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Exodus vs Guarda Wallet

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

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: Guarda Wallet

Guarda Wallet rates higher on our rubric: 3.0 against 2.8 for Exodus.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Exodus
2.8
Guarda Wallet
3.0

Exodus 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.

Exodus and Guarda Wallet compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactExodusGuarda Wallet
Editorial rating2.83.0 (favoured on this row)
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byExodus Movement, Inc.Guarda
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial, keys generated and encrypted on your own deviceself-custodial, keys generated on your device and encrypted under a password you choose
Bitcoin-onlyNoNo
Runs oniOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extensioniOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extension
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityNot statedNot stated
Released20152017
Countries on the maker's listNo published listNo published list
Last reviewed2026-08-262026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

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

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 Exodus or Guarda Wallet better?

Guarda Wallet rates higher on our rubric: 3.0 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 Exodus and Guarda Wallet free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Exodus is self-custodial, keys generated and encrypted on your own device; Guarda Wallet is self-custodial, keys generated on your device and encrypted under a password you choose.

Is Exodus or Guarda Wallet bitcoin-only?

Neither: both support assets beyond bitcoin. Exodus: Bitcoin among the million-plus assets Exodus advertises, including Ethereum, Solana and stablecoins. Guarda Wallet: Bitcoin plus more than 70 blockchains, by Guarda's own count.

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

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