A Comparison for New Crypto Users

Two common choices in 2025 are Tangem Pockets and Phantom Pockets. Each provide distinctive options, however which one is best for you? On this article, we’ll evaluate Tangem and Phantom throughout key standards, safety, ease of use, supported cryptocurrencies, blockchain compatibility, DeFi/NFT integration, price, and consumer critiques. Let’s dive in!

Tangem Pockets is a hardware wallet designed to appear and feel like a bank card, making it each modern and sensible. Based in 2017 in Switzerland, Tangem makes use of Close to Discipline Communication (NFC) expertise to attach together with your smartphone, providing a safe, user-friendly option to handle crypto. It’s a chilly pockets that shops non-public keys offline, decreasing the chance of hacks. Tangem’s standout characteristic is its seedless design, the place non-public keys are generated and saved on the cardboard itself, with backup playing cards for restoration. It helps over 16,000 cryptocurrencies throughout 85+ blockchains, making it versatile for inexperienced persons and superior customers alike.

Phantom Pockets, launched in 2021, is a software-based sizzling pockets primarily designed for the Solana blockchain, although it now helps Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and Sui. Obtainable as a browser extension and cellular app, Phantom is non-custodial, that means customers management their non-public keys. It’s common for its seamless integration with Solana’s DeFi platforms and NFT marketplaces, providing options like token swapping and staking. Phantom is free to make use of, making it accessible, however as a sizzling pockets, it’s extra susceptible to on-line threats than {hardware} wallets like Tangem.

To make this comparability honest and complete, we’ll consider Tangem and Phantom primarily based on the next standards:

• Safety: How secure is your crypto?
• Ease of Use: Is the pockets beginner-friendly?
• Supported Cryptocurrencies: What number of belongings are you able to retailer?
• Blockchain Compatibility: Which networks are supported?
• DeFi and NFT Integration: Are you able to entry DeFi and NFTs?
• Price: What’s the value to get began?
• Person Opinions: What do actual customers say?

Let’s break down every class.

Safety is the highest precedence for any crypto pockets, as hacks and scams are a relentless menace. In February 2025, for occasion, North Korean hackers stole $1.5 billion from the Bybit trade, highlighting the necessity for strong safety.

Tangem shines in safety. Its hardware-based design retains non-public keys offline on a safe aspect chip with an EAL6+ certification, the identical degree utilized in passports and banking playing cards. The chip generates random non-public keys that by no means depart the cardboard, making distant hacks practically unattainable. 

Tangem’s firmware is audited by high companies like Kudelski Safety and Riscure, and with over 4 million playing cards in circulation, no Tangem pockets has ever been hacked.

A distinctive characteristic is Tangem’s seedless method. As a substitute of a standard seed phrase (a 12- or 24-word restoration key), Tangem makes use of backup playing cards with an identical non-public keys. This eliminates the chance of dropping funds if a seed phrase is misplaced or stolen. 

Nevertheless, additionally they present the choice to create a pockets with seed phrases.

Phantom, being a sizzling pockets, shops non-public keys on an internet-connected gadget, which inherently carries extra danger. It depends on consumer practices like securely storing seed phrases and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) to mitigate threats. Phantom helps {hardware} pockets connections for added safety, however this requires further setup and value. Whereas Phantom hasn’t confronted main breaches, software program wallets are extra susceptible to malware, phishing, and distant assaults in comparison with chilly wallets like Tangem.

Winner: Tangem. Its offline storage, EAL6+ chip, and seedless design present superior safety, particularly for customers prioritizing security.

A pockets’s usability can decide whether or not it’s a pleasure or a problem to handle your crypto.

Tangem is designed with simplicity in thoughts, making it superb for inexperienced persons. Setup takes below 5 minutes: obtain the Tangem app, faucet the cardboard to your NFC-enabled smartphone, and create a pockets. The app’s intuitive interface lets you purchase, promote, swap, and stake crypto with clear navigation. The cardboard’s credit score card-like design feels acquainted, bridging the hole between conventional finance and crypto. Nevertheless, it requires an NFC-enabled telephone, which could possibly be a limitation for customers with older gadgets.

Phantom can also be user-friendly, particularly for Solana customers. Its browser extension and cellular app provide a clear interface for managing tokens, NFTs, and DeFi platforms. Setup is fast—simply set up the app or extension, create a pockets, and safe your seed phrase. Phantom’s design caters to customers aware of browser-based crypto interactions, however managing seed phrases might be daunting for newcomers.

Winner: Tangem. Its {hardware} simplicity and seedless setup make it barely extra approachable for inexperienced persons, although Phantom is shut behind for software program pockets customers.

The variety of belongings a pockets helps is essential for diversifying your portfolio.

Tangem helps over 16,000 cryptocurrencies and tokens throughout 85+ blockchains, together with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Avalanche, and extra. It covers common token requirements like ERC-20 and BEP-20, and new belongings are added frequently primarily based on neighborhood demand. This makes Tangem a one-stop answer for managing a variety of cash.

