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BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus

BitBox02 Nova stands out with open-source code, advanced privacy features. Ledger Nano S Plus is a solid alternative — Ledger Nano S Plus costs $80 less.

2 wallets
Open-source vs Closed
$80 price gap
Quick Verdict Updated 2026
BitBox02 Nova
BitBox02 Nova
BitBox
75 /100
Good
$149 View Best Price
Ledger Nano S Plus
Ledger Nano S Plus
Best overall
76 /100
Good
$69 View Best Price
Open-formula rating 40+ criteria analyzed Last updated May 2026 No sponsored rankings

Key Takeaways

  • Security scores are close (within 3 points)
  • Usability scores are close (within 2 points)
  • Ledger Nano S Plus is more affordable ($69)
  • Best for beginners: Ledger Nano S Plus (easier setup)

BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus: Key Differences

Both BitBox02 Nova and Ledger Nano S Plus can keep your crypto safe — the real question is which one fits the way you actually use it. We've put both through our open-formula scoring on 40+ criteria: BitBox02 Nova (BitBox) lands at 75/100, Ledger Nano S Plus (Ledger) at 76/100. The $80 gap between $149 and $69 isn't arbitrary — these are two different bets on what matters in a hardware wallet, and the right pick depends on which bet you'd take.

Expand This Comparison:

BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus vs OneKey Pro BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus vs Ledger Nano X

Winner by Category

Which wallet leads in each area

Security
Tie
BitBox02 Nova94/100
Ledger Nano S Plus97/100
Ease of Use
Tie
BitBox02 Nova65/100
Ledger Nano S Plus67/100
Price
BitBox02 Nova$149
Ledger Nano S Plus$69
View Best Price Ledger Nano S Plus
Coin Support
BitBox02 Nova8+
Ledger Nano S Plus70+
View Best Price Ledger Nano S Plus
Privacy
BitBox02 Nova96/100
Ledger Nano S Plus50/100
View Best Price BitBox02 Nova
Beginner Friendly
Tie
BitBox02 Nova65/100
Ledger Nano S Plus67/100
Comparing:
BitBox02 Nova
Ledger Nano S Plus

Comparison Table

Key specifications for your decision

Criteria
BitBox02 Nova
BitBox02 Nova
BitBox
$149
View Best Price
Ledger Nano S Plus
Ledger Nano S Plus
Ledger
$69
View Best Price
Overall Rating
75/10076/100
Security
94/10097/100
Usability
65/10067/100
Price
$149$69

EAL Certification (Evaluation Assurance Level) from Common Criteria rates the security of hardware components, like secure chips in crypto hardware wallets. Higher levels, such as EAL5+ or EAL6+, indicate stronger resistance to attacks.

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YesYes

Open Source Firmware refers to firmware in hardware devices, like wallets, where the source code is publicly available, allowing transparency, auditability, and customization.

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YesNo

Bluetooth Connectivity enables wireless communication between devices, like hardware wallets and smartphones, using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for secure data transfer.

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NoNo
USB
YesYes
Networks
8+70+

A passphrase is an additional security layer for cryptocurrency wallets, acting as a 25th word in the BIP39 seed phrase, protecting access to hidden wallets.

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YesYes

A touchscreen display is a screen that allows users to interact with a device by touching the surface, commonly used in hardware wallets for easy navigation and transaction confirmation.

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OLEDMonochrome OLED

Recovery is the process of restoring access to a cryptocurrency wallet using its seed phrase or mnemonic backup if the original wallet is lost or inaccessible.

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24-word seed24-word seed
Setup Time
~10 min~10 min

IP Rating refers to the level of protection a device has against dust and water, often used for hardware wallets to indicate their durability in various environments.

Learn more
NoneNone

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Our Verdict: BitBox02 Nova or Ledger Nano S Plus?

Choose BitBox02 Nova if...

  • You want verifiable, open-source firmware and software
  • You use Bitcoin and care about privacy (CoinJoin, coin control)
  • You run your own Bitcoin full node

Skip BitBox02 Nova if...

  • × Budget is tight — you'd be better served by a cheaper option in this comparison
View Best Price — BitBox02 Nova Full Review — BitBox02 Nova

Choose Ledger Nano S Plus if...

  • You trust third-party audits (Ledger internal + third-party (ANSSI CSPN, EAL evaluation)) over open-source review
  • You want to save $80 without sacrificing core security
  • You actively use DeFi and WalletConnect dApps

Skip Ledger Nano S Plus if...

  • × Open-source firmware is non-negotiable for you
View Best Price — Ledger Nano S Plus Full Review — Ledger Nano S Plus

Our pick for most users

Both wallets score similarly (75 vs 76/100) — your choice depends on which features matter most to you.

Bottom line: Both wallets are tightly matched on security and ease of use. The decision comes down to specifics: form factor, supported coins, and how each one fits your daily flow. If budget is real, Ledger Nano S Plus comes in $80 cheaper without giving up the basics.

Price: BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus

BitBox02 Nova costs $149, while Ledger Nano S Plus is priced at $69 — a $80 difference. The extra cost of BitBox02 Nova gets you a -1-point higher overall rating. For budget buyers, Ledger Nano S Plus offers solid security at a lower price point.

