# Bitcoin address types compared

Compare Bitcoin address types: Legacy (1…), P2SH (3…), native SegWit (bc1q…) and Taproot (bc1p…). See costs, compatibility and which to use.

Canonical page: https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/address-types
Topic: Keys and addresses
Published: 2026-10-29
Updated: 2026-10-30


## The four you'll meet
| Prefix | Name | Encoding | Introduced | Cost to spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1… | Legacy (P2PKH) | [Base58Check](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/base58check) | 2009 | Highest |
| 3… | Script hash (P2SH) | Base58Check | 2012 | Medium |
| bc1q… | Native SegWit (P2WPKH, P2WSH) | [Bech32](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/bech32-and-bech32m) | 2017 | Low |
| bc1p… | Taproot (P2TR) | Bech32m | 2021 | Low, most flexible |

> Diagram: Address prefixes over time — 1…: Legacy, 2009 → 3…: P2SH, 2012 → bc1q…: SegWit, 2017 → *bc1p…: Taproot, 2021

## Which should I use?
- **Receiving:** native SegWit or Taproot. Cheaper to spend later.
- **Compatibility:** almost every wallet and exchange can send to bc1q today; bc1p support is now widespread too.
- **Multisig and advanced scripts:** Taproot can make them look like ordinary single-key spends. See [Taproot](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/taproot).

## Testnet and other networks
Mainnet addresses start as above. Test networks use different prefixes (like `tb1…` or `m…`/`n…`), so you can't accidentally mix them up.


## Real cost difference
Spending one input costs roughly:
| Type | Input size | At 10 sat/vB |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy P2PKH | about 148 vB | about 1,480 sats |
| Nested SegWit | about 91 vB | about 910 sats |
| Native SegWit | about 68 vB | about 680 sats |
| Taproot | about 58 vB | about 580 sats |

## Check any address type
Paste an address into our [address inspector](/tools/address-inspector) to see its type, network and the exact locking script it creates.


## Key takeaways

- Prefix tells you the type: 1 legacy, 3 P2SH, bc1q SegWit, bc1p Taproot.
- SegWit and Taproot are cheaper to spend than legacy.
- All types can pay each other; it's just a different lock.

## Common questions

### Can I send from a bc1q wallet to a 1… address?

Yes. Address types only describe how the receiving output is locked.

### Are bc1 addresses case sensitive?

Bech32 addresses must be all lowercase or all uppercase, never mixed. Lowercase is the norm.

### Which Bitcoin address type is best?

Native SegWit (bc1q) or Taproot (bc1p) for most people: lower fees and wide support.

### Can I convert a legacy address to SegWit?

Not directly; you send the coins from the legacy address to a new SegWit address.

## Related lessons

- [Bitcoin addresses](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/bitcoin-addresses)
- [Segregated Witness (SegWit)](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/segwit)
- [Taproot](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/taproot)
- [Bech32 and Bech32m](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/bech32-and-bech32m)