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Aqua vs Exodus

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-26
Aqua3.6

A self-custodial Bitcoin, Liquid and Tether USDt wallet built for people who need cheap dollars on a phone, not only bitcoin.

Exodus2.8

The best looking wallet on this list, from an NYSE listed company, with closed source apps and swap rates starting at 0.5%.

Verdict: Aqua

Aqua rates higher on our rubric: 3.6 against 2.8 for Exodus.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Aqua
3.6
Exodus
2.8

Aqua and Exodus, fact by fact

Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.

Aqua and Exodus compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactAquaExodus
Editorial rating3.6 (favoured on this row)2.8
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byJAN3Exodus Movement, Inc.
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial, with the seed stored on your device in Keychain on iOS or EncryptedSharedPreferences on Androidself-custodial, keys generated and encrypted on your own device
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extension
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityOn-chain bitcoin, the Liquid Network, and Lightning through submarine swaps rather than channels of its ownNot stated
Released2024, by JAN32015
Countries on the maker's listNo published listNo published list
Last reviewed2026-08-252026-08-26

Pros and cons, side by side

Aqua

What works

  • Self-custodial, with the seed kept in the phone's own secure storage and no documents required to open a wallet
  • Bitcoin, Liquid and Tether USDt in one app, which is the point for anyone who is paid or saves in dollars
  • Aqua's own figures put a $100 USDt transfer at three cents over Liquid against eight dollars over Ethereum
  • Network fees on USDt can be paid in USDt, so there is no separate gas token to hold
  • Replace-by-fee support, so a stuck transaction can be bumped instead of waited out
  • Client source published on GitHub, and Aqua says it collects no personal data or transaction logs

What to watch

  • Not bitcoin only: a large part of the app is about stablecoins
  • Liquid balances are secured by the Liquid federation rather than by bitcoin's own mining
  • Lightning runs through third-party submarine swaps rather than channels Aqua manages
  • USDt transfers over Tron or Ethereum depend on SideShift's liquidity, as Aqua's own FAQ says
  • In-app bitcoin purchases are run by outside providers, so the country rules and the support queue are theirs
  • A prepaid card and lending are advertised as coming rather than shipped

Exodus

What works

  • One recovery phrase carries the same wallet across desktop, mobile and a browser extension
  • Pairs with a Trezor or a Ledger, so it can be a friendly front end for keys held offline
  • Buying built in through XO Ramp with card, bank transfer, Apple Pay or Google Pay
  • Publicly listed on the NYSE as EXOD, so the company behind it files real financials
  • Device passkey locking, with no password to reuse or leak

What to watch

  • The wallet apps are closed source, so you cannot rebuild what you install and compare it to published code
  • In-app swap rates start at 0.5% and that cost is a spread inside the quote rather than a visible fee
  • Settled with OFAC for $3.1 million in December 2025 over 254 apparent violations of the Iran sanctions program, with staff found to have suggested VPN workarounds to users in Iran
  • A hot wallet unless you pair hardware, with keys on an internet connected machine
  • Bitcoin gets no special treatment in a wallet that advertises over a million assets

Frequently asked questions

Is Aqua or Exodus better?

Aqua rates higher on our rubric: 3.6 against 2.8 for Exodus. The rating follows the product rubric published on our about page; the rows above set custody, price and platforms side by side so you can check it.

Are Aqua and Exodus free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Aqua is self-custodial, with the seed stored on your device in Keychain on iOS or EncryptedSharedPreferences on Android; Exodus is self-custodial, keys generated and encrypted on your own device.

Is Aqua or Exodus bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. Aqua: Multi-asset: bitcoin on chain, Liquid bitcoin, and Tether USDt on Liquid and several other chains. Exodus: Bitcoin among the million-plus assets Exodus advertises, including Ethereum, Solana and stablecoins.

The full reviews: Aqua and Exodus, each with its sources, and every wallet we review.

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