In this article we show you the best and most secure wallets for the cryptocurrency NEO. There are many different NEO wallets. However, hardware wallets for NEO offer the highest security level of all wallets. But there is a little twist. They cost a little bit of money. That’s why you also present you free NEO desktop wallets and mobile NEO wallets, which also offer a good grade of protection and an intuitive user interface.
At the beginning, however, it is important that you have a basic understanding of the technology and cryptocurrencies. That’s why we want to give you a little technical introduction to the topic, so that you not only know how to use the wallet, but also understand the technology behind it.
A wallet for a cryptocurrency is, like a virtual wallet, that in contrast to a normal wallet does not store the paper money, but the access keys to the wallet. The key is the so-called “private key”. Depending on whether it is stored online or offline, there are two different types of wallets:
- cold wallets and
- hot wallets
The distinction between a cold wallet and a hot wallet is made on the basis of the characteristic “connection to the Internet”. Cold wallets keep your private keys offline. This means that your private keys are never in contact with the Internet. Therefore hackers have no chance to steal your private keys and gain access to your NEO.
In contrast, a hot wallet stores your private keys on a device that is online. This means that hackers can potentially gain access to your wallet by stealing your private keys using malware or a phishing attack.
Many large companies and investment firms store the majority of their customers’ cryptocurrencies offline, in so-called cold storage’s. Because of that hackers do not have a point of attack to steal the access keys. You can store your private keys offline by purchasing a NEO hardware wallet. Otherwise you can also create a NEO paper wallet if you don’t want to spend money on a wallet. We can recommend a paper wallet if you don’t wann to send your NEO for a long time.
Hot wallets can also be subdivided into further subcategories:
- NEO desktop wallets
- NEO mobile wallets
- NEO online wallets
While the private key is the access key representing the ownership of the cryptocurrency, the public key is used to generate the wallet address (is a hash version of the public key). In contrast to the public wallet address, the private key should never be passed on to third parties. The owner of the private key can access the wallet address and send the stored NEO.
The best NEO hardware wallets put to the test
Hardware wallets offer you the best protection for your NEO. They have the highest security standard and start at a price of only 60 euros. Due to the technical architecture of the hardware wallets, the private keys are stored in a partition of the wallet that never comes into contact with the Internet. This protects your private keys very effectively against hackers and phishing attacks.
Another good way to protect your NEO is to use a NEO Paper Wallet. This means that you print your NEO address, private key and other important data on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place. This option is especially recommended if you don’t want to access your NEO for a long time.
Hardware wallets, on the other hand, are much more practical and offer you not only protection against hackers, but also against physical theft. Every NEO hardware wallet we present below offers you the possibility to protect your wallet with a password, a PIN and 2-factor authentication. In case of theft, your wallet is much better protected by these security measures than a paper wallet.
In our opinion every crypto investor should use a hardware wallet to best protect his NEO investment. In the following, we have compiled an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of hardware wallets.
✅ Your private keys will be stored offline
✅ Ledger and Trezor support more than 1,100 different cryptocurrencies, including NEO
✅ Each transaction must be confirmed manually
✅ The renowned manufacturers regularly deliver new updates to ensure security
✅ If you have any questions, please contact customer support
❌ The investment is not insured, as e.g. with the NEO broker eToro
1.The test winner: Ledger Nano X
We have tested more than 8 different hardware wallets extensively and introduce you to our test winner, the Ledger Nano X. The wallet is the successor of the Nano S and was introduced in May 2019. The biggest innovation is the built-in Bluetooth function, whereby the Nano X can be used like a mobile wallet with the security of a hardware wallet.
In addition, the manufacturer has implemented a new security chip that makes the wallet even safer. The display has become larger, so that addresses of cryptocurrencies can now be viewed completely on the small screen without scrolling. This makes it much easier to read the wallet address and approve a transaction.
Bottom line: Currently, the Ledger Nano X is the best NEO hardware wallet available on the market. The new features and the strong price turns it into our test winner.
2.Ledger Nano S
The Ledger Nano S is one of the oldest and most sold (1.3 million copies) hardware wallets in the world. The great popularity stands for the excellent safety and quality of the small wallet. To date there are no documented cases in which cryptocurrencies could be stolen from a Ledger Nano S.
Since the introduction of the Ledger Nano X, the price for the Nano S has fallen sharply and is currently just 59€. If you can do without the new features of the Nano X and are looking for a particularly cheap NEO hardware wallet, then the Ledger Nano S is just right for you. The Nano S offers a fantastic price/performance ratio.
3.Trezor Model T
The Trezor Model T was also launched in May 2019 and is considered a direct competitor of the Ledger Nano X. It is the direct successor of the Trezor One, which has been sold more than a million times worldwide. In direct comparison to its predecessor, the Model T supports significantly more cryptocurrencies and has some new features.
