Which is the Better Hardware Wallet for Beginners?

[alastantiger]

Hello, between Jade and Cold Card, do you think that Jade is more for beginners than the Cold Card? To make a definitive statement, do you think one of those two wallets is better than the other and, if so, why? For those who have used them, what are the pros and cons of both wallets? I am thinking of purchasing one of those two products but am undecided on which to choose. I’m not sure what constitutes a “beginner” as I am yet to have any experience with using hardware wallets. I am looking for something that is beginner friendly. I just don’t want to make a purchase and then come to wish I had purchased the other product. Thanks.

[Meuserna]

Absolutely, Jade.

Both are great in terms of security, but ColdCard is much less user friendly, especially for a first hardware wallet.

[Pmalek]

To be completely honest, I wouldn't consider either of them as beginner-friendly. But if I was forced to choose, I would say Blockstream Jade is more beginner friendly.

The Coldcard is an airgapped wallet. More precisely, it's an offline signer that requires that you import a previously created unsigned transaction from a companion wallet, sign it, export it, and broadcast it through an online wallet. This isn't difficult to learn, but is still slightly more complicated than how a Trezor functions, for example. With a traditional hardware wallet, you create and broadcast transactions on the same device. Coldcard will require that you export and import the master public keys into a hot wallet you will later use for transaction broadcasting.

I prefer the Jade because of its stateless signing capability. It can reset itself after each use, removing all keys from it when you turn it of. Before usage, you can import those same keys with a SeedQR code. The Jade is also cheaper than the Coldcard, and it's open-source. Coldcard is source-verifiable. I think the Coldcard is a better built product while the Jade looks cheapish.   

[Yamane_Keto]

Blockstream Jade is easier and can be used with Green wallet which has a more-friendly UI compared to Coldcard CMD interface.

Coldcard is more secure because it contains a secure element, but since both can be used as an air-gapped wallet and Blockstream Jade, where the QR can be scanned using the camera instead of the SD card, Jade can also be considered safer and easier.
In short, Jade will win.

[headingnorth]

Coldcard for beginners? Are you joking? It is definitely not for beginners.

For beginners I would recommend the Trezor Safe 3 setup in bitcoin only mode. Once you become very good at using the Trezor then you can move up to the Passport or Jade.
But Passport is much better for ease of use but still has all the advanced features of the Coldcard and Jade.

I wouldn't mess around with airgapped devices if you are a beginner which is why the Trezor is better for beginners IMO.
Only use Coldcard if you are a software engineer or very tech savvy unless you want to drive yourself nuts learning to use it.

Another advantage of Jade is the low price of $50 much cheaper than the others. Trezor is the next lowest at $70.

 

[satscraper]

Coldcard for beginners? Are you joking? It is definitely not for beginners.

For beginners I would recommend the Trezor Safe 3
 

Jade has  the one undeniable advantage in comparison with Trezor Safe 3. Contrary to the latter Jade can be paired with the software counterpart via QR code which makes it a fully air-gapped device that doesn't require physical connection to online machine. Thus I would cast my vote for Jade if the case is what to choose for beginner, Jade or Coldcard.
 

[Pmalek]

Only use Coldcard if you are a software engineer or very tech savvy unless you want to drive yourself nuts learning to use it.

That's a bit too much. You don't need to be a software engineer to use it. I am not, and I could easily figure it out if I was interested in buying one. You have tutorials online and a bunch of YouTube videos to help you.

Another advantage of Jade is the low price of $50 much cheaper than the others.

Jade costs €62 or around $65. The shipping is not included. If you want to have it shipped and delivered outside of North America from the official store, you are looking at an additional €20-30 + customs and import tax (if applicable) at the destination country. There are 10% discount codes one could use to lower the price slightly.

Jade has  the one undeniable advantage in comparison with Trezor Safe 3. Contrary to the latter Jade can be paired with the software counterpart via QR code which makes it a fully air-gapped device that doesn't require physical connection to online machine.

This is correct, but just to add to what you said. You have to connect it via USB cable or Bluetooth to the Blockstream Green software wallet during the initial installation. That's how you install the firmware. After that, you can work it with QR codes.

Btw, I have never looked into how the Jade's battery is charged. I assume with the supplied charging and data cable that comes in the package. In that case, that's another connection to internet-connected machines.   

[alastantiger]

To be completely honest, I wouldn't consider either of them as beginner-friendly. But if I was forced to choose, I would say Blockstream Jade is more beginner friendly.

