Updated November 6, 2026
Tangem vs Ledger Nano X in comparison
Tangem
Hardware wallet
Change wallet
Ledger Nano X
Hardware wallet
Change wallet- Tangem: EAL6+Secure elementThe so-called “secure element” is a chip (microprocessor) that stores your private key and is separated from the rest of the hardware. This special chip gives the hardware wallet significantly more protection against local, physical attacks. Depending on the chip, a different level of security can be offered. Some chips can be compromised with less effort, while with others this is only possible with special equipment and is extremely complex.Ledger Nano X: CC EAL5+
- Tangem: NoOpen source codeA wallet that is “open source” makes its software code public (e.g. on Github). Either the entire program code or at least significant parts of it are publicly accessible. This has the advantage that many parties can review the code and security gaps or other vulnerabilities are discovered and improved more quickly.Ledger Nano X: No
- Tangem: 14,100+Coins and tokensLedger Nano X: 15,000+
Tangem or Ledger Nano X?
In our view, Tangem is the easier pick for phone users who fear losing a written phrase, while the Ledger Nano X suits readers who want to confirm every transaction on the device itself. We rate the Ledger Nano X higher overall and the two the same for beginner friendliness.
Choose Tangem if
- Chip certified EAL6+
- No battery, no cable, nothing to charge
- App code is open source on GitHub
- 25-year limited hardware warranty
Choose Ledger Nano X if
- You want more supported coins
- You want the easier app
- You want more features
- You put security first
Ranked lists: all wallets by our score.
Tangem and Ledger Nano X compared
Every value we hold for both, grouped. The cup marks the side that is ahead where the data decides; ties and plain differences have no mark.
| Tangem | What | Ledger Nano X |
|---|---|---|
| Price and type | ||
| Price | $99 | |
| Hardware | Wallet type | Hardware |
| Best suited for | Beginners | |
| Security and trust | ||
| No | Open source codeA wallet that is “open source” makes its software code public (e.g. on Github). Either the entire program code or at least significant parts of it are publicly accessible. This has the advantage that many parties can review the code and security gaps or other vulnerabilities are discovered and improved more quickly. | No |
| EAL6+ | Secure elementThe so-called “secure element” is a chip (microprocessor) that stores your private key and is separated from the rest of the hardware. This special chip gives the hardware wallet significantly more protection against local, physical attacks. Depending on the chip, a different level of security can be offered. Some chips can be compromised with less effort, while with others this is only possible with special equipment and is extremely complex. | CC EAL5+ |
| Security key (FIDO U2F) | Yes | |
| Certification | CSPN (expired July 2026)CSPNCSPN (expired July 2026) | |
| You (Non-Custodial) | Who holds the keysThe so-called "private key" is a unique sequence of numbers and characters and the private key that gives you direct access to and control over your cryptocurrencies. The private key is used to sign transactions. In simple terms, it can be seen as a digital fingerprint that proves that you are the owner of the cryptocurrencies. If you store your cryptocurrencies on so-called "custodial wallets" (e.g. crypto exchanges), you are not the owner of your private keys. | You (Non-Custodial) |
| Backup cards (2 or 3 per set); seed phrase Backup cards (2 or optional3…Backup cards (2 or 3 per set); seed phrase optional | BackupIf the hardware wallet or the device with the corresponding software wallet is lost or damaged, there is no need to panic. As long as you have your private key or recovery seed (also called “seed phrase”) in your possession, you can restore your wallet at any time. The recovery seed is a combination of 12-24 words and is the most common backup method for wallets. Important: Keep your recovery words and private keys secret and never share them with other people! | Recovery Seed (24 Recovery words)SeedRecovery Seed (24 words) |
| Two-factor authenticationTwo-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional measure to improve the protection and security of user accounts: In addition to the password, a second security component must be entered when logging in, e.g. a PIN code. | Yes | |
