There is no single best Monero wallet, only the best one for what you want to do. Search for one and you will find real wallets, exchange accounts, and look-alike sites built to steal recovery words. Here is the honest version, with the trade-offs said out loud.
New to the coin itself? Start with what Monero is and how it differs from Bitcoin, then come back.
Start with what you need
Skip the feature lists. Pick the sentence that fits your life and we will point you to the kind of wallet that suits it.
No install and no sign-up. Keep the amount small and see how it feels.
See whyMonerujo on Android if you want Monero only, or Cake Wallet if you want other coins too.
See whyKeep the big balance on a separate device, and a small spending wallet on the side.
See whyFeather or the official GUI, with the option to connect to your own node.
See whyYour recovery words work elsewhere. Here is how to move without landing on a clone.
See whyNot sure? Many people use two: a small everyday wallet and a hardware wallet for savings. Because every wallet can restore from your recovery words, switching later is not a trap, as long as the words are safely backed up. Here is how to back up your wallet.
The four types
Almost every wallet falls into one of four types. The type decides where your keys live and how convenient the wallet is. Your keys are the secret that lets you spend your money, so where they live is the whole game.
They run in your browser, so there is nothing to install. That makes them the quickest way to start. A good one is non-custodial, which means your keys are created and encrypted on your device.
Who it is forPeople trying Monero, and everyday amounts.
The trade-offOnly as safe as the device and browser you use.
Apps for Android or iPhone. They suit paying and receiving on the go, and your phone is always with you, which is handy.
Who it is forPeople who pay and get paid from their phone.
The trade-offA phone can be lost or infected, so keep the balance modest.
They run on Windows, macOS, or Linux. They give you more control, including choosing your own node (the server your wallet asks about the network), and suit people who want to learn how Monero works in more depth. What is a node?
Who it is forPeople who want control and privacy on a computer.
The trade-offMore to learn than a browser wallet.
They keep your keys on a dedicated device that signs transactions without exposing the keys to your computer. They are the strongest option for large or long-term amounts.
Who it is forAnyone holding a lot, or holding for years.
The trade-offThey cost money and take more effort to set up.
Wallets worth knowing
These are widely used, non-custodial options. We have not ranked them from best to worst, because the right pick depends on your device and goal. MonkStash is one of them, and we say plainly where it does not fit.
A free Monero wallet that runs in your browser. Your keys are created and encrypted on your device and never sent to our servers, and there is no account or email to sign up for. It is built for people who want to get started in a couple of minutes and use Monero day to day without installing anything.
The honest trade-offNot the place for a life-changing sum. Pair it with a hardware wallet for that.
A popular, open source mobile wallet with a polished interface. It supports several coins besides Monero, which is handy if you hold more than one.
The honest trade-offIt supports other coins too. If you want Monero and nothing else, a Monero-only app keeps things simpler.
An open source wallet made only for Monero on Android. It is a good fit if you want a focused app on your phone and no extra coins to think about.
The honest trade-offAndroid only, so iPhone users should look elsewhere.
A lightweight, open source desktop wallet known for starting quickly and being friendly to privacy-minded users. It is a solid choice for a computer if you find the official wallet heavy, and it works with hardware wallets.
The honest trade-offDesktop only, and not the Monero project's official wallet.
The official wallet from the Monero project, downloaded from getmonero.org, in a graphical version (GUI) and a command line version (CLI). It gives you the most control, including running your own full node, and is the reference most other wallets are measured against. Always verify the download as the site explains.
The honest trade-offBigger, slower to sync, and less beginner-friendly.
These devices can hold Monero keys, and you use them together with a companion wallet such as the official GUI or Feather. Because the keys stay on the device, a hacked computer cannot simply copy them. This is the setup we suggest for savings you do not plan to touch often.
The honest trade-offCosts money and takes more effort to set up. Check each maker's current Monero support before you buy, since it can change.
Looking for a replacement for the retired MyMonero? See our MyMonero alternative page.
Monero wallet comparison
One glance, seven rows. The last row is the one to be careful with: an exchange account is not a wallet you control.
| Wallet | Type | Best for | Keys held by you |
|---|---|---|---|
| MonkStash | Web | Getting started fast, everyday use | Yes |
| Cake Wallet | Mobile (Android, iOS) | Phone users, multi-coin holders | Yes |
| Monerujo | Mobile (Android) | Monero-only on Android | Yes |
| Feather | Desktop | A light, fast computer wallet | Yes |
| Monero GUI and CLI | Desktop | Maximum control, own node | Yes |
| Ledger or Trezor | Hardware, with a companion wallet | Large or long-term savings | Yes, on the device |
| Exchange account | Custodial | Trading, not storage | No |
An exchange account is custodial: the company holds the keys, so you are trusting it to stay solvent and online. Fine for trading, a poor place for long-term holdings.
Before you click anything
Since MyMonero shut down, look-alike sites have copied real wallets to collect recovery words. A few habits keep you out of that trap. Reach wallets through official links and bookmarks, not ads or messages.
Why we built MonkStash
We wanted the quick start of a web app without handing anyone your keys. So MonkStash runs in your browser, costs nothing, and asks for no email. It is one honest option among several, and for big savings we point you to a hardware wallet.
Your keys are created and encrypted on your device and never sent to our servers.
Built on monero-ts, and our own code is open source too (BSD-3-Clause). Read the code instead of taking our word.
No email and no sign-up. A browser wallet means no install either.
Platform picks, in-depth reviews and safety checks. Each one answers a single question in depth.
For a first wallet, pick one that is non-custodial and simple to set up. A browser wallet like MonkStash is the fastest way to start, and Cake Wallet is a popular mobile option. Whichever you choose, write down your recovery words on paper and start with a small amount.
Monerujo is an open source, Monero-only Android wallet, and Cake Wallet is a widely used mobile wallet that also supports other coins. Download only from the official website or a store listing you have verified.
Cake Wallet is the best-known Monero option on iOS. You can also use a browser wallet like MonkStash in Safari without installing anything. Check that you are on the official site or the official app listing before you create a wallet.
It can be, if it is non-custodial: your keys are created and encrypted in your browser and never sent to a server. The main risks are fake look-alike sites and losing your recovery words. Use a bookmark you trust, and keep large amounts in a hardware wallet.
MonkStash, Cake Wallet, Monerujo, Feather, the official Monero GUI and CLI, and hardware wallets used with a companion app are all non-custodial, meaning you hold the keys. An account on an exchange is custodial: the exchange holds the keys, not you.
A hardware wallet such as a Ledger or Trezor, used with a companion wallet, is widely recommended for larger or long-term amounts because the keys stay on a separate device. Keep your recovery words offline and backed up in more than one safe place.
Yes. Many people keep a small spending wallet on their phone or in the browser and savings in a hardware wallet. You can restore the same recovery words in a different compatible wallet if you ever need to switch.
If you want to try Monero today, the simplest route is a small browser wallet. It takes about two minutes, costs nothing, and your keys stay on your device. Write the recovery words on paper, send a small test amount, and build from there.