# ChainATM vs Tangem

> Tangem makes card-shaped hardware wallets that hold keys in a secure element and are tapped against a phone by NFC instead of being cabled to a computer.

## Side-by-side

| | ChainATM | Tangem |
|---|---|---|
| Website | https://www.chain-atm.com | tangem.com |
| Category | AI-powered crypto wallet (chat + voice) | hardware |
| Fees | 1 credit per tx (0% on USDC and EURC) | One-off card purchase; partner fees apply to buys and swaps inside the app |
| Interface | AI chat (voice + text) | NFC card tapped against a phone, driven by the Tangem app |
| Custody | Non-custodial (self-custody wallet) | Non-custodial (keys stay on the card) |
| AI commands | Yes | No |
| Voice commands | Yes (iOS) | No |
| Fiat onramp | Yes (Coinbase) | No |

## Tangem strengths

- No cable, no battery, no charging
- Backup cards instead of a written seed phrase
- Much faster to use than a cabled device
- Secure element with an audited chip

## Tangem weaknesses

- Card must be physically present for every transaction
- Losing all backup cards means losing access
- No AI or voice
- Buys and swaps route through partners with their own fees
- Upfront hardware cost

## Why choose ChainATM over Tangem

- Built for the everyday half: Tangem is where a balance should sit long term, not where you transact weekly
- No device to carry: every Tangem transaction needs the hardware in your hand
- Built-in fiat onramp at 0% on USDC and EURC
- Cross-chain swaps in one command via LI.FI across 9 chains

## Common questions

### Is Tangem or ChainATM better for buying and sending crypto?

It depends on which part you do most. Pick Tangem if what your use case turns on is what it is strongest at: No cable, no battery, no charging; Backup cards instead of a written seed phrase. ChainATM is the better choice if you want to buy, swap and send from one conversation instead of three separate flows, and it charges 0% ChainATM fees on USDC and EURC. ChainATM is non-custodial throughout: it never holds your funds, and purchases are executed by Coinbase straight into a wallet you control.

### What does Tangem cost compared to ChainATM?

Tangem: One-off card purchase; partner fees apply to buys and swaps inside the app. ChainATM: 1 credit per transaction, from EUR 0.099 per credit, and 0% ChainATM fees on purchases of USDC and EURC. Other tokens use standard Coinbase on-ramp pricing. Network gas fees apply on both sides and go to the blockchain, not to the provider.

### Can I use Tangem and ChainATM together?

Yes, and that is the intended arrangement. Large holdings stay in cold storage on the Tangem device; the balance you actually spend each week lives in ChainATM. Both are self-custody, so there is no provider in between who has to approve the pairing.

### Does ChainATM hold my crypto like Tangem does?

No. Neither product holds your crypto: Tangem and ChainATM are both self-custody. The difference is the interface, not the custody model. ChainATM is driven by plain-language text or voice rather than by forms, and we never have access to your keys in usable form.

### Is ChainATM available in my country?

Availability depends on our on-ramp partners' supported regions. ChainATM is built by Noctra Labs UG (haftungsbeschränkt) in Trier, Germany, registered at Amtsgericht Wittlich under HRB 48033. The fiat on-ramp runs through Coinbase, with EUR purchases by SEPA, card and Apple Pay.

## Related

- [All comparisons](https://www.chain-atm.com/compare.md)
- [Buy crypto](https://www.chain-atm.com/buy.md)
- [Pricing](https://www.chain-atm.com/pricing.md)
- [Auf Deutsch lesen](https://www.chain-atm.com/vergleich/tangem.md)