Every comparison
Which one, and why
You are new to Solana and you want the most forgiving, most widely supported option with the gentlest learning curve.
Full Phantom pageYou are active, you hold across several chains, and you want a wallet built for people who are onchain most days.
Full Backpack pagePhantom for a first Solana wallet. Backpack once you are trading regularly and want the extras. Both are self custody, both cover more than Solana now, and the honest gap between them is smaller than either community suggests.
The specifications
| Phantom | Backpack | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Browser and mobile | Browser and mobile |
| Networks | Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Bitcoin | Solana, Ethereum, Base, Bitcoin |
| Custody | Self custody | Self custody |
| Strongest at | Beautiful interface, clear transaction previews, built in scam warnings | Clean multichain balances, good for active Solana users |
| Weakest at | Fewer niche EVM chains than MetaMask | Younger project with a smaller support community |
The parts that change the answer
Where each one started
Phantom was the wallet that made Solana usable for ordinary people and it still shows in the onboarding. Backpack came from the trading side and its defaults reflect that.
Chain coverage
Both now cover Solana, Ethereum and Bitcoin. Neither choice locks you out of a chain you are likely to want.
Support and guides
Phantom appears in more tutorials and more app support pages, which matters most exactly when you are stuck.
Common questions
Can I use the same recovery phrase in both?
Which is better for NFTs?
Do either work with a Ledger?
Want a second opinion on your own setup?
A comparison page cannot see what you already hold or what you are trying to do. On a call we can, and we will tell you when the honest answer is that it does not matter.