MetaMask Review 2024

    MetaMaska popular crypto wallet without verification that can be used to buy, send, store and exchange cryptocurrencies. The service allows users to interact with the Ethereum ecosystem by providing the ability to connect to decentralized applications (Dapps), without having to download the entire blockchain to their device. It is a good and reliable Ethereum wallet for easy access to decentralized exchanges (DEX) and applications, gaming platforms, betting sites, online casinos and more.

    Metamask functions in two versions: as a browser extension and as a mobile app.

    We will tell you how to create a MetaMask wallet and how to use it (receive, send, exchange cryptocurrencies, add tokens, etc.) in the review.

    Read also: Best Crypto Wallet.

    MetaMask Wallet History

    The MetaMask wallet appeared on the market in 2016. Owned by ConsenSys, whose CEO was one of the co-founders of the Ethereum network.

    Metamask was created as a plugin for desktop versions of Firefox and Chrome browsers, and until 2019 it was available only in this form. In September 2020, the first official MetaMask mobile app was released for Android and iOS devices.

    The functionality of the wallet was also expanded. Now users can connect multiple wallets and switch between the main Ethereum network and other networks. There is also a MetaMask Swaps feature for instant token swaps on the Ethereum network.

    The wallet is already used by 30M users worldwide and available for download at https://metamask.io/.

    Registration And Creating A MetaMask wallet

    To create a MetaMask wallet, the user does not need to go through registration and identity verification. You just need to visit the official website of the wallet and click Download.

    MetaMask Cryptocurrency Wallet
    Getting started with the MetaMask wallet

    Instructions for installing MetaMask in Chrome browser:

    1. Select Install MetaMask for Chrome;
      Installing MetaMask in Chrome Browser
      Installing MetaMask in Chrome
    2. Click Add to Chrome in the next opened window to install the extension;
      Add browser extension
      Adding a browser extension
    3. Select Get Started on the welcome page;
      Greetings from MetaMask
      Greetings from MetaMask
    4. In the right column – Create a Wallet;
      Start creating a MetaMask wallet
      Getting Started with the MetaMask Wallet
    5. Create and confirm password, accept terms of use and click Create;
      Create a password
      Creating a password
    6. Before moving on to the next step, watch the short video about the recovery of seed phrase and how to secure your wallet;
    7. Secret recovery phrase will appear in the next window: click on the specified field and write down the words in the order in which they are written → Next;
      Secret Phrase
      Secret phrase
    8. Confirm the recovery phrase by entering the words in the correct order;
    9. If the phrase is entered correctly, in a new window you will see a message with the message of successful installation of the wallet and tips for safe storage of the secret phrase;
      Tips for securely storing your passphrase
      Tips for keeping your phrase secure
    10. Read them and click All Done. Wallet installation complete.

    The seed phrase is the only way to recover your wallet if you forget your password or want to open your wallet on another device.

    Never keep a digital copy of your phrase: write it down and keep it physically, out of the reach of other people.

    Security Settings

    The security of the wallet must be taken care of immediately after its creation. MetaMask features a high level of protection for user funds. This is achieved because passwords and keys are generated directly on your device, so only you have access to your account. This way you fully own and control all the data.

    To see the available protection methods, go to the wallet settings (Settings) and select the Security and Privacy section. Here you can:

    • View secret phrase: select Reveal secret recovery phrase;
    • Enable option Show incoming transactions;
    • Enable button Use phishing detection.
    MetaMask security settings
    MetaMask security settings

    Verification

    Verification is not required to work with the wallet.

    How To Use The MetaMask

    The MetaMask wallet is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Microsoft Edge browsers. In addition to the Ethereum cryptocurrency, Metamask can store any ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens.

    In order to start using the wallet, you need to create an account: hover over the profile icon and select the Create an account option.

    Next, let’s look at how to replenish the balance, receive and send cryptocurrency, and connect Metamask to hardware wallets.

    Wallet Replenishment

    MetaMask offers 2 options for replenishing your account: from an exchange wallet or by a bank card.

    From An Exchange Crypto Wallet

    You can buy tokens on an exchange, for example, on Binance and transfer them to the wallet using the desired network.

    For this:

    1. Select Wallet → Fiat and Spot → Withdraw → Withdraw Crypto;
    2. Specify the cryptocurrency to be withdrawn (for example, ETH);
    3. Enter amount of coins;
    4. Enter the account address copied from Metamask in Address;
    5. Send Ethers to it.
    Withdraw ETH from Binance
    Withdrawing ETH from Binance

    Via Bank Card

    Metamask can be replenished from the card through trird party partners: Coinbase Pay, Transak, MoonPay or Wyre.

    Select Buy, then select desired option and go to the partner site.