| MultisigMultisignature wallets or multisig wallets are wallets that require at least two private keys to sign a transaction. This additional process makes it possible to greatly increase security against unwanted access, for example through personal threats. This security mechanism is particularly useful when storing particularly high assets. | Yes | |
| AnonymityThe anonymity of “non-custodial wallets” is generally relatively high. However, there are differences between providers when it comes to collecting and storing user data. There can also be differences in the ordering process for hardware wallets as to which user data is stored and for what period of time | Medium | |
| Device | ||
| No screen | Screen | 128 x 64 Pixels |
| NFC | Connections | Bluetooth, USB-C |
| Build quality | Large | |
| Size | 72 mm × 18.6 mm × 11.7 72 mm × 18.6 mm × mm11.7…72 mm × 18.6 mm × 11.7 mm | |
| Weight | 34 g | |
| In the box | 1 Ledger Nano X, 1 USB-C to USB-A 1 Ledger Nano cable…X…1 Ledger Nano X, 1 USB-C to USB-A cable, 3 Recovery Sheets, 1 keychain strap, 1 Safety and regulatory leaflet | |
| Tap the card on an NFC Tap the card on an phoneNFC…Tap the card on an NFC phone | Service | Haptic buttons, smartphone Haptic (Bluetooth)buttons…Haptic buttons, smartphone (Bluetooth) |
| Apps and coins | ||
| Yes | iPhone app | Yes |
| Yes | Android app | Yes |
| Desktop app | Yes | |
| 14,100+ | Coins and tokens | 15,000+ |
| Yes | Buy and sellSome wallets offer an integrated trading function within the wallet to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly. This functionality is usually made possible by a connection to the web interface of an exchange. The integrated trading function in wallets offers enormous advantages: cryptocurrencies can be bought in the same place where they are to be stored. The manual transfer of cryptocurrencies from an exchange to your own wallet is therefore no longer necessary, which can save time and money. | Yes |
| StakingInterest can be earned through "staking" by "freezing" a certain number of cryptocurrencies for a defined period of time. The interest is generated from the consensus algorithm (e.g. "proof of stake"), which is used to validate and secure the network. | Yes | |
| NFTsSupport for managing and sending non-fungible tokens (NFTs). | Yes | |
| Backup to a second or third card instead of a Backup to a 12-word…second…Backup to a second or third card instead of a 12-word phrase; NFC card or ring, powered by your phone; Tangem Pay Visa card and Tangem Mobile app wallet | Special features | Bluetooth connectionBluetooth connection; Ledger Wallet app (formerly Ledger Live); Up to 100 apps |
| US availability | ||
| Yes | Open to US users | Yes |
| Company | ||
| Tangem AG | Company | Ledger SAS |
| Switzerland | Headquarters | France |
| 2017 | Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Eric Larchevêque, Joel Pobeda, Nicolas Eric Bacca…Larchevêque…Eric Larchevêque, Joel Pobeda, Nicolas Bacca, Thomas France | |
| Company size | Medium | |
| Followers on X | 621.905 Followers | |
Show all 34 rows+16 moreShow fewer
Checked November 4, 2026
Tangem 8.3, Ledger Nano X 9.3: six criteria
Our editors set every score out of 10, the same scores as in the two reviews. The method is on How we rate.
Operation
Our pick: Ledger Nano X.
TangemLedger Nano XRead more
Tangem
In our view, setup is simple: you install the app, tap the first card to create the wallet and then tap the backup cards. To send, you tap the card on the back of the phone to sign, which in our view is quicker than plugging in a cable.
Ledger Nano XIn our view, the Nano X is easy to live with once it is set up. You manage it from one app, Ledger Wallet, and the Bluetooth connection lets you approve a transfer from an iPhone or Android phone without a cable. You confirm every action with the two buttons. The 1.1-inch screen shows 128 x 64 pixels.
Functions & Scope
Our pick: Ledger Nano X.
TangemLedger Nano XRead more
Tangem
Tangem says you can manage more than 14,100 assets across more than 90 networks. Buying, swapping and selling run through third-party providers in the app. The range also includes Tangem Mobile, an app-only wallet, and Tangem Pay, a Visa card.
