When you’re just getting started with crypto, the right software wallet is the one that helps you understand what you’re doing and avoid costly mistakes.
This best software wallets for beginners ranking compares software wallets.
They are genuinely usable for beginners, based on our benchmark focused on ease of use, practical security, and clarity.
We ranked the 6 best mobile software wallets and the 6 best desktop wallets for beginners. Mobile and desktop are treated separately, as they offer very different learning experiences.
Best mobile software wallets for beginners
Mobile wallets are well suited for beginners who want fast access and a simple interface.
They work well for everyday use, but they are not ideal for learning advanced concepts or managing complex setups.
Top 5 Mobile wallet ranking
| Rank | Wallet | Score (/100) | Main coins | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Trust Wallet | 88 | BTC, ETH, SOL, ++ | Simple everyday use |
| #2 | Exodus | 85 | BTC, ETH, SOL, ++ | Clean mobile design |
| #3 | BlueWallet | 82 | BTC (+ Lightning) | Learning Bitcoin |
| #4 | Coinbase Wallet | 79 | BTC, ETH, SOL, ++ | Easy onboarding |
| #5 | Edge Wallet | 77 | BTC, ETH, SOL, ++ | Multi-asset beginner setup |
| #6 | Zengo | 74 | ETH, SOL, ++ | No seed phrase |
Mobile wallets are best for beginners who want convenience and quick access without spending too much time on configuration.
Best laptop software wallets for beginners
Desktop wallets are better suited for beginners who want to slow down, see what they are doing, and understand how transactions work.
They also make it easier to move later to a hardware wallet.
Top 5 Desktop wallets ranking
| Rank | Wallet | Score (/100) | Main coins | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Exodus | 90 | BTC, ETH | Learning fundamentals |
| #2 | Electrum | 86 | BTC (+ Lightning*) | Bitcoin basics |
| #3 | Sparrow Wallet | 80 | BTC | Visual transaction control |
| #4 | Wasabi Wallet | 78 | BTC | Guided privacy |
| #5 | Atomic Wallet | 75 | BTC, ETH, SOL, ++ | Simple multi-asset desktop |
| #6 | Guarda Wallet | 73 | BTC, ETH, SOL, ++ | Multi-asset beginners |
* Lightning support in Electrum is advanced and not required for beginners.
Best software wallets for Beginners
Below is a concise overview of each wallet listed above. These are not full reviews, but short summaries to help you decide.
Atomic Wallet overview
Overall score: 75 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Other supported chains: Yes (1283 coins)
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Hardware wallet compatibility: No
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2017
Atomic Wallet is a multi-asset desktop wallet that aims to simplify managing different cryptocurrencies in one place.
It offers broad asset support and a straightforward interface, but it provides less transparency than some alternatives. Beginners can use it comfortably for basic tasks, but it is not designed for learning advanced concepts.
Atomic Wallet is not fully open source, and users should be aware of its limitations in terms of transparency.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multi-asset support | Not open source |
| Simple desktop interface | Limited security transparency |
| Easy to use | No hardware wallet support |
Best suited for
Beginners who want a simple multi-asset wallet on laptop.
BlueWallet overview
Overall score: 82 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin
Lightning support: Yes
Platforms: iOS, Android
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2018
BlueWallet is a Bitcoin-only mobile wallet focused on simplicity and education. It deliberately avoids unnecessary features to keep the experience clear and approachable.
It introduces Bitcoin concepts gradually, making it easier for beginners to understand how addresses, transactions, and balances work. The optional Lightning support allows users to explore faster payments when they are ready.
BlueWallet is open source and well regarded in the Bitcoin community, with a strong reputation for reliability and transparency.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin-only clarity | No Ethereum support |
| Lightning support | Mobile-only |
| Open source | |
| Hardware wallet support |
Best suited for
Beginners who want to focus exclusively on Bitcoin.
