Coinbase Wallet vs MetaMask

Comparing: two wallets
Decided by: Editorial rating
Last reviewed: 2026-08-26

Coinbase Wallet3.1

Coinbase's self-custody wallet is now Base App, and the product has moved its center of gravity to Base.

MetaMask3.0

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

Verdict: Coinbase Wallet

Coinbase Wallet rates higher on our rubric: 3.1 against 3.0 for MetaMask.

Criterion: Editorial rating
Coinbase Wallet: 3.1
MetaMask: 3.0

Coinbase Wallet 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.

Coinbase Wallet and MetaMask compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
Fact	Coinbase Wallet	MetaMask
Editorial rating	3.1 (favoured on this row)	3.0
Status	Available	Available
Made by	Coinbase	Consensys
Price	Free download	Free download
Who holds the keys	self-custodial, keys held on your device, unlike the custodial Coinbase.com exchange account	self-custodial, keys generated on your device from a 12 word Secret Recovery Phrase Consensys never sees
Bitcoin-only	No	No
Runs on	iOS, Android	iOS, Android, Browser extension
Screen	Not stated	Not stated
Connectivity	Not stated	Not stated
Released	2018, relaunched under the Base App name	2016
Countries on the maker's list	No published list	228
Last reviewed	2026-08-26	2026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

Coinbase Wallet

What works

Genuinely self-custodial and separate from the custodial Coinbase.com exchange account
Backed by a large listed company with a real security team and a bug bounty
Apple Pay deposits and a familiar trading interface for people already using Coinbase
Holds bitcoin alongside Ethereum, Solana and Base assets in one app

What to watch

The product has been rebranded as Base App, so most reviews and guides describe an app that no longer looks like this
Built around Base and trading rather than around bitcoin, with no Lightning and no coin control
coinbase.com/legal/wallet now returns a 404, so there is no wallet-specific terms document to read
A hot wallet on a phone, with no secure element
The May 2025 support contractor breach put real customer names and addresses in criminal hands, which fuels convincing impersonation

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 Coinbase Wallet or MetaMask better?

Coinbase Wallet rates higher on our rubric: 3.1 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 Coinbase Wallet and MetaMask free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Coinbase Wallet is self-custodial, keys held on your device, unlike the custodial Coinbase.com exchange account; MetaMask is self-custodial, keys generated on your device from a 12 word Secret Recovery Phrase Consensys never sees.

Is Coinbase Wallet or MetaMask bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. Coinbase Wallet: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Base network assets, per the app's own sign-in page. MetaMask: Ethereum and EVM networks, Solana, Monad and Sei, plus native bitcoin since December 15, 2025.

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

More comparisons

Every other head-to-head Coinbase Wallet or MetaMask appears in.