Today, in this MetaMask wallet review, I'm going to tell you about an exciting piece of crypto tech. We'll talk about where it came from, what it does, and how it works. I'm also going to tell you what you need to know to get started.
I’ll be asking all the important questions like, is MetaMask safe and what can I use it for? When you finish reading, you'll know exactly how to use MetaMask and, more importantly, whether or not you want to use it!
On top of that, I'll also tell you about some awesome integrations that you can perform with the MetaMask wallet (hint: they have to do with the Ledger devices), as well as mention a few of the best alternatives that you can check out, as well.
The first question that needs to be answered in this MetaMask wallet review is - what is a wallet, in the first place?
Carlos Diaz
PhD Researcher in Business Innovation at RMIT University
How do you see the role of crypto wallets developing beyond their current functionality?
Beyond the discussion on the breaches to the security of hot and cold wallets, I see the progressive massification of crypto wallets as entry points to the Web3 environment. Within this environment, cryptocurrency tokens, as well as energy, supply-chain, real-state and many other sectors tokenizing their processes, will require user-friendly wallets to ease processes.
Pros
- Open-source
- Private keys kept on the browser
- Easy to use
- Used to access the Ethereum blockchain
- Integrations with Ledger devices
Cons
- A "hot" wallet - security concerns
- Only supports Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens
Table of Contents
MetaMask Wallet Review: What are Cryptocurrency Wallets?
Some people think that crypto wallets store cryptocurrencies. This makes sense, because that's how the wallet in your pocket works. Unfortunately, it's not true. Instead, cryptocurrency wallets simply store information about cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrencies only exist on huge databases called ledgers. These ledgers are a record of all the cryptocurrency transactions ever made. The most popular kind of cryptocurrency ledger is called a blockchain.
Want to know more about blockchain tech? Check out our "Blockchain Explained" guide.
Don't confuse the term "ledger" with the company of the same name. Ledger is a hardware crypto wallet provider - the company deals in some of the most reliable and trusted hardware crypto wallet devices in the industry!
Cryptocurrency can be moved around a blockchain, but it can never leave it. You can't withdraw all your coins and take them home! Users move their cryptocurrency around the blockchain using public and private keys. This is the information that's stored in crypto wallets. Let's have a quick look at the difference between public and private keys:
- Public keys can be seen by anyone. They work in a similar way to your email address. When someone wants to send you cryptocurrency, they will send it to your public key.
- Private keys shouldn't be seen by anyone but you. If your public keys are like an email address, then your private keys are like the password. How do you prove that an email address is yours? You have the password!
Private keys are the only way of proving ownership of cryptocurrencies. This is why it's so important that they are stored safely where no one can get access to them! There are several different kinds of wallets available - let's lay them out further on in the MetaMask wallet review.
Wallet Types
Hardware wallets
They are removable storage devices like USB sticks. They are very safe, but can be expensive. They are a form of cold storage as they keep your private keys offline. Some of the best hardware wallets include the Ledger Nano X, as well as the Trezor Model T.
Web wallets
They can be used on lots of different devices, but are at risk of being attacked by hackers. Online wallets are known as hot storage. A popular pick is the Binance hot wallet.
Desktop wallets
They are installed directly onto your computer. They can only be used on the computer they're installed on. They are safer than web wallets, but not as safe as hardware wallets or paper wallets.
Paper wallets
They are pieces of paper with your keys printed on them. They are very safe, just don't spill coffee on them! Again, another form of cold storage as your private key is stored offline.
It’s strongly recommended that you always use more than one kind of wallet to store your cryptocurrency information. If one fails, gets hacked or goes missing, then at least you’ll have a backup! So, what kind of wallet is MetaMask?
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What is MetaMask?
MetaMask is a cryptocurrency wallet which can be used on the Chrome, Firefox and Brave browsers. It's also a browser extension. This means that it works like a bridge between normal browsers and the Ethereum blockchain.
The Ethereum blockchain is a network where users can build their own apps (which are called dApps) and cryptocurrencies. Ethereum also allows its users to write transaction guidelines called smart contracts. MetaMask can be used to store keys for Ethereum crypto tokens only.
The cryptocurrency of Ethereum is called Ether. Other cryptocurrencies built on the Ethereum blockchain are called tokens. Most of the tokens built on the Ethereum blockchain are called ERC-20 tokens because they follow the rules that Ethereum developers have set out for creating new cryptocurrencies.
