Lightning Wallets Comparison

Getting started simple review of all Bitcoin Lightning Wallets

Feb 27

Esta guía también está disponible en Español aquí.

Introduction

OK, we onboard new users into Bitcoin. But many of them are confused by the plethora of type of wallets and don't exactly with which one they should start or is suitable for their own use.

We will talk ONLY about Lightning Network wallets. Let's consider the onchain ones, for other purposes than just spending. Anyways, in general almost all LN wallets already have functionality of using onchain too.

As an OG bitcoiner, that passed through all these types of wallets and testing almost all of them, I can't say to a new user "hey use this app because is the best". That will be a fallacy, there's no such thing as "best BTC/LN wallet". Telling that to a noob will be devastating and misleading. You, as a knowledgeable bitcoiner, would have to see what that new user need and show the right app with which should start. Then slowly should advance in using more complex apps, depending on their need.

This is an important aspect: learning curve is slow and have to be from simple to advanced, passing through all steps. Never push the noob into complicated things that in that moment do not understand, let him to learn slowly. Have patience.

At the end of the guide you will find all the links for all apps and documentation.

Functionalities Chart

I will try to keep is short, only with main characteristics and functionalities that users appreciate most and looking to use. Not too many technical details, more usability aspect. Here is also a detailed list of wallets and services that support LNURL specs.

Again we will split the chart in 4 sections:

Section A - Beginner / Custodial

Basic functionalities "Beginner LN wallets"

NOTE 1: We put Muun wallet in this custodial section, for its peculiar and obscure way to create / restore wallet based on unique words and/or account system. Not being able to use the same seed words into another app makes it to fall into "custodial" category.

There’s a way to recover your wallet keys, separately from the app with this tool.

Also, is good to mention this thread about Muun here.

Muun node Magnetron is charging exorbitant fees!

NOTE 2: Is very easy to fuck Muun and make its users to pay high fees, with this simple trick:
- open a new account in Muun, send 1 sat to Muun (you can’t say you open a wallet)
- recover that account separately and I get 2500 sats for free
- those 2500 sats will be pushed as fees on you and other users by Muun
- I get 2500 free sats
Repeat this every few hours... with a new account, as described in this reddit post.

Muun sucks - users pay high fees. Example here:

Here is a test of recovering a Muun wallet with their “recovery tool”.

Trying the Muun “recovery tool”, scanning for like 2h and ended in error.

Contacted their support to email indicated… after 1 month no answer. So be aware what you should expect from this wallet app promoted as “non-custodial”…

You have been warned!

Section B - Intermediate / Non-Custodial

Basic functionalities "Intermediate LN wallets"

NOTE: SBW (Simple Bitcoin Wallet) is one of the fastest apps in this category. From the moment you open the app and click send or receive, it takes just few miliseconds to be able to do that transaction. Yes, it uses HC (Hosted Channels) but for some tips, small amounts, giveaways LNURLs is just fine. You need a fast solution.

Section C - Advanced 1 / Mobile LN node wallets

Basic functionalities "Advanced 1 LN mobile Node wallets"

NOTE: a special case here is the Nayuta Core wallet. This is running actually a node with Neutrino but it doesn't contain a wallet interface, so in order to use its LN part, user have to install additionally Zap or Zeus and connect to local mobile node directly.

Section D - Advanced 2 / Node Management wallets

Basic functionalities "Advanced 2 LN Node Management wallets"

A special case in this section have LNBits, that is a LNDhub wallet management app with many extensions that makes it very powerful as an additional layer on top of your node. Is not a real node management app, just user management so to speak.

More about LNbits here in this dedicated presentation guide.

Conclusion

As you can see we have so many wallets to use, choose, test, combine...

So before you start your own selection, ask yourself: "what I will do with such wallet app? In which situations I will use it?"

Not all are required to be used, not all serve the same purpose. But once you reach a certain level of knowledge, it is good to have 2-3 or even more in your standard usage.

Remember also the previous guide I wrote about "How to stash your BTC in 3 levels", where you can split your funds in HODL, cache, spending.

NOTE: If you find that a wallet app described in this guide review, it is not correctly presented or changed some functionalities, please contact me and will update the guide. I was trying to present as much accurate I could this functionalities chart.

This guide review could be updated with new more information.