I prefer the Jade because of its stateless signing capability. It can reset itself after each use, removing all keys from it when you turn it of. Before usage, you can import those same keys with a SeedQR code. The Jade is also cheaper than the Coldcard, and it's open-source. Coldcard is source-verifiable. I think the Coldcard is a better built product while the Jade looks cheapish.  

The option with the most recommendations is the Jade. It sounds more beginner friendly for a person with moderate familiarity with Bitcoin. I am choosing because of its ease of setup, and it is priced reasonably and within my budget as I do not want to invest heavily in a hardware wallet initially. My plan is to start with Jade and then upgrade to the Coldcard as i grow and advances in my understanding and involvement with Bitcoin  

[Yamane_Keto]

Btw, I have never looked into how the Jade's battery is charged. I assume with the supplied charging and data cable that comes in the package. In that case, that's another connection to internet-connected machines.   

You can purchase https://store.blockstream.com/products/non-data-transfer-cable-set if you are skeptical although I think you can easily cut the data wires from any USB-C cable.

[Pmalek]

My plan is to start with Jade and then upgrade to the Coldcard as i grow and advances in my understanding and involvement with Bitcoin

Starting with Jade isn't a bad idea, but if you want my advice, and I think many other users would agree, I would say that your upgrade should be towards the Foundation Passport instead of the Coldcard. Both are pretty pricey and ship from North America, and you should take that into consideration when you make your decision. I prefer buying such devices from the official shops, but know that you will pay a premium for that depending on where you live. 

[Meuserna]

Btw, I have never looked into how the Jade's battery is charged. I assume with the supplied charging and data cable that comes in the package. In that case, that's another connection to internet-connected machines.   

Jade charges via USB.

Plug it in using one of those USB power adapter plugs to use an electric outlet instead.  No internet-connected machine required.  I keep one of those in my travel bag for devices that charge via USB.

[DesmondHayes]

Hello, between Jade and Cold Card, do you think that Jade is more for beginners than the Cold Card? To make a definitive statement, do you think one of those two wallets is better than the other and, if so, why? For those who have used them, what are the pros and cons of both wallets? I am thinking of purchasing one of those two products but am undecided on which to choose. I’m not sure what constitutes a “beginner” as I am yet to have any experience with using hardware wallets. I am looking for something that is beginner friendly. I just don’t want to make a purchase and then come to wish I had purchased the other product. Thanks.

If you prioritize ease of use and a more intuitive interface, Jade Wallet might be the better option for you as a beginner. However, if you prioritize advanced security features and affordability, Coldcard could be the preferred choice. Ultimately, the "better" option depends on your specific needs and preferences.

[headingnorth]

The reason why I like the Trezor is because it offers the best mix of solid security and user-friendliness for the beginner, with very low price.

The Safe 3 model has a secure element that is EAL certified and is fully open source. You can't go wrong with a brand like Trezor
that sold the first hardware wallet ever made and practically created the industry, so they have more experience than anyone.

I have used the older Trezor One for many years and now use both Trezor and Coldcard. But the Coldcard is not for beginners and is not cheap.
My first hardware wallet was a Ledger Nano S but it had very limited and poor support for passphrases which is why later I replaced it with a Trezor.

I don't have any personal experience with the Jade so cannot say how beginner friendly it is but it also sounds like a good choice.

The Trezor is fantastic for user-friendliness with great support for passphrases. The Ledger is also very beginner-friendly but I stopped  using it
when I started accumulating larger amounts of bitcoin because it is not open source. The only thing I don't like about Trezor devices are their support for altcoins
but they allow you to disable that feature and make it bitcoin only.

[satscraper]

Jade has  the one undeniable advantage in comparison with Trezor Safe 3. Contrary to the latter Jade can be paired with the software counterpart via QR code which makes it a fully air-gapped device that doesn't require physical connection to online machine.

This is correct, but just to add to what you said. You have to connect it via USB cable or Bluetooth to the Blockstream Green software wallet during the initial installation. That's how you install the firmware. After that, you can work it with QR codes.

Btw, I have never looked into how the Jade's battery is charged. I assume with the supplied charging and data cable that comes in the package. In that case, that's another connection to internet-connected machines.   

Yeah, you are correct. Unfortunately one can't  avoid it  connection to Green software wallet at the initial installation.

Regarding the charging. I guess Jade can be charged using either  standard wall chargers (used for instance to charge mobiles) or  even power banks. Thus, charging can be performed without connection to any machine.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

If you prioritize ease of use and a more intuitive interface, Jade Wallet might be the better option for you as a beginner. However, if you prioritize advanced security features and affordability, Coldcard could be the preferred choice. Ultimately, the "better" option depends on your specific needs and preferences.

