Launched in 2016, the platform is counting around 20 million active users in 2021, either on a computer and/or on the application. Its safety and ease of use are among the main arguments promoted by the brand. MetaMask is a non-custodial wallet, which means that you hold your own private key as soon as you register. While other platforms keep your vault key on their servers, MetaMask gives you the responsibility of backing up your key. You must keep it carefully because it cannot be found in case of loss.

Quick and uncomplicated handling.

MetaMask can be downloaded as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Opera, or even Microsoft Edge, but not for Safari. iOS users will need to download the app directly from the App Store. The desktop version is available in 52 languages. ​

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We find the same ease of using MetaMask on the extension and the application. Once you understand the need to keep your personal documents (password, Master Key, and recovery phrase), the basic functions of the software are quite simple to understand. The “Wallet” part allows you to import your tokens quickly. You can also receive cryptocurrencies from another user by presenting them with a QR code.

You also have the option of buying tokens (Ether and ERC-20 tokens) on third-party sites like Transak, but beware of transaction fees!

The main limitation of MetaMask is related to its choice of blockchain: the crypto wallet can only contain Ether and the many assets derived from the Ethereum blockchain. Therefore, You cannot store bitcoins or other more or less exotic cryptocurrencies.

But besides this defect, MetaMask offers a considerable advantage: it makes it possible to make a gateway with hundreds of dApps to make transactions simple and fast. Until a few years ago, these actions required complicated protocols that put off the general public.

Mobile app: more than a wallet, a portal to ETH.

MetaMask is quite pleasant to use from the application, available on the Google Play Store and the App Store. We regret that the interface does not offer a dark mode because the brightness quickly tires the eyes. It is easier to navigate in the application than on a computer, the presentation of menus and sub-menus being intuitive to perform the main actions such as receiving ether, exchanging it for another cryptocurrency or buying NFTs.

The browser function, available with the Google and DuckDuckGo search engines by default, allows you to stay up to date on crypto and NFT news. Overall, the application is an interesting portal to the entire Ethereum blockchain and its decentralized applications.

One downside, however: You will need to switch to Shakespeare’s language to communicate with technical support.

MetaMask price: everything free, except gas fees.

MetaMask is free software that requires no subscription or management fees. On the other hand, if your goal is to buy Ether or ERC-20 tokens directly, fees (called gas fees) apply, as in this example where we tried to buy ETH for a value of $200 via Transak.

As we can see, the total costs amount to $11.28. Even though these prices have become standard, they may turn off small investors. It should be kept in mind that MetaMask does not influence the level of these fees: these are the overhead costs of the Ethereum network, which will be the same regardless of the platform used.

MetaMask crypto wallet security.

MetaMask has never experienced a major security breach to date. You will need to compose a 12-word sentence (aka seed phrase), which you will need to write down and keep away from prying eyes (and hackers). This recovery phrase is the central principle of the security of “non-custodial” wallets because it is the service user who is the holder of the key to his vault.

When registering, the service will therefore ask you to enter a password and will assign you the famous recovery phrase. It must then be checked before having access to all MetaMask services. If you lose this phrase or if it ends up in the hands of a third party, you may lose access to your assets forever. Luckily, you have access to other layers of security like Password and Master keys.

On the application, the security arsenal is even more complete. The default auto-lock feature locks the screen after 30 seconds of inactivity, and you’ll need to scan your fingerprint each time you unlock it.

There is always the risk of phishing, which is not due to the service, but very few incidents of this nature have been mentioned since the launch of MetaMask.

On the side of the technical service.

Loss of token, non-reimbursement of gas fees for a failed transaction, account hacking…. Is MetaMask customer service equipped to respond to this kind of problem? Technical support can only be reached with a submission form, placed at the end of the “Get Help” section of the application. According to the site, responses are given in less than 12 hours.

However, MetaMask has a growing community of developers, notably present on GitHub. A bit like WordPress in the field of CMS, the service community is a significant source of answers to technical problems.

Where to get MetaMask ?

The product is free and can be downloaded to your computer from Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, or Microsoft Edge browsers. Note again that it is not available with Safari. You can also download the iOS and Android apps for free.

But remember,

Disclaimer: All details found on this post, and more generally on this website (neverfomoagain.com) are for informational purposes only. I don’t provide any financial advices. Please, Do your own research before undertaking to any investment/trading actions.