    MetaMask recharge from card
    Replenishing MetaMask from the card

    How To Receive Payments

    To see the account address, click on the three dots next to it and select Account details. Copy the address or scan the QR-code and give it to the person who will transfer funds to your Metamask wallet.

    Account details
    Account details

    How To Send Cryptocurrency

    To send funds from your Metamask wallet:

    1. Go to wallet and press Send;
      Sending funds from wallet
      Sending funds from a wallet
    2. After that, enter Ethereum address of the recipient;
    3. Then specify the amount of crypro to send and the amount of gas that you are willing to pay for the transaction.
      Recipient address
      Recipient’s address
    Make sure the network you are sending and receiving tokens are matches before sending funds.

    Import Account And Connect Hardware Wallets

    To import your MetaMask account:

    1. Click on the profile icon and select the Import Account option;
      Invoice import
      Invoice import
    2. Select type: Private Key (private key) or JSON File and enter data → Import.
      Import private key
      Import private key

    Although MetaMask is a hot wallet (always connected to web), it can easily connect to cold hardware wallets such as the Ledger, Trezor, Lattice and more.

    For this:

    1. In the wallet, click on the profile icon and select the Connect hardware wallet option;
      Connecting a hardware wallet
      Connecting a hardware wallet
    2. Select the hardware wallet you want to use with MetaMask, eg Ledger → Continue;
      Ledger connection
      Ledger connection
    3. Connect your wallet directly to your computer.

    MetaMask Fees

    Metamask does not charge transfer fees, but automatically charges gas fees for each transaction. Its size depends on the current state of the network. Users can set their own gas fees for transactions and gas limits.

    Gas limits are the maximum amount a user is willing to spend on a transaction.

    The size of the commission directly affects the speed of the transaction: the more you pay, the faster the confirmation time of your transactioon is, and vice versa. If the gas fee is too low compared to the default fee, then the transaction may remain unconfirmed.

    Additional Features Of The MetaMask

    Let’s talk about two additional options for MetaMask users.

    MetaMask Swaps

    In October 2020, a new option appeared in the wallet – exchange. With this update fast token swap on the Ethereum network is available to wallet users.

    How it works:

    1. Select the Swap option in the wallet,;
      Swap tokens in MetaMask
      Swap tokens in MetaMask
    2. Specify coins for exchange and amount of them;
    3. Click Review swap.
      MetaMask Swaps
      MetaMask Swaps

    In additional parameters you can enable smart transactions to optimize the exchange process:

    • Minimizing transaction costs;
    • Reducing the number of transaction failures;
    • Fixing transaction hangs;
    • Prevent of lead.

    EIP-1559

    The abbreviation EIP stands for Ethereum Improvement Proposal.

    The ETH EIP 1559 update was released in August 2021. As a result, the following changes were achieved:

    • Improved transaction fee calculation process: Fee volatility has been reduced, so you can better predict costs;
    • The decrease in mining efficiency affected the rate of issue of coins: artificial scarcity reduces inflation and leads to an increase in the ETH rate relative to fiat and other digital currencies.

    MetaMask Wallet Networks

    The Metamask wallet was originally developed for the Ethereum network and ERC-20 tokens. However, it also works on Ethereum Network Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible networks. For example, after adding the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) network, BEP-20 tokens can be transferred to the MetaMask wallet.

    Networks for Metamask:

    • Ethereum (available by default);
    • Binance Smart Chain (BSC);
    • Polygon;
    • Avalanche;
    • Moonriver;
    • Harmony;
    • TomoChain;
    • and others.

    How To Add Tokens To MetaMask

    By default, an account for ETH is created in the wallet. But in addition to the main network, Metamask supports all tokens issued on the basis of the Ethereum blockchain.

    In order for the sent tokens to be displayed in the wallet, they need to be added there (it is enough to do this once, then the tokens will always be displayed in the wallet). You can add tokens to Metamask using its address, but it is more reliable to do this through CoinMarketCap.com or CoinGecko.com.

    For example, let’s add a USDT token to Metamask on the Ethereum Main Net using CoinGecko.com.

    For this:

    1. Go to CoinGecko.com;
    2. Search for Tether (USDT) and go to the token page;
    3. On the right in the Info section you will see the MetaMask wallet logo (fox face);
    4. Hover a pointer over it to display Add to MetaMask option;
      Tether (USDT) token page on CoinGecko .com
      Tether (USDT) token page on CoinGecko.com
    5. In the new window, select Add Token to import USDT into your MetaMask wallet.
      Adding USDT to MetaMask Wallet
      Adding USDT to MetaMask Wallet

    MetaMask Mobile Application

    In September 2020, the MetaMask team released a mobile app compatible with Android or iOS devices. The mobile version of the wallet has the same functions as the browser version.