So, the MetaMask wallet can be used for storing keys for Ether and ERC-20 tokens on three different web browsers. It also allows users to browse the Ethereum blockchain from a standard browser.
As you might have gathered already, there are certain quirks that MetaMask has, inheritly. One of the major of these quirks is the fact that you can only store Ethereum and ETH-related tokens on the wallet. Sure, this includes things such as ERC-721 tokens, too (in other words - NFTs), but it still limits you to but a single cryptocurrency.
Many other major wallets out there are going to provide their users with the ability to store a wide variety of coins and tokens. Think of the aforementioned Ledger Nano X, for example - the wallet lets you store around 1800 different cryptos, with Ethereum being just one of them!
| LEDGER NANO X | METAMASK | |
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| Hardware | Software | |
| Best for Safely Storing, Sending, and Receiving Different Cryptocurrencies | Best for storing Small Amounts of Cryptocurrency | |
| All Ledger Nano X Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Wallets | |
| One of the best hardware cryptocurrency wallets ever made. | An attention-worthy hot wallet for Ethereum, but there are better options around. | |
| Visit site | See TOP10 Brands |
|---|
Table: Some general information on the Ledger Nano X and MetaMask cryptocurrency wallets
On top of that, MetaMask integrates with the Ledger devices in a seemless manner. This is wonderful if you want to collect and view the aforementioned NFTs, on the Ethereum blockchain. Ledger guarantees security, while MetaMask acts as the user interface in which you can view you tokens. Good stuff!
What other features does MetaMask have? And are they any good? To find out, we’ll continue with the MetaMask wallet review, and first focus on the good stuff.
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MetaMask: The Good Stuff
So - the good stuff. Here are some of the key benefits often mentioned in user MetaMask wallet reviews:
- Open-source: This means that all the MetaMask code is online and free and available to access. You can build your own version at home! I’m kidding, don’t do that. I mean, you could, but don’t. Open-source software can be reviewed and updated by the community, meaning that it can be continuously improved. An even better example than MetaMask in this case would be the Trezor hardware wallets. Both the Trezor One, as well as the Trezor Model T are open-source - you can audit and inspect the code behind their software at any point in time!
- HD settings: Hierarchical deterministic settings help users back up their accounts. They do this by giving the user a list of words called seed phrases. Seed phrases can be used to reset lost account information.
- Built-in coin purchasing: MetaMask links directly with two exchanges where users can buy cryptocurrency. Users can select Coinbase to purchase Ether and ShapeShift to buy Ether or ERC-20 tokens. Admittedly, Coinbase would likely be the more-popular choice in this regard, for sure.
- Customer support: MetaMask wants to get as many people involved with the Ethereum network as it can. It has a video introduction on its homepage, and a detailed support page.
- Simple interface: Once it’s set up, MetaMask is very simple to use - this is a sentiment echoed by other user MetaMask wallet reviews, too. All of its features are laid out clearly so sending and receiving currency is easy, even for beginners - the same can be true about integrating MetaMask with the aforementioned Ledger wallets, too!
- Local key storage: Some wallet providers store keys on their own servers. This is common on exchanges that provide wallets, like Binance. MetaMask keys are stored on the user’s own browser, not on any remote servers. This gives the user more control over their public and private keys, but is also often much more dangerous, security-wise.
- Community: MetaMask is an important part of the Ethereum community. It’s got more than a million active users and has over 835.000 followers on Twitter.
That’s a lot of good stuff! How about the bad stuff?
MetaMask: The Bad Stuff
Not everything is perfect with the tool in question, though, and it would be an incomprehensive MetaMask wallet review if we didn't mention some of its most-notable shortcomings.
- Browser access: MetaMask doesn’t have access to any of your information, but the browser it’s installed on will. Your browser won’t have access to your private codes, but it may collect information about when and how you use the app. Mozilla and Google aren’t very popular in the crypto community. Many crypto users will feel uncomfortable allowing these companies to collect information about them. This may stop some potential users from trying the MetaMask wallet, and turning to some of the more-secure alternatives.
- Online: Online wallets have advantages and disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is security. Any information that’s stored online is more at risk from hackers than information that’s stored offline. MetaMask doesn’t provide enough security by itself. Remember, always use more than one kind of wallet, with one of them being a hardware device!
