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Edge vs Exodus

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-26
Edge3.2

Open source mobile wallet that trades the seed phrase for a username and password, and published every detail of the one time it failed.

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: Edge

Edge rates higher on our rubric: 3.2 against 2.8 for Exodus.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Edge
3.2
Exodus
2.8

Edge 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.

Edge and Exodus compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactEdgeExodus
Editorial rating3.2 (favoured on this row)2.8
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byEdgeExodus Movement, Inc.
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial, keys encrypted on your device under your password before any backup leaves itself-custodial, keys generated and encrypted on your own device
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extension
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityNot statedNot stated
Released2014 as Airbitz, relaunched as Edge2015
Countries on the maker's listNo published listNo published list
Last reviewed2026-08-262026-08-26

Pros and cons, side by side

Edge

What works

  • The source is public at github.com/EdgeApp, and the same key management is sold to other developers as an SDK
  • Username and password login, so a beginner is never handed a seed phrase to lose on day one
  • Backups are encrypted on your device, so Edge holds a blob it cannot read rather than your keys
  • A signed APK is offered for Android, so you are not dependent on Google Play
  • Buying, selling, swapping, gift cards and mobile top-ups are all built in through named partners

What to watch

  • Your password is the single thing protecting the wallet, and passwords are the secret people reuse
  • The logging routine that leaked keys was committed in 2019 and went unnoticed until a user lost money in 2023
  • The 2023 logging bug wrote unencrypted private keys into logs uploaded to Edge's servers, which cost some users real money
  • Encrypted key blobs pass through Edge's infrastructure, unlike wallets that keep everything local
  • Mobile only, hot wallet, no hardware signing and no secure element

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 Edge or Exodus better?

Edge rates higher on our rubric: 3.2 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 Edge and Exodus free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Edge is self-custodial, keys encrypted on your device under your password before any backup leaves it; Exodus is self-custodial, keys generated and encrypted on your own device.

Is Edge or Exodus bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. Edge: Bitcoin plus Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero, XRP, Dogecoin, Dash, Solana and more. Exodus: Bitcoin among the million-plus assets Exodus advertises, including Ethereum, Solana and stablecoins.

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

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