Choose Magic when
- You want the simplest possible email-link onboarding on EVM chains.
- You prefer a mature, long-established provider for a straightforward wallet requirement.
- You need a broad set of prebuilt login methods with minimal configuration.
Cavos vs Magic
Magic offers embedded wallets and passwordless authentication, historically known for email magic-link login and a delegated key management model backed by hardware security modules.
Magic pioneered invisible wallet onboarding and remains a strong choice for simple, email-first flows on EVM chains. Cavos pursues the same invisible UX with a different custody model: the key is created and used on the user’s device rather than delegated to provider-operated infrastructure.
| Capability | Cavos | Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Signing authority | Self-custodial. A non-exportable device key is the signing authority; Cavos holds no key that can move user funds and uses no MPC shares. | Delegated key management backed by hardware security modules operated by the provider. |
| Onboarding | Sign in with an identity you already own; the account is derived deterministically. | Email magic link and social login. |
| Chain coverage | One SDK with chain-native adapters. Starknet, Solana, and Stellar available today. | EVM-focused with additional chain support. |
| Account model | Native smart accounts and device-account programs per chain. | Primarily EOA-style wallets. |
| Gas sponsorship | Chain-specific: Starknet paymaster, Solana relayer as fee payer, Stellar sponsored reserves and fee bumps. | Available through account abstraction integrations. |
| Recovery | Non-custodial recovery codes on every chain, multi-device passkey approval, and opt-in hardware-isolated social recovery. | Tied to the authentication factor and provider-side key infrastructure. |
Choose Cavos when
- You want the signing key to be device-bound and non-exportable rather than provider-delegated.
- You need Starknet, Solana, or Stellar with native account and execution semantics.
- You need documented, non-custodial recovery and explicit multi-device approval.
Frequently asked
Is email-link login enough for self-custody?
It depends on what backs the key. If access to the email account grants the provider the ability to sign, the security of the wallet reduces to the security of that email account. Cavos separates the two: identity selects which account you are, but a device factor is required to sign.
Does Cavos support email login?
Yes. Cavos supports hosted login including email, or you can bring your own auth and pass an identity directly. In both cases signing still requires an enrolled device.
Other comparisons
Evaluate it against your own requirements.
Start with the quickstart and reach a sponsored transaction on your target chain.