Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1

Ledger Stax stands out with full desktop support. SafePal S1 is a solid alternative — SafePal S1 costs $349 less.

2 wallets

USB vs NFC

$349 price gap

Quick Verdict Updated 2026

Ledger Stax

Best overall

73 /100

Good

$399

View Best Price

$399 View Best Price

SafePal S1

Best value

67 /100

Average

$49.99

View Best Price

$49.99 View Best Price

Open-formula rating | 40+ criteria analyzed | Last updated May 2026 | No sponsored rankings

Key Takeaways

Ledger Stax wins in security (89/100)
Usability scores are close (within 3 points)
SafePal S1 is more affordable ($49.99)
Both support 70+ cryptocurrencies
Best for beginners: SafePal S1 (easier setup)

Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1: Key Differences

Both Ledger Stax and SafePal S1 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: Ledger Stax (Ledger) lands at 73/100, SafePal S1 (SafePal) at 67/100. The $349 gap between $399 and $49.99 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:

Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1 vs Ledger Nano Gen5 Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1 vs OneKey Pro

Winner by Category

Which wallet leads in each area

Security

Ledger Stax89/100

SafePal S182/100

View Best Price Ledger Stax

Ease of Use

Tie

Ledger Stax74/100

SafePal S171/100

Price

Ledger Stax$399

SafePal S1$49.99

View Best Price SafePal S1

Coin Support

Ledger Stax70+

SafePal S1200+

View Best Price SafePal S1

Privacy

Ledger Stax41/100

SafePal S157/100

View Best Price SafePal S1

Beginner Friendly

Tie

Ledger Stax74/100

SafePal S171/100

Comparing:

Ledger Stax

SafePal S1

Comparison Table

Key specifications for your decision

Criteria	Ledger Stax Ledger $399 View Best Price	SafePal S1 $49.99 View Best Price
Overall Rating	73/100	67/100
Security	89/100	82/100
Usability	74/100	71/100
Price	$399	$49.99
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. Learn more	Yes	Yes
Open Source Firmware refers to firmware in hardware devices, like wallets, where the source code is publicly available, allowing transparency, auditability, and customization. Learn more	No	No
Bluetooth Connectivity enables wireless communication between devices, like hardware wallets and smartphones, using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for secure data transfer. Learn more	Yes	No
USB	Yes	No
Networks	70+	200+
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. Learn more	Yes	Yes
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. Learn more	E Ink Touchscreen	Color LCD
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. Learn more	24-word seed	24-word seed
Setup Time	~15 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	None	None

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Our Verdict: Ledger Stax or SafePal S1?

Choose Ledger Stax if...

You need full desktop support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
You want wireless NFC connectivity — no cables needed

Skip Ledger Stax if...

× Budget is tight — you'd be better served by a cheaper option in this comparison
× You hold a wide range of altcoins beyond what this device supports (70 networks)

View Best Price — Ledger Stax Full Review — Ledger Stax

Choose SafePal S1 if...

You want to save $349 without sacrificing core security

Skip SafePal S1 if...

× You manage crypto from a desktop (no Windows, macOS, or Linux app)
× You want wireless NFC connection — no cables

View Best Price — SafePal S1 Full Review — SafePal S1

Our pick for most users

Based on the overall rating, Ledger Stax scores 73/100 and offers the best balance of security, usability, and value in this comparison.

View Best Price — Ledger Stax

Bottom line: Usability is close enough to call a wash. Ledger Stax pulls ahead on security — which is where it matters most. If budget is real, SafePal S1 comes in $349 cheaper without giving up the basics.

Price: Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1

Ledger Stax costs $399, while SafePal S1 is priced at $49.99 — a $349 difference. The extra cost of Ledger Stax gets you a 6-point higher overall rating. For budget buyers, SafePal S1 offers solid security at a lower price point.

Buy Ledger Stax — $ 399 Buy SafePal S1 — $ 49.99

Who Should Pick Which Wallet

Recommendations based on real-world use cases

Ledger Stax

$399

Built-in batteryCoin controlWalletConnect supportAndroid support

Pros

+EAL6+ certified ST33K1M5 secure element, the highest SE grade in consumer wallets
+3.7-inch E Ink touchscreen displays full transaction details without companion app
+Triple connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC for tap-to-sign workflows
+Supports 5,500+ tokens across 50 networks, covering most major DeFi ecosystems

Cons

−$399 price point is 3–5× more expensive than functionally comparable hardware wallets
−Firmware and Ledger Live software are closed-source with no reproducible builds
−No Shamir Secret Sharing; single 24-word seed remains the only backup path
−No water or dust resistance rating despite aluminum chassis and premium pricing

View Best Price Full Review

SafePal S1

$49.99

AffordableBuilt-in batteryWalletConnect supportAndroid support

Pros

+EAL6+ secure element — higher certification than most rivals at this price
+Fully air-gapped via QR codes, eliminating all USB/Bluetooth attack surfaces
+Supports 30,000+ tokens across 200+ blockchain networks
+Built-in battery enables fully standalone operation without a host device

Cons

−Firmware and software are fully closed-source — no independent code audit possible
−No desktop support: Windows, macOS, and Linux are all incompatible
−No Shamir Secret Sharing; single mnemonic backup is the only recovery method
−No water resistance rating despite plastic ABS/PVC construction

View Best Price Full Review

Best for These Profiles

🎓

Beginner / first wallet

SafePal S1 — simpler setup, lower learning curve

🔒

Security maximalist

Ledger Stax — highest security score, on-device verification

💰

Budget-conscious buyer

SafePal S1 — solid security at $49.99

✈️

Frequent traveler

Ledger Stax — compact, durable, no cables needed

Pre-Purchase Checklist

Important points to verify regardless of your choice

All wallets ship from official manufacturer stores with full warranty.

Buy Ledger Stax Buy SafePal S1

Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1: Frequently Asked Questions

Answers about Ledger Stax vs SafePal S1

Is Ledger Stax better than SafePal S1?

On the numbers, Ledger Stax comes out ahead — 73/100 vs 67/100 — but 'better' isn't quite the right frame. SafePal S1 is more affordable at $49.99, which matters more for some buyers than overall score does. If overall rating is what you actually weigh first, take Ledger Stax. If budget is the constraint that shapes your decision, SafePal S1 is the smarter buy. Either way, both are real hardware wallets — neither is a mistake.

How much do Ledger Stax and SafePal S1 cost?

Ledger Stax costs $399, SafePal S1 costs $49.99. 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: Ledger Stax or SafePal S1?

Ledger Stax — and the gap is bigger than the spec sheets make it look. Ledger Stax has WalletConnect built in, which means you sign DeFi transactions directly from a hardware wallet without exposing keys to a hot wallet. SafePal S1 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.

Can SafePal S1 be used with a desktop computer?

No — SafePal S1 is mobile-only with no Windows, macOS, or Linux app available. If you do most of your crypto work on a laptop or desktop (DeFi power users, traders, anyone running a full node), this is a real limitation, not a minor inconvenience. Ledger Stax supports all three desktop operating systems with a polished companion app, and that's the practical pick if desktop is your main interface.

Where to buy Ledger Stax at the best price?

Always buy Ledger Stax from the official Ledger 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 Ledger 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 Ledger Stax and SafePal S1 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}}.