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Muun vs Zengo

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-25
Muun3.8Bitcoin-only

On-chain and Lightning in one balance behind a 2-of-2 multisig, backed up by an Emergency Kit file rather than twelve words.

Zengo3.4

The wallet with no seed phrase: two MPC shares replace the private key, which removes one risk and adds a dependency.

Verdict: Muun

Muun rates higher on our rubric: 3.8 against 3.4 for Zengo.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Muun
3.8
Zengo
3.4

Muun and Zengo, 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.

Muun and Zengo compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactMuunZengo
Editorial rating3.8 (favoured on this row)3.4
StatusAvailableAvailable
Made byMuunZengo
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial, a 2-of-2 multisig where your phone holds one key and your Emergency Kit holds bothself-custodial MPC, with no seed phrase: one secret share on your phone, one on Zengo's server, never combined
Bitcoin-onlyYesNo
Runs oniOS, AndroidiOS, Android
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityOne balance across on-chain and Lightning, with submarine swaps moving funds between the twoNot stated
ReleasedAnnounced for iOS in October 2019, after the Android app2018
Countries on the maker's listNo published listNo published list
Last reviewed2026-08-252026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

Muun

What works

  • One balance for on-chain and Lightning, so you never have to choose a rail before paying
  • 2-of-2 multisig means a stolen or malware-infected phone alone cannot spend your bitcoin
  • The Emergency Kit carries both keys and the output descriptors, so recovery does not depend on Muun
  • Mempool-based fee estimator, with the method published rather than asserted
  • Free, self-custodial and bitcoin only on both iOS and Android

What to watch

  • Your backup is an Emergency Kit file plus a recovery code, not twelve words you can stamp into steel
  • The newest post on Muun's blog was written days before taproot activated in November 2021
  • Payments that need a submarine swap settle on chain, and mining fees on those have surprised users
  • No coin control, no hardware wallet pairing and no way to point it at your own node

Zengo

What works

  • No seed phrase exists, so there is nothing to write down, photograph, or be tricked into typing
  • Two independently created MPC shares, one on your phone and one on Zengo's server, that are never combined
  • Three factor recovery, with a documented option to register a backup for each of the three
  • Zengo says its MPC cryptography is open source, audited and peer reviewed
  • Support is available 24/7 from inside the app, which is rare in self-custody

What to watch

  • Signing requires Zengo's server, so the wallet depends on the company staying reachable in a way a seed phrase does not
  • The wallet app itself is closed source; only the cryptography underneath it is published
  • Recovery runs through your email, your cloud account and a face scan, which is three dependencies instead of one piece of paper
  • Never hacked and 2+ million wallets are Zengo's own claims on Zengo's own homepage, with no independent confirmation
  • Mobile only, with no desktop app and no hardware signing

Frequently asked questions

Is Muun or Zengo better?

Muun rates higher on our rubric: 3.8 against 3.4 for Zengo. 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 Muun and Zengo free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Muun is self-custodial, a 2-of-2 multisig where your phone holds one key and your Emergency Kit holds both; Zengo is self-custodial MPC, with no seed phrase: one secret share on your phone, one on Zengo's server, never combined.

Is Muun or Zengo bitcoin-only?

Muun is bitcoin-only; Zengo supports other assets too. Bitcoin among 1,000+ assets, including Ethereum, Solana, TRON and stablecoins

The full reviews: Muun and Zengo, each with its sources, and every wallet we review.

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