Ledger and Trezor are the leading hardware wallet makers, and their highest-end devices are the Ledger Stax and the Trezor Safe 5. Both offer secure crypto storage and a portfolio management app, but differ in other ways. Notably, the Stax has a curved E Ink grayscale touchscreen, while the Safe 5 has a color touchscreen, Ledger offers a full mobile version of its portfolio management app, while Trezor’s is view-only, and the Ledger device is more expensive than the Trezor wallet.
Regarding hardware wallets and their leading manufacturers, the main competition is Ledger vs Trezor. These are the two top producers, and each makes high-quality devices.
They have also both followed similar paths in terms of improvements and innovations, moving hardware wallets forward from USB-like devices that were aimed only at addressing crypto cold storage needs, towards, currently, much more consumer-focused devices that come in stylish designs and can be used for a range of interactive crypto requirements, offering more than just secure crypto storage.
As such, let’s check each company’s origins and the devices they offer before comparing Ledger features vs. Trezor features in their respective top-of-the-line wallets.
Ledger’s History and Range
Based in France, Ledger launched as a company in 2014 and released its first wallet in 2016. The full range of Ledger wallets now available comprises the Ledger Nano S Plus, Ledger Nano X, Ledger Stax, and Ledger Flex.
For a Ledger vs Trezor crypto wallet comparison, we’ll take a look at the most expensive wallet in Ledger’s range, which is the Ledger Stax.
Trezor’s History and Range
Launched in 2013 and part of Satoshi Labs, Trezor is based in the Czech Republic and released its first wallet in 2014. Interestingly, that initial product was priced in bitcoin, at 1 BTC for the plastic model, and 3 BTC for metal.
The current Trezor wallet range is made up of the Trezor Model One, Trezor Model T, Trezor Safe 3, and Trezor Safe 5, with Bitcoin-only versions of the Trezor Safe 3 and 5 also available.
For comparison with the Ledger Stax, we’ll focus on Trezor’s most expensive and advanced wallet, which is the Trezor Safe 5.
Ledger Stax Top Features
The Ledger Stax started shipping in May 2024, and at $399 is the most expensive Ledger hardware wallet, although it is not actually Ledger’s newest wallet as the Ledger Flex was introduced shortly after the Stax. But what makes the Stax in particular so central to Ledger’s line-up?
Design: Before the Stax, Ledger wallets looked like USB sticks with a couple of buttons and a very small screen. In terms of security they were–and still are–solid and reliable. However, the Stax pushed aesthetics alongside safety, and was designed by Tony Fadell–the creative engineering mind behind the original Apple iPod, and who also worked on the iPhone.
This means the Stax is a stylish device: the screen (which we’ll come to in a moment) stands out, it’s made with an aluminium frame, and it contains magnets so that several devices can be stacked together if you use multiple wallets.
Curved screen: The Stax integrates a touchscreen, and impressively, it’s a curved E Ink display that wraps around the edge of the device, and can be customized with any image. It’s grayscale rather than color–enabling improved battery life–but besides being practical, the monochrome effect fits with the device’s aesthetic.
Security: A hardware wallet must prioritize secure crypto storage, and the Ledger Stax ticks all boxes in this respect. You can read in detail about its security features in this article: Advanced Security Features of Ledger: Protecting Your Crypto Assets.
In summary, the Stax uses Ledger’s security-specialized operating system BOLOS, and a Secure Element chip (the ST33K1M5) that is ranked 6.5 out of a maximum of 7.5 according to the CC EAL safety rating system, and the wallet also uses Secure Screen technology.
Ledger Live: A full consideration of the best hardware wallet goes beyond just looking at the device itself, as when you buy a Ledger you will need to download the Ledger Live app and hook it up with the wallet. Ledger Live is available for desktop or mobile, and the Ledger Stax has Bluetooth and NFC connectivity.
Ledger Live functions as an interface with your wallet, and also lets you stake coins and–through third-party integrations–provides options for buying and selling crypto, swapping tokens, and other services. To find out more about Ledger Live and how to use it, take a look at Understanding Ledger Live: How to Manage Your Crypto Portfolio Effectively.
Ledger Recover: Ledger has launched a new service for its wallet owners called Ledger Recover. It’s a monthly subscription (costing $9.99 a month) that enables users to restore inaccessible wallets without the need for a seed phrase.
