Ledger sells four hardware wallets and every one of them keeps your keys in the same certified Secure Element chip. The difference is how you interact with the device: cable or Bluetooth, buttons or touchscreen, small or large. This guide compares the Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex and Stax on the things that change your day to day use, explains what stays the same, and tells you which one we would buy for each kind of holder.
What every Ledger has in common
Each device generates and stores keys in a Secure Element rated EAL5+ or EAL6+, runs Ledger's BOLOS operating system, and works with Ledger Live on desktop and mobile. Each shows transaction details on its own screen for you to approve with buttons or a tap. Each backs up to a 24 word recovery phrase on the BIP39 standard. Each supports thousands of coins and tokens, with staking and swaps built into Ledger Live. Coin support does not differ between models; only convenience does.
Ledger Nano S Plus
The Nano S Plus is the workhorse. USB-C, a 128 by 64 pixel screen, two buttons, and room for about 100 coin apps. It has no battery and no Bluetooth, so it is used plugged into a computer or an Android phone. It is the model we sell the most of, because for someone managing crypto from a laptop it does everything the expensive models do at under $60.
Ledger Nano X
The Nano X is the Nano S Plus with a battery and Bluetooth. That makes it the only Ledger that works with the Ledger Live app on iPhone, and the one to choose if you want to check and approve from a phone without a cable. The screen and buttons are the same. The battery lasts weeks on standby and charges over USB-C. Around $99.
Ledger Flex
The Flex is a newer design with a 2.8 inch E Ink touchscreen. You type the PIN on the screen, see the full transaction at once, and can display NFT art on the lock screen. It has Bluetooth, NFC, a battery with wireless charging, and a magnetic case. The E Ink display is always on and barely uses power. For people who found the Nano's small screen frustrating, the Flex fixes it. Around $249.
Ledger Stax
The Stax is the flagship, designed with Tony Fadell's team. It is credit card sized with a curved 3.7 inch E Ink touchscreen that wraps the spine so the device name shows when it stands on a shelf, plus wireless charging and magnets so several stack together. Functionally it is a larger Flex. It is for people who want the best looking device and do not mind paying around $399 for it.
Side by side
| Nano S Plus | Nano X | Flex | Stax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | Small, buttons | Small, buttons | 2.8 inch E Ink touch | 3.7 inch curved E Ink touch |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | No | Yes | Yes, wireless charge | Yes, wireless charge |
| iPhone support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Secure Element | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Under $60 | Around $99 | Around $249 | Around $399 |
Prices are current at the time of writing; product pages show today's figure.
Which one to buy
- You manage crypto from a computer: Nano S Plus. Nothing the others add will change your security.
- You want to approve from your phone, especially an iPhone: Nano X.
- You want a screen that shows the whole transaction and a nicer object to own: Flex.
- You want the flagship: Stax.
Whichever you choose, the 24 words are the real asset. Put them on steel: the Billfodl and Cryptosteel Capsule are the two we pair with Ledger most often, and the Ledger Billfodl bundle saves a little on both.
Common questions
Is the Nano S Plus less secure than the Stax?
No. Same chip, same operating system, same backup standard. The expensive models buy convenience and a screen, not stronger security.
Can I move from a Nano to a Flex later?
Yes. Restore the same 24 words into the new device and the accounts reappear. Keep the old device as a spare or wipe it.
Which coins does each support?
All four support the same list, which covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Polygon, Avalanche and thousands of tokens. Ledger publishes the full list and it grows with each Ledger Live update.
What about the Ledger Nano S?
The original Nano S is discontinued and no longer receives new coin apps. If you have one, it still works; if you are buying, the Nano S Plus replaces it.
The Crypto Merchant has been an authorized Ledger reseller since 2017. Every device ships factory sealed from Florida with free US shipping, and our guide to setting up a Ledger covers the first 15 minutes.