    To use MetaMask from your smartphone, you need to download the MetaMask mobile app from the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS and follow the instructions. You can download the app from https://metamask.io/download/.

    Support

    There are several ways to contact MetaMask support specialists. The site has a Support tab with three options:

    • FAQs: FAQ section;
    • Get Support: help center and also knowledge base;
    • Community: a section where you can post your question and describe the problem, with encountered.

    Pros And Cons

    Open source blockchain wallet;
    30 million users worldwide;
    Receive, send, exchange and store cryptocurrencies;
    Ability to connect to decentralized applications (Dapps), without need to download the entire blockchain to your device;
    Without verification;
    Available in two versions: browser and mobile;
    High level of security;
    You can replenish your account from an exchange wallet or from a card through partners;
    No transfer fees (only gas fees);
    Connection to hardware wallets;
    The ability to switch between the main Ethereum network and other supported networks;
    MetaMask Swaps to instantly swap tokens on the Ethereum network;
    ETH EIP update 1559;
    Quality support.
    Using the wallet as a browser extension compromises security as browsers can track funds;
    Wallet does not support Bitcoin;
    Refers to “hot” type of storage, which is less secure than using “cold” wallets;
    The need to pay for gas on the Ethereum network for each transaction.

    MetaMask Reviews

    Reading reviews about the work of a particular service is a necessity. But it is more important to pay attention not to the overall rating, but to the specific pros and cons that the user writes about. Reviews should be meaningful, without unnecessary emotional overload. If a user is dissatisfied with the services they have received and wants to share their experience with others, they must clearly describe what problem they are experiencing. That also concern positive reviews: they should contain a clear and meaningful description of the benefits of the service.

    As for MetaMask, among the pluses users note:

    • Nice and intuitive interface for both browser and mobile versions;
    • The ability to use the wallet without registration and verification;
    • Advanced security settings;
    • Replenishment of the account from the card;
    • Connecting to hardware wallets;
    • Ability to add tokens;
    • etc.

    Negative rating of users are associated with:

    • A limited set of supported tokens (for example, Bitcoin is not among them);
    • Questionable security when using the browser version;
    • High gas fees.

    FAQ

    What Is MetaMask?
    MetaMask is a popular cryptocurrency wallet available as browser extension and mobile app that does not require verification. Allows you to buy, send, store and exchange cryptocurrencies and easily connect to decentralized exchanges (DEX) and applications (Dapps).
    How Does MetaMask Work?
    All transactions that take place through the wallet are stored on the blockchain, and only the owner of the private keys can access the contents of the wallet. These keys are stored encrypted on the device of user. Transactions are signed and sent to the blockchain also on the computer or phone of user. Thus, only he owns all the data.
    What Networks Does MetaMask Support?
    The main Metamask network is Ethereum. However, the wallet works on all networks that are compatible with the Ethereum Network Virtual Machine (EVM). For example, with Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Polygon, Avalanche and others.
    What Are The Risks Of Using MetaMask?
    The main risk comes from the fact that Metamask is a hot storage, meaning it is always connected to the network. Therefore, storing large amounts in a wallet can be quite dangerous because of the increased risk of hacker attacks.
    What Are The MetaMask Fees?
    Metamask does not charge transfer fees, but the user must pay for gas for each transaction (the amount of the fee depends on the current state of the network). But at the same time, you can set the amount that you are willing to spend on this transaction yourself.

    Conclusion

    MetaMask is one of the most convenient and reliable tools for cryptocurrency transactions and access to decentralized applications (DApps).

    On the market since 2016, and during this time it has been upgraded a lot: a mobile version of the wallet has appeared (in addition to the browser version), the ability to connect to other networks , instant swap option, ETH EIP 1559 upgrade and other features.

    The audience of MetaMask is 30 million users from all over the world who installed the wallet without registration and verification and use it for their needs. We talked about the possibilities of MetaMask, as well as how to work with it, above. It remains only to try in practice.

    Agatha Redich
    Agatha Redich
    Articles author, editor
    Articles author and website editor. Works with texts for over 12 years. Among Agatha’s clients: Rossman, Zara, Bosch, ING Bank, Lexus and others. Crypto journalist since 2018. She wrote more than a hundred articles about cryptocurrencies and the crypto market. Agatha's professional credo is to reveal complex topics in an accessible and simple way.
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    Emil Rabin
    Emil Rabin
    Site expert
    Cryptocurrency expert and financial analyst. Emil has working experience in Bain and KPMG, collaborated with PayPal and Revolut, organized more than 30 educational events about blockchain and cryptocurrencies in Eastern Europe. An expert of the TGDRatings.com portal since 2022.
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