Interesting read: How to recover your Ledger wallet – and how to avoid losing it in the first place
Range of supported assets: The Ledger Stax–with third-party wallet integration–supports over 5,000 coins and tokens, along with NFTs on multiple chains.
Trezor Safe 5 Top Features
The Trezor Safe 5 was launched in June 2024, costs $169, and is the highest-spec device in the Trezor range, so let’s check through its strongest points.
Design: The Trezor Safe 5 keeps Trezor’s signature form–a shield-like padlock shape–but is sleeker than previous models and–through the use of a color touchscreen, looks modern and attractive, and is user-friendly.
Color screen: As mentioned, the Trezor Safe 5 has a full color touchscreen that covers the whole front surface of the device, and is brightly vibrant. Additionally, the screen is constructed with Gorilla Glass 3, which is chemically strengthened to be resistant to cracks and scratches, while remaining thin and light.
Security: As in the case of Ledger wallets, Trezor also uses a Secure Element chip. It’s a different model–an OPTIGA Trust M v3–and it has also achieved the reassuringly high CC EAL 6+ safety rating.
Trezor Suite: As when you use a Ledger, you will also need to download an app for your Trezor wallet, and in this case it’s called Trezor Suite. This then operates as a straightforward interface allowing you to easily manage your crypto portfolio, you can buy, sell and swap tokens in the app, and it also includes staking functions.
However, although there is a mobile version of the app called Trezor Suite Lite, this is a view-only portfolio tracker.
Open-source firmware: Trezor uses open-source firmware, which arguably allows for more robust security as it can be community tested and checked, and is open to improvement proposals.
Trezor Expert: This optional service offers a one-hour, one-to-one tutorial session to guide users through setting up a wallet and managing crypto, but it’s priced at an additional $99.
Range of supported assets: The Trezor Safe 5 is marketed as supporting “1000s of coins and tokens”. This is achieved through integration with third-party wallets, and there is support for NFTs, although these cannot be managed directly through Trezor Suite.
Similarities Between the Two Products
Both devices are highly secure and use Secure Element chips that have attained an EAL score of 6+. Both have touchscreens and are designed to be as consumer-friendly as possible. This translates across also to their respective interface apps, which are easy to navigate, and both also integrate staking and other services.
Additionally, both devices support a wide range of coins and tokens, and can be used to transact across the ever-widening crypto landscape.
Ledger vs Trezor: Which Comes Out on Top?
Which of these devices should be considered the best hardware wallet depends on your priorities as a user, but we can identify the points by which each has an advantage.
Where the Ledger Stax Wins
- The device’s design is very distinctive, the curved E Ink screen looks great, and the monochrome effect fits with the stylishly bookish aesthetic, although some users might prefer color.
- The Ledger Live app can be synchronized across both desktop and mobile, so you can use it on the go.
- Ledger Recover offers an extra layer of security and reduces reliance on seed phrases, although this must be paid for on a monthly basis.
- The Ledger Stax can be connected to other devices wirelessly through Bluetooth and NFC.
Where the Trezor Safe 5 Wins
- The Trezor device comes in three different color selections, all of which look attractive, and it has a color screen, which some users might prefer over the grayscale of the Ledger Stax.
- It’s at the top of the Trezor range but the Safe 5 is significantly cheaper than the Ledger Stax.
- Trezor’s open source firmware ensures transparency and permits ongoing audits and feedback.
In conclusion, if your sole priority is secure crypto storage, then either wallet is more than up to the task. After that, we have the design aspect, which is a matter of personal preference: the Ledger feels more high-end and likely to win plaudits, while the Trezor is very cleanly constructed and has a color screen.
What the Ledger has strongly in its favor is the full mobile version of Ledger Live, and there’s also the optional Ledger Recover service. On the other hand though, if those benefits aren’t priorities for you, then it’s of note that Trezor offers the cheaper of the two products.
Overall then, if you want unusual design work along with mobile integration, the Ledger Stax might be your best bet, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option with the added advantage of a color screen, then the Trezor Safe 5 is worth a look.
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Ps. We compared Ledgers products to a couple of other hardware wallets:
Ps2. Our team also reviewed Ledger products:
Other interesting reads:
How to set up your Ledger wallet successfully.
Features of Ledger & Advanced security features on Ledger
Ledger firmware updates – how it influences your crypto safety
Staking your crypto on Ledger – earn crypto while doing NOTHING
