Stellar Wallet Choosing Guide

When you lose 1 Euro from your wallet, it’s not a big deal. There are many Euros around and as long as the Centra Bank continues to print Euros, then that 1 Euro will continue to depreciate over time. After a few years, you won’t even remember losing that Euro. Cryptocurrency is different, however. Especially Stellar (XLM). The total supply of XLM cannot be mined or create. It is what it is. Hence, it’s extremely important to choose a good wallet that keeps your XLM safe so you can benefit from its growth later on. That’s what we are here to help you with today. But first, let’s talk about talking points. 

Key talking points:

• Learn what an XLM wallet is and how they work
• Understand the main features of an XLM wallet
• Learn about XLM wallet security
• Compare different types of XLM wallets
• Discover what XLM wallets are best for you

What is a Stellar wallet?

A Stellar wallet is a wallet that holds Stellar Lumens--known by XLM. Without a wallet, one cannot buy, sell, trade, or store XLM. It’s a necessity. Every wallet comes with some sort of private key needed to interact with the blockchain and manage transactions. 

How does a Stellar wallet work?

With a variety of Stellar wallets out there, there’s no singular answer for how they work. Sure, at the most basic level, a wallet is just a passphrase but it gets more complex with the layers on top of that. Some wallets have different interfaces, and advanced features so the only way to see how a Stellar wallet truly works is to try the best ones out for yourself. To help you weed out some of the lower-level wallets, here are some main features you should prioritize. 

Main features you need in a Stellar Wallet

When researching your Stellar wallet, make sure it comes with the following features:

• Security and privacy
• Low or custom XLM transaction fees
• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Fiat onramps and offramps
• Low minimum deposit amount
• The ability to lock and unlock withdrawals at will
• Complete crypto exchange capabilities
• Customer support
• Multi-chain support
• Multisig
• Bonus features like Yields accounts, trading tools, and loans. 

Do I need a Stellar Wallet to Buy or Trade XLM?

The short answer here is “yes.” If you buy XLM on a crypto exchange, then that exchange will have a built-in XLM wallet for you to hold XLM until you decide to trade it or withdraw it. Even if you manage to buy XLM with cash from your friend, you still need a wallet to store Stellar.

Are all XLM wallets secure?

Unfortunately not. Some wallets are built by criminals. These wallets have backdoors for hackers to easily steal your private keys and take off with your money. Other wallets are just built by bad developers who leave vulnerabilities in the wallet unbeknownst to them. Then, you have perfectly well-made wallets that just happen to lack high-quality security features like 2FA, security audits, etc. That being said, there are plenty of secure XLM wallets out there so don’t be afraid. Some wallets even come with insurance to protect your funds in the event of a bad event (e.g. like YouHodler wallets for example).

Are all XLM Wallets Free? How Much Does It Cost to Use a Stellar  Wallet?

Any good Stellar wallet should be free. If someone is trying to sell you a Stellar wallet, be careful. All the best wallets out there are 100% free. It doesn’t cost anything to use a Stellar wallet aside from the blockchain fees associated with every transaction. Some wallets choose to cover those fees for you while others let you choose the fee (higher fees result in faster transaction time).

How to deposit and withdraw from Stellar Wallet

The crypto industry has come a long way over the years. Nowadays, Stellar wallet apps are so user-friendly, anyone can figure it out. To deposit or withdraw Stellar using your wallet, just open up your app and find Stellar in the wallet section. You should then see buttons to deposit or withdraw Stellar. Simply choose an option and follow the instructions. If you want to deposit, a deposit address will be provided. Just copy and paste that address so the person sending your Stellar can do so. If you are withdrawing Stellar, then you need to copy and paste the address from the wallet on the receiving end of the transaction so you can send the Stellar there. 

Types and differences of Stellar wallets - How to choose the right one for you?

Stellar wallets come in all sorts of lovely shapes and sizes. So finding the best one for you should be a relatively easy task. Here are a few different types you can explore. 

Desktop XLM wallet

As its name suggests, a desktop XLM wallet is one that’s installed on a desktop computer or a laptop. Users get complete control over the wallet just as they would with a mobile wallet, just in a desktop environment. The main difference is that some desktop wallets have more advanced functionality like the ability to operate a complete node or full crypto exchange integration. 

Mobile XLM wallet

More or less, a mobile XLM wallet performs the same functions as a desktop wallet but on a mobile device such as a smartphone. Mobile XLM wallets are often more convenient due to their portable nature and the ability to scan QR codes for quick crypto transactions in stores or between peers. There are XLM wallets for all types of operating systems like Android or iOS. 