In addition, the Trezor Bridge software was completely renewed and made more secure. Furthermore the Trezor Model T has received some fundamental innovations that make it an absolute premium model:
- Touchscreen: The Model T has got a 4 inch touch display in color. The PIN must then be entered and transactions released.
- Firmware upgrade: The firmware (Trezor Core) has received new security features to comply with the current state of security technology.
- Faster processor: The new processor is faster and ensures smooth operation.
- Micro SD card slot: The Micro SD card slot allows SD cards to be used for data encryption.
- USB-C port: The old USB port has been replaced by a modern USB-C port.
Bottom line: The Trezor Model T is one of the best NEO hardware wallets currently available on the market. The new features and security update make it almost impossible to steal your NEO.
The best NEO desktop and mobile wallets
Desktop as well as mobile NEO wallets belong to the category of hot wallets because the private keys are stored on the respective device. Since your PC and smartphone are connected to the Internet at least temporarily, they are considered less secure than hardware wallets. Hackers have a potential point of attack over the Internet connection that can be exploited to steal your private keys or password.
Nevertheless, both offer a good basic protection. In addition, they offer the advantage that you can install and use them for free. However, you should make sure that you only install wallets from reputable providers. In the past, supposedly serious projects have turned out to be scams. Therefore we introduce you to the best and most secure NEO desktop and mobile wallets. Some of them have the advantage of supporting multiple cryptocurrencies, in addition to NEO. The next table shows the respective advantages and disadvantages:
✅ Free use and setup
✅ Higher security than with online wallets
✅ Mobile wallets give you access to your NEO wherever you are connected to the Internet.
✅ Multi-coin wallets support more than 100 cryptocurrencies
❌ Updates must be installed regularly
❌ No deposit insurance, as with eToro
Below we introduce you to the best free NEO desktop and mobile wallets:
- NEON Wallet (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
- O3 Wallet (Windows, MacOS, Android)
- Atomic Wallet (Windows, MacOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora)
- Exodus Wallet (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android)
1.NEON wallet
The NEON Wallet is a desktop wallet developed by the NEO community that has passed several security checks. It supports the cryptocurrency NEO and GAS, RPBX and other NEP5 tokens and is one of the oldest NEO wallets on the market.
So far there are only different desktop versions for Windows, Mac and Linux. Whether a mobile version will be published is currently unknown. It is important to know that the wallet supports the “claiming” of Gas (GAS) which is working completely automatically with the NEON Wallet. When you access the wallet, all you have to do is update your account balance.
The setup and installation of the wallet is also very quick and easy. The user interface is intuitive and clearly structured, so that the wallet is also suitable for beginners. You can also use the wallet to create a recovery phrase. If your PC or computer breaks down, you can restore the wallet on another PC.
You can download the wallet for free from the official website (click here!).
2.O3 Desktop und mobiles NEO Wallet
The O3 Wallet is available as a mobile wallet for your smartphone and as a desktop version. The app is simple and clearly arranged and offers good security. Your private keys are stored locally either on your smartphone or on your PC. However, be aware that it is absolutely necessary to use an up-to-date anti-virus program. Only then can you guarantee the best possible security.
The desktop version is available for Mac, Windows and Linux. The download as well as the use is completely free of charge. The wallet supports NEO, GAS, ONT and ONG. Since June 2019, there has been a direct connection to the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. As a result you can buy cryptocurrencies such as BTC or ETH directly within the wallet.
We have had very good experiences with the O3 Wallet and have been using it for several years. You can download the wallet from the official website (click here!).
3.Atomic Wallet
The Atomic Wallet is a multi-coin wallet which supports more than 300 different cryptocurrencies, including NEO. If you have other cryptocurrencies besides NEO and want to manage them in one place, then the Atomic Wallet is the right choice for you. The wallet was developed by the founder of the platform Changelly.com and enjoys a good reputation in the crypto community. The programmers concentrated on three pillars of the cryptocurrency industry during the development:
- security,
- anonymity and
- decentralization.
The security is guaranteed through the measure that your private keys and transaction data are stored locally and encrypted on your PC or smartphone. As the name of the wallet suggests, the wallet supports the decentralization through the so-called Atomic Swaps. These are allowing users to exchange cryptocurrencies with each other – peer-to-peer – without the use of third parties. However, this service is not available for all cryptocurrencies, yet. Therefore the wallet has an interface to ShapeShift and Changelly, so that these cryptocurrencies can be exchanged for a fee of 2 to 5 percent.
The Wallet is available as desktop version for Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora. The mobile versions for iOS and Android are also available from the App Store and Google Play Store. You can download the Atomic Wallet from the official website (click here!).
