Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
CoolWallet vs Tangem
CoolWallet
Higher score in this comparison
Tangem
Where CoolWallet and Tangem differ
| Compare | CoolWalletReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | TangemReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39 to $149Lower | $59.90 to $180 |
| Coins supported | 35 | 14,100Higher |
| Secure element | CC EAL 6+ secure element | EAL6+ certified Samsung Semiconductor secure element |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | NFC |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Wallet type (Hardware), Custody (Self custody), Backup options (Seed).
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Key differences
- CoolWallet scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Founded is lower at CoolWallet: 2014 vs 2017.
- Price is lower at CoolWallet: $39 to $149 vs $59.90 to $180.
- Coins supported is higher at Tangem: 14,100 vs 35.
- Connectivity: only CoolWallet offers Bluetooth.
- Connectivity: only Tangem offers NFC.
- Support channels: only Tangem offers Chat, Community.
Our verdict on each
CoolWallet
CoolWallet suits you if you want a hardware wallet that keeps keys on your own device and pairs over bluetooth without a cable. It is priced at $39 to $149, which sits higher than Trezor at $79, and it covers 35 coins.
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 | CoolWallet | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherA hardware wallet you buy once at $39 to $149, with seed backup and no account or platform fees listed. | 8.9$59.90 to $180 sits under the €69.28 hardware median at the low end. |
| Offer | 8.6Custody sits with you through self custody, coins cover runs to 35. | 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 | 9.6Higher | 9.0 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | CoolWallet | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto wallets | 37 of 156 | 70 of 156 |
| Hardware and cold wallets | 6 of 58 | 15 of 58 |
Pick CoolWallet if, pick Tangem if
Pick CoolWallet if trust and price matter most.
Pick Tangem if offer and coins supported matter most.
Feature by feature
| Connectivity | CoolWallet | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Backup options | CoolWallet | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | Yes | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CoolWallet | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Self custody | Self custody |
| Legal entity | CoolBitX Ltd. | Tangem AG |
| Headquarters | Taiwan | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2014Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CoolWallet | Tangem | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $39 to $149above the median | $59.90 to $180above the median | $0 |
| Coins supported | 35below the median | 14,100highest quarter | 75 |
Median across 85 listed providers.
Pros and cons
CoolWallet
Pros
- Keys stay with you, since custody is self custody
- A CC EAL 6+ secure element keeps the signing work inside the device
- Pairs over bluetooth, so no cable is needed
Cons
- The hardware price runs higher than the Trezor model at $79
- Support runs on email and help centre only
- The range of coins supported is narrower than the hardware-wallet median of 345
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
CoolWallet
Who it suits
- Holders who want custody of keys on their own device
- People who already back up a seed phrase and can keep it safe
- Smartphone users who prefer signing over Bluetooth to a cable
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers set on the lowest hardware price, since Trezor lists $79
- Anyone wanting a mobile wallet app, since Bit2Me is a mobile wallet
- People who want a provider to hold the coins, as bynex is custodial
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
Questions about each
CoolWallet
How much does a CoolWallet cost?+
CoolWallet is a hardware wallet, so the cost is the device price of $39 to $149. There is no account or monthly charge attached to holding coins on it, and the keys stay with you. Expect to pay for the hardware once rather than per year.
Does CoolWallet hold my coins for me?+
No, custody is self custody, and self-custody also appears in the listed features under self custody. You hold the wallet and the seed phrase, so losing either one means losing access. That is the trade for keeping control.
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
CoolWallet
Tangem