MetaMask vs Trust Wallet vs Phantom (2026): Which Software Wallet?

Verdict: MetaMask is the default self-custody wallet for Ethereum and EVM apps, with the broadest hardware-wallet and browser support. Trust Wallet suits people who hold dozens of chains mostly on mobile, but its December 2025 extension incident is a serious mark. Phantom is the best fit for Solana users and now also covers Bitcoin, Ethereum and Polygon. All three are non-custodial, so your seed phrase, not the app, is the real security boundary.

Which wallet has the lowest swap fees?

Trust Wallet has the lowest in-app swap fee of the three at 0.7%. Phantom charges 0.85% on most swaps, and MetaMask adds a 0.875% service fee to every swap quote. Each fee is separate from the network gas you pay to the blockchain. On a single large swap the difference is a few dollars, but it compounds across many small swaps.

Worked example, on an illustrative $1,000 swap before network fees: MetaMask keeps about $8.75, Trust Wallet about $7.00 and Phantom about $8.50.

These fees are usually built into the quoted rate rather than shown as a separate line. MetaMask says its 0.875% fee is automatically factored into each quote and funds ongoing development. Phantom lists its 0.85% fee next to network fees and any bridge-provider charge on cross-chain routes. On top of all three you pay gas, which varies with the chain and how busy it is. That is why the same swap can cost far more on Ethereum than on a cheaper layer 2 such as Base or Polygon.

Because the fee is folded into the quote, comparing the number of tokens you actually receive is often more useful than reading the percentage. Checking the rate you are offered against an independent quote before you confirm a large swap is a sensible habit.

Which blockchains does each wallet support?

Trust Wallet lists more than 100 blockchains, the widest of the three, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, Solana, Tron and TON. MetaMask is built around Ethereum and EVM networks and has added Bitcoin and Solana to its homepage list. Phantom started on Solana and now also handles Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon and Base, while dropping Sui.

• MetaMask: Ethereum and EVM chains such as Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon and BNB Chain, plus Bitcoin and Solana.
• Trust Wallet: Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, Solana, Tron, TON and more, over 100 chains in total.
• Phantom: Solana, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon and Base. Its developer docs also list Robinhood Chain and Arc, and mark Sui and Monad as deprecated.

If you live in Ethereum apps, MetaMask and Phantom both work. If you hold assets across many ecosystems, Trust Wallet covers more in one app. If you are on Solana, Phantom is the native choice. For a Bitcoin-only setup, a focused desktop wallet such as Electrum is often simpler than a multi-chain app.

Are MetaMask, Trust Wallet and Phantom open source?

Only part of each stack is public. MetaMask publishes its browser-extension source code on GitHub, and Trust Wallet publishes its Wallet Core library under an Apache 2.0 licence, covering low-level wallet functions for more than 130 blockchains. Phantom does not publish its source code. Open source allows independent review, but it did not prevent the Trust Wallet incident.

MetaMask’s extension repository is public, so security researchers can audit the code. Trust Wallet’s Wallet Core is open source under Apache 2.0, but that is one component, and the mobile app itself is not fully published. Phantom’s source is not available, so outside review is limited. Note that the December 2025 attack on Trust Wallet did not use a bug in public code: an attacker published a tampered build through a leaked publishing key.

Being open source is not the same as being audited, and a public repository does not prove the build you download matches it. The safeguard that matters is using the vendor’s official store or site, because the Trust Wallet attack tampered with the published build, not the source code.

Which devices and browsers do they run on?

All three run as a browser extension and as an iOS and Android app. Trust Wallet is mobile-first and added its extension later, while MetaMask and Phantom treat the extension as the main desktop experience. The December 2025 Trust Wallet incident affected only its Chrome extension, and mobile users were not touched.

MetaMask is available on iOS, Android and the web, and its extension is the primary way to use Ethereum dApps on a desktop. Trust Wallet offers iOS and Android apps plus a Chrome Web Store extension. Phantom offers a browser extension plus iOS and Android apps. If you trade on a phone, all three are available; if you use desktop dApps, the extension is what matters, and all three ship one.

Can I connect a hardware wallet to these apps?

MetaMask has the broadest hardware support: its extension lists 12 brands including Ledger, Trezor, Keystone, Lattice, AirGap Vault and OneKey, and its mobile app adds Ledger, Keystone and NGRAVE ZERO. Phantom connects to Ledger. Trust Wallet does not state hardware-wallet support. Pairing a hardware wallet keeps your keys offline while you still sign dApp transactions.

If you hold meaningful amounts, pairing MetaMask with a hardware device is the most flexible route. You can use a Ledger, Trezor or several other brands, though the Ledger Nano S is discontinued, so check the upgrade path. Phantom supports Ledger for signing. Trust Wallet does not advertise hardware pairing, a gap if you want offline key storage. For a fuller hardware comparison, see our Ledger vs Trezor vs Coldcard guide.

Has any of these wallets had a security incident?

Yes. On 24 December 2025 a malicious build of Trust Wallet’s Chrome extension (v2.68) was published through a leaked API key, and Trust Wallet later said about $8.5 million was taken from 2,520 addresses before it released v2.69 and began reimbursing users. As of October 2026, no comparable supply-chain compromise has been reported for MetaMask or Phantom.

Trust Wallet’s own incident update says the tampered build reached the Chrome Web Store outside its normal release process, using a leaked key it links to the November 2025 Sha1-Hulud supply-chain campaign. The affected window ran 24 to 26 December 2025, and the extension captured seed phrases after users signed into their wallets. Trust Wallet told affected users to move funds to a new wallet, released v2.69, and opened a claims process, warning that it will never ask for a seed phrase or password.

MetaMask and Phantom are frequent phishing targets, but neither has reported an equivalent compromise of its published build. The lesson is the same for all three: the app is only as safe as the channel you install it from, and your tokens are only as safe as your habit of checking each signature request.

How do I avoid wallet-drainer scams?

Drainers rarely hack the wallet app itself; they trick you into signing a transaction that moves your tokens or grants a malicious contract an allowance. Read every signature request, revoke token allowances you no longer use, and never enter your seed phrase anywhere. After the Trust Wallet incident, scammers set up fake fix sites, so update only through the official store.

• Never type your seed phrase into a website or give it to anyone. No wallet team or support agent will ask for it.
• Check what a transaction actually does before you approve it. A drainer can hide an approve or a transfer inside a request that looks like a claim or an airdrop.
• Revoke old token allowances so a contract you approved months ago cannot keep spending your balance.
• Install wallets only from the official vendor site or app store, and watch for lookalike domains and fake security-fix pages.

Self-custody means there is no support desk that can reverse a signed transaction. If you are moving coins off an exchange for the first time, read our guide to moving crypto from an exchange to a wallet, and see whether keeping crypto on an exchange is safe. Crypto assets are volatile and this is not financial advice.