Buy BitBox02 Nova — $ 149Buy Ledger Nano S Plus — $ 69

Who Should Pick Which Wallet

Recommendations based on real-world use cases

BitBox02 Nova

$149
Better privacy featuresCoin controlCoinJoin supportTor support
Pros
  • +ATECC608B secure element with secure boot prevents firmware tampering
  • +Fully open-source firmware with reproducible builds for independent verification
  • +Genuine device attestation check built into BitBoxApp on every connection
  • +Encrypted microSD card backup eliminates single-point seed exposure risk
Cons
  • −No Bluetooth or NFC — requires physical USB connection for every transaction
  • −No Shamir Secret Sharing; seed backup is all-or-nothing unlike Trezor Model T
  • −0.96-inch OLED screen is smaller than competitors like Ledger Flex or Keystone
  • −No iOS compatibility limits mobile use to Android devices only
View Best PriceFull Review

Ledger Nano S Plus

$69
AffordableGreat priceCoin controlWalletConnect support
Pros
  • +CC EAL6+ certified ST33K1M5 secure element — highest rating among sub-$100 wallets
  • +Supports 5,500+ tokens across 50+ networks without third-party apps
  • +24-word BIP39 seed with optional passphrase adds hidden wallet layer
  • +Coin control feature enables manual UTXO selection for privacy-conscious users
Cons
  • −Closed-source firmware — independent security audits are not publicly possible
  • −No Bluetooth or NFC; USB-only connectivity excludes iOS devices entirely
  • −No Shamir Secret Sharing — single seed backup point remains a loss risk
  • −0.9-inch monochrome OLED makes verifying long contract data tedious
View Best PriceFull Review

Best for These Profiles

🎓
Beginner / first wallet
Ledger Nano S Plus — simpler setup, lower learning curve
✈️
Frequent traveler
BitBox02 Nova — compact, durable, no cables needed
🔒
Security maximalist
Ledger Nano S Plus — highest security score, on-device verification
💰
Budget-conscious buyer
Ledger Nano S Plus — solid security at $69

Pre-Purchase Checklist

Important points to verify regardless of your choice

All wallets ship from official manufacturer stores with full warranty.

Buy BitBox02 NovaBuy Ledger Nano S Plus

BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus: Frequently Asked Questions

Answers about BitBox02 Nova vs Ledger Nano S Plus

Is BitBox02 Nova better than Ledger Nano S Plus?
On the numbers, Ledger Nano S Plus comes out ahead — 76/100 vs 75/100 — but 'better' isn't quite the right frame. BitBox02 Nova has fully open-source firmware, which matters more for some buyers than overall score does. If overall rating is what you actually weigh first, take Ledger Nano S Plus. If transparency is the constraint that shapes your decision, BitBox02 Nova is the smarter buy. Either way, both are real hardware wallets — neither is a mistake.
How much do BitBox02 Nova and Ledger Nano S Plus cost?
BitBox02 Nova costs $149, Ledger Nano S Plus costs $69. These are list prices for the standard edition from official manufacturer stores. A few things worth knowing: hardware wallet prices barely move during the year, so 'waiting for a sale' rarely pays off — Black Friday is the one exception, with 10–20% off being typical. Avoid third-party listings even if they're cheaper; the supply chain risk on a tampered device wipes out any savings the first time you load funds. And don't buy a 'used' hardware wallet, ever — even if it claims to be reset.
Which wallet is better for DeFi and Web3: BitBox02 Nova or Ledger Nano S Plus?
BitBox02 Nova — and the gap is bigger than the spec sheets make it look. BitBox02 Nova has WalletConnect built in, which means you sign DeFi transactions directly from a hardware wallet without exposing keys to a hot wallet. Ledger Nano S Plus can technically work with DeFi via third-party software, but every extra step is one more place an attacker can intercept the transaction you're approving. If you're going to be clicking 'Sign' on smart contracts more than once a month, the difference compounds fast.
Is BitBox02 Nova more secure than Ledger Nano S Plus because it's open-source?
Not automatically — and this is a more nuanced question than the marketing suggests. Open-source (BitBox02 Nova) lets anyone (researchers, hobbyists, paranoid users) read the firmware and verify there are no backdoors. That's the strongest possible trust signal. Ledger Nano S Plus keeps source code private but compensates with paid third-party audits from Ledger internal + third-party (ANSSI CSPN, EAL evaluation) and certifications like CC EAL5+/EAL6+ on the secure element. Open-source is the more transparent posture; audited closed-source can still be cryptographically airtight. Our honest take: if open-source is the deciding factor for you philosophically, pick BitBox02 Nova — but don't dismiss Ledger Nano S Plus as 'less secure' purely on that basis.
Where to buy BitBox02 Nova at the best price?
Always buy BitBox02 Nova from the official BitBox store — never from Amazon, eBay, or third-party marketplaces, even if the price looks better. Hardware wallets have been physically tampered with in the supply chain before (compromised devices shipped to unsuspecting buyers, then drained the moment funds were loaded). Buying direct from BitBox gets you a sealed unit with full warranty, firmware integrity, and a clean chain of custody. Free shipping and occasional discounts at the source make the price difference negligible anyway.
Do BitBox02 Nova and Ledger Nano S Plus come with a warranty?
Yes — both ship with a manufacturer warranty (typically 1–2 years) when bought from the official store. That said, a hardware wallet warranty is mostly about hardware defects, not lost funds. If the device fails, the manufacturer will replace it — but your seed phrase or backup cards are what actually restore your crypto onto the new device. The warranty is real but secondary; what protects your funds is your backup discipline, not a piece of paper from {{wallet1}} or {{wallet2}}.

Made your decision?

Check out full reviews or find the best price from official vendors.

Buy BitBox02 Nova BitBox02 Nova Review
Buy Ledger Nano S Plus Ledger Nano S Plus Review

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Security
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90/100
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Security
100/100
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Tangem Wallet (3 Cards)

Tangem Wallet (3 Cards)

79/100
$69.9
Security
97/100
Secure ElementOpen Source85+ networks
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vs
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91/100

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75/100
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View Comparison
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