Secure ElementQR200+ networks
Ngrave Zero vs Trezor Safe 5
Trezor Safe 5 stands out with open-source code. Ngrave Zero is a solid alternative — Trezor Safe 5 costs $269 less.
2 wallets
Open-source vs Closed
No IP rating vs IP55
$269 price gap
Quick VerdictUpdated 2026
Ngrave Zero
Ngrave
$398
Trezor Safe 5
Best overall
$129
Key Takeaways
- Trezor Safe 5 wins in security (100/100)
- Usability scores are close (within 0 points)
- Trezor Safe 5 is more affordable ($129)
- Both support 15+ cryptocurrencies
- Best for beginners: Trezor Safe 5 (easier setup)
Ngrave Zero vs Trezor Safe 5: Key Differences
Both Ngrave Zero and Trezor Safe 5 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: Ngrave Zero (Ngrave) lands at 61/100, Trezor Safe 5 (Trezor) at 88/100. The $269 gap between $398 and $129 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:
Winner by Category
Which wallet leads in each area
Security
Ngrave Zero73/100
Trezor Safe 5Winner100/100
Ease of Use
TieNgrave Zero71/100
Trezor Safe 571/100
Price
Ngrave Zero$398
Trezor Safe 5Winner$129
Coin Support
Ngrave Zero15+
Trezor Safe 5Winner50+
Privacy
Ngrave Zero34/100
Trezor Safe 5Winner100/100
Beginner Friendly
TieNgrave Zero71/100
Trezor Safe 571/100
Comparing:
Ngrave Zero
Trezor Safe 5
Comparison Table
Key specifications for your decision
| Criteria | Ngrave Zero Ngrave $398 | Trezor Safe 5 Trezor $129 |
|---|---|---|
Overall Rating | 61 | 88 |
Security | 73 | 100 |
Usability | 71 | 71 |
Price | $398 | $129 |
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 | Yes |
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 | No | No |
USB | No | Yes |
Networks | 15+ | 50+ |
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 | LCD Capacitive Touchscreen (480x800, 600 Cd/M²) | Color Touchscreen |
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 | 20-word + Shamir |
Setup Time | ~20 min | ~15 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 | IP55 | None |
Our Verdict: Ngrave Zero or Trezor Safe 5?
Choose Ngrave Zero if...
- You trust third-party audits (Common Criteria EAL7 certification of integrated ProvenCore TEE (Prove & Run)) over open-source review
- You need iPhone (iOS) compatibility
- You need a durable, IP55-rated waterproof device
Skip Ngrave Zero if...
- ×Open-source firmware is non-negotiable for you
- ×Budget is tight — you'd be better served by a cheaper option in this comparison
- ×You want Shamir Secret Sharing for split, geographically distributed backups
Choose Trezor Safe 5 if...
- You want verifiable, open-source firmware and software
- You use Bitcoin and care about privacy (CoinJoin, coin control)
- You want advanced backup with Shamir Secret Sharing
- You want to save $269 without sacrificing core security
Skip Trezor Safe 5 if...
- ×You manage crypto from an iPhone (no iOS app here)
- ×You need a device with an official IP rating against water and dust
Our pick for most users
Based on the overall rating, Trezor Safe 5 scores 88/100 and offers the best balance of security, usability, and value in this comparison.
Bottom line: Usability is close enough to call a wash. Trezor Safe 5 pulls ahead on security — which is where it matters most. If budget is real, Trezor Safe 5 comes in $269 cheaper without giving up the basics.
Price: Ngrave Zero vs Trezor Safe 5
Ngrave Zero costs $398, while Trezor Safe 5 is priced at $129 — a $269 difference. The extra cost of Ngrave Zero gets you a -27-point higher overall rating. For budget buyers, Trezor Safe 5 offers solid security at a lower price point.
