Ledger Signers: Which Is Best For Me?

Crypto wallets allow people to explore and participate in the many aspects of web3 by protecting their private keys. Since 2014, Ledger has been providing uncompromising security for the crypto ecosystem. 

But what’s the story behind Ledger signers? And which Ledger signer should you choose for yourself? 

This article dives into everything you need to know about Ledger signers so you can decide which one suits your lifestyle best.

What Is a Ledger Signer?

A Ledger signer is a dedicated hardware device that generates and secures your private keys inside a certified Secure Element chip. Ledger was the first hardware wallet manufacturer to implement the Secure Element chip, the same high security chip used in passports and credit cards. 

The signer reduces your exposure to connected environments since the keys do not leave that chip. Ledger calls its hardware devices “signers” because that is precisely what they do: they securely sign or authorize transactions on the blockchain. 

Your crypto lives onchain, and not on the device. What a Ledger signer holds are your private keys, the cryptographic proof that those digital assets belong to you. When you send crypto or interact with a decentralized app (dApp), the signer uses those keys to generate a signature. The signer’s Secure Screen, directly driven by the Secure Element, lets you read and confirm the transaction details in human-readable format before you sign. Every approval requires your physical confirmation on the device.

Ledger signers work with Ledger Wallet^TM, the mobile and desktop app that connects you to the wider crypto ecosystem. Together, they form a unified ecosystem:

• The signer is the verification layer, where your private keys are held inside a Secure Element chip.
• Ledger Wallet is the connectivity layer, letting you buy, sell, swap, stake, and participate in decentralized finance (DeFi).

To learn more about the shift from “hardware wallet” to “signer,” read From Hardware Wallet to Signer: A New Era for Digital Ownership.

The History of Ledger Signers

Ledger’s journey began in 2014 with a vision to create a security-focused device for managing private keys. The launch of the Ledger Nano S in 2016 established a new security standard by pairing custom operating systems with bank-grade Secure Elements chips.

In 2019, the Ledger Nano X™ introduced Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C, improved battery life, and greater storage capacity. It was the first Ledger signer built with mobile users in mind.

In 2023, Ledger introduced a new category: secure touchscreen signers. The Ledger Stax™ launched as the first device in the world with a Secure E Ink® touchscreen driven directly by the Secure Element chip. The Ledger Flex™ followed, bringing the same secure touchscreen technology at a more accessible price point.

In October 2025, Ledger added the Ledger Nano^TM Gen5 to the lineup: the first in the Ledger Nano series to feature an E Ink® Secure Touchscreen, and the most accessible entry point to the next generation of Ledger signers.

Throughout this history, no Ledger signer has ever been compromised.

Classic Ledger Signers

Ledger’s classic signers, the  Ledger Nano S Plus™ and Ledger Nano X™, share the same security model as every other Ledger signer: a certified Secure Element chip, Ledger OS^TM, and a Secure Screen. 

The key distinction from the touchscreen generation is the display. Classic signers use smaller OLED screens with physical buttons rather than a touchscreen. This means reviewing transaction details requires more steps, and newer protections like Transaction Check and Ledger Recovery Key are not supported.

Ledger Nano S Plus™

In 2016, Ledger launched the Ledger Nano S, which introduced support for multiple cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin. Paired with the Ledger Wallet, the Nano S became Ledger’s best-selling device: a truly unique hardware signer of its time. Even though we stopped supporting the Ledger Nano S in 2022, it remains fully functional. You can still use it to send, receive, buy, sell, and manage your digital assets.

The Ledger Nano S Plus is the successor to the Ledger Nano S. It is a budget-friendly and feature-rich hardware wallet that offers top-tier security. It offers support for over 15,000 digital assets, and compatibility with desktop and Android devices, all packed into a compact, durable design with a user-friendly monochromatic OLED display.

The Ledger Nano S Plus improves on some of the limitations on its Ledger Nano S predecessor on storage and helps you adapt to some of the recent changes in the web3 landscape.

Key specs:

• Display: 1.1” monochromatic OLED screen with physical buttons
• Connectivity: USB-C
• Secure Element chip: CC EAL6+
• Supports: 15,000+ digital assets
• Compatible with: Desktop and Android

Ledger Nano X™

Ledger released the award-winning Nano X in 2019, offering Bluetooth functionality, USB-C, improved battery life, and larger storage capacity, making it ideal for managing multiple digital assets.

The Ledger Nano X is Ledger’s mobile-first signer for everyday use, and shares all the core security features of the Nano S Plus, but with key upgrades such as Bluetooth connectivity, iOS support, improved storage capacity for apps, a larger screen, and better battery life. 

Key specs:

• Display: 1.09″ OLED screen with physical buttons
• Connectivity: USB-C and Bluetooth®
• Secure Element chip: CC EAL5+
• Supports: 15,000+ digital assets
• Compatible with: Desktop, Android, and iOS

Put simply, the Ledger Nano X is the perfect everyday device for an everyday crypto user. But compared to its next-gen signers, the Nano X falls behind on giving you a seamless and intuitive touchscreen experience. 

Ledger’s Touchscreen Signers: New Generation of Signers

In 2023, Ledger introduced a new category of signers with Secure Touchscreens. Because the screen is driven by the Secure Element itself, what you see on screen cannot be tampered by malware or a compromised connected device. What you see is exactly what you sign.

