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Wasabi Wallet vs Zengo

Comparing
two wallets
Decided by
Editorial rating
Last reviewed
2026-08-25
Wasabi Wallet3.6Bitcoin-onlyWarning

Still a working bitcoin wallet, but the coinjoin coordinator that made its name was switched off by zkSNACKs on June 1, 2024.

Zengo3.4

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

Verdict: Wasabi Wallet

Wasabi Wallet rates higher on our rubric: 3.6 against 3.4 for Zengo.

Criterion
Editorial rating
Wasabi Wallet
3.6
Zengo
3.4

Wasabi Wallet 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.

Wasabi Wallet and Zengo compared fact by fact from their reviews; a check marks the side a decidable criterion favours.
FactWasabi WalletZengo
Editorial rating3.6 (favoured on this row)3.4
StatusCaution: see the reviewAvailable
Made byzkSNACKsZengo
PriceFree downloadFree download
Who holds the keysself-custodial, keys generated and stored on your own computer, never held by zkSNACKsself-custodial MPC, with no seed phrase: one secret share on your phone, one on Zengo's server, never combined
Bitcoin-onlyYesNo
Runs onWindows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android
ScreenNot statedNot stated
ConnectivityAll traffic over Tor by default, compact block filters instead of a server that learns your addresses, and hardware signing through HWI for Trezor, Coldcard, Ledger, Blockstream Jade and BitBox02Not stated
Released2018; the download page serves version 2.8.1 for Windows, macOS and Linux2018
Countries on the maker's listNo published listNo published list
Last reviewed2026-08-252026-08-25

Pros and cons, side by side

Wasabi Wallet

What works

  • Bitcoin only and open source under an MIT license, with a public repository that is still actively developed
  • Self-custodial: keys are generated and stored on your own computer, and zkSNACKs never held funds
  • Every connection runs over Tor by default, and compact block filters mean no server learns which addresses are yours
  • Hardware wallet signing through HWI for Trezor, Coldcard, Ledger, Blockstream Jade and BitBox02
  • Full coin control, transaction labeling and privacy suggestions that name who will learn about a payment
  • Coinjoin is still in the software: you add a third-party coordinator in place of the one zkSNACKs ran

What to watch

  • zkSNACKs switched off its coinjoin coordinator on June 1, 2024, so the feature Wasabi was known for no longer works out of the box
  • Choosing and vetting a third-party coordinator is now your problem, and each sets its own fees and terms
  • Desktop only: Wasabi's own site states it is not available on mobile
  • Trezor Suite coinjoin and BTCPay Server integrations that used the same coordinator broke on the same day
  • Silent payments are send-only: Wasabi cannot yet generate or receive to a silent payment address

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 Wasabi Wallet or Zengo better?

Wasabi Wallet rates higher on our rubric: 3.6 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 Wasabi Wallet and Zengo free?

Yes, both are free to download. What differs is who holds the keys: Wasabi Wallet is self-custodial, keys generated and stored on your own computer, never held by zkSNACKs; Zengo is self-custodial MPC, with no seed phrase: one secret share on your phone, one on Zengo's server, never combined.

Is Wasabi Wallet or Zengo bitcoin-only?

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

Does Wasabi Wallet or Zengo carry a warning?

Wasabi Wallet: zkSNACKs announced on May 2, 2024, days after US prosecutors charged the founders of Samourai Wallet, that it would discontinue the coinjoin coordination service behind Wasabi's headline privacy feature, and switched it off on June 1, 2024. The wallet is still developed and still works as a self-custodial, bitcoin-only desktop wallet, and coinjoin remains in the software, but you now have to find and trust a third-party coordinator to use it.

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

More comparisons

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