KeepKey vs Trezor
Choose KeepKey if you want open-source, reproducible firmware on a wide 256 × 64 screen, and no-KYC swaps built into KeepKey Desktop, and you will use a passphrase for protection against physical theft.
Choose Trezor if you want open-source firmware plus a certified secure element, USB-C, a color touchscreen (Safe 5, Safe 7) or Bluetooth (Safe 7), or a coin that is not on KeepKey's supported list.
Spec comparison
| Spec | KeepKey | Trezor Safe 3 | Trezor Safe 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 256 × 64 px monochrome OLED on the front face; every address and amount is shown on the device | 0.96" monochrome OLED, 128 × 64 px | 1.54" color touchscreen, 240 × 240 px |
| Connectivity | USB (micro-B), wired only. No Bluetooth, no NFC, no battery | USB-C | USB-C |
| Secure element | None, by design. General-purpose STM32F205 microcontroller with public datasheets. Physical fault-injection attacks can extract the encrypted seed; a BIP39 passphrase (never stored on the device) protects against that. Security model | Yes: certified EAL6+ | Yes: certified EAL6+ |
| Open-source firmware | Yes. Firmware is LGPLv3 on GitHub; each release publishes a reproducible-build SHA-256 you can check | "Open-source security and design" (per Trezor) | "Open-source security and design" (per Trezor) |
| Chains / assets | Native signing for a defined chain list: Bitcoin and other UTXO coins, Ethereum and EVM chains (plus ERC-20 tokens), Cosmos, THORChain, Maya, XRP, Solana, TRON, TON and more. Full list | "1000s of coins & tokens" (per Trezor) | "1000s of coins & tokens" (per Trezor) |
| Companion app | KeepKey Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux) with no-KYC swaps routed across THORChain, Mayachain, Relay, 0x, ChainFlip and ShapeShift. KeepKey Mobile (iOS) and a Chrome extension that connects web apps to KeepKey Desktop | Trezor Suite | Trezor Suite |
| Price | $59.95 at keepkey.com/store (live price) | $59 (trezor.io, as of Sept 2026) | $129 (trezor.io, as of Sept 2026) |
Trezor specs from the official Trezor comparison, Safe 3 and Safe 5 pages, accessed September 24, 2026. Trezor also sells the Safe 7 ($249), with a 2.5" color screen, USB-C and Bluetooth. Prices change, so check each maker's store.
Same roots, different security choices
KeepKey runs on an ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller, as did Trezor's original Model One (no longer sold, per Trezor), and both companies publish their firmware. Trezor's current Safe models add a certified secure element.
KeepKey keeps a general-purpose microcontroller with no secure element, so the whole design can be inspected. The tradeoff: someone who steals your KeepKey and has specialist equipment and time can extract the encrypted seed. A BIP39 passphrase, never stored on the device, keeps a passphrase-protected wallet out of reach even then. Read the full KeepKey security model.
Against malware on your computer, both work the same way: you check the transaction on the device screen and confirm it on the device.
Questions
- What is the main difference between KeepKey and Trezor?
- Both publish open-source firmware and show every transaction on the device screen. Current Trezor Safe models add a certified secure element (EAL6+, per Trezor), which resists physical attacks. KeepKey has no secure element and relies on a BIP39 passphrase for protection if the device is stolen. KeepKey Desktop also includes no-KYC swaps routed across THORChain, Mayachain, Relay, 0x, ChainFlip and ShapeShift.
- Does KeepKey use the same chip as Trezor?
- KeepKey uses the STM32F205, an ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller. Trezor says its original Model One, which is no longer sold, used a Cortex-M3 processor too, and that its current Safe 3, Safe 5 and Safe 7 models add a certified secure element.
- Is KeepKey cheaper than Trezor?
- Check the live KeepKey price at keepkey.com/store. As of September 2026, Trezor listed the Safe 3 at $59, the Safe 5 at $129 and the Safe 7 at $249 on its official US site.
- Does KeepKey use USB-C?
- No. KeepKey uses a USB micro-B port and connects by cable only. Trezor lists USB-C on the Safe 3, Safe 5 and Safe 7, and Bluetooth on the Safe 7.
Also see KeepKey vs Ledger and Is KeepKey still supported?