Monero (XMR) Wallets: A Complete Guide

Last updated: 3 November 2026

To safely send, receive and store Monero (XMR), users need a wallet that supports Monero’s privacy-by-default transaction model and gives them control over their keys. In 2026, the choice ranges from the official Monero GUI and lightweight desktop wallets to mobile apps and hardware devices. The best option depends on how often you transact, whether you want to run your own node, and how much control you want over network-level privacy.

This guide compares the main wallet types, explains how to set up the official Monero GUI, and covers remote nodes, synchronization and restore height. For a broader explanation of the network itself, see What Is Monero?.

Key Takeaways

• Monero wallets fall into software, hardware and offline-signing categories; the right choice depends on convenience, security and how much network infrastructure you want to manage.
• The official Monero GUI does not require a full local node: it can use a remote node, a local full node or a pruned node.
• Using a remote node is convenient, but it exposes some network metadata to the node operator; running your own node reduces that dependency.
• The current Monero GUI release is v0.18.5.4 “Fluorine Fermi” as of 3 November 2026.
• Exodus is not included as an XMR wallet option because Exodus ended Monero support in August 2025.

What Is a Monero Wallet?

A Monero wallet is software or hardware that manages the keys used to receive and spend XMR. The coins remain recorded on the Monero blockchain; the wallet stores the information needed to identify outputs that belong to you and to authorize spending.

Monero hides sender, receiver and amount by design, but the way a wallet connects to the network still matters. A local node and a third-party remote node do not expose the same network metadata. The seed phrase is therefore only one part of safe wallet use: node choice, device security and software provenance matter too.

Types of Monero Wallets

Desktop wallets. The official Monero GUI and community wallets such as Feather run on desktop systems. They are suitable for users who want more control over node settings and wallet configuration.

Mobile wallets. Community-developed options such as Monero.com, Cake Wallet, Monerujo and Stack Wallet make XMR accessible on a phone. Some also support multiple assets.

Hardware wallets. Supported Ledger and Trezor devices keep signing keys on dedicated hardware while compatible wallet software handles the interface and node connection.

Offline signers. The Monero community also lists offline-signing tools such as Cupcake and Sidekick for specialised cold-storage workflows.

The Comparison Table of the Best Wallets for Monero

Detailed Reviews

Monero GUI Wallet

Monero GUI is the official graphical desktop wallet maintained by the Monero community. As of 3 November 2026, the current release is v0.18.5.4, codenamed Fluorine Fermi. It is free, open source and non-custodial, and it supports Windows, macOS and Linux.

Unlike the older version of this guide, the GUI should not be described as requiring a full node. Users can connect to a remote node, run a local full node, or use pruning to reduce local storage requirements. The official downloads page says pruning stores roughly one third of the blockchain data.

Official download: getmonero.org/downloads.

• Official Monero desktop wallet
• Open source and non-custodial
• Simple and Advanced modes
• Remote, local and pruned-node options
• Compatible with supported Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets

Feather Wallet

Feather is a community-developed, lightweight Monero desktop wallet. The Monero Project’s community directory describes it as a fast, feature-rich desktop wallet with QR signing. It is a practical option for users who want a Monero-only desktop experience without using the official GUI interface.

Monero.com and Cake Wallet

Monero.com is a Monero-only wallet developed by Cake Labs, while Cake Wallet is a multi-coin wallet with Monero support. Both are listed in the Monero Project’s community wallet directory. They use local wallet scanning with remote nodes rather than sending the private view key to a remote scanning service.

Monerujo

Monerujo is a Monero wallet for Android with advanced features. The Monero Project lists it as a community-developed wallet and also lists Ledger support through compatible workflows.

Stack Wallet

Stack Wallet is an open-source multi-coin wallet with Monero support on desktop and mobile. It is aimed at users who prefer to keep XMR alongside other supported assets rather than use a Monero-only wallet.

Ledger

The Monero community directory currently lists Ledger Nano S, Nano X, Flex and Stax in its cold-wallet section, while the legacy downloads page also documents Nano S Plus support. Ledger devices are used through compatible Monero wallet software rather than as a standalone Monero interface.

Trezor

The Monero community directory lists Trezor Model T, Safe 3, Safe 5 and Safe 7 as hardware-wallet options with Monero support through third-party wallet software. The official GUI, CLI and Feather are among the documented compatible interfaces.

How to Use a Monero Wallet

Because Exodus no longer supports Monero, the practical walkthrough below uses the official Monero GUI rather than the Exodus-based instructions in the previous version of this article.

Monero GUI Wallet: Installation, Synchronization and Remote Nodes

The official Monero GUI is the reference desktop wallet maintained by the Monero community. The three decisions that cause the most confusion for first-time users are where to download it, which mode to use and whether to connect to a local or remote node.

Download only from official Monero sources

Download the GUI from getmonero.org/downloads or the official repositories linked by Monero documentation. The current release line is v0.18.5.4. The Monero Project publishes SHA-256 hashes and a signed hash list so users can verify downloaded binaries before installation.

Simple mode or Advanced mode

On first launch, the GUI offers different operating modes.

