MetaMask
score
Fees: free; network gas + swap service fee (~0.875%)
Still the default choice for anyone regularly using Ethereum and EVM dApps, thanks to unmatched compatibility. Its popularity also makes it the top target for scammers, so pairing it with a hardware wallet is wise. Never enter your seed phrase into any site or support chat.
What MetaMask is
MetaMask is a free, self-custodial wallet first released in 2016 and the most widely used gateway to Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks. Available as a browser extension and mobile app, it has become the de facto standard connector for DeFi and Web3 dApps, which is the main reason it remains so entrenched.
Compatibility above all
MetaMask's clear peak is dApp and DeFi integration, where it scores 9.5 - almost every EVM application supports it out of the box. Self-custody is strong at 8.5, with a long, battle-tested track record and wide hardware-wallet compatibility for cold-storage signing. The softer spots are UX (7), which can feel dated and technical, asset and chain support (7.5), since it is EVM-only by default, and security (7.5), which reflects not the code but how heavily the wallet is targeted.
Fees
MetaMask is free to install and use. You pay Ethereum gas and other network fees on transactions, and its built-in swap feature adds a service fee of roughly 0.875%, which is higher than several competitors. Using an external aggregator can sometimes reduce that cost.
The big caveat
Its popularity is a double-edged sword: MetaMask is the single most-targeted wallet for phishing and fake-support scams. The safest posture is to pair it with a hardware wallet and to remember that no legitimate site or support agent will ever ask for your seed phrase. By default it is also EVM-only; other chains require the Snaps system or extra setup.
Who it's for
MetaMask remains the default choice for anyone regularly using Ethereum and EVM dApps, purely on the strength of its compatibility. Beginners may find friendlier interfaces elsewhere, and non-EVM holders will need additional tools, but for serious EVM users it is close to unavoidable, ideally hardened with a hardware wallet.
Overall 7.9 / 10 — the weighted average of the criteria above. How we score →
- + The de facto standard connector for EVM dApps and DeFi
- + Fully self-custodial with a long, battle-tested track record
- + Snaps system extends support to non-EVM chains and custom features
- + Widely supported by hardware wallets for cold-storage signing
- − EVM-only by default; other chains require Snaps or extra setup
- − The single most-targeted wallet for phishing and fake-support scams
- − Built-in swap fee is higher than several competitors
Is MetaMask safe?
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MetaMask is self-custodial with a long track record and broad hardware-wallet support, but it scores 7.5 for security because it is the most-targeted wallet for scams. The code is not the weak point; users are. Pair it with a hardware wallet and never enter your seed phrase into any site or chat.
What are MetaMask's fees?
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The wallet is free. You pay network gas on transactions, and its built-in swaps add a service fee of around 0.875%, higher than several rivals. Routing trades through an external aggregator can sometimes lower the cost.
Does MetaMask support Bitcoin or Solana?
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Not by default. MetaMask is EVM-focused, though its Snaps system can extend support to some non-EVM chains and custom features. Out of the box, expect Ethereum and EVM networks.
Why is MetaMask so widely used?
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Because it is the de facto standard connector for EVM dApps, scoring 9.5 for DeFi integration in our review. Nearly every Ethereum application supports it, which makes it the path of least resistance for Web3 users.
Is MetaMask good for beginners?
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It works, but its 7 for UX reflects an interface that can feel technical. Beginners often prefer friendlier wallets, though many still end up with MetaMask because so many dApps expect it.