Christy Lynn
Quick answer: The best Monero (XMR) wallets in 2026 are Cake Wallet (best mobile wallet), Feather Wallet (best lightweight desktop wallet), the official Monero GUI (best for maximum privacy with your own node), and a Ledger or Trezor hardware wallet paired with Feather or Monero GUI for cold storage. Avoid keeping XMR on exchanges: several have delisted it, and Exodus ended Monero support in August 2025.
What is Monero?
Monero (XMR) is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2014. It hides the sender, receiver and amount of every transaction by default, using technologies called ring signatures, stealth addresses and RingCT. That privacy is why many exchanges have delisted it under regulatory pressure, which makes choosing a good self-custody wallet especially important.
Types of Monero wallets
- Mobile wallets: convenient for everyday use and small balances.
- Desktop wallets: more features and better privacy controls.
- Hardware wallets: keep your keys offline for long-term storage.
- Exchange accounts: not recommended for XMR, since exchanges can delist the coin or freeze withdrawals.
The best Monero wallets
1. Cake Wallet: best mobile wallet
Free, open-source and available on iOS and Android, Cake Wallet is the most popular mobile Monero wallet. It supports XMR alongside Bitcoin and other coins, with built-in exchange features. It’s the easiest place to move XMR if you used Exodus before it dropped Monero.
2. Feather Wallet: best desktop wallet
Feather is a fast, lightweight, open-source desktop wallet for Windows, macOS and Linux. It syncs quickly through remote nodes, routes traffic over Tor by default, and supports Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets.
3. Monero GUI: best for maximum privacy
The official Monero wallet from the Monero project. Running it with your own full node gives you the strongest privacy, at the cost of downloading a large blockchain (well over 100 GB).
4. Ledger: best hardware wallet option
Ledger devices support Monero when used with Monero GUI or Feather, keeping your private keys offline. Shop Ledger.
5. Trezor: best open-source hardware option
Trezor’s Safe series supports Monero with compatible desktop software, offering open-source firmware and offline key storage. Shop Trezor.
6. Monerujo: Android alternative
A long-running, open-source Android wallet dedicated to Monero, good for users who want a Monero-only app.
How to choose a Monero wallet
- Small, everyday amounts: Cake Wallet.
- Regular desktop use: Feather.
- Long-term savings: a Ledger or Trezor with Feather or Monero GUI.
- Maximum privacy: Monero GUI with your own node, connected over Tor.
Whatever you choose, write down your 25-word Monero seed (or 12/16-word seed in some wallets) on paper and store it safely. Anyone with it can take your XMR.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep Monero on an exchange?
You can, but it’s risky. Many exchanges have delisted XMR, sometimes with short notice. A self-custody wallet is safer.
What happened to Monero on Exodus?
Exodus ended Monero support in August 2025. Users can restore their funds in a compatible wallet like Cake Wallet using their Exodus recovery phrase or Monero seed.
Is Monero legal?
Owning Monero is legal in the US and most countries, but some countries restrict privacy coins and many exchanges won’t list them.
Can you mine Monero?
Yes. Monero uses the RandomX algorithm, designed to be mined with ordinary computer processors (CPUs). Learn how to buy Monero if you’d rather not mine.
