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BlueWallet vs Guarda Wallet

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-25
BlueWallet4.2Bitcoin-only

Bitcoin-only phone wallet with real coin control and multisig vaults, whose Lightning side is custodial unless you run the server yourself.

Guarda Wallet3.0

A capable multi-platform wallet whose 2020 domain hijack exposed the real weakness: a login flow built on uploading your backup.

Verdict: BlueWallet

BlueWallet rates higher on our rubric: 4.2 against 3.0 for Guarda Wallet.

Criterion
Editorial rating
BlueWallet
4.2
Guarda Wallet
3.0

BlueWallet and Guarda 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.

BlueWallet and Guarda Wallet compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactBlueWalletGuarda Wallet
Editorial rating4.2 (favoured on this row)3.0
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byBlueWalletGuarda
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial on-chain, while a Lightning balance is only as self-custodial as the LNDHub server behind itself-custodial, keys generated on your device and encrypted under a password you choose
Bitcoin-onlyYesNo
Runs oniOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extension
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityTalks to public Electrum servers or one you run; Lightning needs an LNDHub server, yours or someone else'sNot stated
ReleasedBlueWallet dates itself to the 2017 fork wars; the iOS and Android apps followed2017
Countries on the maker's listNo published listNo published list
Last reviewed2026-08-252026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

BlueWallet

What works

  • Bitcoin only, open source and free, from the App Store, Google Play or a direct download
  • Genuine coin control: label and freeze individual coins, batch sends, and speed up or cancel with RBF and CPFP
  • Signs for Coldcard, Passport, Jade, Keystone and other PSBT hardware wallets, and runs watch-only so keys never touch the phone
  • Multisig vaults for larger holdings, documented step by step by the project
  • Connects to your own Electrum server, so you do not have to hand your addresses to a stranger's
  • Plausible deniability storage for a forced-disclosure situation

What to watch

  • A Lightning wallet here is an account on an LNDHub server, and whoever runs it can move those funds
  • Running your own LNDHub means a VPS or a home node, which is far past what most phone users will do
  • Lightning funds are not covered by the on-chain recovery phrase and need a separate backup
  • A hot wallet on a phone, so device malware or an unlocked screen reaches what the app can spend

Guarda Wallet

What works

  • Guarda's CEO published a dated, detailed account of the 2020 attack, including the registrar's own logs
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, a web app and a Chrome extension
  • Keys are generated locally and encrypted under your own password, and Guarda never holds them
  • Staking on 14 networks, multisig support and 24/7 live support, per Guarda's own site
  • Buying built in with cards and Apple Pay across a wide asset range

What to watch

  • The web and extension flow involves uploading your backup file, which is precisely what the 2020 phishing page was built to collect
  • The 2020 breakdown came through a domain registrar account, a dependency Guarda does not control and cannot audit
  • Third party perpetual futures and prediction markets now sit inside the wallet, which is more moving parts than holding bitcoin needs
  • The user, token and blockchain counts are Guarda's own figures, published on its own homepage
  • A hot wallet with no hardware signing of its own

Frequently asked questions

Is BlueWallet or Guarda Wallet better?

BlueWallet rates higher on our rubric: 4.2 against 3.0 for Guarda 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.

Are BlueWallet and Guarda Wallet free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: BlueWallet is self-custodial on-chain, while a Lightning balance is only as self-custodial as the LNDHub server behind it; Guarda Wallet is self-custodial, keys generated on your device and encrypted under a password you choose.

Is BlueWallet or Guarda Wallet bitcoin-only?

BlueWallet is bitcoin-only; Guarda Wallet supports other assets too. Bitcoin plus more than 70 blockchains, by Guarda's own count

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

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