Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Coinkite Coldcard vs SafePal
Coinkite Coldcard
Higher score in this comparison
SafePal
What sets them apart
| Compare | Coinkite ColdcardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SafePalReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 to $319 | $49.99 to $89.99Lower |
| Coins supported | 1 | 200Higher |
| Secure element | dual secure elements: Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B | CC EAL6+ secure element |
| Connectivity | USB c, NFC | Bluetooth, USB c |
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 Coinkite Coldcard: 2012 vs 2018.
- Price is lower at SafePal: $49.99 to $89.99 vs $219 to $319.
- Coins supported is higher at SafePal: 200 vs 1.
- Connectivity: only Coinkite Coldcard offers NFC.
- Connectivity: only SafePal offers Bluetooth.
Our verdict on each
Coinkite Coldcard
Coinkite Coldcard is a hardware wallet for readers who want their own keys and inspectable firmware, sold at a device price of $219 to $319. It suits a focused, self-custody setup rather than a long asset list, and buyers willing to pay for hardware up front.
SafePal
SafePal suits buyers who want a self-custody hardware wallet with open source firmware and wide coin coverage at a modest upfront cost. The device costs $49.99 to $89.99 and support runs on email, help centre and community alone, so anyone holding a large balance should expect to handle setup questions alone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Cost is a single purchase at $219 to $319, set at the high end of the hardware range rather than tracked as a fee. | 9.1HigherCost comes down to a hardware purchase at $49.99 to $89.99 with no subscription, near the hardware wallet median of €69.28. |
| Offer | 8.9A seed backup and a narrow asset focus keep the offer tight at 1 coin. | 9.1HigherCovers 200 coins over bluetooth and usb c, and pairs open source firmware with a CC EAL6+ secure element plus self-custody on each device. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.8 |
Feature by feature
| Connectivity | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal |
|---|---|---|
| USB c | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Backup options | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | Yes | Yes |
Ranges side by side
| Fact | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 to $319 | $49.99 to $89.99 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto wallets | 65 of 156 | 68 of 156 |
| Hardware and cold wallets | 13 of 58 | 14 of 58 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Self custody | Self custody |
| Legal entity | Coinkite Inc. | SkyGenesis Holdings Limited |
| Headquarters | Canada | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Coinkite Coldcard | SafePal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 to $319highest quarter | $49.99 to $89.99above the median | $0 |
| Coins supported | 1lowest quarter | 200above the median | 75 |
Median across 85 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Coinkite Coldcard
Pros
- Custody is self custody, so the holder keeps control rather than a provider.
- Open source is listed, so the code behind the device can be reviewed by others.
- Dual secure elements, dual secure elements: Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B, add a second layer around signing.
Cons
- A device price of $219 to $319 makes it one of the costliest options in its group.
- Coin support of 1 rules out readers holding a long asset list.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone line among them.
SafePal
Pros
- Priced at $49.99 to $89.99, which sits in line with the hardware wallet median of €69.28 across this category
- Custody is self custody, so the keys sit on the device and no operator holds or can move the balance
- The firmware is open source, so the code that handles keys and signs transactions can be read and checked by others
Cons
- Backup is a seed phrase, and there is no split-share option, so a paper copy covers the whole balance
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no live chat or phone line listed for holders who get stuck mid-setup
- Signing needs a phone or computer running the app, so recovery depends on your own seed phrase alone
Who each suits
Coinkite Coldcard
Who it suits
- Holders who want self-custody on open source hardware and hold a narrow set of assets.
- Security-minded readers who value dual secure elements and a seed backup they control.
- Buyers comfortable with a single purchase of $219 to $319 rather than an ongoing account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers on a budget, since Trezor is listed at $79.
- Multi-coin holders, because Bit2Me runs as a mobile wallet instead.
- Anyone who wants a provider rather than a device: bynex is custodial.
SafePal
Who it suits
- Buyers who want to hold their own keys rather than see a balance sit with a platform operator
- Holders of many small positions who need wide coin coverage from a device they must set up themselves
- People who are comfortable buying hardware and writing down a seed phrase that they will keep offline and private
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a platform account with deposit rails and an app balance, since bynex runs on custodial custody
- People who need help from a live agent, since support runs on email, help centre and community with no phone line listed
- Buyers who want a phone-only software wallet, since this is a hardware device they have to buy first
Current offers
Coinkite Coldcard
Current offer
Discount code
Save 10% with Bitcoin at checkout: CKBTC
On-chain payments only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
SafePal
Current offer
Discount code
10% off with promo code SFP@MiCA: 10% off
Use promo code SFP@MiCA at checkout
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Buy 2 for free global shipping: Free standard shipping
Purchase any 2 units or more of the SafePal S1, S1 Pro, X1 or Cypher with Standard Shipping; leather case and Express Delivery excluded
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Coinkite Coldcard
What does a Coinkite Coldcard cost?+
The hardware is listed at $219 to $319, a range covering the models sold in the store. It is a one-time purchase rather than a recurring charge, and on price the brand ranks 110 out of 120 in the group compared.
Who holds the keys on a Coldcard?+
You do. Custody is self custody, so the holder keeps control of the keys rather than a provider. That suits readers who want their coins outside any exchange or custodial account.
SafePal
How much does a SafePal hardware wallet cost?+
The device costs $49.99 to $89.99, and that is the whole outlay because no account subscription is attached. It sits in line with the hardware wallet median of €69.28, so the purchase price is typical for this category of device.
Does SafePal hold my coins?+
Custody is self custody, so private keys are generated on the device and never sit with the company. Nothing is credited to a SafePal account, so no deposit protection scheme applies to any balance. Losing the seed phrase means losing the coins, with no operator able to restore them.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Coinkite Coldcard
SafePal