Skip to content
buybitcoinsmart
Menu

Aqua vs MetaMask

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-25
Aqua3.6

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

MetaMask3.0

MetaMask holds real bitcoin since December 15, 2025, but it is still an Ethereum wallet with a BTC address attached.

Verdict: Aqua

Aqua rates higher on our rubric: 3.6 against 3.0 for MetaMask.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Aqua
3.6
MetaMask
3.0

Aqua and MetaMask, 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 MetaMask compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactAquaMetaMask
Editorial rating3.6 (favoured on this row)3.0
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byJAN3Consensys
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 on your device from a 12 word Secret Recovery Phrase Consensys never sees
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, AndroidiOS, Android, 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 JAN32016
Countries on the maker's listNo published list228
Last reviewed2026-08-252026-08-25

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

MetaMask

What works

  • Native bitcoin support since December 15, 2025, with a BTC address generated for you automatically
  • Swaps from Ethereum, other EVM networks or Solana into bitcoin without leaving the wallet
  • Buying supports debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal and bank transfer, depending on your region
  • Keys are generated on your device, and Consensys holds nothing it could freeze or reset
  • The extension almost every dapp is tested against, so connections rarely break

What to watch

  • Bitcoin support is native SegWit only: MetaMask's own announcement says Taproot is still to come
  • The app now bundles perpetual futures at up to 50x leverage, prediction markets and tokenized stocks next to your keys
  • Those extra products carry their own eligibility rules, which are separate from the wallet and change without notice
  • A hot wallet in a browser extension or phone app, with no secure element and no offline signing
  • Bitcoin is one chain among many, and the product's center of gravity is Ethereum

Frequently asked questions

Is Aqua or MetaMask better?

Aqua rates higher on our rubric: 3.6 against 3.0 for MetaMask. 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 MetaMask 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; MetaMask is self-custodial, keys generated on your device from a 12 word Secret Recovery Phrase Consensys never sees.

Is Aqua or MetaMask 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. MetaMask: Ethereum and EVM networks, Solana, Monad and Sei, plus native bitcoin since December 15, 2025.

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

More comparisons

Every other head-to-head Aqua or MetaMask appears in.