Web XLM wallet

Web XLM wallets are wallets that exist on a website or online service that allow users to send and receive cryptocurrency in addition to storing it. These wallets can be accessed anytime, and anywhere as long as there is the internet. Some of the most popular crypto services in the world are web wallets such as Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, and YouHodler. Security is a concern for web wallets but that can be managed with due diligence to make sure the web wallet you choose has a good history of high-level security and insurance. It’s also wise to use web wallets in tandem with the more secure hardware wallets. 

The Best Stellar Wallets

There are countless articles out there dissecting different crypto wallets, trying to decide what is the “best Stellar wallet.” To be honest, there is no “best XLM wallet” for us as a collective whole. However, there is a Stellar wallet that is best for you and that depends on your wants and needs. At YouHodler, we tried our best to create a diverse, multi-faceted wallet that appeals to all sectors of the crypto industry. Is our wallet the best Stellar wallet? Well, that’s for you to decide. 

Best Stellar Wallet for Beginners

When asking what the best Stellar wallet for beginners is, it’s important to first dissect what a beginner demands from a Stellar wallet. Most importantly, is a user-friendly interface. Beginners who are new to crypto are taking in tons of information every day and they don’t need a complicated app on top of that to learn. Clean, simple interfaces are best for beginners with minimal navigation required. That’s why we designed YouHodler’s interface to appease beginner users with simple designs, clear buttons, and plenty of information databases to dig into. 

Best Stellar Wallet For Advanced Stellar Users & Investors

Advanced Stellar users and investors also appreciate clean simple interfaces on their Stellar wallet; however, they also want something flexible enough that meets their high demands. Advanced crypto traders want a wallet with low transaction fees, built-in crypto exchange capabilities, advanced security, staking features, and advanced financial services like loans and crypto trading. Advanced users are busy people and they can’t be bothered using multiple apps for different activities. That’s why we designed YouHodler to be the true one-stop-shop solution for advanced users with a wide array of FinTech services to fit their every need. 

Best Stellar Wallet  for Mobile Users

Data suggests there will be over 18 billion mobile devices in use around the world by the year 2025. Suffice to say, we live in a mobile world and that’s only going to increase. Hence, mobile Stellar wallets are perhaps the most important wallets in development. There are thousands to choose from and the key is to find one with maximum efficiency and security. YouHodler’s mobile wallet has 2FA, 3FA, and the ability to lock your funds from withdrawal--requiring ID verification to unlock it. On top of that, the team runs regular security audits to ensure all wallets are secure from malicious actors. For people ``on the go” in a mobile economy, want to make sure their digital wallets are present, protected, and easy to use. Not all Stellar wallets match this quality but YouHodler tries its best to. 

Best Stellar Hardware Wallet

As mentioned earlier, it’s a smart idea to buy a Stellar hardware wallet to use in cooperation with your mobile or web wallets. Stellar hardware wallets are ideal for the long-term storage of crypto assets. Ideally, you want to keep some on a mobile or web wallet for payments, trading, and staking while keeping the rest safely in a secure hardware wallet. The Ledger series of hardware wallets are extremely popular and recommended by most advanced crypto users. Trezor is another brand worth mentioning. 

Best Stellar Wallet for software storage

Once again, this comes down to the idea of “not your keys, not your crypto.” The best Stellar wallet for long-term software storage are wallets where you fully own the private keys. It’s best to use this in combination with more diverse web wallets to enjoy the benefits of both worlds. 

Best Stellar Wallet For Security

The best Stellar wallets for security are the ones that prioritize security. Stay away from wallets that don’t have PIN options, 2FA, or basic security features. YouHodler has a PIN or thumbprint required to enter the app in addition to 2FA and 3FA upon request. We also run regular security audits to ensure our walls are strong and impenetrable. Lastly, we are backed by Ledger Vault and Fireblocks for insurance and secure crypto transaction management solutions.

Best Stellar Wallet for Android Users

While the battle between iPhones and Android phones wages on, it’s nice to know that crypto doesn’t pick sides. Most--if not all--of the most popular Stellar wallets can be found on both Android and iOS operating systems. 

Click here to download YouHodler for Android. 

Best Stellar Wallet for iOS Users

We’re also at the Apple store too! Click here to download YouHodler for iOS and ready all about our Stellar wallet functionalities for your iPhone.