Hardware wallets are the best way to secure your bitcoin, whether you’re holding a few satoshis ‘just in case’ or have a small fortune to protect. But the industry has grown since we invented the first hardware wallet in 2013, and there are now dozens of devices on the market. So how do you decide which to buy?
There are a few key security features that hardware wallets must have keep your money safe.
First, they must create and store private keys offline. Trezor wallets use the BIP-39 standard we helped create to generate keys, which means your back up can be restored on any wallet, regardless of which brand you use.
Next, the wallet must have a screen. This is essential, as many attacks will be hidden in transaction details and cannot be verified by software alone, as the software could be compromised. Trezor wallets have a screen to confirm the address you are sending your funds to is correct, the fees have not been inflated, and the total amount is what you expect. Card-based wallets without a screen cannot protect you from paying the wrong person or having your account drained in a single transaction.
Finally, there is also ease-of-use. While Trezor wallets provide some of the most sophisticated privacy and security features on the market, such as Shamir backup, coin control, Tor and replace-by-fee, they are also widely regarded as the easiest wallet to use.
With the free Trezor Suite interface for desktop and web, every time you need to use your wallet becomes a simple, easy process. This is essential, as you are the only one in control of your money and any complexity increases the chances you will block yourself from accessing your own money.
The biggest step you can take to improve your security is simply to create and store your seed offline. With the Trezor Model One, you can be certain that your keys are only in your hands, and have never touched a network.
At a low price of just $69 the Model One is a must-have for anyone who plans to hold on to their bitcoin for the mid to long term.
At a low price of just $69 the Model One is a must-have for anyone who plans to hold on to their bitcoin for the mid to long term.
The Trezor Model One is a universal security solution that will give any bitcoiner the confidence to hold their own keys, isolated from online attacks and without the need to trust an exchange. It has two physical buttons which are used to navigate menus and sign transactions, while some actions are performed through the free Trezor Suite interface.
As an entry-level device, there are some limitations to the Model One. It uses the standard BIP-39 recovery seed standard, but does not feature Shamir backup, a more advanced standard that allows multiple shares to be created and hidden in different locations. It also supports fewer altcoins, so you won’t be able to use Monero, Cardano, or several other cryptocurrencies on it. Check out our coins page for more information on assets supprted by each device.
From a security standpoint, getting a Trezor Model One will protect you from all online attacks and help you keep your bitcoin secure physically in your hands. If you plan to manage your money only a few times a week or month, it is the ideal solution. For more convenient daily use, the Model T has a touchscreen and several advanced features that set it apart as a more professional device.
The Trezor Model T is the most advanced hardware wallet on the market. With a full-color touchscreen and industry-leading FIDO2 authentication, it is built to be used as a premium everyday tool to secure your digital life.
The Model T’s touchscreen not only allows you to control the device more comfortably, it also provides security benefits. It lets you enter your PIN and passphrase directly on the device, rather than using the device and computer input together, reducing the chance of having critical data intercepted.
What’s more, the Model T’s more powerful processor allows it to create a sophisticated Shamir backup instead of the regular 12 or 24 word BIP-39 seed standard. Shamir backup can create up to 16 unique shares which are combined to restore your wallet.
You set how many shares to create and how many you need to restore it, so you can customize your backup to suit your needs. This way, you can lose one or several shares without being locked out of your wallet, and a thief will need to steal multiple shares to get to your assets.
Fans of cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin will also benefit from the Model T, which supports Cardano, Ripple and others natively in Trezor Suite and can also be used with Monero, Binance coin and more when your Trezor is connected via a third-party interface.
The Model T stands above and beyond in many ways, and one of it’s lesser-known features is FIDO 2 support. FIDO 2 is one of the most modern authentication standards in use today, and the Model T is the only device that supports the standard that has a touchscreen to make verification easy.
While there are several features that set the Model T above the competition, the choice between a Model One and Model T is more about how you plan to use the device.
If it will be kept secure in a home safe and rarely used, a Model One may be sufficient, while for everyday account management the Model T is by far the most convenient wallet on the market and ensures you are secure no matter where you use it.
Both models are supported by our free Trezor Suite interface, which helps protect your privacy and lets you easily manage your accounts, no matter whether you need bitcoin for business or just to protect your personal finances.
Whichever wallet you choose, your assets will be safe under your control, without the need to trust anyone.
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