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BitBox02 vs Tangem Wallet

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-25
BitBox024.6

Swiss made, fully open source, sold in Multi and Bitcoin-only editions, with a Nova model that works from an iPhone.

Tangem Wallet3.8

A smart card you tap against your phone, sold only in sets of two or three so your backup is another card rather than a written seed.

Verdict: BitBox02

BitBox02 rates higher on our rubric: 4.6 against 3.8 for Tangem Wallet.

Criterion
Editorial rating
BitBox02
4.6
Tangem Wallet
3.8

BitBox02 and Tangem Wallet, 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.

BitBox02 and Tangem Wallet compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactBitBox02Tangem Wallet
Editorial rating4.6 (favoured on this row)3.8
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byBitBoxTangem
PriceNot published$59.9
Who holds the keysself-custodial, keys held in a dual chip design, certified EAL6+ on the Nova modelself-custodial, keys generated and held inside each card's certified chip, with no seed phrase by default
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, Android, Windows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android
ScreenMonochrome OLED with touch sliders; the Nova uses a more readable glass OLEDNone. The card has no display, so you verify transactions on your phone
ConnectivityUSB-C on both models; the Nova adds Bluetooth for iPhone and iPadNFC tap against a phone running the Tangem app
ReleasedNot statedNot stated
Countries on the maker's listNo published list201
Last reviewed2026-08-252026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

BitBox02

What works

  • Fully open source firmware, in a Multi edition and a true Bitcoin-only edition
  • Dual chip design, with an EAL6+ certified secure chip on the Nova
  • microSD backup makes setup and recovery fast, and writing down the words is optional
  • Three built-in on-ramps (Pocket Bitcoin, MoonPay, BTC Direct) send coins straight to the device
  • The Nova works with an iPhone or iPad over Bluetooth

What to watch

  • No touchscreen: confirmations happen on a small OLED with touch sliders
  • The original BitBox02 has no iOS support, so an iPhone user needs the Nova
  • BitBox publishes no shipping country list, only regional tiers and a duty policy
  • Shipping cost and any unpaid import duties are only shown at checkout

Tangem Wallet

What works

  • Keys are generated inside a certified chip and never leave it, with no seed phrase to steal by default
  • Sold in sets of two or three, so the backup is a second card rather than a written phrase
  • Nothing to charge, connect or cable up: you tap the card against your phone
  • Tangem states that no Tangem server sits between your card, your phone and the blockchain
  • Buy and swap are built into the app

What to watch

  • No screen, so you verify transaction details on the phone rather than on the device itself
  • Lose every card in the set without having created a seed phrase and the funds are unrecoverable
  • Not bitcoin-only
  • Tangem refuses delivery to 40 named jurisdictions, Colombia, Laos and Vietnam among them

Frequently asked questions

Is BitBox02 or Tangem Wallet better?

BitBox02 rates higher on our rubric: 4.6 against 3.8 for Tangem Wallet. 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.

Is BitBox02 or Tangem Wallet bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. BitBox02: Multi edition supports bitcoin plus other assets; the Bitcoin-only edition runs firmware with the rest removed. Tangem Wallet: Multi-asset, with buy and swap built into the app.

The full reviews: BitBox02 and Tangem Wallet, each with its sources, and every wallet we review.

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