7 best crypto seed phrase storage & backups

If you hold any cryptocurrencies, one of the most important parts of keeping your digital coins safe is your seed phrase. Some people choose to simply write down the phrase and store it somewhere, while others take the risk of keeping it logged on their mobile or desktop devices.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about seed phrase including what it is, what it does and the best backup solutions that you can utilize to ensure your seed phrase is as safe as it can possibly be.

So, if you’re wondering how to make your cryptocurrency secure online, keep reading to find out more.

What is a seed phrase?

Otherwise known as the recovery phrase or mnemonic phrase, a seed phrase is essentially a passcode to a cryptocurrency wallet, which can hold access to multiple crypto addresses. Seed phrases are used by online wallets for some centralized trading platforms, but also by hardware wallets and their purpose is to provide an extra level of security to your cryptocurrency.

There’s no doubt that your seed phrase is the most valuable part of your wallet. Hence, all crypto holders must secure their recovery phrase as much as possible.

Natural disasters like fire, floods, or earthquakes can remove your seed phrase from existence if you keep it as a physical copy, so we do not advise writing it down on a piece of paper for instance. And if you choose to not back-up your seed phrase securely, something as simple as forgetting your password, which we all do from time to time, can make it impossible for you to access funds or digital assets in your crypto wallet. Perhaps more importantly, if you fail to securely store your seed-phrase, it could make it much easier for someone else to access your funds and private keys if they are able to get hold of your seed-phrase.

Seed phrases are usually set of 24 words that look something like this:
leisure critic quote machine fine define negative roast base brush mention language share balcony acoustic earth glow weird denial vague design path shallow chat

Most seed words use a BIP39 standard, which is a mnemonic seed code for creating randomly chosen words from a specific list of 2048 words – BIP39 word list.

From the designated 2048 set words, this is a possible 189.5 billion different possible combinations, so you can be sure that yours is truly unique.

24-word seed phrases are most popular due the enhanced level of security they provide, but they can sometimes be as short as 12. While this is less secure, it could be argued that a short combination would be easier to remember and would therefore not need to be stored anywhere.

Seed phrases use the same state-of-the-art encryption methods as the blockchain itself so they are impossible to crack by hackers. This is why they are such an important part of cryptocurrency ownership.

So now you know exactly what a seed phrase is and just how important it is to protect your seed phrase. But it's vital to also make sure your storage solution can withstand whatever may be thrown at it.

So, let's run through the 7 best seed phrase backup solutions for 2024.

CryptoSteel Capsules

The CryptoSteel Capsules offer a premium solution for offline storage of valuable data without any third-party involvement. 

The device is made of solid metal, meaning it can survive extreme weather conditions and will work under almost all circumstances. It’s also compatible with most key generation algorithms, so you should be able to store your seed phrase on a CryptoSteel Capsule with no issue.

The capsule features adjustable separators that offer more storage capacity than most other solutions - with 123 characters instead of 96. The device comes with a full character set that includes random letters, numbers and/or symbols, so you are not limited when it comes to choosing a secure password. Plus, every character is deeply indented into the tiles to ensure the information is not easily eroded over time.

The capsule is waterproof and fireproof, and comes with easy-to-read instructions that help set up your seed phrase storage.

Keystone Tablet

The Keystone Tablet is a seed-phrase storage solution made by the Keystone team, following the creation of their hardware wallet, which is widely considered one of the best hardware wallets available right now. 

The Tablet has gone through extensive stress tests to ensure it can withstand the most extreme conditions and maintain the security of your seed phrase. It is designed to be incredibly resistant to extreme heat with a fireproof threshold of 1399 to 1455 ℃ / 2550 to 2651 °F, using a legendary 304-grade stainless steel, and it is also resistant to water, salt, and acid.

Designed for easy assembly and convenient storage of 12, 18, or 24-word mnemonic phrases, the Keystone Tablet could be the perfect option for storing your recovery phrase safely and securely.

Keystone Tablet Plus

If you were a fan of the Keystone Tablet but desire even more security for your seed phrase storage, then the Keystone Tablet Plus could be for you. The Tablet Plus has gone through the same durability testing as its predecessor, also having a fireproof threshold of 1399 to 1455℃ (for reference - house fires reach 649℃). 

The Tablet Plus is also composed entirely of 304-grade stainless steel, making it completely waterproof and resistant to various types of corrosion. The big difference between the two Tablets is in the method and style of storing your seed phrase. The Tablet Plus supports double-sided storage offering space for 12, 18, and 24-word recovery phrases, but BIP39 security specifies only the first 4 letters are needed to identify each word.

CoinPlate Alpha

Similar to the other products mentioned in this article, CoinPlates are a range of metal seed-phrase storage tools which are designed to withstand extreme conditions while still being easy to use and access. All CoinPlates are made of 100% superior grade German Stainless Steel, which guarantees water and corrosion resistance, as well as being fireproof up to temperature around 1.400°C/2.500°F.

The CoinPlate Alpha is made of ultra-thick stainless steel plates joined by stainless steel bolts. Each steel plate is 5mm thick, forming a solid block of steel when connected that will secure your seed phrase. The layout and letterings are both deeply engraved in the steel sheets, meaning your seed phrase will remain visible throughout the worst conditions.

Cryptotag Zeus

The Cryptotag Zeus has been tested to some of the greatest limits we've ever seen in the world of seed phrase storage.

All Cryptotag backup products have been tested in temperatures up to 1665°C / 3029 °F. Made from 6mm-thick titanium, the Cryptotag Zeus is waterproof, corrosion-proof, hackerproof and even bulletproof. So not only is it capable of saving your funds, it could even save your life!

Instead of individually letter stamping your entire password onto the steel, which could take some time, the Zeus simply uses numbers that correspond to the specific word in the industry-standard BIP39 wordlist. This list is unchanging, so the numbers will always refer to the exact same word in the list. Doing this makes the device much easier to set up and even more difficult to hack.

Billfodl

Billfodl is one of the most secure ways to physically store your crypto wallet backup offline and also keep it safe from hackers.

The device uses a randomized set of character tiles, you recreate your recovery phrase in the steel unit, making it an almost indestructible backup. It is forged to withstand more than double the heat produced by a house fire, using marine-grade 316 stainless steel that will never rust and can withstand up to 1,000,000 volts of electricity. If you’re looking for something with an enhanced level of security, this is a very good option.

ShiftCrypto Steel Wallet

The Steel Wallet by ShiftCrypto is a metal storage tool that protects your recovery words against fire, water, corrosion and electric shocks. Unlike some of the other wallets, the Steel Wallet uses an automatic puncher to engrave your seed phrase on the steel sheets. Each sheet holds up to 12 recovery words.

As a lower-tech option, it has very clear instructions and is easy to set up with no additional tools needed, so this could be a good option for someone who is new to seed phrase storage. One big benefit of the Steel Wallet is that it works universally with all wallet types and seed phrases. Unlike previous options that we’ve mentioned here which use codes to refer to the BIP39 wordlist, the Steel Wallet supports any and all seed phrase types with a basic inscription method. This gives you even more freedom to create the seed phrase that is right for you, without being restricted to the official BIP39 wordlist.

So, there you have it! We’ve outlined the 7 best crypto seed phrase storage solutions for 2024 so that you can be confident that your seed phrase is safe from hackers, extreme conditions and more. If you are looking for other ways to keep your crypto safe, make sure to check out our guide on "How to safely and Securely store your cryptocurrency"