If you are interested in getting on Bitcoin, nothing beats mobile convenience – the ability to access and manage your bitcoin on your mobile phone. I tried my hands on a few and have compiled a list of some of the popular mobile Bitcoin apps you should try out.
If you are completely new to Bitcoin, I recommend that you read our quick guide to understanding Bitcoin first, then you can decide which of the available Bitcoin mobile apps listed below you prefer to use. But if you are ready to jump in right away, let’s roll.
Understanding Mobile Bitcoin Apps
Bitcoin mobile apps allow you to access and manage your Bitcoins. This means that you can access any Bitcoin wallet you already own by adding it using the wallet’s unique Backup phrase.
BlockChain.info
If you have an existing Bitcoin wallet, select ‘recover Funds” from the login page and enter your Backup phrase in the text field. The app will then attempt to create a Blockchain account for you. Once you are done with the procedure, the app is ready to use for sending and receiving Bitcoin.
BlockChain.info mobile app supports Ethereum (aka Ether). Ethereum is another cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. The app also provides a Bitcoin price chart and lets you exchange bitcoin for ether and vice versa.
Download for Android HERE. Download for iOS HERE.
Electrum Bitcoin Wallet
I have found hearty recommendations of Electrum from a few quarters, but each time I try to import my existing wallet, whether by QR code or by typing my backup phrase, Electrum wouldn’t accept my entries. I tried creating a standard wallet and also importing Bitcoin addresses or private keys. Neither worked.
Download for Android HERE. This Bitcoin app is not available for iOS.
Bitcoin.com Wallet
In my opinion, Bitcoin.com is the simplest and easiest to use of the lot and perhaps the most suitable for beginners. It supports both standard Bitcoins and Bitcoin Cash (an improved version of Bitcoin that has lower transaction fees).
Download for Android HERE. Download for iOS HERE.
Coinbase Bitcoin Wallet
Coinbase Bitcoin Wallet is a more comprehensive cryptocurrency app, with support for not only Bitcoin but also Ethereum and Litecoin. From the app’s main page, it displays price charts for all three currencies. Some intelligent, location-based script is at work here because the app displays the prices in Nigerian Naira to me. Nice.
You will need a Coinbase account to use the app beyond that point, so you either login if you are an existing user or create a new account. After creating an account and logging in though, I did not find an option to import my existing wallets. Coinbase simply created Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin wallets for me.
So, I checked Coinbase’s support pages and there I found this: “Coinbase wallets currently do not support a wallet import feature“. Bummer. I like the comprehensive nature of Coinbase but I want the freedom to use any wallet of my choice per time to manage my Bitcoin transactions, so Coinbase is a No for me. Still, it might be just what you want.
Download Coinbase for Android HERE. Download for iOS HERE.
Eidoo
The Eidoo mobile app is a simple, well-designed one that works for both Bitcoin and Ethereum. When you launch Eidoo for the first time, you either restore an existing wallet or create a new one. The main page is the one labelled “Your Assets”, but I did not find my Bitcoin wallet in there after the import exercise. There is an Etheruem wallet in there though.
Eidoo is marketed as providing the ability to sell, buy, spend, and convert your cryptocurrencies and your tokens from one single app. My experience with it is that it can be confusing to beginners.
Download for Android HERE. Download for iOS HERE.
My Recommendations
From my time using the above apps, I recommend Bitcoin.com Wallet and BlockChain.info apps for non-technical beginners who want simplicity and flexibility. The former is simple to the bare bones, while the latter offers more features without sacrificing simplicity.
Other Mobile Bitcoin Apps
The above Bitcoin applications are those that I have personally had some experience with. As mentioned earlier, there are many available. Other available Bitcoin apps include BreadWallet, Jaxx, Bitgo, Mycelium, Mobi, BTC.com, Coinomi, Green Address, Schildbach, Airbitz, Copay, and Bither. If any of the apps reviewed on this page do not meet your needs, feel free to search out these others and give them a try.
As always, do your research and pick which works best for you.