Is ICP App Store really free?

Yes. Every app listed is free to open and use. Many are fully open-source. There are no subscriptions, no in-app paywalls, and no ads on the App Store itself.

Do I need a crypto wallet or tokens to use these apps?

No. Most apps sign you in with a passkey (via Internet Identity) — no wallet, no tokens, no seed phrases. A few DeFi apps do need crypto to actually swap or lend, but browsing and signing in is free.

Are these apps private?

Apps built on the Internet Computer run entirely on the Internet Computer. Several use end-to-end encryption and threshold key management (VetKeys) so even the developer can't read your data.

What is the Internet Computer?

A public, public compute network that hosts entire applications — frontend, backend, and data — as smart contracts. Apps are tamper-resistant, globally distributed, and served directly to your browser without traditional cloud servers.

Do I have to install anything?

No. Every app opens in a modern browser with no extensions or downloads. Many work as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) so you can add them to your phone or desktop for a native-feeling experience.

How is this different from the Apple or Google app store?

Nothing is gatekept by a single company, there are no 30% cut fees, the apps run on public infrastructure rather than someone's private server, and you don't have to install anything.

Is a passkey wallet really as secure as a hardware wallet?

For most threat models, yes. Modern passkeys use the Secure Enclave (iPhone, Mac) or StrongBox (Android) — the same hardware-key-isolation approach as Ledger and Trezor. For very large holdings, a dedicated hardware wallet is still the gold standard, but it\'s overkill for day-to-day use.

Can I use both MetaMask and OISY at the same time?

Yes. They hold different accounts; your MetaMask wallet and your OISY wallet are separate. Transfer funds to whichever you\'re using for a particular transaction.

Do I need to pay gas on Internet Computer apps?

For most user actions, no. The canister hosting the app pays compute cost from its cycle balance. For transactions that settle on Bitcoin or Ethereum, you pay those networks\' fees as usual.

What if my wallet provider disappears?

It depends on the wallet, and the difference matters. With a seed-phrase wallet you hold the key and can import it elsewhere. With OISY there is no key to export: it is held as shares by the Internet Computer\'s nodes, so your funds do not depend on OISY\'s team continuing to exist, but nor can you carry that key to a different wallet. Ask which of the two you have before you need the answer.

Which browser wallet should you use?

Extension vs extensionless, multichain vs single-chain, seed phrase vs passkey.

There are two clean ways to hold crypto in a browser: a browser extension wallet (MetaMask, Phantom, Plug) or an extensionless wallet you sign into with a passkey (OISY). Each has distinct tradeoffs.

The short recommendation

Just getting started? Try OISY. No extension to install. Holds ICP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Polygon and BNB Chain assets natively. Sign in with a passkey — no seed phrase. Power user who lives in Ethereum DeFi all day? MetaMask plus a hardware wallet is still the default. Already in the Internet Computer ecosystem? Plug (extension, feels like MetaMask) or OISY (no extension).

Extension wallet tradeoffs

Pros: standard UX (connect button on every dapp), works across thousands of Ethereum apps, hardware-wallet integration. Cons: browser extensions are a juicy target for malware. A compromised extension can sign transactions without your knowledge. Auto-updates can change behavior without notice. And you need to manage a 12- or 24-word seed phrase — losing it means losing your funds, writing it down somewhere readable means whoever finds it gets your funds.

Passkey (extensionless) wallet tradeoffs

Pros: no extension attack surface, and no seed phrase. Be clear on where the key actually is, because wallets differ: your passkey lives in your device's secure hardware, but the key that signs transactions may live there too or, as with OISY, be held as shares across independent nodes so that no single machine holds it. Multi-device recovery is built in (register phone + laptop + hardware key; any one recovers). Cons: fewer cross-chain integrations today — though growing fast for Internet Computer apps. Passkey portability across ecosystems is still developing.

What to actually compare

First, the chains you need. If you hold BTC, ETH, USDC, memecoins — make sure the wallet supports them. Second, custody: is it custodial or non-custodial? Some apps (Coinbase's primary app) are custodial; Coinbase Wallet is non-custodial. Know which is which. Third, extension or browser: extension wallets work everywhere but carry the extension-malware risk; browser-based wallets like OISY are safer but have fewer integrations. Fourth, recovery model: seed phrase (portable but risky), passkey (safer, device-bound), hardware key (safest, requires hardware).

Common pitfalls

"This wallet is free" means the app is free — blockchain fees (gas) still apply on networks that charge them. "Multichain" means different things: some wallets hold wrapped versions of BTC/ETH (custodial), while native multichain like OISY is real BTC/ETH controlled by your passkey. A mobile app wallet has a different threat model from a browser extension; treat them as separate categories.

Related apps

OISY Wallet — Manage assets across multiple chains from one place. No extensions, no seed phrases.
Plug Wallet — A browser wallet for managing ICP tokens, NFTs, and connecting to dapps on the Internet Computer.
Internet Identity — Passwordless sign-in for the Internet Computer — a passkey or a provider you already use, with no tracking and no personal data shared.

Frequently asked questions

Is a passkey wallet really as secure as a hardware wallet?: For most threat models, yes. Modern passkeys use the Secure Enclave (iPhone, Mac) or StrongBox (Android) — the same hardware-key-isolation approach as Ledger and Trezor. For very large holdings, a dedicated hardware wallet is still the gold standard, but it\'s overkill for day-to-day use.
Can I use both MetaMask and OISY at the same time?: Yes. They hold different accounts; your MetaMask wallet and your OISY wallet are separate. Transfer funds to whichever you\'re using for a particular transaction.
Do I need to pay gas on Internet Computer apps?: For most user actions, no. The canister hosting the app pays compute cost from its cycle balance. For transactions that settle on Bitcoin or Ethereum, you pay those networks\' fees as usual.
What if my wallet provider disappears?: It depends on the wallet, and the difference matters. With a seed-phrase wallet you hold the key and can import it elsewhere. With OISY there is no key to export: it is held as shares by the Internet Computer\'s nodes, so your funds do not depend on OISY\'s team continuing to exist, but nor can you carry that key to a different wallet. Ask which of the two you have before you need the answer.