Phantom vs MetaMask: which multichain wallet fits you?
Phantom is the better fit if Solana is your main chain: it has deeper Solana features, Ledger signing for Solana and SOL staking. MetaMask is the better fit if you mostly use Ethereum and EVM networks: it supports far more of them, lets you add custom networks, works in Firefox and supports more hardware wallets. Since 2025 both also hold Solana and Bitcoin.
Phantom and MetaMask used to be easy to tell apart: Phantom for Solana, MetaMask for Ethereum. That line has blurred. MetaMask added native Solana in May 2025, Bitcoin in December 2025 and Tron on 15 January 2026 (Decrypt, January 2026). Phantom now covers Ethereum, Base, Polygon, BNB Chain and a few other EVM networks. Both are free and self-custodial. Facts were checked on 25 October 2026.
At a glance
| Phantom | MetaMask | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Self-custodial, Solana-first multichain | Self-custodial, EVM-first multichain |
| Chains | 9 networks: Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Bitcoin, HyperEVM, Robinhood Chain, Arc, BNB Chain. No custom networks; no Arbitrum, Optimism or Avalanche. Monad and Sui dropped in 2026. | Ethereum and many EVM networks (including Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Avalanche, BNB Smart Chain), custom EVM networks, plus native Solana, Bitcoin and Tron |
| Platforms | Chrome extension (other Chromium browsers compatible but unsupported), iOS, Android. No Firefox. | Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave extension, iOS, Android |
| Open source | No (apps proprietary) | Source-available under a custom Consensys licence |
| Wallet swap fee | 0.85% on most swaps | 0.875% service fee |
| Hardware wallets | Ledger only, including Solana accounts | Extension: Ledger, Trezor, Lattice and QR devices. Mobile: Ledger, Keystone, NGRAVE ZERO. Ledger covers EVM accounts only. |
| Staking | Native SOL and PSOL | Pooled ETH staking (15% rewards fee) and validator staking from 32 ETH (10% rewards fee); TRX staking on mobile |
| Security history | 2022 "Demonic" issue patched; not at fault in the August 2022 Slope drain; contested 2025 lawsuit | 2022 "Demonic" issue mitigated; April 2023 breach at a third-party support provider (about 7,000 users' data) |
MetaMask details are from MetaMask's support site and CryptoSlate's MetaMask review (updated 4 October 2026).
Fees: almost identical
Phantom charges 0.85% on most in-wallet swaps (Phantom help centre, 2026). MetaMask charges a 0.875% service fee on swaps (MetaMask support, October 2026). On a $1,000 swap that is $8.50 against $8.75, so the difference is small. The route, slippage and network fee usually matter more. Both wallets let you skip the built-in swap and use a DEX directly, which avoids the wallet fee.
Both offer some gasless swaps. MetaMask's gasless swaps on Base, Arbitrum and Polygon need an upgrade to a smart account. Phantom covers network fees on some swaps (gasless swaps). See Phantom fees and how swaps work in Phantom.
Chains: depth on each side
On EVM, MetaMask is far broader. It supports dozens of networks out of the box and lets you add any EVM chain by hand. Phantom covers only Ethereum, Base, Polygon, BNB Chain, HyperEVM, Robinhood Chain and Arc, explicitly lists Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, Unichain and Linea as unsupported, and has no custom network option. Phantom also removed Monad on 26 August 2026 and Sui on 24 September 2026, so check Phantom's current chain list before you move funds.
On Solana, Phantom is deeper. It was built for Solana in 2021 and offers native staking, PSOL, Solana NFTs, token safety warnings and Solana-specific trading features. MetaMask's Solana support is newer, and CryptoSlate notes you cannot choose a custom Solana RPC in MetaMask.
Both hold native Bitcoin. Phantom supports Native SegWit and Taproot addresses but no longer supports Ordinals or BRC-20; MetaMask uses Native SegWit for phrase imports. See Phantom for Bitcoin.