Who Should Pick Which Wallet
Recommendations based on real-world use cases
Ngrave Zero
$398Water resistanceBuilt-in batteryAndroid supportiOS support
Pros
- +Fully air-gapped — QR-only signing with no USB data, Bluetooth, NFC or WiFi
- +EAL7-certified ProvenCore operating system, the highest assurance tier for a device OS
- +Biometric fingerprint sensor plus an 8-digit PIN, with tamper-triggered auto-wipe
- +Proprietary Perfect Key generation and the steel GRAPHENE backup ecosystem
Cons
- −Closed-source firmware that fails WalletScrutiny reproducibility checks
- −Premium price ($398, and more with the GRAPHENE backup)
- −No built-in WalletConnect; dApp access relies on MetaMask/Rabby
- −QR-only workflow is slower than USB or Bluetooth signing
Trezor Safe 5
$129Better privacy featuresCoin controlCoinJoin supportTor support
Pros
- +EAL6+ certified secure element — highest SE rating among consumer hardware wallets
- +Fully open-source firmware with reproducible builds, independently verifiable by anyone
- +Shamir Secret Sharing splits seed across up to 16 shares for distributed backup
- +20-word custom seed format (SLIP39) reduces single-point-of-failure vs standard 24-word BIP39
Cons
- −No Bluetooth or NFC — USB-only connectivity limits mobile use to Android via USB-OTG
- −No iOS compatibility; iPhone users are entirely locked out without third-party workarounds
- −PMMA (acrylic) housing is less impact-resistant than polycarbonate used by some rivals
- −No water or dust resistance rating, unlike some competing devices at similar price points
Best for These Profiles
Pre-Purchase Checklist
Important points to verify regardless of your choice
All wallets ship from official manufacturer stores with full warranty.
Ngrave Zero vs Trezor Safe 5: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Ngrave Zero vs Trezor Safe 5
Is Ngrave Zero better than Trezor Safe 5?
On the numbers, Trezor Safe 5 comes out ahead — 88/100 vs 61/100 — but 'better' isn't quite the right frame. Ngrave Zero offers a different feature set, which matters more for some buyers than overall score does. If overall rating is what you actually weigh first, take Trezor Safe 5. If specific features is the constraint that shapes your decision, Ngrave Zero is the smarter buy. Either way, both are real hardware wallets — neither is a mistake.
How much do Ngrave Zero and Trezor Safe 5 cost?
Ngrave Zero costs $398, Trezor Safe 5 costs $129. 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.
Can Trezor Safe 5 be used on iPhone (iOS)?
No — Trezor Safe 5 has no iOS app today, and there's no public roadmap for one. It works fine with Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, but iPhone users are out of luck. If your primary device is an iPhone and you don't want a separate computer just to manage crypto, Ngrave Zero is the practical pick: it has a native iOS app and the full feature set works over Lightning or Bluetooth.
Is Trezor Safe 5 waterproof?
No — Trezor Safe 5 has no official water or dust resistance rating, so treat it like any other small electronic. A spilled drink or a rainstorm in your jacket pocket is enough to brick it. Ngrave Zero, by contrast, carries an IP55 rating, which means it's tested against dust and pressurized water — that's the device you'd actually take camping or to a beach. For most people, water resistance isn't a deciding factor, but it matters if you travel light or carry your wallet daily.
Which wallet is better for DeFi and Web3: Ngrave Zero or Trezor Safe 5?
Ngrave Zero — and the gap is bigger than the spec sheets make it look. Ngrave Zero has WalletConnect built in, which means you sign DeFi transactions directly from a hardware wallet without exposing keys to a hot wallet. Trezor Safe 5 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.
Ngrave Zero vs Trezor Safe 5: which has better backup options?
Ngrave Zero uses a standard 24-word seed phrase. Trezor Safe 5 uses a 20-word seed phrase with optional Shamir Secret Sharing for split backups. Both work — but they reflect different ideas about what 'backup' should be. The seed phrase approach (BIP-39) is the open industry standard: portable across most wallets, well-documented, and recoverable on any compatible device. The downside is well-known too — it's a piece of paper that's a single photograph or careless moment away from disaster. Card-based backups can't be photographed and don't write themselves down, but they're proprietary, which means you trust one manufacturer to stay in business and keep the format alive. Pick based on which failure mode worries you more.
Is Trezor Safe 5 more secure than Ngrave Zero because it's open-source?
Not automatically — and this is a more nuanced question than the marketing suggests. Open-source (Trezor Safe 5) lets anyone (researchers, hobbyists, paranoid users) read the firmware and verify there are no backdoors. That's the strongest possible trust signal. Ngrave Zero keeps source code private but compensates with paid third-party audits from Common Criteria EAL7 certification of integrated ProvenCore TEE (Prove & Run) 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 Trezor Safe 5 — but don't dismiss Ngrave Zero as 'less secure' purely on that basis.
Where to buy Ngrave Zero at the best price?
Always buy Ngrave Zero from the official Ngrave 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 Ngrave 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.
Made your decision?
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More Comparisons
Compare Ngrave Zero with other wallets
Official store
Ngrave Zero$398 · 61/100
Trezor Safe 5$129 · 88/100
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