Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
BitBox vs Tangem
BitBox
Higher score in this comparison
Tangem
BitBox vs Tangem: the differences
| Compare | BitBoxReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | TangemReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €149 to €175 | $59.90 to $180 |
| Coins supported | 1,500 | 14,100Higher |
| Secure element | Dual-chip design with EAL6+ certified secure chip | EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element |
| Connectivity | USB c, Bluetooth | NFC |
Same on both: Wallet type (Hardware), Custody (Self custody), Open source (Yes), Backup options (Seed).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at BitBox: 2015 vs 2017.
- Coins supported is higher at Tangem: 14,100 vs 1,500.
- Connectivity: only BitBox offers USB c, Bluetooth.
- Connectivity: only Tangem offers NFC.
- Support channels: only Tangem offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
BitBox
BitBox suits readers who want their own keys on a hardware device with open-source firmware and self custody, not an account balance. It is a Swiss build from Shift Crypto AG, covering 1,500 coins, and the trade-off is a higher ticket price with support on email, help centre and community.
Tangem
Tangem suits anyone who wants a physical card that keeps spending and saving in their own hands, at $59.90 to $180. It serves long-term holders who want a wide coin list inside self-custody, and suits less well people who need exchange features or phone support.
Score breakdown
| Area | BitBox | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Paid once at €149 to €175, above Trezor at $79 and the €69.28 hardware median. | 8.9Higher$59.90 to $180 sits under the €69.28 hardware median at the low end. |
| Offer | 9.2Self-custody, open-source firmware and 1,500 coins, ranked 12 of 108 on coins. | 9.214,100 coins supported, open source software and a EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element give breadth and chip security in one card. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BitBox | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto wallets | 60 of 156 | 70 of 156 |
| Hardware and cold wallets | 11 of 58 | 15 of 58 |
Feature by feature
| Connectivity | BitBox | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| USB c | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Backup options | BitBox | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | Yes | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick BitBox if trust matter most.
Pick Tangem if cost and coins supported matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BitBox | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Self custody | Self custody |
| Legal entity | Shift Crypto AG | Tangem AG |
| Headquarters | Switzerland | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2015Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BitBox | Tangem | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coins supported | 1,500highest quarter | 14,100highest quarter | 75 |
Median across 85 listed providers.
Pros and cons
BitBox
Pros
- A Dual-chip design with EAL6+ certified secure chip keeps signing on the device.
- Self-custody with open-source firmware, so you can inspect what holds your keys.
- usb c and bluetooth lets you pair by Bluetooth or plug in.
Cons
- The device costs €149 to €175, above the €69.28 median for hardware wallets, so you pay for coin reach rather than value.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone line or live chat.
- Recovery leans on a seed phrase you store yourself, and self-custody means nobody can reset it for you.
Tangem
Pros
- Tangem guards keys with a EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element, putting the important part in dedicated hardware rather than phone software.
- The coin list of 14,100 puts the card at position 7 of 108 on coins supported.
- Custody sits with the holder through self custody, and the software is published as open source for anyone to read.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line in the list.
- Recovery runs on a seed phrase, listed as seed, which means the phrase itself carries the full balance.
- Connectivity is nfc only, so a phone has to be on hand for every use.
Who each suits
BitBox
Who it suits
- Holders of long coin lists who want their own keys rather than a custodial balance.
- Readers who value open-source firmware and a Dual-chip design with EAL6+ certified secure chip over the lowest ticket price.
- Trezor users who want usb c and bluetooth and can stretch past $79.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bit2Me readers who would rather use a mobile app wallet with no device to buy.
- Anyone happier in a custodial account than managing a seed phrase themselves.
- Trezor buyers on a tight budget, since Trezor is priced at $79.
Tangem
Who it suits
- Long-term holders who want to keep rather than trade, with self custody leaving the keys with you and 14,100 covering the long tail of assets.
- People who want card-style access to crypto without handing over a seed, since connectivity is nfc and a tap is the whole routine.
- Readers who care about chip level security, because the EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element is the part that does the guarding.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting an app first account: Bit2Me is a mobile wallet, where Tangem is a card held in hand.
- Holders who prefer a provider to look after the assets: bynex runs on custodial, the opposite of the self custody model here.
- Buyers chasing the cheapest hardware device: Trezor lists at $79, under the upper end of the $59.90 to $180 range.
Current offers
Tangem
Current offer
Bonus
Tangem Wallet BTC Reward: Up to $20 in Bitcoin
Every wallet ordered includes BTC Reward credited to your own self-custody wallet within 14 days of activation; offer banner states ends Oct 5
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Leave an email, get 10% discount: 10% off
Leave an email address on the site, promo code is sent to that address
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Save your discount: SAVE10: 10% off
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Flash sale - we drop prices for 20%: 20% off
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | BitBox | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Liechtenstein | Yes | No |
| Switzerland | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
BitBox
How much does a BitBox cost?+
BitBox hardware costs €149 to €175 for the device itself, above the €69.28 median across hardware wallets. Trezor sits lower at $79. That gap puts BitBox in the dearer part of the field, so the wide coin list and the open-source firmware are what you pay for. The outlay is a one-off hardware cost.
Who holds my coins on a BitBox?+
You do. BitBox is a hardware wallet built on self custody, so your keys never sit with an operator and no account balance is held for you. Recovery depends on a seed phrase you write down and store, which puts the responsibility for access squarely with you.
Tangem
How much does a Tangem cost?+
Prices run $59.90 to $180 across the card range, and the purchase is a device rather than a plan tied to a platform balance. The entry card sits under the €69.28 median of the hardware wallets we rank, while the upper end of the range goes past the €159.76 mark most of them sit under.
Do I hold my own crypto?+
Tangem runs on self custody, so keys are created and kept on the card rather than on an account that someone else controls. Nothing needs to be held on your behalf, and the card never becomes a claim on a platform balance. Software is published as open source, so the app and firmware can be read rather than trusted.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
BitBox
Tangem