KeepKey review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
KeepKey suits holders who want a plain open source hardware wallet and accept a narrow coin list. It scores 3.9 overall, and the self custody model means keys never sit with a provider, while recovery rests on a seed phrase you keep offline yourself.
Key facts
- Best for
- Cold storage on a budget for a small set of major coins.
- Wallet type
- Hardware↗
- Price
- $59.95↗
- Custody
- Self custody↗
- Coins supported
- 11↗
- Secure element
- None (by design)↗
- Open source
- Yes↗
- Backup options
- Seed↗
- Legal entity
- Key Hodlers, LLC↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 2014↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre, Community↗
- Features
- Self-custody
- Official website
- keepkey.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 6 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
- Elsewhere
- Xgithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- self custody with keys generated and held on the device
- Open source firmware and hardware design
- Simple hardware design with recovery through a seed phrase
- Support through email, chat and help centre
Cons
- No secure element, since the chip is None (by design)
- Coin support of 11, far below the hardware wallet median of 345
- Backup rests on a seed phrase, so there is no split share option
Who it suits
- Holders keeping a small set of major coins offline for years
- Buyers who want open source hardware at a low $59.95
- People who read firmware and prefer a plain device to a phone app
Who should look elsewhere
- Trezor buyers who want a different hardware device at $79
- Bit2Me users who prefer a mobile wallet rather than a plugged in device
- bynex users who want a custodial wallet and would rather a provider held the balance
How your money is protected
Your keys sit on the device, so custody stays self custody and nothing depends on a balance held at a company. The secure element is None (by design), so the chip that guards keys is left out deliberately. Firmware and hardware design are open source, which lets other people read how the device behaves. Recovery runs through a seed phrase you write on paper, so that copy is the only way back in.
The company behind it
KeepKey is run by Key Hodlers, LLC, based in the US and founded in 2014, so the company has a long record in physical devices. It sells a device rather than an exchange account, which keeps the relationship with the buyer simple. Questions are handled through email, chat and help centre.
How KeepKey compares
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.7
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.6
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
KeepKey vs Trezor9.1 vs 9.0Trezor is another hardware wallet priced at $79, so it suits buyers ready to pay more for a different device.
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.7
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.3
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.6
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.3
Frequently asked questions
How much does a KeepKey cost?+
The device is sold at $59.95, which is under the hardware wallet median of €69.28 and below Trezor at $79. Buying the device is the whole outlay, since the wallet holds keys on the device rather than running an account balance.
Who holds my coins with KeepKey?+
The holder does. Custody is self custody, so keys are generated and kept on the device rather than with a provider. There is no account balance to fund, and the device works on its own once the recovery phrase is written down.
Does the KeepKey have a secure element?+
The maker treats that as a choice rather than an oversight. The secure element is None (by design), a deliberate trade off in favour of a simpler chip and open source firmware. Readers who expect a dedicated security chip should weigh that before buying.
How many coins can a KeepKey hold?+
Support covers 11 coins, which is a small list next to the hardware wallet median of 345. Buyers running a broad altcoin portfolio should look at a device with wider coverage and a different price band.
How do I back up a KeepKey?+
The device uses a seed phrase. Those words go on paper and stay offline, since that copy is the only route back in. Losing both the phrase and the device ends access, so keep the backup stored separately from the wallet.
Is KeepKey open source?+
Yes. The hardware and firmware are open source, so the code that generates and stores keys can be read by other people. That suits buyers who prefer to check how a device behaves rather than trust a closed system.
How do I get help with a KeepKey?+
Support runs through email, chat and help centre. That covers a help centre, email, live chat and a community, so setup or recovery questions can be raised in writing or answered by other holders. Recovery itself stays with the recovery phrase.
When was KeepKey founded and where is it based?+
The company is Key Hodlers, LLC, founded in 2014 and based in the US. It sells a physical product, so the company itself never holds a balance. Buyers deal with a device maker rather than a custody provider.
Sources
- keepkey.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins supported, Custody, Headquarters
“Supported chains 11+”
- keepkey.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Open source
“KeepKey Founded 2014”
- keepkey.com/faq checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“email support@keepkey.com”
- keepkey.com/product checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Secure element
“No Proprietary Secure Element - By Design”
- keepkey.com/store checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Backup options, Price, Wallet type
“12/24-word seed backup”
- keepkey.com/swap checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features
“Non-custodialNo KYCBest route, on-chain”
- keepkey.com/terms-of-use checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“Welcome to KeepKey.com which is owned and operated by Key Hodlers, LLC”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.