Pros & Cons
- Native support for Ethereum and EVM chains, Solana, Bitcoin and Tron
- Multiple network addresses from a single recovery phrase
- Widest compatibility with decentralised applications
- Pairs with hardware wallets
- Phishing detection and transaction warnings
- Significant markup when swapping directly in the wallet
- Cluttered for newcomers given the range of options
- No deposit protection — self-custody rests entirely with the user
- No access to funds without the recovery phrase
- Best user experience in the Solana ecosystem
- Now supports Bitcoin with Native SegWit and Taproot
- Nine networks from one wallet
- Pairs with hardware wallets
- Built-in verification of trusted applications
- Arbitrum, Optimism, BNB Chain and Avalanche not natively integrated
- Still strongly Solana-oriented
- Markup when swapping in the wallet
- No deposit protection — self-custody rests with the user
Score Comparison
Features
- Most widely used software wallet in Web3
- Native Bitcoin support since December 2025
- One seed across several networks
- Browser extension and mobile app
- Cleanest interface in this comparison
- Network list grown from five to nine chains
- Bitcoin including Ordinals
- Hardware wallet pairing
The five areas head to head
AI AnalysisFees & Costs
The wallet itself is free; network fees go to the respective blockchain rather than the provider. The cost driver is the built-in services: swapping directly in the wallet carries a noticeable markup above the cost of the same swap through an exchange or aggregator. Frequent swappers should avoid that route. As of August 2026.
The wallet is free; network fees go to the respective blockchain and are negligible on Solana. Swapping inside the wallet carries a markup — for larger amounts it is worth comparing against a swap through an aggregator. As of August 2026.
Usability & User Experience
Getting started is straightforward, though the volume of networks, settings and built-in services can overwhelm newcomers. Handling the recovery phrase safely remains central — without it, funds are permanently lost. As of August 2026.
The interface is the cleanest in this comparison and immediately legible to newcomers; transactions on Solana confirm almost instantly. Available as a browser extension and mobile app. As of August 2026.
Features & Offering
Supported are Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks, Solana, Bitcoin and Tron, with addresses derived from a shared recovery phrase. NFT management, access to decentralised applications, phishing detection, transaction warnings and hardware wallet pairing round this out. Available as a browser extension and mobile app. As of August 2026.
Nine networks are supported, among them Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Sui and Bitcoin with Native SegWit and Taproot addresses including Ordinals. NFT management, SOL staking, biometric unlock, verification of trusted applications and hardware wallet pairing round this out. As of August 2026.
Details
Verdict
In our overall rating MetaMask leads with 4.1 against 3.8 for Phantom.
For most investors MetaMask is therefore the better choice.
MetaMask is the entry point to Web3 for many users and by some distance the most widely used software wallet. For a long time it was a pure Ethereum and EVM wallet; that has changed. Solana arrived in 2025, native Bitcoin support followed in December 2025 and Tron in January 2026. Separate addresses for the different networks are derived from a single recovery phrase, so there is no second seed to manage.
The strength remains connectivity: practically every decentralised application in the EVM world supports MetaMask, and the wallet pairs with a hardware wallet so keys never leave the device. Phishing detection and transaction warnings are built in.
The weak point is the cost of the built-in services. Swapping directly inside the wallet carries a markup well above what the same swap costs through an exchange or aggregator. The wallet itself is free — it is the convenience route that gets expensive. As with any self-custody setup, there is no deposit protection and no counterparty to call if the recovery phrase is lost.
Phantom made its name as a Solana wallet and still offers the best user experience there: the interface is uncluttered, transactions settle quickly and getting started works without prior knowledge. For anyone active in the Solana ecosystem there is little better.
The wallet is now considerably broader than its reputation suggests: alongside Solana it supports Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Sui and — contrary to common assumption — Bitcoin, with Native SegWit and Taproot addresses including Ordinals. The network list has grown from five to nine chains.
The limit is still clear: Arbitrum, Optimism, BNB Chain and Avalanche are not natively integrated, so anyone active there needs a second wallet. Phantom is not an everything-wallet but a deliberately curated selection. As with any self-custody setup there is no deposit protection and no counterparty if the recovery phrase is lost.