Coinbase Wallet overview
Overall score: 79 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Other supported chains: Yes (5500)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2018
Coinbase Wallet is a self-custody wallet developed separately from the Coinbase exchange. It is often chosen by beginners due to its familiar branding and straightforward onboarding.
The wallet makes it easy to get started with basic crypto usage and decentralized applications, without overwhelming users with advanced settings.
While the wallet is convenient, it relies on a closed-source model and offers limited transparency compared to more specialized wallets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy onboarding | Not open source |
| Familiar interface | Basic privacy features |
| dApp compatibility |
Best suited for
Beginners who want a smooth transition into self-custody and Web3 apps.
Guarda Wallet overview
Overall score: 73 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Other supported chains: Yes (70+ major blockchains)
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes (Ledger)
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2017
Guarda Wallet is a multi-asset wallet available on desktop, offering support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
It provides a relatively simple interface and broad compatibility, but its documentation and UX are less polished than higher-ranked wallets. For beginners, it can work as an all-in-one solution, but it may feel less intuitive.
Guarda is partially open source and integrates with hardware wallets, which adds flexibility.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Broad asset support | UX less polished |
| Hardware wallet compatibility | Partial transparency |
| Desktop availability |
Best suited for
Beginners who want an all-in-one desktop wallet with broad asset support.
Edge Wallet overview
Overall score: 77 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Other supported chains: Yes
Platforms: iOS, Android
Hardware wallet compatibility: No
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2014
Edge Wallet is a mobile wallet designed to simplify backup and recovery for non-technical users. It focuses on reducing common beginner errors rather than offering advanced features.
Its account-based recovery system makes it easier to regain access, which can be reassuring for users new to self-custody.
Edge is partially open source and has been around for many years, but it offers fewer advanced controls than some alternatives.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Simple recovery process | Limited advanced features |
| Beginner-friendly design | |
| Multi-asset support | |
| Educational contents |
Best suited for
Beginners who are concerned about backup and recovery mistakes.
Electrum overview
Overall score: 86 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2011
Electrum is one of the oldest and most trusted Bitcoin wallets available on desktop. It is widely used and well documented.
Although its interface looks dated, it provides clear workflows and strong security fundamentals. Beginners willing to spend a bit of time learning will benefit from its reliability.
Electrum is fully open source and has undergone extensive scrutiny over the years.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very mature project | Interface looks dated |
| Strong security | Bitcoin-only |
| Hardware wallet support |
Best suited for
Beginners who want to learn Bitcoin fundamentals on desktop.
Exodus overview
Overall score: 90 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Other supported chains: Yes (All Ethereum, BSC, Polygon tokens / 50+ blockchains)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2016
Exodus is a software wallet available on both mobile and desktop, with a strong focus on design and ease of use. It is often chosen by beginners who want a smooth and reassuring first experience.
The desktop version is especially clear and well structured, making it easier to understand balances, transactions, and basic wallet mechanics. This contributes significantly to its high ranking for beginners.
Exodus has a long track record and solid basic security, but part of its codebase is closed source, which limits transparency compared to fully open-source wallets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very clear interface | Not fully open source |
| Excellent desktop experience | Limited privacy tools |
| Hardware wallet support | |
| Good learning experience |
Best suited for
Beginners who want to learn how software wallets work on desktop.
Sparrow Wallet overview
Overall score: 80 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2020
Sparrow Wallet is a modern Bitcoin desktop wallet designed to make transactions and wallet structure more visible and understandable.
It offers clear visualizations of inputs, outputs, and fees, which can help beginners understand how Bitcoin transactions actually work. However, it assumes a higher level of curiosity and engagement than simpler wallets.
Sparrow is fully open source and widely respected in the Bitcoin community for its transparency and technical quality.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clear transaction visualization | Not beginner-friendly at first glance |
| Open source | Bitcoin-only |
| Hardware wallet support | Requires learning effort |
Best suited for
Beginners who want to understand how Bitcoin transactions work in detail.
