The best crypto app depends on the job. Use an exchange app to buy and sell, a wallet app to hold your own coins, and a tracker app to watch prices and your portfolio. Before you download anything, check that the app is allowed and registered where you live, because availability changes by country.
Lots of lists rank crypto apps as if one winner suits everyone. It doesn't work like that. A beginner buying a first small amount needs something different from a long-term holder who wants to keep their own keys, and different again from someone who only wants to watch the market.
So I've grouped well-known apps by what they do. I'm not recommending any coin, and the names below are there to show you what each app is known for. Do your own checks and use the regulator's register where you can.
A simple way to think about it: many people use one exchange app to buy, one wallet app to store what they want to keep for the long term, and one tracker to watch it all. You don't need all three on day one. Start with the job you need done.
Apps for buying and selling
These are exchange apps. You link a bank account or card, buy crypto and sell it again. Most hold your coins for you, so you're trusting the company with them. Not every app is available in every country, so check what's offered where you live.
Coinbase
Coinbase is a large US-based exchange known for a simple, beginner-friendly app. It's often the first one people hear about, and it's available in a number of countries.
Kraken
Kraken has been around for a long time and is known for a wide range of coins and more advanced trading tools. Newcomers can use the simple view, and keen traders often like the extra options.
Gemini
Gemini is a US exchange that's known for focusing on compliance and security. It tends to appeal to people who put regulation high on their checklist.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com is known for a feature-packed app that goes beyond trading, including a card programme in some regions. Features differ a lot by country, so look at what's offered locally.
Binance
Binance is one of the largest exchanges in the world by trading activity. Its rules and availability differ by country, and it has had regulatory attention in several places, so check whether you can use it legally where you live before you go further.
Wallets you control
A wallet app lets you hold your own keys. That means nobody else can freeze your coins, but it also means nobody can reset your access if you lose your seed phrase. Write the phrase down on paper and keep it somewhere safe and offline.
MetaMask
MetaMask is known as a browser extension and mobile wallet for Ethereum and compatible networks. It's the wallet many people use to connect to decentralised apps.
Exodus
Exodus is known for a clean, easy design and for supporting many different coins in one app, which is why newcomers often like it.
Trust Wallet
Trust Wallet is a mobile wallet that supports many networks. It's owned by Binance, but you hold your own keys in it.
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Hardware wallets: Ledger and Trezor
Ledger and Trezor make small devices that keep your keys offline, away from your phone or computer. Many people choose one for larger holdings. Buy only from the maker's own website or an authorised reseller, never from a second-hand seller.
Price and portfolio trackers
CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap
CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap are the two best-known price trackers. They show prices, market size and trading volume for thousands of coins, and both have apps. They're a good starting point when you want to see what's moving.
Delta
Delta is a portfolio tracker app. It's known for letting you follow your holdings from several exchanges and wallets in one place, without moving any money.
The best crypto apps at a glance
| App | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | Exchange | Simple buying and selling for newcomers |
| Kraken | Exchange | A wide range of coins and advanced tools |
| Gemini | Exchange | People who put compliance high on the list |
| Crypto.com | Exchange | An app with extra features beyond trading |
| Binance | Exchange | Very large exchange; check availability locally |
| MetaMask | Software wallet | Connecting to decentralised apps |
| Exodus | Software wallet | Many coins in an easy design |
| Trust Wallet | Software wallet | Mobile access to many networks |
| Ledger and Trezor | Hardware wallet | Keeping keys offline |
| CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap | Tracker | Following prices and market data |
| Delta | Tracker | Watching a portfolio in one place |
How to check an app is safe
- Check the regulator's register. In the UK, search the Financial Conduct Authority register. Elsewhere, look for your national or state regulator's list of registered crypto businesses.
- Turn on two-factor login. An authenticator app is generally safer than text messages.
- Check the publisher. The app store listing should name the real company, with a website you can verify independently.
- Test with a small withdrawal. Move a small amount in and out before you trust the app with more.
- Never share your seed phrase. No real support team will ever ask for it.
- Check what the app charges. Read the current plans on the company's own site before you deposit.
Scams that copy real apps
Fake apps with copied names and logos appear in app stores and search ads. Some send messages saying your account has a problem and ask you to click a link. Others pose as support staff in chat groups. Go to the app through the company's own website, never through a link in a message, and be wary of anyone offering free coins or promises of sure returns.
If you work in crypto and want to share what you know, here's how to write for my crypto section. If you're comparing wallets, this guide to wallet features is a helpful next read.
Make a crypto app? See how to get it featured on this list.
This is general information, not financial advice. Check the details with a qualified, regulated professional before you decide anything.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an exchange app and a wallet app?
An exchange app lets you buy and sell crypto and usually holds it for you. A wallet app lets you hold crypto yourself, with keys that you control. Many people use an exchange to buy and a wallet to store.
Is it safe to keep crypto on an exchange?
It carries risk, because the exchange controls access to your coins and can be hacked or fail. Some people only keep on an exchange what they plan to trade soon. Think about what you'd be comfortable losing and read the exchange's own safety information.
Do I need a hardware wallet?
Not everyone does. A hardware wallet keeps your keys offline, which many people prefer for larger holdings. For a small amount you're only learning with, a reputable software wallet may be enough. The choice is yours.
How do I know if a crypto app is a scam?
Check that it's registered or authorised where you live, that the publisher name matches the real company, and that it never asks for your seed phrase. Test a small withdrawal before you trust it with more.
