MetaMask review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
MetaMask suits anyone who wants a free browser wallet that keeps control of their own keys, with self-custody (self custody) and a seed backup (seed) as the trade-off for convenience. It suits everyday token holding, not larger balances that need a separate device.
Key facts
- Best for
- Self-custody in the browser for everyday token holding.
- Wallet type
- Browser↗
- Custody
- Self custody↗
- Open source
- No↗
- Backup options
- Seed↗
- Legal entity
- Consensys Software Inc.↗
- Founded
- 2016↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre, Community↗
- Features
- Self-custody
- Official website
- metamask.io
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 3 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
- Elsewhere
- WikidataWikipediaXLinkedIngithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Self-custody, so the keys stay with the holder (self custody)
- Help runs through email, chat and help centre
- Operated by a named company, Consensys Software Inc.
- Free to download, where hardware wallets sit at €69.28
Cons
- MetaMask is not open source, so the code cannot be read by the people running it
- A browser wallet (browser) keeps the work on the same device you browse with, so Trezor's hardware approach (hardware) is the calmer choice for larger balances
- Recovery depends on a seed phrase (seed) held by the holder
Who it suits
- People who want to hold their own keys without buying a device
- Readers who want their wallet open in a browser tab rather than an app
- Anyone comfortable storing a seed phrase (seed) somewhere safe
Who should look elsewhere
- Trezor, if you would rather keep the keys in a hardware device (hardware)
- Bit2Me, if a mobile wallet (mobile) suits you better
- bynex, if you would rather the provider held the keys (custodial)
Safety and regulation
Control of the keys sits with the holder. MetaMask is a self-custody wallet (self custody), so no operator stands between the holder and the assets, and the balance is reachable only through the holder's own device. The other side of that arrangement is transparency, and the wallet is not open source, so the code is not published for outside reading.
Who runs it
MetaMask is run by Consensys Software Inc., a named company rather than an anonymous project, and the product dates back to 2016. Support covers email, chat and help centre, so a question can go down more than one route, by email, in chat, through the help centre or in the community, without a phone call.
How MetaMask compares
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 8.2
8.9 vs 9.7
8.9 vs 9.5
8.9 vs 9.6
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.0A hardware wallet (hardware) keeps the keys in a separate device, the usual answer for larger balances than a browser wallet.
8.9 vs 8.2
8.9 vs 9.7
8.9 vs 9.5
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.2
8.9 vs 9.2
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 8.6
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.3
Frequently asked questions
Does MetaMask hold my coins for me?+
MetaMask is a self-custody wallet (self custody), and self-custody is also listed as a headline feature (self custody). The keys stay on your side rather than with a provider, so no account balance sits with the company, and recovery after losing the device is down to your own backup.
How do I back up a MetaMask wallet?+
The listed backup method is a seed (seed), a single set of words you write down and keep offline. Anyone planning to use self-custody needs a safe place to store that phrase, and looking after it is the holder's job rather than something a provider handles on your behalf.
Is MetaMask open source?+
No, it is not open source. The extension is built by Consensys Software Inc. and the code is not published for outside reading, so readers who like to check the software themselves have to take the description on trust. Open source is a fair filter to apply when choosing a wallet.
What kind of wallet is MetaMask?+
It is a browser wallet (browser), running in the desktop browser with nothing to buy first. Other types here include a mobile wallet such as Bit2Me (mobile) and a hardware wallet such as Trezor (hardware), so the form factor is the first thing to weigh.
Who runs MetaMask?+
The wallet is run by Consensys Software Inc., and it has existed since 2016. A named legal entity means the party behind the terms of use is traceable, which is more than an anonymous project offers, and the support routes are listed on the same terms.
How do I get help with MetaMask?+
Support runs on email, chat and help centre. Email and chat cover direct questions, the help centre holds written guidance, and the community channel gives a place to search what other users have already run into, so there is more than one route to an answer.
How does MetaMask compare with a custodial account?+
The difference is who holds the keys. MetaMask is self-custody (self custody), while bynex runs a custodial model (custodial) where the provider keeps control. Custody is the more forgiving option for everyday use, and self-custody puts recovery squarely in the holder's hands.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetaMask checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Open source
“MetaMask launched in 2016 as open-source software under the MIT license”
- metamask.io/download checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Custody, Features, Wallet type
“The MetaMask wallet is a self-custodial crypto wallet app”
- metamask.io/terms-of-use checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Backup options, Legal entity, Support channels
“recording and securely maintaining any passwords or secret recovery phrases that relate to your use of the Offerings”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price, Coins supported.