Ledger Nano XThe Nano X holds up to 100 apps at once. In Ledger Wallet you can send and receive crypto, buy, sell and swap it through Ledger's partners, and stake it.
Supported Assets
Our pick: Ledger Nano X.
TangemLedger Nano XRead more
Tangem
Tangem charges once for the card set, with no subscription, and shows the price in your own currency. Express delivery to the US costs $7.99. We would compare each provider's quote before swapping in the app, since the partner sets the price.
Ledger Nano XLedger says the Nano X can manage more than 15,000 coins and tokens. The Ledger Wallet app supports more than 500 of them directly, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and XRP among them; any other coin or token needs a compatible third-party wallet. For a small token, check Ledger's list before you buy.
Security & Trust
Our pick: Ledger Nano X.
TangemLedger Nano XRead more
Tangem
Private keys are generated on the card and never leave it. The chip is certified EAL6+, the card firmware is immutable and Cure53, Riscure and Kudelski Security have reviewed parts of the stack. In our view the missing screen is the main limit, so a clean phone matters.
Ledger Nano XYour private keys stay on a secure element chip certified to CC EAL5+. Only if you subscribe to the optional Ledger Recover service does an encrypted copy, split into three fragments, leave the device, and Recover requires an identity check. The French CSPN certificate for the Nano X expired in July 2026. Ledger has had customer data leaks in 2020 and a malicious Connect Kit release in 2023 that drained users of third-party apps; Ledger says its hardware was not affected. In January 2026, Ledger reported an incident at its e-commerce partner Global-e and said it was separate from its devices and software. In our view, the main risk to plan for is phishing aimed at your 24-word recovery phrase.
Beginner friendliness
Level on this one.
TangemLedger Nano XRead more
Tangem
We think Tangem suits beginners well, because there is no paper phrase to lose or type into a fake website. The backup is a second or third card instead of a 12-word phrase, so we would keep the cards in different places.
Ledger Nano XIn our view, the Nano X is a good first hardware wallet if you mostly use a phone. Setup runs through the Ledger Wallet app, and the step that matters most is writing down the 24-word recovery phrase. Anyone with those words can rebuild your wallet without the device. If price matters more to you than Bluetooth, the Nano S Plus is the cheaper Ledger.
Support
Our pick: Ledger Nano X.
TangemLedger Nano XRead more
Tangem
Tangem says you can get help around the clock in the app, in your language. We would remember that support can never restore a wallet without your cards.
Ledger Nano XLedger handles support through a chat on its support site. An AI chatbot called LedgerBot answers first, and you can ask for a human agent at any time by typing "Agent"; Ledger says it offers email and, when available, live chat. Ledger does not offer phone support and warns that callers who claim to be Ledger Support are scammers.
What we like and what we don't
From our two reviews, side by side.
Tangem
What we like
- Backup on a second or third card instead of a 12-word phrase
- Chip certified EAL6+
- No battery, no cable, nothing to charge
- App code is open source on GitHub
- 25-year limited hardware warranty
What we don't
- No screen to confirm addresses on the device
- Card firmware is closed, though externally reviewed
- Losing every card of a set means losing the funds
- Buying and swapping run through third-party providers
Ledger Nano X
What we like
- Bluetooth pairing with iPhones and Android phones, plus USB-C for computers.
- Secure element chip certified to CC EAL5+ for your private keys.
- Room for up to 100 apps and, according to Ledger, more than 15,000 supported coins and tokens.
- Bitcoin multisig, PSBT and miniscript through the Ledger Bitcoin app.
What we don't
- Small screen with Clear Signing as a multi-step process, and no Transaction Check scam warning, which Ledger offers only on its touchscreen models.
- Chip certified to CC EAL5+, while the Nano S Plus and Ledger's touchscreen models use EAL6+ chips.
- The battery lasts up to 5 hours of use, according to Ledger.
- Swap quotes in Ledger Wallet include a Ledger fee, and Ledger publishes no percentage.
What readers say
Reviews from our readers on each review page. We publish them after a check for spam.
