How to choose a software wallet

A software wallet is an app that holds your keys on your phone or computer. There are hundreds, and the app stores contain fakes. This lesson gives you criteria. We do not recommend brands.

Start with what you need

Which coins? Some wallets handle only bitcoin. Others cover Ethereum and many networks. A wallet that does one thing is simpler to use safely.
Which device? Mobile, desktop and browser-extension wallets each have their place.
What for? Receiving and holding needs little. Using apps and tokens needs more features and more care.

The device trade-off

Type	Good for	Watch out for
Mobile app	Everyday payments, QR codes	Loss or theft of the phone
Desktop app	More control and features	Malware on the computer
Browser extension	Using web apps	Phishing sites and fake extensions

Seven checks

1. It gives you the keys. A self-custody wallet shows you a seed phrase when you set it up. If there is only an email login and no way to export your keys, a company is almost certainly holding them.

2. The code is open. Open-source wallets publish their code so independent experts can inspect it. This does not prove a wallet is safe. Closed code means you have only the maker's word.

3. It has a track record. Look for a wallet that has existed for years and is updated regularly. Check when it was last updated and how its makers handled past problems.

4. It follows standards. A standard seed phrase means you can recover your coins in another wallet if this one disappears.

5. It shows you what you are signing. A good wallet displays the address, amount and fee clearly, and warns you about risky approvals.

6. It lets you control fees. bitcoin.org lists this as a feature to compare. It stops you overpaying or getting stuck.

7. It works with a hardware wallet. You may want to add one later without changing apps.

Where to find candidates

bitcoin.org and ethereum.org both publish wallet finders with filters. Neither endorses the wallets listed. ethereum.org says its listings "are not official endorsements". Use them as a starting list and apply the checks above.

Downloading the real one

This step matters as much as the choice.

Go to the wallet's official website by typing its address. Follow its link to the app store.
Do not search the app store and pick the first result. In 2026, researchers found 26 fake wallet apps in Apple's App Store that imitated popular wallets and stole seed phrases.
Check the developer's name and the number of reviews, and be wary of an app that appeared recently.
Never install a wallet from a link in a message or advert.

A red flag

A real wallet asks you to enter a seed phrase only if you choose "restore" or "import". An app that demands a phrase to "verify" or "sync" is stealing it.