All three touchscreen signers support Transaction Check, Ledger Recovery Key, and the Ledger Security Key app. They also offer larger displays, NFC connectivity, and customizable lock screens, tailored to meet how people use crypto everyday. 

Ledger Stax™

Ledger Stax is a device of multiple firsts. It features the world’s first Secure E-ink Touchscreen, the first organic TFT screen built under 100 degrees, and the first-ever curved E Ink touchscreen.

Designed by the Godfather of the iPod, Tony Fadell, Ledger Stax is a premium device that fits your lifestyle. Its iconic curved E Ink touchscreen also allows for full customization, allowing you to choose any image to display as the lock screen and name the spine of the device. 

And of course, as its name suggests, Ledger Stax devices are stackable, allowing you to customize and manage multiple Ledger Stax devices at once. It comes with a Ledger Recovery Key included in the box at no additional cost.

It’s also convenient, offering Bluetooth and NFC connectivity and the ability to facilitate seamless logins via the Ledger Security Key app.

Key specs:

• Display: 3.7″ curved E Ink® Secure Touchscreen
• Connectivity: USB-C; Bluetooth®; NFC; Qi wireless charging
• Secure Element chip: CC EAL6+
• Supports: 15,000+ digital assets

Ledger Flex™

Ledger Flex is the most lifestyle friendly signer in Ledger’s new category of secure touchscreens. However, unlike Ledger Stax, its E Ink® touchscreen is flat rather than curved and is available at a more attractive price point. 

Ledger Flex offers all of the next-generation features of Ledger Stax, such as its secure touchscreen and connectivity functionality, and ships with a Ledger Recovery Key included in the box. With a customizable lock screen, and in-built magnets for attaching accessories, the Ledger Flex delivers uncompromising security and style to your crypto experience.

Key Specs

• Display: 2.8″ E Ink® Secure Touchscreen (flat)
• Connectivity: USB-C; Bluetooth®; NFC
• Secure Element chip: CC EAL6+
• Supports: 15,000+ digital assets

Ledger Nano™ Gen5

Ledger Nano Gen5 carries forward Ledger’s iconic Nano lineage into modern day crypto: a multichain world where everyday actions like swapping, staking, and using new apps require security you can see and trust. Building on Ledger’s best-selling lineup, this is the first Ledger Nano signer to feature an E Ink® Secure Touchscreen driven by a Secure Element chip. 

This screen powers Ledger’s Clear Signing and Transaction Check, letting you avoid blind-signing traps and review human-readable transaction details clearly before approving. Under the hood, your private keys stay offline behind an EAL6+ Secure Element chip and Ledger’s secure OS™, while USB-C, Bluetooth® and NFC keep you seamlessly connected across phone and desktop devices. 

Customize the lock screen with images or NFTs, and even add exclusive, collectible badges designed by Macintosh GUI legend Susan Kare to express your personality. It includes Ledger Recovery Key for a private, PIN-protected NFC backup of your Secret Recovery Phrase, and supports the Ledger Security Key app so your signer can secure logins with passkeys, two-factor authentication (2FA), and multi-factor authentication (MFA). 

Key specs:

• Display: 2.8″ E Ink® Secure Touchscreen
• Connectivity: USB-C; Bluetooth®; NFC
• Secure Element chip: CC EAL6+
• Supports: 15,000+ digital assets
• Battery: Best in class for the Nano line

As the most accessible entry point to Ledger’s next-generation experience, Gen5 is designed for everyday onchain life, a guardian of your digital identity, delivering serious security to digital ownership.

Classic vs. Touchscreen Signers: What’s the Difference?

Every Ledger signer, classic or touchscreen, is built on the same security model. The Secure Element chip, Ledger OS™, and secure screen are present across the full lineup. The difference is in what you can do with that security and how clearly you can verify it.

Classic Nano signers remain secure and fully functional. The newer generation of signers simply improve the DeFi experience and security with features like Transaction Check, Ledger Recover Key, and Ledger Security app. Clear Signing on a larger display also makes reviewing smart contract details more straightforward, making verifying and approving transactions faster and clearer.

Upgrade To A Touchscreen Signer & Save 20%

If you’re holding crypto on a Ledger Nano S, Ledger Nano S Plus, or Ledger Nano X, now is a good moment to upgrade. Classic Nano signers remain secure, but they don’t support newer protections like Transaction Check and Ledger Recovery Key, and Clear Signing on a small screen makes reviewing smart contract details harder than it needs to be.

Ledger’s secure touchscreen signers, Ledger Nano Gen5, Ledger Flex, and Ledger Stax, bring a larger display, intuitive navigation, and faster transaction approvals.

For a limited time, get 20% off any touchscreen signer.

Unlock the upgrade offer → Click here!

Ledger Signers: Secure Digital Ownership

Your crypto is yours because your keys are in your hands. A Ledger signer keeps those keys inside a Secure Element chip, allowing you to prove intent before each transaction, and ensures that what you see on screen is exactly what you’re signing.

Whether you choose a classic Nano or a touchscreen signer, the same security model applies. The Secure Element chip, Ledger OS™, and secure screen work together to reduce both online threats and physical attacks, without compromising security and usability.

Self-custody enables true digital ownership. A Ledger signer lets you exercise that ownership clearly and confidently.