Ledger Nano S Review and Comparison

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

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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:

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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.

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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.

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6. Which is Better? Ledger or TREZOR

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.

Design

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.

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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.

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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.