it is true, there are many more wallet apps, but these here are the ones that are best for beginners. When you are already going to have a high level of knowledge about Bitcoin, apps, scams, deceptions, technology, etc. then you can test yourself what you want for your own responsibility. But for now we, as “teachers” for beginners, have a duty to give you the correct information without hurting ourselves from the beginning.
- Do NOT use wallet apps that do not provide you with recovery data; These wallets are likely to control your keys.
- Stay away from wallet apps that are NOT open source. Closed source apps usually can hide parts of code that can be harmful in a future, in special with money, you should be careful. Bellow you have some links about scrutinity of these wallet apps.
- Do NOT use paper wallets unless you are a power user who understands all the risks.
- Do NOT use web wallets (eg bitaddress.org) in which the wallet keys are generated online
- Do NOT store large amounts of value in single signature purses.
- Protect your wallets with security techniques, here is a guide on how to protect your wallets
- Make sure your heirs know how to get their purses back without you!
- Please note that beginners are NOT recommended to use the Bitcoin Core wallet. If you want to use a wallet backed by a full validation node that you run, read How to Protect Your Financial Sovereignty.
- If you want to have the same wallet in more than one application, follow the steps explained in this example.
A common practice for newbies:
- let new portfolios mature for at least one year before entrusting larger amounts to them
- this will allow bugs and vulnerabilities to be discovered
- use multiple wallets
- don’t complicate things too much
- practice wearing, get comfortable
Here are also some comparison lists of wallets, made by specialists in mobile applications and Bitcoin. Thus, each one can analyze each wallet model in more detail:
- Wallet scrutinity
- Comparison table for iOS and Android mobile wallets
- Comparison of wallet functionalities
- Compatibility Matrix
- https://lightningnetworkstores.com/wallets
- https://rusnak.io/lightning-wallets-comparison/
MOBILE WALLETS:
Click on the wallet icon to see details of the practical guide for use. If you only want to download, click on the icon corresponding to your mobile OS type:
BlueWallet | Onchain/LN, Marketplace, buy/sell, multisig Website Official Tutorial |
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Simple Bitcoin Wallet (SBW) | Onchain/LN, Hosted channels, multipath Website Oficial Tutoriales |
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Phoenix Acinq Wallet | Onchain + LN Dedicated to LN Website Official Tutorial |
| | iOS not available yet |
Muun Wallet APK download here (right-click - save as...) | Onchain + LN Easy to use, without node needed Website Oficial Tutorial |
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Breez Wallet | Onchain + LN Easy to use, without node needed Website Oficial Tutorial |
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Eclair Acinq Wallet | Onchain + LN You need to open LN channels Website Official |
| | No iOS version |
ZAP Wallet | Onchain + LN You need own node Website Official Tutorial |
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Electrum Wallet | Onchain + LN Website Official Tutorial |
| | iOS not available yet |
Zeus Wallet | Onchain + LN You need own node Website Official |
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Spark Wallet | Onchain + LN You need own C-Lightning node Website Oficial |
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Blixt Wallet | Onchain + LN Use Neutrino non-custodial node Website Official |
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Samourai Wallet | Onchain + whirpool + TOR Connect to your own node (optional) Website Official Tutorial |
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Green Wallet (Onchain) | Onchain only Multisig Website Official Tutorial |
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HODL Wallet | Onchain only Website Official Tutorial |
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Fully Noded Wallet | Onchain You need own node Website Oficial Tutorial |
| No Android version | |
WALLETS FOR DESKTOP (PC DESKTOP):
| Electrum (Onchain + LN) Windows - OSX - Linux |  Armory (Onchain - Security Oriented) Windows - OSX - Linux |
 Wasabi Wallet (Onchain - Privacy Oriented) Windows - OSX - Linux |  Bitcoin Core (Onchain - Security Oriented - Node Operator) Windows - OSX - Linux |
| ZAP Wallet (Onchain + LN) you need your own node Windows - OSX - Linux | Blockstream Green (Onchain) Windows - OSX - Linux Video Tutorial |
 Sparrow Wallet (Onchain) you need to conect it to an Electrum server (public or own) Windows - OSX - Linux | Fully Noded Wallet (Onchain) you need to connect it to a node Windows - OSX - Linux |
 Specter Wallet (Onchain) you need to have your own node. This wallet is for advanced and cypherpunks Windows - OSX - Linux Here is a tutorial guide | Bluewallet (Onchain + LN) Mac OSX |
 Lightning App (Onchain + LN) Linux, Mac, Windows |
HARDWARE WALLETS (cold wallets): https://www.hardware-wallets.net/