• Simple mode connects to a remote node automatically. You do not need to download the blockchain before using the wallet. The trade-off is that the node can observe network-level information associated with your connection.
• Simple mode (bootstrap) temporarily uses a remote node while your own node synchronises in the background.
• Advanced mode gives you direct control over node settings, including a local node, a chosen remote node and advanced network configuration.

For many first-time users, Simple mode is the easiest starting point. Users who want more control over infrastructure and network settings can move to Advanced mode.

How to connect to a remote node

A remote node is somebody else’s Monero daemon that serves blockchain data to your wallet. The official Monero guide recommends using your own node or a trusted remote node where possible. See the Monero remote-node guide for the current interface instructions.

1. Open Settings → Node in the GUI. If your configuration does not expose custom node settings, switch to the appropriate advanced/custom settings view.
2. Select Remote Node.
3. Enter the node address and port.
4. Add a daemon username and password only if the node requires authentication.
5. Click Connect and wait for the wallet to connect and synchronize.

A conventional remote node cannot spend your XMR because it does not receive your private spending key. It can, however, observe network metadata such as your IP address and request timing. Monero documentation recommends trusted nodes and, for stronger network privacy, Tor or I2P where appropriate.

Full node vs pruned node

Running a local node means your own machine verifies the Monero blockchain instead of relying on a third party. If full-chain storage is too large, Monero supports pruning. The official downloads page states that pruning reduces storage to roughly one third of the full blockchain while keeping the node functional.

Synchronization and restore height

A wallet has to scan blockchain history to identify outputs that belong to it. If you run a local node, the node itself also has to catch up with the network. These are related but separate processes.

Restore height tells a restored wallet where to begin scanning. When restoring from seed, use a height or approximate date from before the wallet’s first transaction. A restore height set too late can cause older outputs to be missed and the wallet to show an incorrect or zero balance. Lower the restore height and rescan if necessary.

If you need to compare your wallet or daemon height with the chain, use a Monero block explorer only for public chain data such as transaction existence and confirmation count. See SimpleSwap’s Monero Block Explorer guide for the limitations of explorers on a privacy-by-default chain.

Why incoming XMR can be locked

Incoming XMR normally remains locked until 10 confirmations. At Monero’s target two-minute block interval, that is roughly 20 minutes, although real block timing varies. The unlocked balance updates automatically once the required confirmations are reached.

Hardware wallets with the GUI

The Monero GUI works with supported Ledger and Trezor devices. The hardware device keeps signing keys on the device while the GUI provides the interface and node connection. This can reduce exposure of spending keys to malware on the host computer.

Security Tips

• Keep the wallet seed offline. Do not store it in screenshots, ordinary cloud notes or email drafts.
• Verify wallet downloads and signatures or hashes from official project sources.
• Use a strong, unique device and wallet password where supported.
• Do not expose a local node or wallet interface to the public internet without understanding the configuration.
• Check the first and last characters of recipient addresses after pasting them.
• For a new setup, test with a small amount before moving a significant balance.

Sending and Receiving Monero

Sending XMR:

1. Open the Send tab.
2. Paste the recipient’s Monero address and verify it.
3. Enter the amount.
4. Review the transaction details and fee.
5. Confirm and sign the transaction.

Receiving XMR:

1. Open the Receive tab.
2. Choose a receiving address or subaddress.
3. Copy the address or display its QR code.
4. Share it with the sender.
5. Wait for the wallet to detect the transaction and for the required confirmations to unlock the funds.

Can I swap XMR directly from a wallet?

Yes. A wallet-to-wallet swap lets you send XMR from a wallet you control and receive another asset at a destination address you control. On SimpleSwap, choose the asset you send and receive, enter the receiving address and follow the order instructions. Most standard crypto-to-crypto swaps do not require an account. KYC may be required for transaction security and compliance, and availability is subject to the Terms of Service and jurisdictional restrictions.

The service fee is built into the quoted rate; blockchain network fees apply to the networks involved. Always confirm the asset, network and destination address before sending. See the SimpleSwap Terms of Service for details.

Best Monero Wallets: Conclusion

The best Monero wallet is the one whose security model and node model you understand. The official Monero GUI offers the broadest control: it can use a remote node for convenience, a local or pruned node for greater independence, and compatible hardware wallets for separate key storage. Feather provides a lighter desktop alternative, while Monero.com, Cake Wallet, Monerujo and Stack Wallet cover different mobile and multi-asset use cases.

Whatever wallet you choose, protect the seed offline, verify software sources, understand whether your wallet scans locally or through a remote service, and test a new setup with a small amount before moving a significant balance.

Sources

• Monero Project: Downloads — current GUI version, pruning, community wallets and hardware support

• Monero Project: GUI v0.18.5.4 release notes

• Monero Project: How to use a remote node in the GUI wallet

• Monero Docs: Remote Nodes and Privacy

• Monero Project: Community wallets and cold wallets

• SimpleSwap: Monero (XMR) page

• SimpleSwap: Monero Block Explorer guide

• SimpleSwap: Terms of Service

Related reading

• What Is Monero?

• Monero Block Explorer: How to Check a Transaction and Prove a Payment

• Best Ways to Swap XMR Without a CEX Account in 2026

• Monero on SimpleSwap