Ledger vs Trezor for Monero: models, apps and our verdict
Both Ledger and Trezor can secure Monero, but neither manages XMR in its own app; you use the Monero GUI, Feather or Cake Wallet. Ledger has the broadest app support, including Cake Wallet on Flex and Stax and Monerujo on Android. Trezor has open-source firmware and Cake Wallet support since June 2026, but the Safe 7 is not yet supported by the Monero GUI or Feather.
Quick steps
- Set up the device. Initialise your Ledger or Trezor with the manufacturer's official software, write the recovery seed on paper and store it offline.
- Install the Monero app if needed. On Ledger, install the Monero app on the device. Trezor firmware includes Monero support already.
- Install a companion wallet. Download the Monero GUI from getmonero.org, Feather from featherwallet.org or Cake Wallet from its official store page. Verify downloads where hashes or signatures are offered.
- Create a hardware wallet in the app. Choose the option to create a wallet from a Ledger or Trezor device and set a restore height so syncing is faster.
- Verify your receive address. Show the receive address on the device screen and check it matches the app before sharing it.
- Test with a small amount. Send a small amount in, wait 10 blocks, then send a small amount out, confirming the details on the device.
Ledger vs Trezor for Monero at a glance
| Feature | Ledger | Trezor |
|---|---|---|
| Models with Monero | Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex, Stax (older Nano S too) | Safe 7, Safe 5, Safe 3, Model T (not Model One) |
| Own app (Ledger Live / Trezor Suite) | No XMR account; Ledger points users to the Monero GUI | No; "Trezor Suite doesn't support Monero" (trezor.io) |
| Monero GUI / CLI | Yes (Nano S, S Plus, X per getmonero.org) | Yes for Model T, Safe 3, Safe 5 (firmware 2.5.2+); Safe 7 not yet |
| Feather (desktop) | Yes (Nano S, S Plus, X, Flex, Stax per Feather's docs) | Model T, Safe 3, Safe 5 (not Safe 7) |
| Cake Wallet (mobile) | Since December 2024: Nano X, Flex, Stax over Bluetooth; USB on Android | Since version 6.2.0 (5 June 2026): Android for Safe 7, 5, 3 and Model T; iOS for Safe 7 only |
| Monerujo (Android) | Yes, over USB OTG | No |
| Firmware | Monero app is open source; secure-element OS is closed | Fully open-source firmware |
| Bluetooth | Nano X, Flex, Stax | Safe 7 |
How Monero works on a hardware wallet
A hardware wallet keeps your private spend key on the device. A companion app on your computer or phone scans the blockchain, builds the transaction and sends it to the device to sign. You confirm the address and amount on the device screen. Your seed never touches the internet-connected computer.
Monero's privacy makes this harder than for Bitcoin, so fewer apps support it. Exodus was one of the few multi-coin apps with Trezor Monero support, and it dropped XMR on 18 August 2025. In practice, you use one of four apps: the official Monero GUI or CLI, Feather, Cake Wallet or, for Ledger only, Monerujo.
Ledger for Monero
Ledger has the widest Monero app choice. You install the Monero app on the device through Ledger's software, then manage XMR in the Monero GUI, Feather, Cake Wallet or Monerujo. Ledger's own Monero page names the GUI as the companion wallet.
Cake Wallet added Ledger Monero support in December 2024, including the touchscreen Flex and Stax over Bluetooth on iPhone and Android (Cake Wallet blog, 19 Dec 2024). Feather's documentation also lists the Flex and Stax. getmonero.org officially lists the Nano S, S Plus and X for the GUI; we could not confirm GUI support for Flex and Stax.
Points to weigh: Ledger's secure-element operating system is closed source, and its optional Ledger Recover seed-backup service, announced in May 2023, worried some privacy-minded users. In March 2019, a bug in the Ledger Monero app and GUI 0.14 hid change outputs until a patch restored them.
Trezor for Monero
Trezor's firmware is fully open source, which many Monero users value. The Model T, Safe 3 and Safe 5 work with the Monero GUI and CLI on desktop. Feather's documentation lists the Model T, Safe 3 and Safe 5, but not yet the Safe 7.
Cake Wallet 6.2.0, released on 5 June 2026, added Trezor signing for XMR. On Android it works with the Safe 7, Safe 5, Safe 3 and Model T; on iOS only the Safe 7, which has Bluetooth (trezor.io).
The Safe 7 has a gap on desktop. In January 2026 a Trezor developer explained on the Trezor forum that the device supports Monero but the Monero GUI still has to add support for its new encrypted protocol. As of October 2026 Trezor's own page lists the GUI only for the Safe 5, Safe 3 and Model T. The old Model One cannot hold Monero at all.
Future upgrades
Monero's planned FCMP++ upgrade changes how transactions are built, so every hardware wallet app will need an update before the mainnet fork. Developers have been working with hardware wallet makers in 2026, and the test network release of September 2026 added offline-signing support. No mainnet date has been announced; see the FCMP++ upgrade. Keep your 25-word or device seed safe so you can restore into an updated app.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Ledger (Nano S Plus or Nano X) if you want the widest Monero app support, especially Monerujo on Android or Cake Wallet on iPhone with Nano X, Flex or Stax.
- Choose Trezor (Safe 3 or Safe 5) if open-source firmware matters most and you will use the Monero GUI, Feather or Cake Wallet on Android.
- Think twice about the Trezor Safe 7 for Monero on desktop until the GUI supports it; on iPhone with Cake Wallet it works today.
Buy only from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller, and type ledger.com or trezor.io yourself rather than clicking ads. Never type your device seed into a website or app that asks for it. More on Monero hardware wallets and cold storage.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ledger Live support Monero?
No. Ledger Live does not show an XMR account. You install the Monero app on the device and use the Monero GUI, Feather, Cake Wallet or Monerujo.
Does Trezor Suite support Monero?
No. Trezor says Trezor Suite does not support Monero. Use the Monero GUI or CLI, Feather or Cake Wallet with a Safe 3, Safe 5 or Model T; the Safe 7 currently works only with Cake Wallet.
Can I use a Trezor Safe 7 with Monero?
Yes with Cake Wallet on iOS and Android. As of October 2026 the Monero GUI does not yet support the Safe 7 on desktop.
Which is better for Monero, Ledger or Trezor?
Ledger has broader app support for Monero, including Monerujo and Cake Wallet with Flex and Stax. Trezor offers fully open-source firmware. Both keep your keys offline.