Introduction
Today we will discuss on everything you need to know about Trezor Model T vs Ledger Nano SÂ in simple and easy to follow guide.
Did you know that hardware wallets allow you to pull your coins off a central authority?
Today I will break this down in the following way:
- Quick summary table with the differences
- A more detailed explanation of how I feel as a user
- Support and current availability of the wallets
We will be analyzing two hardware wallets here, more specifically:
- Trezor Model T: This is made by Trezor which you can find here and has an LCD screen and touch screen
- Ledger Nano S: This is made by Ledger A portable alternative with a smaller LCD without a touch screen (has buttons)
Just as a note I’ve owned the Ledger Nano S for a longer period as the Trezor Model T is relatively new. I waited however a month to write this review until I gave it a fair shot on using it and understanding how it works. So while this may come out as a biased opinion as I’ve always used the Ledger Nano S I tried to keep it as objective as I can.
I have been working in the Software industry for over 23 years now and I have been a software architect, manager, developer and engineer. I am a machine learning and crypto enthusiast with emphasis in security. I have experience in various industries such as entertainment, broadcasting, healthcare, security, education, retail and finance.
Quick Comparison Between Trezor Model T vs Ledger Nano S
Before I start boring you with all the details of the differences between the two I’d like to give you a quick summary table that you can just glance through and identify what you are looking for without much effort and research. Please note that all observations are my own and they may change if the two products receive firmware or software updates.
| Trezor Model T | Ledger Nano S | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Expensive | Well Priced |
| Ease Of Use | Easy | Easy |
| App Compatibility | Good | Very Good |
| Coin Support | Average | Excellent |
| Security | Very Good | Very Good |
| Form Factor | Very Good | Excellent |
| Construction | Very Good | Excellent |
| Support | Slow | Slow |
As you can quickly see in most of the things I’ve tested them the Ledger Nano S is better than the Trezor Model T. Having said that both are excellent devices and based on your needs make your decision accordingly.
Detailed Comparison Between Trezor Model T vs Ledger Nano S
Now that we have covered a quick summary we are going to go into more details based on the sections below as needed, feel free to drill in and get a better understanding on each part.
Ease Of Use
I found the software very easy to use in both hardware wallets. I believe the onboarding is very well made by both companies and the whole process start to finish is smooth and bug free. If you are a beginner and thinking if you should take the plunge on whether or not to move from a centralized authority to a hardware wallet do it you won’t regret it.
Winner: Neither
Cost
Cost wise the Trezor T is much more expensive (currently 234.36euro) but it also comes with a touch screen and a bigger display screen. If you are in the market for a touch screen display then this may justify the cost difference. I personally don’t need it as much since I always interact with it either via my mobile app or from the pc directly.
The Ledger Nano S is priced much lower at (59 euros) I believe it has everything the Trezor T and probably a much more feature rich application to use. Since I own both I tend to alternate between the two based on my preference at the time. If money is a concern for you go with the Ledger Nano S.
Winner: Ledger Nano S
App Compatibility
The app compatibility with other websites and other apps is by far better in the Ledger Nano S. While both have been in the market for approximately the same amount of time it is clear that the preference has weighed in towards Ledger. If you want to get a wallet that will let you access a lot of features and third party software wallets or website interfaces go with the Ledger Nano S.
Winner: Ledger Nano S
Coin Support
When it comes to coin support the Ledger Nano S is a much better selection. More specifically the Trezor Model T did not support at all Neo coins and also it was not recognizing (still doesn’t) my etherium classic coins. This is a show stopper for me as I need to be able to access everything that I own so I can live without the Trezor Model T but I cannot live without my Ledger Nano S. If you have a wide variety of coins and want the outmost support go with the Ledger Nano S.
Winner: Ledger Nano S
Security
Security is pretty much the benchmark for hardware wallets. I have been surprised by both and the progress they have made in this field. In the early days I remember reading about all sorts of attacks affecting them and being able to compromise them (they probably still exist) but none of it is getting public or being spoken about. I believe they have reached an early stage of maturity which signifies some form of stability in this area. The one thing that surprised me the most was the seal my Trezor Model T had and the instructions on the beginning of the setup screen this shows that they really care about it. Despite that they both reflash the firmware for extra safety. If you are in doubt and want the outmost security I’d say the Trezor Model T has a slight edge here.
Winner: Trezor Model T
Form Factor
The form factor of the Ledger Nano S is a great addition to anyone that values portability. More specifically it’s designed in a way that you can put it in your keychain or in your pocket. While the Trezor Model T is a bigger device and doesn’t directly compete with the Ledger Nano S directly it’s still quite portable and can be easily carried with you.
Winner: Ledger Nano S
Construction
I was very impressed with the rigid construction of both of the devices. In particular I like the shape of the Trezor Model T but I think the screen may be a little more exposed than the one of the Ledger. If you are worried about scratches or putting it in your back pocket then this can definitely be an issue. Considering this is a touch screen it can potentially break and then you won’t be able to touch on it. Having said that I still think both are solid devices when it comes to build and quality.
The materials in the Ledger Nano S is a solid plastic surface that has a moveable enclosure which feels nice. It’s made out stainless steel and has a cool effect in the front. The Trezor Model T is all plastic but it’s pretty rigid. I had it on my back pocket the other day and I accidentally put my keys there too. When I took it out I was expecting some scratches in the surface and normal wear and tear. To my surprise there was nothing to be found. While saying that it’s still made out of plastic and I would have preferred something more premium like aluminum for such an expensive device. Even the Ledger Nano S which is significantly cheaper has aluminum to protect it on the outside.
If plastic is not a problem for you I don’t think it would really matter at the end of the day what maters the most is how robust it is and protects against breakage.
Winner: Neither
Support
One thing that really upset me from both of the products was their support. In both cases they were extremely slow (expect 10days+) as response times. This is very bad if you are producing such a mainstream product and expect to keep your customers. The quality is great but the support is lacking. Also you need to do it via email which is very slow if you are about to lose money due to an error or something else. In the crypto world also any transaction failures can greatly impact your results due to the high volatility. The later is unfortunate because it makes you not being able to completely rely on the wallet especially if you hit an unexpected bug.
Winner: Neither
Conclusion
If you found Trezor Model T vs Ledger Nano SÂ useful and you think it may have helped you please drop me a cheer below I would appreciate it.
If you have any questions, comments please post them below I check periodically and try to answer them in the priority they come in. Also if you have any corrections please do let me know and I’ll update the article with new updates or mistakes I did.
Which wallet software or hardware do you prefer?
My personal favorite is the Ledger Nano S. It’s super portable has good support for coins and works out of the box with most frontend websites.
If you would like to learn more about Unix systems you can check the links below: