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Ledger Nano S Review and Comparison

By: Ofir Beigel | Last updated: 3/8/24

Note: In June 2022, the Ledger Nano S was discontinued and replaced with the Ledger Nano S Plus. The Nano S still works, and as long as you have your 24-word recovery phrase, you can import your existing Nano S wallet into another wallet or device. The following review is kept for legacy purposes.

I finally got my hands on a Ledger Nano S and decided to write this review which I have postponed for too long. In this post, I’ll cover a bit about hardware wallets in general and I’ll go in-depth into the Nano S’s features and competition.

Don’t Like to Read? Watch Our Video Review Instead


Ledger Nano S Review Summary

The Ledger Nano S is a popular cryptocurrency hardware wallet that supports a wide variety of coins. The Ledger Nano S gives users high security for their coins via an easy-to-use interface. Its price tag is extremely attractive, and all in all, I couldn’t find anything bad to say about it.

That’s the Nano S in a nutshell. If you want a detailed review of the wallet, keep on reading. Here’s what I’ll cover:

  1. Hardware Wallets Overview
  2. Company Overview
  3. My Ledger Nano S Experience
  4. Ledger Nano S Supported Coins
  5. Price Tag
  6. Ledger vs. TREZOR
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. Conclusion – Is It Worth the Price?

1. Hardware wallets overview

Hardware wallets are probably the most robust form of security you can have for your Bitcoins or any other cryptocurrency.

They allow you to send and receive Bitcoins from any computer, even one that is compromised with malware, with the assurance that your transaction will still go through as intended.

The way hardware wallets achieve maximum security is by storing your private key and signing your Bitcoin transactions offline so someone trying to “hack” your wallet remotely won’t be able to do so.

Most hardware wallets also use a second screen/device to verify actions on your wallet, such as signing transactions. This way, if hackers gain control over your computer, they still can’t do any harm since they require access to the physical device connected to your computer as well.

For more information about Bitcoin wallets, watch this video.


2. Ledger Overview

Founded in 2014, Ledger is a leader in security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications. Headquartered in Paris, Vierzon and San Francisco, Ledger has a team of over 130 professionals.

They specialize in developing a variety of products and services to safeguard cryptocurrency assets for individuals and companies. Among their products – is the Ledger hardware wallets line, which is already sold in 165 countries. The company has raised over $85m in 4 rounds of investments.


3. My Ledger Nano S Experience

The Ledger Nano S is small and compact. It also has a metal casing which makes it more durable compared to other hardware wallets. It fits pretty easily into your pocket or hand.

my Ledger Nano S

The Ledger Nano S

The way the Ledger Nano S works is pretty similar to any hardware wallet. When you first plug it into your computer and set it up, you will choose a PIN to protect the device from unwanted access.

Later, you will receive a 24-word seed phrase that acts as your private key.

This seed should be written down in a safe place and NOT on your computer, as whoever knows this seed has control over your Bitcoins. A good suggestion would be to write this seed down using a Cryptosteel device.

The Ledger Nano S has two buttons that allow you to control it. The initial setup of the device is pretty simple and takes about 3 minutes. Most of the time is spent on writing down your seed.

This seed creation is one of the places where the second screen comes into play.

Ledger Nano S buttons

The Ledger Nano S buttons and screen

If your computer is compromised, a hacker will be able to see the seed if it is displayed on your screen. This is exactly why the seed words are shown on the small screen on the device that is tamper-proof, so you know that only you can see your seed.

Once the device is set up, all that’s left is to install Ledger Live. A desktop app that allows you to interface with the device (i.e., send and receive Bitcoins). The Ledger Live interface is super intuitive and doesn’t require any manual to get the hang of it.

The Ledger Nano S can also be used to secure existing software wallets such as MyCellium, Electrum, MyEtherWallet and more.