Phantom initially centered on Solana however has expanded to help Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and Sui. Whereas it handles 1000’s of tokens inside these ecosystems, its scope is narrower than Tangem’s. For customers closely invested in Solana or Ethereum-based belongings, Phantom is enough, however it lacks the broad protection of Tangem.

Winner: Tangem. Its intensive help for over 16,000 belongings throughout a number of blockchains outshines Phantom’s extra restricted choice.

Compatibility with varied blockchains determines a pockets’s versatility.

Tangem helps 85+ blockchains, together with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Binance Good Chain, Cardano, Cosmos, and extra. This makes it a multi-chain powerhouse, permitting customers to handle belongings throughout various networks while not having a number of wallets. Staking is supported for networks like Solana, Polygon, and Cardano, enhancing its utility.

Phantom is optimized for Solana however now helps Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and Sui. It integrates seamlessly with Solana’s ecosystem and affords restricted help for different chains. For customers centered on Solana or Ethereum, Phantom is great, however it’s much less versatile for cross-chain portfolios.

Winner: Tangem. Its compatibility with over 85 blockchains makes it way more versatile than Phantom’s narrower focus.

DeFi and NFTs are key elements of the crypto house, so pockets integration with these platforms is important.

Tangem integrates with DeFi platforms and NFT marketplaces through WalletConnect, permitting customers to connect with dApps like Uniswap or OpenSea. It additionally helps NFT storage straight within the apps. Tangem’s staking characteristic helps a number of networks, and its in-app swapping and shopping for choices add comfort.

Phantom excels in Solana’s DeFi and NFT ecosystems, with native integration for platforms like SolSea and Metaplex. It helps Solana staking and in-app token swapping with low charges. Phantom additionally permits customers to mint and burn NFTs straight, making it a go-to for Solana NFT fans. It is Ethereum and Polygon help extends DeFi and NFT capabilities, however it’s nonetheless Solana-centric.

Winner: Phantom. Its deep integration with Solana’s DeFi and NFT ecosystems provides it an edge for customers centered on these areas.

Price is a significant component, particularly for inexperienced persons or budget-conscious customers.

Tangem affords a 2-card set for $54.90 and a 3-card set for $69.90, with a 25-year guarantee. The Tangem Ring, a wearable possibility, can also be accessible. Whereas there’s an upfront price, the shortage of subscription charges and lengthy lifespan make it cost-effective. In-app transaction charges (through third-party providers like Mercuryo) might be greater than exchanges, however the safety justifies the value for many.

Phantom is free to obtain and use as a browser extension or cellular app, making it enticing for cost-conscious customers. Nevertheless, transaction charges on supported blockchains (like Solana or Ethereum) apply, and connecting a {hardware} pockets for added safety incurs further prices.

Winner: Phantom. Its free entry is tough to beat, however Tangem’s inexpensive {hardware} and long-term sturdiness make it a powerful contender.

Person suggestions supplies perception into real-world efficiency.

Tangem boasts a 4.9/5 ranking on Google Play and App Retailer, primarily based on over 42,000 critiques. Users reward its simplicity, safety, and modern design, with feedback like, “Tangem is a game-changer, really easy and safe!” Some observe the NFC-only limitation and lack of desktop help as drawbacks, however general sentiment is extremely constructive.

Phantom is well-regarded, significantly amongst Solana customers, with robust rankings for its user-friendly interface and DeFi/NFT integration. It has over 400,000 month-to-month customers, reflecting recognition. Nevertheless, some customers specific considerations about sizzling pockets vulnerabilities, and buyer help is much less complete than Tangem’s 24/7 service.

Winner: Tangem. Its excessive rankings, intensive help, and enthusiastic consumer suggestions give it a slight edge.

Each Tangem and Phantom are wonderful wallets, however they cater to completely different wants. Tangem Pockets is the superior selection for customers prioritizing safety, multi-chain help, and ease. Its hardware-based, seedless design, EAL6+ chip, and help for over 6,000 belongings throughout 85+ blockchains make it a flexible, beginner-friendly possibility. Its sturdiness and strong safety offset the upfront price, making it superb for long-term buyers and people cautious of on-line threats.

Phantom Pockets, whereas implausible for Solana fans, is best suited for customers centered on DeFi and NFTs inside Solana’s ecosystem. It is free entry and seamless dApp integration are interesting, however its sizzling pockets nature and restricted blockchain help make it much less safe and versatile than Tangem.

Should you’re new to crypto or need a pockets that mixes top-tier safety with ease of use, Tangem is the way in which to go. Its modern card-based design and broad compatibility make it a standout in 2025. For Solana-specific DeFi and NFT followers, Phantom is a good selection, however for most customers, Tangem’s steadiness of safety, simplicity, and affordability wins out.