Trezor made the first hardware wallet in 2014 and still runs the most open operation in the business: every line of firmware is published, and the company has never had a customer data breach. It now sells four devices, and the names do not make the differences obvious. This guide explains what Trezor is, how the Model One, Model T, Safe 3 and Safe 5 differ, what Trezor Suite does, and which one to buy for which kind of person.
What makes Trezor different
Three things. The firmware and the desktop software are fully open source, so independent researchers can and do audit them. The company, SatoshiLabs in Prague, has been consistent for over a decade. And Trezor pioneered features the rest of the industry copied: the passphrase, which hides accounts behind an extra word, and Shamir backup, which splits a recovery phrase into shares so no single piece of paper or steel is a point of failure.
The trade off, historically, was the lack of a Secure Element chip. Trezor argued that closed chips cannot be audited. The Safe range changed that in 2023 by adding a Secure Element while keeping the firmware open, which is the best of both approaches.
The four devices
Trezor Model One
The Model One is the original, updated over the years, with two buttons, a small monochrome screen and a micro USB port. No Secure Element, no touchscreen. It supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, ERC-20 tokens and most major coins, but not Cardano, Solana, Monero or XRP. At under $30 it is the cheapest way off an exchange, and for a modest holding it is far safer than a software wallet.
Trezor Model T
The Model T added a color touchscreen, USB-C, a microSD slot and support for many more coins including Cardano, Solana and Monero. Still no Secure Element. Its price has dropped since the Safe range launched, which makes it a good buy for someone who wants a touchscreen and will use a passphrase. We have a full Model T review.
Trezor Safe 3
The Safe 3 is the modern entry model: two buttons, a small screen, USB-C, and a Secure Element for the first time at this price. Coin support matches the Model T. It is the Trezor we recommend to most people, and at around $79 it is the best security per dollar in the range.
Trezor Safe 5
The Safe 5 is the flagship: a larger color touchscreen with haptic feedback, a Secure Element, and the same open firmware. It is the nicest Trezor to use every day, especially if you type a passphrase often. It costs around $169.
Side by side
| Model One | Model T | Safe 3 | Safe 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Element | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Screen | Mono, buttons | Color touch | Mono, buttons | Color touch, haptic |
| Port | Micro USB | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Cardano, Solana, Monero | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shamir backup | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Under $30 | Around $59 | Around $79 | Around $169 |
Prices are current at the time of writing; product pages show today's figure.
Trezor Suite
Trezor Suite is the desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, with a mobile companion for viewing balances. It manages accounts, sends and receives, updates firmware, and includes a built in exchange, Tor routing, coin control for Bitcoin and the option to connect to your own node. It is clean and fast. Third party wallets such as MetaMask, Electrum, Sparrow and Exodus also connect to Trezor devices directly.
Trezor or Ledger?
Ledger's devices all have a Secure Element and Ledger Live has broader native chain support, staking and a mobile app with Bluetooth on the Nano X. Trezor is fully open source, supports Monero, and has the stronger backup features. The security of a Safe 3 and a Nano S Plus is comparable for any realistic threat. Choose Trezor if openness matters to you or you want Shamir backup; choose Ledger if you want the deepest software and phone use. Our best hardware wallets guide covers both ranges side by side.
Which Trezor should you buy?
- Small holding, tight budget, mainstream coins: Model One.
- Want a touchscreen cheaply and will set a passphrase: Model T.
- Most people: Safe 3.
- Want the best Trezor and plan to keep it for years: Safe 5.
Add the Trezor Keep Metal for the recovery words. The Crypto Merchant has been an authorized Trezor reseller since 2017; every device ships factory sealed from Florida with free US shipping and 30 day returns on unopened items.
