10 Best Ethereum Wallets
The year is 2018 and the need for privacy and security is now at an all-time high! Here are the top 10 Ethereum Wallets that you must consider to store and protect your Ether cryptocurrency tokens:
Ledger Nano S
Wallet Type: Hardware Wallet
Ledger Nano S, being a hardware wallet, is one of the most secure options to store Ethereum in. Ledger is a multi-currency wallet which allows you to store your Ethereum offline. The device is highly secure because it ensures that your key remains with you, while the device remains in your physical possession. It comes with an OLED screen which you can use to check your balances.
It is a multi-currency wallet popular among Ethereum investors and traders. The wallet does not even need to be connected to the internet to receive payments as it can sync them whenever you connect it. Ledger Nano S can store both, ETH as well as ETC cryptocurrencies. It is perhaps the most secure Ethereum Wallet!
Trezor
Wallet Type: Hardware
Hardware wallets, in general, are more secure compared to other types of wallets. This is primarily because you can exert a greater amount of control on these wallets and you do not have to rely on a third party. Trezor is one such hardware Ethereum wallet which is popularly used by the people. Trezor was in fact the first ever hardware wallet to be created for cryptocurrencies. It started off with support for Bitcoin, but now supports Ethereum as well.
Trezor is light and portable, and similar to Ledger Nano S, it comes with an OLED display as well which allows you to check your balances and verify transactions. It also has a web interface.
MyEtherWallet
Wallet Type: Web Wallet
A popular Ethereum Wallet when it comes to those users who prefer to use web wallets, MyEtherWallet is perhaps the safest web wallet for Ethereum. We call it the safest because unlike other web wallets which tend to store your key on their or third party servers, MyEtherWallet allows you to store your private key on your device - making it more secure.
This is also the perfect web platform for you if you are using the Trezor or Ledger Nano S wallets because it allows you to access your hardware wallet funds in a web environment. There are no third party servers involved in using this wallet. Moreover, MyEtherWallet also allows you to create smart contracts. This wallet also ranks high in privacy as there are no registrations needed, hence your personal information remains secure.
Mist
Wallet Type: Desktop Wallet
What separates Mist from any other Ethereum wallet is the fact that Mist is an official wallet from Ethereum. Those using Mist must keep in mind that the password you are required to create a secure password during the setup process - make sure you do not forget this password as this is your only way of logging into the wallet.
Mist is a secure platform because it will be located on your PC and your private keys remain with you. In addition to storing your Ethereum tokens, Mist also allows you to exchange other cryptocurrencies with the help of Shapeshift. Setting up and using Mist is easy and it can run on Windows, Mac as well as Linux platforms. The Mist wallet is also privacy centric as it does not need any registrations from the user.
Coinbase
Wallet Type: Web Wallet
Coinbase is one of the most popular alternatives for those who prefer web wallets for storing their Ethereum. Coinbase is one of the biggest names and has users from all across the globe. The support for Ethereum was recently introduced. Coinbase allows you to create an Ethereum wallet on their platform and transfer ETH to and from other wallets. Coinbase also has an Android and an iOS app which makes it quite convenient to use.
It is simple, secure and easy to use. Coinbase is one of the best solutions for those who are not trading in a high amount or are trading for a short term. However, the biggest drawback that this Ethereum wallet has is the fact that the private key will be stored with Coinbase’s servers and if they are hacked your currency might be at a risk. Moreover, Coinbase also has a e-mail registration process which requires some personal information from the users.
Jaxx
Wallet Type: Desktop, Web and Mobile
Jaxx is a multi-platform wallet which can be accessed on Desktops, Mobile Phones as well as on the web though it has primarily been developed for phones. Jaxx offers a high amount of security because it does not store your private keys. Not only is Jaxx an Ethereum wallet, but it also supports a number of other cryptocurrencies.
One of the best things about the Jaxx wallet is the fact that it supports multiple platforms. It has a desktop version for Windows, Mac and Linux, it supports iOS as well as Android and also comes as a web extension for Google Chrome and Firefox. The wallet also supports smart contracts and is high on privacy as it does not require any personal information or registration!
ETHAddress
Wallet Type: Paper Wallet
Paper Wallets are also considered highly secure because your public key as well as your private key remains in your physical possession on a piece of paper. ETHAddress is the perfect paper wallet for storing Ethereum. Moreover, the private keys can be further encrypted for additional privacy.
Paper wallets are very basic but highly secure. For anyone looking for an Ethereum Wallet that offers the bare minimums in terms of functionality but high on privacy and security - this is the wallet that you should be looking at!
Exodus
Wallet Type: Desktop Wallet
Exodus is perhaps the most easy to use Ethereum wallet. This is primarily because of its UI which is simple to understand and shows stats in charts, etc. The graphical representation of data that this wallet does is simply brilliant - making it one of the best desktop wallets. It supports multiple currencies including Ethereum.
Exodus also allows users to exchange cryptocurrencies. The wallet is high on security as well. Since it is a desktop wallet, your private keys remain stored on your PC and there’s no risk of losing them. It also has other features such as one-click recovery, etc. which makes it pretty useful as well as easy to use. Easily the best desktop wallet for Ethereum. The only drawback here is that Exodus requires your personal e-mail and always needs to be connected to the internet.
KeepKey
Wallet Type: Hardware Wallet
KeepKey is another popular hardware wallet used by many cryptocurrency users. It is another great Ethereum Wallet and supports many other currencies as well. The KeepKey wallet costs more than Trezor and Ledger Nano S but also has a bigger screen and a bigger body. While it carries a premium look and feel to it - the device is actually made of plastic, making it more prone to accidental damage.
KeepKey however, is quite secure and privacy centric, as you’d expect a hardware wallet to be. Your Ethereum can be stored here without any worries of your keys getting hacked or stolen.
Metamask
Wallet Type: Desktop Wallet
Last but not the least, Metamask is one of the best Ethereum Wallets of 2018. This wallet offers the users with an easy to use design. It comes with Firefox and Chrome extensions and stores your private keys on your PC - ensuring they are secure. Moreover, the Metamask wallet also provides access to decentralized applications on the Ethereum network.
Experienced users can easily switch between the test networks and the main Ethereum network. Moreover, using the Metamask wallet does not require any registration or personal information either.
Choosing the Best Ethereum Wallet
Now that you know the top 10 Ethereum Wallets of 2018 - you now have the choice to select the ones that suit your needs the best. The best way to choose the Ethereum Wallet that works out for you is first deciding on which platforms are you comfortable with. You then need to decide how comfortable you are while sharing your private information with a wallet.
The best Ethereum Wallet is basically one that meets all your needs and offers you a peace of mind! The most important thing that you need to consider is the way your keys are stored - if you don’t mind storing your keys on a third party server then a web-wallet might do the trick for you. However, if you are a high-value trader, you might want to use a hardware wallet to save your Ethereum at.