Trust Wallet overview
Overall score: 88 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Other supported chains: Yes (all major blockchains)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Hardware wallet compatibility: No
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2017
Trust Wallet is a mobile-first software wallet designed to make crypto easy to access from a phone. It supports a wide range of blockchains and is often used as a first self-custody wallet by beginners.
Its interface is simple, wallet creation is fast, and basic actions such as sending and receiving funds are easy to understand without prior experience. This makes it a practical choice for users who want to get started quickly without dealing with technical details.
From a security and transparency standpoint, Trust Wallet follows standard industry practices but is not fully open source. It prioritizes convenience and broad asset support over advanced security configurations.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very easy setup | No desktop version |
| Clean mobile interface | Basic privacy features |
| Multi-asset support | No hardware wallet support |
| Good documentation |
Best suited for
Beginners who want a simple mobile wallet for everyday use.
Wasabi Wallet overview
Overall score: 78 / 100
Main blockchains: Bitcoin
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Hardware wallet compatibility: Yes
Wallet type: Non-custodial
Launch year: 2018
Wasabi Wallet is a Bitcoin desktop wallet with a strong focus on privacy. It integrates privacy-preserving features while keeping a relatively guided user experience.
For beginners, Wasabi can be useful to learn basic privacy concepts, but it introduces additional complexity compared to simpler wallets. It is better suited to users who are already somewhat curious about privacy.
Wasabi is open source and has undergone multiple security reviews, but its privacy features should be used carefully and with understanding.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in privacy features | More complex than basic wallets |
| Open source | Bitcoin-only |
| Hardware wallet support | Not ideal as first wallet |
Best suited for
Beginners who want to start learning Bitcoin privacy concepts on desktop.
Zengo overview
Overall score: 74 / 100
Main blockchains: Ethereum
Other supported chains: Yes
Platforms: iOS, Android
Hardware wallet compatibility: No
Wallet type: Keyless custodial model
Launch year: 2019
Zengo does not use a traditional recovery phrase. Instead, it relies on a keyless security model where access to your wallet is shared between your device and Zengo’s servers.
In practice, this means you are not the only party involved in securing access to your funds. You remain in control of your assets, but part of the security process depends on Zengo’s infrastructure.
Because of this, Zengo is often described as a self-custody wallet with a trust assumption, rather than pure self-custody. It removes the risk of losing a recovery phrase, but it introduces reliance on a third party.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No seed phrase | No Bitcoin support |
| Easy recovery | Trust-based model |
| Very simple UX | Not open source |
Best suited for
Beginners who are uncomfortable managing recovery phrases and want maximum simplicity.
How our beginner wallet scoring system works
For those who want to understand why certain wallets rank higher than others, this section explains the logic behind the scores. It is not required reading to use the rankings, but it adds transparency and context.
The key point to keep in mind is simple:
a high score means a wallet is well suited for beginners, not that it is the most advanced or feature-rich wallet available.
Scoring criteria and weightings
All wallets are evaluated using the same framework.
The criteria are weighted specifically for beginners.
At this stage, ease of use and practical security matter more than advanced controls or niche features. Some criteria that are critical for power users or privacy-focused users are intentionally weighted lower here.
This does not mean those aspects are unimportant in general. It simply reflects the reality that beginners benefit more from clarity and error prevention than from fine-grained control.
Ease of use and user experience (35 points)
Ease of use is the most heavily weighted criterion in this ranking.
For beginners, UX is not about aesthetics alone. It’s about whether the wallet clearly explains what is happening, whether actions are easy to understand, and whether the interface helps prevent mistakes. A confusing wallet increases the risk of user error, even if it is technically secure.
Wallets that guide users through setup, backup, and basic transactions score higher than wallets that assume prior knowledge.
Security (30 points)
Security is a core requirement for any wallet, regardless of user profile.
In this ranking, security is evaluated from two angles: technical security and security in practice.
A wallet can be cryptographically sound but still risky for beginners if setup and recovery are poorly explained. That’s why external assessments are combined with an internal review focused on real-world usage.