- Only for Ethereum and ETH-based tokens: One of the biggest cons that are apparent when using MetaMask is the fact that the wallet in question only stores Ethereum, and Ethereum-based tokens (ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-1150). Meaning, you aren't able to store any other cryptocurrencies on the wallet - not ideal! This is especially notable when you take into account that there are multiple high-end wallets out there that support a wide list of cryptocurrencies and token. This is true both in regards to cold wallets, as well as hot ones, too.
Now you know a little bit about what user are talking about in their MetaMask wallet reviews. How does it compare to other Ethereum wallets, though? Let’s check out MetaMask vs MyEtherWallet.
MetaMask VS MyEtherWallet
MyEtherWallet is one of the most widely used Ethereum wallets. It’s an online platform, but isn’t an online-only wallet. Think of MyEtherWallet more as a wallet generator. It’s a platform where users can create their own wallets and get access to the Ethereum blockchain. Users can view their cryptocurrencies which are held within any Ethereum private key using MEW.
The wallet's users create to give them complete control of their keys. They can be used as hot or cold storage. MetaMask can only be used for hot storage. MyEtherWallet can also be used as a full node wallet. This means that it’s connected directly to the Ethereum blockchain and stores the whole ledger on your device.
MetaMask communicates with the Ethereum ledger through a system called Infura. This means that it trusts other computers to keep it up to date with the Ethereum network. Full node systems are generally preferred to systems that involve trusting middlemen like Infura.
MyEtherWallet can even be used access to write smart contracts, whereas MetaMask cannot. So, is MyEtherWallet better than Metamask? In some ways, it is, however, both platforms are flexible enough to be used together. When combined, the two systems offer an impressive wallet package.
So, don’t think of it as MetaMask VS MyEtherWallet, as they’re on the same team!
At the same time, it's also evident that both wallets fall in comparison to hardware devices. No matter if you would choose to use MyEtherWallet or MetaMask, you would still need to install them as separate software on your device. This opens up a lot of opportunities for your crypto assets to be compromised.
| LEDGER NANO X | TREZOR MODEL T | |
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| 24-word Recovery Phrase or Nano S Plus | 12-24 letter and number code | |
| You | You | |
| Visit site | Visit site |
|---|
Table: The security features of the Ledger Nano X and the Trezor Model T hardware cryptocurrency wallets
With cold storage, though, your assets are kept offline. This is why hardware wallets such as the Ledger Nano X and the Trezor Model T are usually mentioned as some of the best alternatives, security- and functionality-wise.
Now, let’s get back to the actual MetaMask wallet review. Next, I want to talk about the MetaMask wallet safety.
MetaMask Security
There’s one very important question you should ask yourself when you’re deciding whether or not to download the wallet after reading this MetaMask review: is MetaMask safe?
MetaMask hasn’t suffered any major hacks. It uses HD backup settings and has a strong community of developers updating its open-source code. However, the wallet is online, so it’s more at risk than hardware wallets and other forms of cold storage.
| COINBASE | METAMASK | |
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| Seed Phrase | Secret Recovery Phrase | |
| You | You | |
| Visit site | See TOP10 Brands |
|---|
Table: The security features of the Coinbase Wallet and MetaMask
The most common risk facing the MetaMask wallet are phishing attacks. A phishing attack is a scam hackers use to steal personal information like usernames and passwords.
A phishing attack on a MetaMask wallet would work something like this:
|
Gene is working on his laptop with several tabs open in his browser. He unlocks his MetaMask wallet to make a transaction. An attacker uses the open tabs to see that Gene is using MetaMask. The attacker sends Gene a pop-up message saying that his transaction has failed. This happens sometimes, so Gene isn’t worried. He enters his password to remake the transaction. The attacker now has access to Gene’s wallet. |
This kind of attack is quite common with online wallets. MetaMask is working on patches for this kind of problem, but users are responsible for their own safety, so take care! When using MetaMask, only use one tab at a time to make transactions, and keep the wallet locked when you’re not using it.
So, is MetaMask safe? The answer here is a nervous yes. Online wallets are only as secure as their users. So, if you’re illegally streaming episodes of Game of Thrones with an open MetaMask wallet and your Ether disappears, don’t say I didn’t warn you!
On the flip side, hardware wallets do have some extra layers of security - everything from custom PIN codes, all the way to advanced features to keep your assets safe.
Now that we’ve had a serious chat about browser safety, let’s get to the more-fun parts of this MetaMask wallet review - namely, how to set up MetaMask, and how to use MetaMask.