Tangem vs Ledger Nano X: Card or Screen, Backup, Coins and Security
Tangem and the Ledger Nano X are both hardware wallets that keep your private keys offline, but they work in very different ways. Tangem is a card or ring that you tap against your phone, with no screen, battery or cable, and it can back itself up to a second and third card instead of a recovery phrase. The Nano X has its own screen and buttons for checking each transaction and connects by Bluetooth or USB-C. In our view, Tangem is the easier pick for phone users who fear losing a written phrase, while the Ledger Nano X suits readers who want to confirm every transaction on the device itself. We rate the Ledger Nano X higher overall and the two the same for beginner friendliness.
How they work
Tangem stores keys on a chip inside a card or ring. The keys are created on the card and never leave it, and the firmware on the card cannot be changed. You sign by holding the card to an NFC phone running the Tangem app, so there is nothing to charge or plug in.
The Ledger Nano X is a compact device featuring a 128 x 64 pixel screen, two buttons, a battery lasting up to 5 hours, Bluetooth, and a USB-C port. It integrates with the Ledger Wallet app on both desktop and mobile platforms. Ledger states it can support up to 100 apps simultaneously.
Backup and recovery
This is where the major practical difference lies. Tangem offers packs containing two or three cards, and during setup, the key is copied to each card, making a spare card a backup. A seed phrase can be created but is not mandatory. If all cards are lost without having generated a phrase, recovery of funds is impossible.
The Nano X employs a 24-word recovery phrase that can restore the wallet on any compatible device. Ledger also provides Ledger Recover, an optional service that splits an encrypted backup into three parts held by Coincover, Ledger, and EscrowTech. This service costs $9.99 per month after verifying identity.
Coins and features
Ledger says the Nano X can manage 15,000+ coins and tokens, with 500+ of them directly in Ledger Wallet; others work through compatible third-party wallets. It supports multisig and staking in the app. Tangem says its wallet supports 14,100+ tokens on 90+ networks. It also offers Tangem Pay, a Visa card funded from stablecoins or a bank account. For range of functions, we rate the Ledger Nano X much higher.
Ledger adds no fee of its own when you send crypto, so you pay only the network fee. Buying and swapping in both apps run through outside partners. We rate the Ledger Nano X slightly higher for fees and costs.
Security and track record
Tangem uses a secure element certified to EAL6+, and its cards were audited by Cure53, Riscure and Kudelski Security. The Tangem app is open source, while the card firmware is closed but was reviewed by Kudelski and Riscure. Tangem says none of its 6 million cards sold since 2017 has been hacked.
The Nano X is built with an ST33J2M0 secure element certified to CC EAL5+. The Ledger Wallet is open source under the MIT license, whereas Ledger OS remains proprietary. Ledger’s history includes a breach of its marketing database in 2020, after which about 272,000 customer records, including names and addresses, were published. Malicious versions of its Connect Kit library emerged in 2023, leading to some losses for users of third-party apps, although devices were unaffected. We rate the Ledger Nano X slightly higher for security and trust.
Ease of use and support
Both are simple to set up. We rate them the same for beginner friendliness and the Ledger Nano X slightly higher for operation.
Tangem offers support through its app. Ledger offers a chat on its support site that starts with LedgerBot and hands over to a human agent on request, with no phone line. We rate the Ledger Nano X slightly higher for support.
Our verdict by criterion
In our view, the Ledger Nano X is the stronger hardware wallet for most readers, thanks to its own screen, wider coin support and a standard recovery phrase, and we rate it higher overall. Tangem, in our view, is the better fit for people who want a phone-only wallet without a written phrase.
- Operation: Ledger Nano X, which we rate slightly higher
- Range of functions: Ledger Nano X, which we rate much higher
- Fees and costs: Ledger Nano X, which we rate slightly higher
- Security and trust: Ledger Nano X, which we rate slightly higher
- Beginner friendliness: rated the same
- Support: Ledger Nano X, which we rate slightly higher
Which one fits you
- Prefer to verify each address and amount on the device: Ledger Nano X.
