Every comparison
Which one, and why
You mainly transact on a phone and you want the network you are on to be impossible to mistake.
Full Rainbow pageYou want the broadest app support and the wallet every guide is written for.
Full MetaMask pageRainbow is the better phone experience and it makes the network obvious, which prevents the most common expensive mistake in crypto. MetaMask is the one to have when an app or a guide assumes it.
The specifications
| Rainbow | MetaMask | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Browser and mobile | Browser and mobile |
| Networks | Ethereum, Base, Optimism, Arbitrum, Polygon, Zora | Ethereum and every EVM chain |
| Custody | Self custody | Self custody |
| Strongest at | Delightful design, clear language, good NFT display | Works everywhere, huge support base, hardware wallet friendly |
| Weakest at | Fewer advanced controls than Rabby | EVM only, and the built in swap fees are higher than using a DEX directly |
The parts that change the answer
Made for the phone
Rainbow was built mobile first and it shows. MetaMask on mobile has always felt like the desktop extension carried over.
Network clarity
Sending on the wrong network is the mistake that costs people the most, and Rainbow works hard to make the current chain unmissable.
Ecosystem assumptions
When something breaks, the answer you find will usually be written for MetaMask. That is a real cost of using anything else, and a small one.
Common questions
Are both EVM only?
Can I import MetaMask into Rainbow?
Which is better for a beginner on a phone?
Where to go next
More wallets comparisons
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.