Setting up MetaMask
1. You need one of the three browsers I mentioned earlier. Open the browser of your choice up.
2. Go to the MetaMask homepage and add the extension for whichever browser you’re using.
3. A Metamask icon will appear in your browser. Click on the fox icon to open the app.
4. Next, click on "Create New Vault" and set a strong password.
5. You’ll now be shown your 12 seed phrases. Write these down and keep them somewhere safe. This is extremely important!
6. When you’ve done this, click on "I’ve copied it somewhere safe".
That’s it! You’re now the proud owner of a MetaMask wallet. Are you ready to start using it? Let's continue our MetaMask wallet review by discussing how to use the tool.
How to use MetaMask?
Buying and sending Ether and ERC-20 tokens using MetaMask is quick and easy.
1. To buy Ether or tokens, click on "Buy" and choose either Coinbase or Shapeshift to fund your account.
2. To send Ether and ERC-20 tokens, simply click "Send", enter the address where you want to send it, and also the amount. Then confirm the transaction by clicking "Accept".
Now you know how to use MetaMask, you can also buy, send and receive Ether and ERC tokens with ease. That’s not all MetaMask can do, though. Before you go I want to show you a few other ways that you can use your new MetaMask wallet.
Exploring Ethereum with MetaMask
What is MetaMask best at? Well, judging by user MetaMask wallet reviews, the best thing about this tool is the fact that you can explore the dApps of the Ethereum blockchain with it. For crypto newbies, it’s a great introduction to the blockchain because you’ll be using a browser that you’re comfortable with.
One dApp that is often used with MetaMask is MyEtherWallet, which I spoke about in the "MetaMask VS MyEtherWallet" section. So, what other dApps can you explore with MetaMask?
- CryptoKitties is a dApp where you can design and trade cartoon kittens. It’s probably the most well-known dApp on the Ethereum network. Creating adorable CryptoKitties is made easy with MetaMask, and so is selling them for a fat profit!
- Digital art is becoming more popular. Auctions are held where users can buy and sell unique collectibles. Blockchain technology allows artists to produce work that can’t be copied. With MetaMask, you could be bidding on a blockchain Banksy in no time!
- Blockchain arcades are being built where gamers can use Ether and tokens to enter video game tournaments. Sites like Etherplay require a MetaMask login to join the fun.
There you have it - these are some of the more popular dApps that some user MetaMask wallet reviews mention and generally talk about.
- Can be managed from mobile device
- Very secure
- Supports more than 5500 cryptocurrencies
- Top-tier security
- DeFi app support
- Store over 5500 assets, install up to 100 apps simultaneously
- Multiple cryptocurrency support
- Very secure
- SegWit and Bech32 address support
Conclusions
MetaMask is an important part of the Ethereum network. It allows crypto newbies to take their first steps into the world of blockchain. Its function as a wallet is secondary to its role as a bridge into Ethereum.
As a wallet, MetaMask is the perfect partner for a product like the Ledger Nano X. I don’t think MetaMask has strong enough security features on its own. I would only recommend storing small amounts of cryptocurrency in a MetaMask wallet. Better yet, you should use a hardware wallet for all of your storage needs, and use MetaMask as an interface where you'd manage those stored assets.
| LEDGER NANO X | METAMASK | |
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| Hardware | Software | |
| Best for Safely Storing, Sending, and Receiving Different Cryptocurrencies | Best for storing Small Amounts of Cryptocurrency | |
| All Ledger Nano X Coupons | See All Coupons of Best Wallets | |
| One of the best hardware cryptocurrency wallets ever made. | An attention-worthy hot wallet for Ethereum, but there are better options around. | |
| Visit site | See TOP10 Brands |
|---|
Table: MetaMask compared to the Ledger Nano X
The best way to use Metamask is as a store for the coins you need to enjoy Ethereum dApps. Think of it like a bag of change you can take to the arcade or to the funfair. Take enough to have a great time but no more than you can afford to lose!
I hope you’re ready to give MetaMask a try. If you're uncertain, though, and would like to try out some more-reliable crypto wallets, you can check out a list of them here.
The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.
About Article's Experts & Analysts
- + Open-source
- + Private keys kept on the browser
- + Easy to use
- + Used to access the Ethereum blockchain
- + Integrations with Ledger devices
- - A "hot" wallet - security concerns
- - Only supports Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens
See BETTER-RATED Wallets
An attention-worthy hot wallet for Ethereum, but there are better options around.
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