A'ight, I'm just gonna drop this: the above reads like something an AI program would write, but maybe that's just my paranoia talking.

I swear before I clicked on this thread I thought I was going to see "Ledger vs. [whatever]" but was pleasantly surprised that this is a Ledger-free conversation.

Though I've never used either of the HW wallets in question, I did research each of them prior to flushing my Nano X down the toilet.  I almost bought the Jade but then decided the Bitbox02 I already had was going to suit my needs just fine.  I'd still love to play around with one, because they look really neat--in internet pictures at least.  I did read Pmalek's comment:

I think the Coldcard is a better built product while the Jade looks cheapish.   

I don't know if they look cheapish in hand or not, but I'd still go for one of them over a Coldcard if I was a beginner and those were the only two choices.

[Pmalek]

However, if you prioritize advanced security features and affordability, Coldcard could be the preferred choice.

I personally wouldn't put the Coldcard in the affordable category. The Mk4 model costs $158. If you buy it with bitcoin, then you can get a 5% discount. The upcoming Coldcard Q1 was $200 as a pre-order, but this model is still not out for general sale.

My first hardware wallet was a Ledger Nano S but it had very limited and poor support for passphrases which is why later I replaced it with a Trezor.

What was the problem with the passphrase feature of the Nano S. Ledger allows you to access the passphrase-protected accounts in two ways: You can either enter the entire passphrase or connect the passphrase to a secondary PIN. So the next time you unlock your Ledger, you enter the second PIN instead of the primary one. Which option did you use?

I don't know if they look cheapish in hand or not, but I'd still go for one of them over a Coldcard if I was a beginner and those were the only two choices.

Me too. But we get a lot of complaints on the build quality of hardware wallets on this forum. And people are generally not very careful, even with more expensive items like smartphones. The Jade doesn't look to me like a sturdy-enough unit to withstand everyday use. And the price gives it away. 

[dkbit98]

Hello, between Jade and Cold Card, do you think that Jade is more for beginners than the Cold Card? To make a definitive statement, do you think one of those two wallets is better than the other and, if so, why?

It depends what you want, but I would never buy coldcard.
Jade is smaller and cheaper open source device, it is airgapped, but it doesn have physical secure element and it is a bit harder to enter characters with few buttons.
Another advantage for Jade is support for Liquid Network assets L-BTC, L-USDT, etc. that can be very handy when bitcoin fees are high.
Coldcard is bigger, more expensive, it is NOT open source, and I believe that owner NVK is mentally unstable and he can't stand any constructive criticism.
There is a whole graveyard of discontinued coldcard devices, so I don't expect mk3 and mk4 to be supported in near future.

You can compare wallets and find pros and cons in THIS website.

[Pmalek]

Jade is smaller and cheaper open source device, it is airgapped, but it doesn have physical secure element and it is a bit harder to enter characters with few buttons.

The lack of a secure element is one of its disadvantages. But it can also be an advantage, depending on how you look at things. People who are too worried about security can't be calm knowing that all secure elements are closed-source chips that require the users to sign NDAs, preventing them from revealing anything they discover from using such chips. The Jade makes up for the lack of secure element with its stateless signing option.

I am not a fan of the Jade's controller either. It's like a left and right-scrolling little joystick with a button to confirm actions. When entering your seed for instance, you'll have to move in an alphabetical order either up or down until you find the letter you want.

Another advantage for Jade is support for Liquid Network assets L-BTC, L-USDT, etc. that can be very handy when bitcoin fees are high.

It depends. If you already own the liquid bitcoin asset, it's a plus. If not, you'll have to make an on-chain transaction and pay high fees to swap your real BTC for L-BTC.

[dkbit98]

The lack of a secure element is one of its disadvantages. But it can also be an advantage, depending on how you look at things.

They have virtual secure element that works similar like real physical chip and you don't have to trust other vendors, while keeping everything open source.

It depends. If you already own the liquid bitcoin asset, it's a plus. If not, you'll have to make an on-chain transaction and pay high fees to swap your real BTC for L-BTC.

Well obviously, it's the same thing for Lightning, you can't even sell or move your Bitcoin anywhere without paying fees, so don't do it if you don't want to.
And the main point is that you have the option to choose swap from L-BTC, L-USDT and LN to BTC, not so much the other way around.

[Pmalek]

They have virtual secure element that works similar like real physical chip and you don't have to trust other vendors, while keeping everything open source.

Yes, Blockstream's virtual secure element gets activated if you use the Jade as a standard hardware wallet with a seed onboard the device and an active PIN. If the Jade is used in its stateless signing capacity, then you have no contact with the virtual secure element, and you don't need to.