While cryptocurrencies haven’t yet become mainstream, more people are buying and using them than ever before. Demand for hardware wallets has risen significantly and if you’re interested in finding out the best one to buy, I’m here to help.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about finding and buying the best hardware wallet to help secure your cryptos!
Fortunately, buying hardware wallets is fairly easy these days.
In this buyers guide, we’ll discuss things like:
- What are hardware wallets?
- The top hardware wallets of 2018
- Where to buy hardware wallets? An online buyers’ guide
So, if you’re ready to find out more, let’s go!
What are hardware wallets?
Hardware wallets are physical devices that help keep your cryptocurrency safe. Many individuals look to diversify how they manage their crypto assets. While the security of exchange-based online wallets is constantly improving, using a hardware wallet is a convenient way to store crypto offline.
The functionality of hardware wallets varies between devices. Most feature an LED screen and buttons or a touchpad to input a PIN. The purpose of hardware wallets is to keep your crypto secure, even if your computer or internet connection is compromised.
The best value hardware wallets of 2026
In this section, I’ll give my personal opinion on the best hardware wallets of 2018.
#1. Ledger Nano S
The Ledger Nano S is a simple and incredibly secure way to protect your crypto assets. It’s the most popular multicurrency hardware wallet on the market and my favorite hardware wallet. The Ledger Nano S is built around a secure chip, ensuring optimal security. It’s neat, stylish and has the best functionality of any wallet on the market today.
The Ledger Nano S ensures that your private keys are never exposed. They remain locked by a PIN code inside an isolated environment. The Ledger’s operating system, BOLOS, is integrated into a secure chip, providing an extra layer of security.
Things I love about the Ledger Nano S:
I love how the Ledger Nano S is the only hardware wallet on the market to have its operating system (OS) integrated into a secure chip.
I love that the Ledger Nano S requires a 4-digit PIN code each time you plug it into a computer. If it gets lost or stolen, the device is wiped after three failed PIN attempts. (Don’t worry – you can always recover your crypto with your unique Recovery Seed!)
It’s fantastic that the wallet is decentralized and the private keys are never known by Ledger or any third party.
The Ledger Nano S has an awesome compact design with an easy-to-use interface. It’s about the same size as a flash drive, yet its OLED screen is only slightly smaller than the screens on much bulkier hardware wallets.
Overall, the Ledger Nano S is an incredible hardware wallet and comes in at an attractive price point. I recommend ordering one only from the official website. To celebrate Bitcoin’s 10 year anniversary, they’ve released a beautiful white version with a commemorative case!
#2. Trezor
The Trezor is Windows, OS X and Linux friendly hardware wallet with plug and play functionality.
The best things about the Trezor:
In my opinion, the Trezor has some pretty cool features and is definitely up there with the best hardware wallets.
My favorite feature is that Trezor is open-source. This makes it transparent and free from back doors. Any independent third party can audit Trezor and discuss technical decisions, which is pretty cool.
The Trezor is easy to use and has wide support for a number of cryptocurrencies.
It would be great to see support for Android and iOS devices and support for Ripple’s XRP in the future!
While the Ledger Nano S is my favorite wallet, I still rate the Trezor highly as a decent alternative.
#3. KeepKey
In my opinion, the KeepKey is a really impressive hardware wallet with a premium look and feel. It’s perfect for storing a wide range of cryptocurrencies safely and securely.
The best things about the KeepKey:
I love the KeepKey’s anodized aluminium body. It looks and feels impressive and has great style.
I also love the KeepKeys handy ‘Quick Start Guide’ that walks you through the setup process.
Overall, the KeepKey is great but isn’t as compact as other hardware wallets. The KeepKey OLED screen measures 256×64 pixels versus the Ledger’s 250×30 pixels, yet the KeepKey is far bulkier.
The Ledger Nano S is still my favorite device for ease of use, security and convenience but I’d recommend the KeepKey as a great hardware wallet with excellent functionality.
Where to buy hardware wallets? An online buyers’ guide
I personally recommend that you buy a hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer. If you buy from third parties such as resellers, there is a small possibility of buying a fake or compromised device.
If you've never bought or handled a hardware wallet before, you may find it difficult to spot a fake device from a real one. Some online sellers will rely on the fact that their customers will not have seen a real device before and send them a fake hardware wallet.
Hardware wallets rely on having a 'Recovery Seed' in case the device is lost, stolen or destroyed. What new users may not realize is that wallets create their own recovery seed. Some users have been tricked by resellers who added fake 'Recovery Sheets' to genuine devices (see below). This scam relies on users'ignorance of the fact that wallets generate their own seeds.
Well, that's exactly the problem encountered by a British user. He bought a genuine Ledger from a reseller who had inserted a fake recovery seed sheet. The reseller presumably already had the genuine recovery seed for the device and was then able to steal the user's funds remotely.
Therefore, I always recommend buying a hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer. This way you can be certain that you are using a genuine device that has not been tampered with in any way.
Best Value Hardware Wallets of 2026
Hopefully this guide has given you a clear idea of what hardware wallets are, which ones are best and where to buy one from.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to sound off in the comments below and I’ll do my best to get back to you.