4.Exodus Wallet
The Exodus Wallet is another multi-coin wallet that supports more than 100 different cryptocurrencies. Exodus was launched in 2016 and is one of the oldest NEO wallets on the market. The wallet comprises the following components:
- multi-coin wallet,
- a portfolio tracker (in 30 fiat currencies)
- and an integrated exchange service from ShapeShift.
The security of the wallet as well as the anonymity of the wallet can be classified as good. Your private keys are stored locally on your PC or smartphone. This gives you sole control over your private keys. Nevertheless, the Exodus Wallet has two points of criticism which we do not want to withhold from you:
- You can have a backup of your wallet sent to you by mail. The backup function can be considered useful. However, emails can easily be intercepted and the content misused.
- There is no way to set up 2-factor authentication.
If you don’t mind, the Exodus might be a good choice for you. To download the wallet you have to visit the official website (click here!).
The best NEO online wallets in comparison
NEO Online wallets are especially suitable for beginners, because the setup is very easy and fast. In most cases the registration of an account on a website or a exchange is sufficient. The latter have the advantage that you can trade with your NEO on the platform. There are no fees for the use of the wallets.
The big disadvantage of exchange wallets, however, is that you transfer control of your private keys to the exchange. So you have to trust the exchange and hope that it protects your NEO in the best way possible. We would like to remind you that cryptocurrency exchanges have often been the target of hacker attacks in the past. In some cases, several million US dollars could be stolen in cryptocurrencies. That’s why you should only use exchange wallets as long as you actively trade with NEO.
The next table shows the advantages and disadvantages of NEO Online wallets in detail:
✅ Wallets of exchanges offer the advantage that you can trade directly
✅ Easy to set up by registering an account
✅ Set a maximum payout limit per transaction
✅ The user interface is simple and intuitive.
✅ Customer support can be reached by e-mail, Twitter or ticketing system
❌ You do not have control over your private keys.
❌ Beware of scammers: Some wallet providers have turned out to be scammers
- NEO Tracker Web Wallet
- NEO Online Wallet
- Binance
1.NEO Tracker web wallet
The NEO online wallet Neotracker.io is an official provider that has been on the market since 2017. You can easily and quickly create a wallet by simply entering a password for your NEO Wallet. Then you can directly download your keystore file, which contains your private key. You need to keep this file in a safe place. Under no circumstances should you leave your keystore file on your PC, which has a permanent connection to the Internet. In this case it is especially easy for hackers to steal your file and thus your private keys. Hackers can also use a keylogger to record your password and open your wallet in case of emergency.
Therefore, you should install an up-to-date anti-virus program on your PC that keeps you up to date. The wallet is especially suitable for beginners who want to set up a wallet without much effort. Nevertheless, NEO desktop and mobile wallets offer significantly better security. Nevertheless, the wallet can be a good, free option to store your NEO.
You can set up the wallet on this page.
2.NEO Online Wallet
The “neowallet.cn” is another NEO web wallet developed and offered by the NEO Community. If you want to use it, you should know that your private keys are stored online! Accordingly, you have no control over your private keys. Besides that, all data is encrypted and transmitted anonymously. One further advantage of the wallet is that no personal data is requested during setup.
In addition, the wallet is very easy to set up. You can also import another wallet and access it via this interface. It is also pleasing that the wallet supports NEO, GAS and some NEP5 tokens. This is why you can also claim Gas (GAS).
You can access the wallet under this link.
3.Binance Wallet
Binance is one of the largest and most secure crypto exchanges in the world. The exchange offers a web wallet where you can store NEO and more than 150 other cryptocurrencies. The big advantage of Binance is that it is easy to set up and register. You can also trade NEO directly from the wallet without any further detours.
Be aware, however, that you do not have access to your private keys. You pass the responsibility for them on to the exchange. Although Binance is considered secure, in May 2019 Binance was the victim of a hacker attack in which more than 7,000 BTC were stolen, demonstrating the vulnerability of online wallets to hacker attacks. Because of that, your NEO should only be kept on Binance as long as you actively use it.
One advantage of the Binance wallet compared to other exchanges is that it offers the option of activating 2-factor authentication or receiving a notification by SMS each time you log in. This is another level of security that should definitely be used to make the Binance wallet as secure as possible.
If you would like to register an account on Binance, you can do so via this link*.
Further information about the NEO wallet test
We have compiled this information to the best of our knowledge, our own NEO wallet experience and hours of research. Nevertheless, you should get more information and try some wallets to find the NEO wallet that suits you best.
If you have questions or criticism as well as suggestions to our NEO wallet test report, then leave us gladly a comment there. We’ll be glad to help you. If you liked our review of the best NEO wallets, please rate our review as positive by clicking on 5 stars below.
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