- Wish to avoid managing a 24-word phrase: Tangem with an extra card.
- You never want to charge or plug in a wallet: Tangem.
- Use numerous desktop apps and third-party wallets: Ledger Nano X.
Read our Tangem review and Ledger Nano X review for details. Related pages include Trezor Model T vs Ledger Nano X, Ledger Nano X vs SafePal, SafePal vs Trust Wallet and our wallet overview.
Questions about Tangem and the Ledger Nano X
Is Tangem safer than the Ledger Nano X?
Both keep keys in a secure element and offline. We rate the Ledger Nano X slightly higher for security and trust, mainly because its screen lets you check each transaction on the device.
Does Tangem need a seed phrase?
No, Tangem is backed up with a second and third card, making a seed phrase optional. Losing all cards without a phrase results in the permanent loss of funds.
Which is better, Tangem or Ledger?
We think the Ledger Nano X is better for most readers and rate it higher overall. In our view, Tangem is the better choice for anyone who wants a phone-only wallet without a written phrase.
Wallets to compare with both
Open to US users first, then by our score. Scores from our data.
Read the reviews
Tangem and Ledger Nano X in fullOther pairs to compare
With Tangem or Ledger Nano X
Compare another pair
Pick any twoShort answers
About Tangem and Ledger Nano X.
Which supports more assets, Tangem or Ledger Nano X?
Ledger Nano X, with 15,000 against 14,100 for Tangem.
Who wrote this comparison
Sources, how we rate and our process
Sources
- exchangeflow.co/wallets/review/ledger-nano-x, for Ledger Nano X wallet type, Ledger Nano X best suited for, Ledger Nano X open source code, Ledger Nano X secure element, Ledger Nano X security key (FIDO U2F), Ledger Nano X who holds the keys, Ledger Nano X backup, Ledger Nano X two-factor authentication, Ledger Nano X anonymity, Ledger Nano X screen, Ledger Nano X connections, Ledger Nano X build quality, Ledger Nano X weight, Ledger Nano X service, Ledger Nano X iPhone app, Ledger Nano X Android app, Ledger Nano X desktop app, Ledger Nano X buy and sell, Ledger Nano X staking, Ledger Nano X nFTs, Ledger Nano X open to US users, Ledger Nano X company, Ledger Nano X headquarters, Ledger Nano X founded, Ledger Nano X founders, Ledger Nano X company size, Ledger Nano X followers on X and Ledger Nano X our scores, checked October 15, 2026
- exchangeflow.co/wallets/review/tangem, for Tangem screen, Tangem connections, Tangem service and Tangem our scores, checked November 4, 2026
- itunes.apple.com, for Tangem iPhone app, checked November 4, 2026
- ledger.com, for Ledger Nano X multisig, checked October 3, 2026
- messervices.cyber.gouv.fr, for Ledger Nano X certification, checked October 3, 2026
- play.google.com, for Tangem Android app, checked November 4, 2026
- shop.ledger.com, for Ledger Nano X price and Ledger Nano X coins and tokens, checked October 3, 2026
- shop.ledger.com, for Ledger Nano X size and Ledger Nano X special features, checked October 7, 2026
- shop.ledger.com, for Ledger Nano X in the box, checked October 22, 2026
- tangem.com, for Tangem wallet type, Tangem open source code, Tangem secure element, Tangem who holds the keys, Tangem backup, Tangem coins and tokens, Tangem buy and sell, Tangem special features, Tangem open to US users, Tangem company, Tangem headquarters and Tangem founded, checked November 4, 2026
How we rate
We score every wallet from 1 to 10 on six criteria: operation, functions and scope, supported assets, security and trust, beginner friendliness and support. Our editors set each score; this page uses the same scores as the two reviews. How we rate
Our process
We take fees, availability, licenses and coin counts from primary sources: Tangem and Ledger Nano X's own fee schedules, terms and help pages, and the public registers kept by regulators. Every value carries the date we last checked it. The values on this page were checked between October 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026.