How do I get a bitcoin wallet?

How to Get Bitcoins

Method 1 Getting a Bitcoin Wallet. Decide on a type of wallet.
Decide on a type of wallet. In order to obtain bitcoins, you need to set up a bitcoin wallet where they can be stored online or on your desktop. There are several options for your bitcoin wallet.
A wallet is what your account to store bitcoins is referred to as. It's more or less an online bank account where bitcoins are stored. There are various types of wallets that provide different levels of security.
There are three main types of bitcoin wallets: a software wallet, stored on your hard drive, an online wallet, or an offline mobile wallet you download on a smartphone that uses a number of keys to protect your account.
Storing bitcoins locally on your computer can protect you against hackers, but you also may lose your bitcoins is your computer crashes. Backup your wallet frequently if you go this route.
Mobile wallets are convenient as you can pay with bitcoins on the go, and can sometimes just tap your phone near a register as payment. However, they tend to take up a great deal of space on your phone and you can only store so many bitcoins at a time.
An online wallet is highly convenient in that your bitcoins can be accessed from anywhere and you can use your bitcoins for a variety of online purchases. However, online wallets are susceptible to hackers. Also, the organization you go through to set up your wallet will have access to your account and there have been cases of bitcoins getting stolen by private organizations. For example, the bitcoin exchange Mt Gox was discovered to have been manipulating prices and committing fraud, stealing large numbers of exchange users' bitcoins. Make sure you choose a reputable provider if you set up a bitcoin account online.