Here’s a complete review of how the device works done by BTC Sessions on YouTube:


4. What Coins Can be Stored on the Nano S?

The Ledger Nano S supports over 1000 coins and tokens. The main coins can be sent/received via the Ledger Live software interface. Here’s a list of the top supported coins:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
  • Bitcoin Gold (BTG)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Monero (XMR)
  • Ethereum Classic (ETC)
  • Ripple (XRP)
  • Litecoin (LTC)
  • Dogecoin (DOGE)
  • Zcash (ZEX)
  • Dash (DASH)

Some coins (e.g., Monero, Binance Coin) and mainly ERC-20 tokens (i.e., coins used in ICOs) need alternative software connected to the Ledger to send and receive them (e.g., MyEtherWallet, MyCryptoWallet).

For a complete list of supported crypto assets, visit this page.


5. Ledger Nano S Price tag

The Ledger Nano S sells for $59 (VAT excluded). This makes the Nano S one of the most affordable hardware wallets on the market compared to wallets like the TREZOR One and KeepKey.


6. Which is Better? Ledger or TREZOR

Ledger Nano S Plus
Supported Coins:
Price:
$79
Overall rating:
Trezor One
Supported Coins:
Price:
$69
Overall rating:
Trezor T
Supported Coins:
Price:
$219
Overall rating:

The main competitor to the Ledger Nano S is the TREZOR One. The items are almost identical in what they offer, so in this section, I’ll try to see who wins this close race.

Ledger Nano S vs TREZORDesign

Both items are small and fit into your pocket, however the Ledger Nano S is a bit smaller and feels a little more durable due to its metal casing. So, while this is not a main issue, I’d still say the Ledger Nano S wins this category.

Coin Support

Both devices support around 1000 coins and tokens; however, TREZOR’s interface doesn’t support many directly (meaning you’ll need to use a 3rd party wallet). Bottom line, I think the Ledger Nano S wins this category as well.

Usability

Both wallets have very easy-to-use interfaces and don’t require any technical know-how. Also, since both have a screen on the device itself, they are pretty much identical in the security sense – it’s a tie.

Company reputation

Both Ledger and TREZOR have been on the market since 2014. Both use open-source code for their apps, and both have demonstrated excellent customer support and stability in the past few years.

From a community standpoint, while both companies are considered very reputable,  TREZOR is the more mature and respected one.

Price

While the Ledger Nano S is priced at $59, the TREZOR One is priced at $74, which makes it more expensive by $15. Not a huge difference so I’d call this a tie.

Overall – Who’s the winner?

Both companies created great products. The Ledger Nano S seems to have the upper hand in design and usability, while TREZOR’s reputation has more impact inside the crypto community.

Personally, I use and love both. If I had to pick a winner, I’d go with the Ledger Nano S because of the additional coin support and Ledger Live interface.


7. Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Ledger Nano S be Hacked?

Until today there were no reported cases of a Ledger Nano S remotely hacked. However, there are many tricks hackers will pull in order to drain funds from a user’s wallet (e.g., sending the user a compromised seed phrase).

As long as your seed is kept offline and hidden and no one has physical access to your device, the coins on your Ledger Nano S are safe.

How do I Transfer Bitcoins to the Nano S?

  1. Connect the Nano S to your computer
  2. Open Ledger Live
  3. Choose Bitcoin on your Nano S device (enter PIN when needed)
  4. On Ledger Live, go to “receive.” You will see your Bitcoin address
  5. Send your coins to the Bitcoin address from Step 5

Does the Nano S have to Be Plugged in to Receive Bitcoin?

No. Once you know your Bitcoin address, you can send Bitcoins there at any time. The Nano S (or any wallet for that matter), doesn’t need to be online to receive the coins.

Can I Use the Ledger Nano S with My iPhone?

No. The Nano S can’t be used with mobile phones. You can check out the Ledger Nano X that has bluetooth capabilities if you want to use your phone with a hardware wallet.


7. Conclusion – Is the Ledger Nano S worth it?

The Ledger Nano S is a great product with an affordable price tag. I love the fact that it supports almost every major coin out there and that it’s easy and intuitive to use through the Ledger Live interface.

