UI/UX — The Most Critical Components of a Wallet
The security factor of a crypto wallet is hands down the most important thing and also the main criteria that will decide which wallet to use. But assuming we have two wallets with the same level of security, the User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) would be the thing that would make the difference because let’s face it, we all like a nice package and an easy to use product.
The Best UI/UX Wallets Of Today
User Interface (UI) is the frontend of the wallet, the screens, buttons and layouts that you and I use to input our credentials, use features and interact with the software as a whole. User Experience (UX) is very similar to UI but it acts on a broader scale and incorporates the whole experience the user has with that company, its product and service.
UI and UX must work together flawlessly in order to create the best product; after all, what good would it do to have a crypto wallet with an easy to use interface but poor overall usability (i.e. not enough coins supported, no security updates and no support). So without further ado, let’s see if we can find the best UI — UX blend in a wallet. This shouldn’t be viewed as an advertisement or advice to trust a certain product, but an opinion formed after using a fairly large number of crypto wallets available out there and weighing in the general opinion of the Internet masses.
Desktop wallet: Exodus. It supports a very large number of crypto coins and more are added regularly. One of its major features is a built-in exchange (in partnership with ShapeShift), which allows you to change your Bitcoins and altcoins in any other supported coin without leaving the wallet (without sending your crypto to a regular exchange and then back to the wallet). This is very convenient, results in lower overall fees and obviously adds extra points to the entire user experience (UX).
Other features include portfolio view, history (shows the transactions you’ve made as well as how much your crypto was worth when you transferred it to Exodus and how much it is worth now) and even the 30 day trend of the major crypto currencies. There’s also a backup function, which is very easy to use and straightforward. All of this is presented in a very user friendly manner, without too much fluff or things that clutter the user interface. The wallet can be easily used just to send, receive and store crypto without having to use the other functions.
Hardware wallet: Ledger Nano S. Hands down the most widely used hardware device, the Nano offers great security and peace of mind but doesn’t excel at ease of use. The UI is a simple screen complemented by two physical buttons used to insert the PIN, approve transactions and select options within the menu.
It can store multiple coins but for each you will have to download a specific app from the Ledger website, which requires a few steps and more importantly, attention from the user’s part. For that reason I would say that Nano S is harder to use but the security it offers makes up for that detriment, so the overall user experience is great after surpassing the small technical hurdles.
Mobile wallet: Coinomi. One of the most popular mobile wallets, Coinomi blends UI and UX almost perfectly. It has been around for a lot of time so the developers have had the time to iron out all the kinks, the interface is friendly, tidy and straightforward.
It supports a lot of crypto currencies but you can select to display only a few (or even only one), depending on what you’re interested in. There’s also integrated support for ShapeShift and Changelly, which means that you can exchange your coins with a few simple clicks, right on your phone.
Things To Look Out For When Selecting A Wallet
If you’re just entering the crypto space, it would be a great idea to download a few wallets and test them out, without storing any coins on them. Get a feel of the user interface and user experience, see if it’s your cup of tea. What appeals to one person can seem subpar to another so the choice of crypto wallets ultimately comes to what you like and what you need it for.
If you are going to buy crypto with the purpose of storing it long term, then hardware wallets are probably the best choice but if you are deterred by the somewhat more complicated UI/UX, know that it will all become easier with practice. Send the minimal amount of coins and learn to use the wallet properly.
On the other hand, if you are making daily transactions and travel a lot, then a mobile wallet is more appropriate — just don’t lose your phone! If you carry a laptop wherever you go, then a desktop wallet will offer better security than a mobile one. Always keep in mind there are many wallets out there, not only the one mentioned above, so each individual should experiment until he or she finds the right choice.
Whatever wallet type you chose, one thing should be paramount: the backup. All wallets have a backup procedure that will pop up usually as soon as you create an account. They will urge you to store your private keys or recovery phrases (depends from wallet to wallet) in a safe place, print them out, encrypt them, etcetera. You could write them down on a piece of paper and leave it on your desk at work — but that wouldn’t be too wise — or you could use Infinitus (INF), which is a dApp built for exactly that: encrypting and storing your wallet recovery tools on the blockchain.
Backup Your Crypto Wallet. Always!
Apart from building a secure blockchain vault, Infinitus understands the importance of ease-of-use, hence the extra efforts in ensuring the INF app is fuss free, with a simple UI and a seamless UX. The frontend has been built from the ground up with accessibility and convenience in mind, so it won’t take more than a few minutes to understand how it works. Some crypto wallets can be complicated in exchange for extra security and features but Infinitus is easy to use by anyone, without compromising in any area and is meant to store backups of any type of wallet, be it mobile, desktop or hardware.