Safety
Both preview transactions and warn about known scams before you sign. Phantom's checks have been powered by Blowfish, which it acquired in November 2024. MetaMask shows estimated balance changes and security alerts by default and offers a paid Transaction Shield product at $9.99 a month, in early access on the extension (MetaMask support, October 2026).
Hardware signing is a real difference for Solana users. Phantom supports Ledger for Solana accounts. MetaMask's Ledger integration covers EVM accounts only; its native Solana and Bitcoin accounts cannot be signed on a Ledger (CryptoSlate, October 2026). If you want to hold SOL on a hardware wallet, Phantom (or Solflare) is the option; see Phantom and Ledger.
Both wallets were affected by the 2022 "Demonic" browser issue, where recovery-phrase input could be saved to disk; both shipped fixes, and no exploitation was reported. MetaMask's 2023 incident was a data breach at a third-party support vendor, not the wallet itself. Phantom's record includes a contested 2025 lawsuit and many fake apps; see Phantom's security history and is Phantom safe?
Openness differs slightly. MetaMask's extension source is public under its own licence; Phantom's apps are closed, with audits by Least Authority (2024) and a Cantina bug bounty of up to $100,000.
Features
- Browsers: MetaMask works in Firefox; Phantom no longer does.
- Sign-in: Phantom offers Google or Apple login wallets; see Phantom email login.
- Extensibility: MetaMask Snaps let third parties add features. Solflare's Solana Snap for MetaMask closed on 11 May 2026.
- Trading: Phantom offers Hyperliquid perps outside the US and UK, prediction markets and tokenized stocks in some countries. MetaMask also lists perps in its app.
- Cards: Phantom's Visa card is US only, excluding New York. MetaMask's card FAQ said in September 2026 that new US and UK enrolment was paused.
Using both, or moving between them
Many people keep both: Phantom for Solana and MetaMask for EVM DeFi. If both extensions are installed, both answer Ethereum dapps, so choose the wallet from the dapp's list each time. If a site keeps opening the wrong one, disable the other extension while you use it.
To bring a MetaMask account into Phantom, import the recovery phrase or private key; your EVM address stays the same because it lives on-chain. Our MetaMask to Phantom guide walks through it. Your Solana address in MetaMask may differ from Phantom's if the wallets use different derivation paths, so check the address before sending funds.
Choose Phantom if… / Choose MetaMask if…
Choose Phantom if
- Solana is your main chain and you want staking, PSOL and Solana NFTs.
- You want to sign Solana transactions on a Ledger.
- You want Google or Apple sign-in.
Choose MetaMask if
- You use Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche or other EVM chains Phantom lacks.
- You need custom networks or a Firefox extension.
- You use a Trezor, Lattice or Keystone for EVM assets.
There is no single winner. Whichever you pick, download it only from the official site, typed by hand: phantom.com for Phantom, metamask.io for MetaMask.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phantom or MetaMask cheaper?
They are close. Phantom charges 0.85% on most in-wallet swaps and MetaMask 0.875%. Network fees and the swap route usually matter more than the wallet fee.
Does MetaMask support Solana now?
Yes. MetaMask added native Solana in May 2025, Bitcoin in December 2025 and Tron in January 2026. Its Ledger support covers EVM accounts only, not Solana.
Can Phantom connect to Arbitrum or Optimism?
No. As of October 2026 Phantom lists Arbitrum, Optimism and Avalanche as unsupported and does not allow custom networks. MetaMask supports them.
Can I import my MetaMask wallet into Phantom?
Yes. Import the recovery phrase or a private key into the official Phantom app. Your EVM address will be the same. Never type the phrase into a website.
Which is safer, Phantom or MetaMask?
Both preview transactions and warn about scams. Most losses in either come from fake apps, phishing and malicious approvals. Using a Ledger adds the most protection, and Phantom supports Ledger for Solana while MetaMask does not.