Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Coldcard vs Tangem
Coldcard
Higher score in this comparison
Tangem
What sets them apart
| Compare | ColdcardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | TangemReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 to $319 | $59.90 to $180Lower |
| Coins supported | 1 | 14,100Higher |
| Secure element | Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B | EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element |
| Connectivity | USB c, NFCCovers more | 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 Coldcard: 2012 vs 2017.
- Price is lower at Tangem: $59.90 to $180 vs $219 to $319.
- Coins supported is higher at Tangem: 14,100 vs 1.
- Connectivity: only Coldcard offers USB c.
- Support channels: only Tangem offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Coldcard
Coldcard is a hardware wallet from Coinkite Inc. that suits holders who want their keys on a device they keep rather than with a provider. It scores 1.6 here, and 1 coin support makes it a Bitcoin choice rather than a broad one.
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 | Coldcard | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4$219 to $319 is a single buy, ranking 110 on price out of 120 brands, against Trezor at $79. | 8.9Higher$59.90 to $180 sits under the €69.28 hardware median at the low end. |
| Offer | 8.9A narrow offer: 1 coins, seed backup, and help through email, help centre and community. | 9.2Higher14,100 coins supported, open source software and a EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element give breadth and chip security in one card. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 9.0 |
What each covers
| Connectivity | Coldcard | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| USB c | Yes | No |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Backup options | Coldcard | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | Yes | Yes |
From lowest to highest
| Fact | Coldcard | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 to $319 | $59.90 to $180 |
Sources behind this comparison
Coldcard
- coldcard.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- store.coinkite.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Tangem
- tangem.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Coldcard | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto wallets | 64 of 156 | 70 of 156 |
| Hardware and cold wallets | 12 of 58 | 15 of 58 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Coldcard | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Self custody | Self custody |
| Legal entity | Coinkite Inc. | Tangem AG |
| Headquarters | Canada | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2012Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Coldcard | Tangem | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 to $319highest quarter | $59.90 to $180above the median | $0 |
| Coins supported | 1lowest quarter | 14,100highest quarter | 75 |
Median across 85 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Coldcard
Pros
- Keys stay in self custody, and Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B handles the signing.
- Open source, so the firmware can be read rather than trusted.
- Connects over usb c and nfc, so a cable or a tap is enough.
Cons
- Coin support is 1, far below what the hardware wallet ranking usually covers at 345.
- Price of $219 to $319 sits at 110 on price out of 120 brands, with Trezor lower at $79.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so a phone line is not part of the offer.
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
Coldcard
Who it suits
- A Bitcoin holder who keeps a single chain and wants signing done on hardware.
- Security-minded buyers who read the code, since Coldcard is open source and signs on Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B.
- Anyone comfortable guarding a seed phrase, since recovery rests on those words.
Who should look elsewhere
- Trezor buyers on a tighter budget, since Trezor sits at $79 against $219 to $319 here.
- Bit2Me users who want a mobile wallet for everyday use rather than a device that signs for you.
- bynex users who prefer custodial keys handled by the provider instead of kept in their own hands.
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
Coldcard
Current offer
Discount code
Save 10% with Bitcoin at checkout: 10% with promo code CKBTC
On-chain payments only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
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
Questions about each
Coldcard
What kind of wallet is Coldcard?+
Coldcard is a hardware wallet, so transactions are signed on a small device rather than on a phone screen. Keys are held in self custody, which means no provider holds them. It comes from Coinkite Inc., a company founded in 2012 and based in Canada.
What does a Coldcard cost, and how does that compare?+
Coldcard is a single purchase: $219 to $319 is the listed device price range. The median price across hardware wallets is €69.28, so Coldcard sits at the dearer end of that shelf. Trezor is lower at $79, and that gap shows up at the till.
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
Coldcard
Tangem