Ledger Nano S Plus

Overview

The Ledger Nano S Plus is one of the most popular entry-level Bitcoin hardware wallets, and it earns that spot by doing the fundamentals well at a low price. It keeps your private keys inside a certified secure element chip, isolated from your internet-connected computer or phone, and signs transactions on-device so your keys never leave. You confirm every send on its small screen and physical buttons, which defends against malware that would otherwise swap addresses behind your back.

Compared to its predecessor, the original Nano S, the S Plus adds a bigger screen, more memory for installing multiple coin apps at once, and a modern USB-C port. Against the pricier Nano X, the trade-off is simple: you lose Bluetooth and the built-in battery, but you keep the same secure element and support for thousands of coins.

The honest caveat is that Ledger's firmware is closed-source. You are trusting Ledger's code and its secure element vendor, and the company's 2023 'Ledger Recover' announcement alarmed many users even though it is opt-in. If verifiable open-source firmware is a hard requirement, look at a Trezor Safe 3 or BitBox02 instead. But if you want a cheap, well-supported, broadly compatible cold-storage device from a company that has shipped millions of units, the Nano S Plus is a sensible first hardware wallet.