Privacy (15 points)
Privacy is important, but it is not the top priority for most beginners.
At this stage, the goal is to avoid obvious privacy pitfalls without introducing complex configurations. Wallets that respect basic privacy principles score better, but advanced privacy tools are not heavily rewarded if they make the wallet harder to use.
Compatibility and industry standards (10 points)
Compatibility reduces long-term risk.
Wallets that use standard recovery formats and support well-established blockchains make it easier for beginners to migrate later if their needs change. This criterion is less about daily usage and more about avoiding lock-in.
Open source and transparency (5 points)
Open source and transparency are treated as a trust signal, not a requirement.
Open-source wallets receive a small bonus, but closed-source wallets are not automatically excluded. For beginners, transparency matters, but it should not outweigh usability and safety.
UTXO management (5 points)
UTXO management is relevant mainly for Bitcoin users.
During an accumulation phase, a beginner does not need advanced coin control. However, wallets that make it easier to understand and manage Bitcoin transactions without confusion score slightly higher.
How we calculate the security score
Security deserves special attention because it is often misunderstood.
There is a difference between technical security (how robust the wallet is by design) and security of use (how likely a user is to make a mistake). For beginners, the second aspect is often more important.
To reflect this, the security score combines independent third-party assessments with our own beginner-focused review.
Skynet Certik score normalization
We use public security scores from CertiK’s Skynet1 platform when available.
These scores are provided on a 0–100 scale and are normalized to a 0–10 scale to fit our scoring system.
This provides an external, standardized reference for technical security.
Cert.live rating mapping
We also take into account ratings from Cert.live 2, which uses a letter-based scale ranging from AAA to DDD.
To ensure consistency, these ratings are mapped to a numerical score from 0 to 10, with AAA corresponding to the highest score and DDD to the lowest.
Our internal security score for beginners
Finally, we assign an internal security score (0-10) focused on beginner usage.
This part evaluates how easy it is to create a wallet correctly, back it up safely, recover access, and follow the official documentation without confusion. The goal is to measure how safe the wallet is in real conditions, not just on paper.
What a beginner should look for in a crypto wallet
At the beginning, the most important quality of a crypto wallet is forgiveness.
A good beginner wallet should clearly explain each step, make backups hard to miss, and reduce the chance of irreversible mistakes. Clear instructions and good documentation matter more than advanced features.
Beginners can safely ignore many things at first. Features like multisignature setups, advanced privacy tools, or fine-grained transaction control are useful later, but they often add complexity without providing immediate benefits.
Prioritizing is simple: start with clarity and safety, then expand as your understanding grows. A wallet that feels “boring but clear” is often a better first choice than one that looks powerful but confusing.
Common mistakes beginners make when choosing a software wallet
Choosing a wallet that is too complex too early. Advanced features are often mistaken for better security, but in practice they increase the risk of user error.
Another frequent issue is underestimating backup and recovery. Losing access usually happens because recovery steps were misunderstood or skipped, not because the wallet was hacked.
Beginners also tend to multiply wallets too quickly. Each wallet comes with its own recovery process and backup responsibility. Managing several wallets without fully understanding any of them increases risk.
If you know from the start that you will use both Bitcoin and Ethereum, it is usually better to choose a simple multi-asset wallet rather than creating multiple specialized wallets.
Which software wallet should a beginner choose?
The right choice depends mostly on how you plan to use your wallet.
If you value convenience and quick access, a mobile wallet from the top of the mobile ranking is a sensible starting point.
If you want to take your time and understand how transactions work, a desktop wallet is often more educational.
There is no permanent commitment here. Starting with a simple setup and evolving later is usually safer than trying to optimize everything from day one.
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Java‑certified engineer and P2PStaking CEO, I secure validators across Solana, Polkadot, Kusama, Mina, and Near. My articles reflect hands‑on wallet ops and real recovery drills so you can set up self‑custody safely, step by step.
Footnotes
1: Certik skynet wallet leaderboard
2: https://cer.live/wallet
