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Jaxx Wallet Review – An All Around Bitcoin Wallet

IMPORTANT: on June 10th 2017 a security bug was reported regarding Jaxx. The Jaxx time was notified about this however haven’t implemented a fix yet. I suggest avoiding Jaxx until this is dealt with.

I recently reviewed the best Ethereum wallets around and came accross Jaxx – an independent Bitcoin wallet that’s available for most devices (Windows, Apple and Linux desktop, Android and iOS mobile and tablet, and Google Chrome and Firefox extensions.)

Today I would like to take a deeper look at Jaxx and see how it compares to other successful desktop wallets. For this review I downloaded the Mac OS desktop version and the iOS version.

Spoiler alert – I was pretty impressed.

The design is great, the user interface is amazing

The first thing I’ve noticed about Jaxx is the design. The wallet uses beautiful, minimalist black screens that bring simplicity to the user. However that’s not what got me sold on the wallet. What was truly amazing in my opinion was the simple interface.

jaxx bitcoin wallet

Even if you’re a complete newbie you’ll probably manage to use Jaxx without a lot of trouble. The setup is pretty simple and the ongoing use is limited to the basics such as “send” / “receive” and changing the currency type.

With Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies being such a technical subject we really need this type of products that don’t scare the user away.

However, the fact that the interface is minimal doesn’t mean that Jaxx doesn’t supply the user with advanced features. Once you click the “menu” button (top right) you get all sort of advanced features including:

  • Adding / removing different currency support
  • Using different exchange rates
  • Setting up transaction fee size for faster / slower confirmations (see image below)
  • Displaying the private key of the wallet
  • Wallet backup
  • Importing funds from a paper wallet
  • Setting a security PIN

These options probably cover most, if not all, of the features I usually look for in a wallet. Also, each feature comes with a small tool tip that explains more about it so you don’t have to go searching the web for explanations.

jaxx bitcoin wallet

Altcoin support available for most major coins

Jaxx is not just a Bitcoin wallet, it also support a lot of other major altcoins including:  Ethereum (ETH and ETC), Dash, Augur (REP), Litecoin (LTC), Zcash (ZEC) and RSK.

Adding or removing a currency takes only two clicks – Go to “menu” -> “Wallets” and choose which currencies you’d like to have on your Jaxx wallet.

jaxx altcoins

ShapeShift integration is a game changer

One of the more important features Jaxx has that’s not available in other wallets is a built in integration with ShapeShift. ShapeShift is an exchange service for converting between blockchain tokens and coins. ShapeShift has been integrated directly into Jaxx to allow for in-app conversion between all currencies Jaxx supports. Here’s a one minute explanation about how ShapeShift works:

This means you can exchange Bitcoin for ETH, for example, from within the app. In order to do so just click the fox icon within the app (see below) and decide what and how much you want to exchange.

Jaxx shapeshift

Some additional thoughts about Jaxx

One of the downsides of Jaxx is that it’s not open source. However, the developers made the source code freely available for anyone who’s looking to review it on the wallet’s homepage. Support for the wallet is done via a ticketing system and there is a robust FAQ page in order to solve issues on your own.

I’ve also tried to look for reviews online regarding Jaxx. I did found several people who had issues with the wallet in the past. However I couldn’t find anything negative from the last 3 months. I also found some pretty positive reviews about the wallet so I guess it’s a personal matter.

Should you use Jaxx?

I’ve previously reviewed Exodus, a great desktop wallet in my opinion, and I have to say I think Exodus has found its match. Jaxx is an amazing piece of software, and unlike Exodus it’s available across the board for mobile and desktop alike.

Having said that, the company is still young (only a year and a half old I think). Add the fact that Jaxx is a hot wallet and you come to the conclusion that it’s not wise to keep a large amount of coins on it. This is not necessarily something to do with Jaxx, it’s just a basic security measure – never keep a large amount of coins on a hot wallet. For large amounts always use a hardware wallet (i.e. TREZOR, Ledger), but for smaller “day to day” amounts Jaxx is an excellent choice in my book.

 

Jaxx

Free
8.2

Design

9.2/10

Ease of use

9.6/10

Reputation

8.1/10

Functionality

9.0/10

Security

5.0/10

Pros

  • Great Design
  • Intuitive interface
  • Multiple altcoins supported
  • Multiple platform support

Cons

  • Not open source
  • Relatively young company
  • Security bug not addressed

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55 comments on “Jaxx Wallet Review – An All Around Bitcoin Wallet”

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  1. can someone help, I have no Fox Icon in my wallet only an exchange Icon. I’m wanting to convert Btc to Eth
    Thanks

    1. Hi Rob,

      I suggest visiting Shapeshift.io directly then, as this is the exchanger behind Jaxx’s conversion ability. On ShapeShift, you select “deposit Bitcoin” (on the left side) and “receive Ethereum” (right side) and follow the prompts. Basically, you send BTC to the BTC address ShapeShift gives you and then they’ll send Ethereum to the ETH address you gave them.

      You should find the process pretty straightforward. If not, consult their support section here:

      https://shapeshift.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

  2. Hi!

    Perhaps you can help?

    I put money in Jaxx wallet but now it says “one or more of your accounts requires more ETH to be able to transfer”. So they are in Jaxx Wallet but no way to get them out.

    Ive transferred from Jaxx wallet before and didnt come across that message. Can you help?

    1. Yes most ‘ETH based’ currencies require you to have a little bit available in ETH, that’s normal. Also happens with Golem for example. Just put $10 in there to cover most of the transfer fees.

  3. a crappy wallet that doesn’t actually keep track of coins… they double count transactions… i thought i had way more bitcoin than i actually did… move to exodus…

  4. Im keen on adding Jaxx, having the application on mobile interests me. Have they patched the bug? an update would be great.

    1. Hi Sam,

      According to the developer who discovered the bug, the issue remains unresolved. You can view his site for details:

      https://vxlabs.com/2017/06/10/extracting-the-jaxx-12-word-wallet-backup-phrase/

      I imagine that as soon as Jaxx fix the issue, he will update on it. I wouldn’t trust statements from Jaxx (or pretty much anyone else, besides a few crypto experts) on this issue in the interim.

      While I’ve seen workarounds involving drive encryption, I wouldn’t call these adequate. Wallet security is never something to take a chance on… In fact, the way Jaxx has (not) dealt with this issue is enough to put me off ever using their wallet. Mistakes can be forgiven, even expensive ones, but ignoring known security flaws is terrible form for a Bitcoin company.

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