If you’re looking to keep your coins safe, you definitely need a hardware wallet, and the Ledger Nano S is one of the best out there.

Have you used the Ledger Nano S? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comment section below.

Ledger Nano S

$59
9.1

Design

8.8/10

Ease of use

9.2/10

Coins Supported

9.0/10

Price tag

9.2/10

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Multi-currency support
  • Second screen capability
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • None at the moment 🙂

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255 comments on “Ledger Nano S Review”

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  1. very bad experience with Ledger Live and Nano S

    very bad experience. NO customer services. I sent a request 6 days ago and still did not get any help or response. And if you click on a link from Ledger Live to help with a subject or problem, the link is broken. All the links I tried were broken. DO NOT BUY Ledger PRODUCT

  2. Okay overall this is a pretty poor review compared to others I’ve seen . No mention of the Ledger hack that exposed users home addresses, of course this wasn’t a hack of the device itself , but it should have been mentioned. Personally I actually bought a ledger BECAUSE they were hacked. Sometimes that will prompt a company to have even more security. Also I have seen multiple crypto based companies use ledgers Security Vault to secure their funds , so I thought if these companies trust Ledger over the alternative than it must be good. also bought it because Trezor is fully open source and ledger is closed. I thought closed would be better for a cybersecurity company.

    However i can’t believe all these problems with the nano s posted here! i have had zero problems with mine. their android app isn’t 4 stars on the play store but i haven’t had any issues. i do think the stainless steel sheath is useful on the ledger too. I went with the Nano s over the Nano X because of security concerns of Bluetooth. If they might be unfounded concerns and the wireless connection seems really useful but hey you never know.

  3. the data on the use on mobile devices is incorrect. i use it on my android tablet. not sure about iphone but assume it’s the same. for nano s just be sure to buy a micro usb to usb c connector otherwise you wont be able to connect them!

  4. Ironically I’ve been researching alternatives to nano s as the stainless steel casing only covers the plastic molded body like a cheap usb thumb drive; and s I EOS around too much to consider it made of brushed steel. The right button required for almost every function also broke within two weeks , so I’m skeptical what your definition of sturdy is. If the trs or one is worse than I’m better off using mega wallet on Kali Linux… I was also highly disappointed with the. Mere 156kb storage on the nano s. It may support 1000s but after Ethereum and Bitcoin use up 96kb only only a few others will fit ; the installing and uninstalling or apps to secure coins is tedious at best. I don’t know about tresor but ledger live app logs and backups are to JavaScript files that are easily manipulated and decoded so I’m not sure how a hacker wouldn’t just grab my ledger live app and go to town…

    Long story short l; my ledger was unusable after two weeks of pedestrian use largely installing and reinstalling my accounts on my computer.

  5. I also have an issue with this Nano S. Having read the review and I do not intend to do a great deal of trading, I am a buy and hold person. Anyway I ordered direct from Ledger and my experience is much the same as the last 3 complaints and I intend to put my comments on social media as I am not sure they even look at this site.
    I opened the box end December and started to input my pin and get the seed phrase. It said everything was verified and then I tried to connect Ledger Live to my device, well the computer could not see the device despite my following all of their online prompts. When I tried to go back into the device I could not get it to go past the welcome message and it stayed in set up mode, so I went through again and did set up, then tried to connect, with new seed phrase, still no joy and the device does not hold anything I put in it, it does not connect to my computer, nor it seems to Ledger Live.
    I have been in constant contact trying first via chat and the bot is useless, then I tried direct and it took them a week simply to acknowledge my message and another 2 weeks or more to answer me, the only thing they do is send you back to the web support which I have already been through a number of times, so I got frustrated and asked to send it back and return my money. The delayed response I got was “sorry you purchased the device over 14 days ago so we cannot return your money”. What a crock of ……. The only reason I want to send it back is it does not work and since it took them 2 months or more to answer my queries apart from requests for testimonials about the quality of their customer support. Really???
    I need a wallet but I am totally distrustful of the process and how do I know whether I will not have a repeat experience wherever I go? Anyone have any thought to share?

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