MetaMask: keys, security, fees and reviews
Software wallet
Visitor ratings: do you like MetaMask?
Key facts
- Wallet type
- Software wallet
- Who holds the keys
- the user (self-custody)
- Developer
- Consensys Software Inc.
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, browser extension
- Official site
- metamask.io
Checked on 2026-10-27 against the official site, docs and app-store pages.
What is MetaMask
MetaMask is a self-custodial crypto wallet available as a browser extension, a mobile app for iOS and Android, and on the web. It started in 2015 as a browser wallet for Ethereum, first shipped on 14 July 2016, and now also handles Bitcoin and Solana. It is made by MetaMask, the company formerly called Consensys Software Inc.
Who holds the keys
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Key control | Self-custodial: the user holds the Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP); anyone with the SRP controls the funds. |
| Key storage | Recovery phrase, passwords and private keys are stored encrypted on the user's own device. |
| Recovery | MetaMask cannot restore a wallet; losing the SRP (or the Google/Apple/Telegram login used to set it up) means the funds cannot be recovered. |
| Seed phrase | Standard 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase; private-key-imported accounts are not covered by it and must be backed up separately. |
Features and supported networks
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge and Opera; mobile app for iOS and Android; web version. |
| Supported networks | Ethereum and EVM tokens (ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-1155), Bitcoin, Solana and Solana tokens; the site cites 700+ supported networks. |
| Swaps | Built-in token swaps on the extension and mobile app. |
| Buy / sell | Buy crypto in the app and sell to fiat (e.g. USD, EUR, GBP) to a bank account or PayPal where available; options vary by region. |
| Hardware wallet support | Extension: Trezor, Ledger, Lattice, Keystone, NGRAVE ZERO, AirGap Vault. Mobile: Keystone, Ledger, NGRAVE ZERO. |
| NFTs | NFTs are shown in an NFTs tab in the app and web dashboard. |
| Other products | Perpetual futures (via Hyperliquid), prediction markets, tokenized stocks, a yield-bearing Money Account and a payment card; availability varies by region. |
Security and audits
- Source code is public on GitHub, but under a MetaMask/Consensys licence that allows free reuse only for non-commercial use (including projects up to 10,000 monthly users); it is not an OSI open-source licence.
- Runs a bug bounty programme on HackerOne.
- Built-in phishing alerts, readable transaction previews and LavaMoat, an open-source tool against JavaScript supply-chain attacks.
- Optional paid Transaction Shield covers eligible transactions against loss up to $10,000 per month.
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Wallet | Free to download on iOS, Android and web; network fees are paid to the blockchain. |
| Swaps | 0.875% service fee included in each swap quote. |
| Subscription | Transaction Shield: $9.99 per month or $99 per year (optional). |
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2015 | First commit of the metamask-extension repository by developer Kumavis. |
| 14 July 2016 | First public version released. |
| 14 July 2026 | Tenth anniversary; the vendor reports more than 100 million downloads. |
| 9 September 2026 | Consensys Software Inc. announced it will rebrand as MetaMask and spin its protocols business off into a new company named Consensys; separation expected by the end of 2026. |
Risks and caveats
- If the Secret Recovery Phrase is lost, MetaMask cannot recover the wallet or the funds.
- Anyone who obtains the recovery phrase or a private key can take the funds; MetaMask says it will never ask for them.
- Buy, sell, card, yield and trading features depend on third-party partners and vary by region; the Money Account is not a bank deposit.
About the developer
- Developer
- MetaMask (formerly Consensys Software Inc.)
- Founders
- Created by developers Kumavis and Dan Finlay.
- Leadership
- Joe Lubin, Chairman and CEO.
- Headquarters
- Fort Worth, Texas, USA (dateline of the company's September 2026 announcement).
Official links
- Website: metamask.io
- Docs: metamask.io/faqs
- Source code: github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension
- Security: metamask.io/security
- Support: support.metamask.io/start/user-guide-secret-recovery-phrase-password-and-private-keys
Questions and answers
Is MetaMask self-custodial?
Yes. Keys are stored encrypted on the user's device and controlled through the Secret Recovery Phrase; MetaMask cannot recover a lost wallet.
Is MetaMask open source?
The code is public on GitHub, but its licence allows free reuse only for non-commercial purposes, so it is source-available rather than open source in the OSI sense.
Which coins and networks does MetaMask support?
Ethereum and EVM networks with ERC-20, ERC-721 and ERC-1155 tokens, plus Bitcoin and Solana.
Does MetaMask charge fees?
The wallet is free; swaps include a 0.875% service fee, and the optional Transaction Shield costs $9.99 per month.
Who makes MetaMask?
MetaMask, the company formerly called Consensys Software Inc., led by Joe Lubin.
Sources
- metamask.io
- github.com
- MetaMask — About
- MetaMask — FAQs
- MetaMask Support — Secret Recovery Phrase, password and private keys
- MetaMask — Security
- MetaMask — Ten Years After the First Commit
- MetaMask — Consensys Software Inc. to become two independent companies
- MetaMask — Introducing Transaction Shield
- MetaMask — Crypto Security Report: May 2025
- GitHub — MetaMask/metamask-extension LICENSE
More in this section
How voting works
Votes are anonymous and carry no text. Each device has one vote per item; press the same button again to remove it. Cloudflare Turnstile checks that a person is voting. We keep a random device ID in a cookie and a salted hash of the IP address to limit abuse — no names, no accounts. Votes are visitors’ opinions, not investment advice.
Page updated: