6 Best Bitcoin Lightning Wallets in 2023

Bitcoin Lightning wallets offer several benefits, including faster and more scalable transactions, near-instantaneous payments, enhanced privacy for users, a user-friendly and seamless payment experience, and the ability to make smaller BTC transactions viable due to near-zero fees (for comparison, regular Bitcoin transactions cost $2 or more).

However, there are numerous Lightning wallets available, each with different features, advantages, and disadvantages, which can make deciding which one’s best for you a difficult task.

In this article, we will review some of the best Bitcoin Lightning wallets in 2023 based on their usability, security, functionality, and compatibility.

Here are the 6 best Bitcoin Lightning wallets for easily sending and receiving Bitcoin:

1. Wallet of Satoshi – The best Lightning Bitcoin wallet overall
2. Breez – A Lightning node in your pocket
3. Phoenix – A non-custodial Bitcoin Lightning wallet
4. Strike – A popular Bitcoin payment app partnered with Shopify
5. Zap – A Lightning wallet software for desktop and mobile devices
6. Muun – A Lightning wallet combining the benefits of on- and off-chain transactions

What is the Lightning Network?

The Lightning Network is a second layer on top of the Bitcoin network that enables instant, low-fee, and private payments. It works by creating payment channels between users, who can then exchange bitcoins off-chain without broadcasting every transaction to the blockchain. This reduces congestion and fees, while increasing speed and privacy (because transactions are not immediately written on the ledger).

To use the Lightning Network, you need a Lightning wallet. A Lightning wallet is a special type of Bitcoin wallet that can open and close payment channels, send and receive Lightning payments, and route payments to other users.

While Lightning wallets provide a high degree of accessibility, they are generally considered less safe than regular software Bitcoin wallets, not to mention hardware wallets. The reason for this is that your keys are active on the device that runs a Lightning node to make it easier to sign channel opens and closes. However, that means that your private keys are more exposed. 

We suggest that you keep only a smaller portion of your funds, enough for everyday expenses, in a Bitcoin lighting wallet. We suggest you store the remaining funds with your cold storage device – the Ledger Nano X, for instance, is generally considered one of the best crypto hardware wallets.

The 6 best Bitcoin Lightning wallets: What are the best Lightning wallets in 2023?

In the following sections, we are going to examine the best Bitcoin Lightning wallets for 2023. The wallets on our list were ranked based on their user-friendliness, reliability, and their respective features.

1. Wallet of Satoshi – The best Lightning Bitcoin wallet overall

Wallet of Satoshi is a mobile custodial wallet that offers a simple and easy way to use the Lightning Network. It is available for iOS and Android devices. You can use the Wallet of Satoshi to make Bitcoin payments with transaction fees costing just a fraction of a penny.

Wallet of Satoshi is a service that stores your BTC for you and takes care of opening and closing payment channels for you as well. You don’t need to create an account or back up your wallet. You can just download the app and start sending and receiving Lightning payments instantly.

Wallet of Satoshi also allows you to view merchants in your area that accept Lightning payments, scan QR codes to pay or receive payments, and save and send to your favorite Lightning Address contacts.

The main advantage of the Wallet of Satoshi is its simplicity and convenience. It is ideal for beginners who want to try out the Lightning Network without much hassle. The main disadvantage is that you don’t control your own BTC or private keys. You have to trust the service to keep your funds safe and secure – however, that’s the case with all custodial Lightning wallets.

Key features of the Wallet of Satoshi:

• Simple and easy-to-use layout
• Scan the QR code to transfer money
• Various top-up options
• Find merchants near you who accept Bitcoin

2. Breez – A Lightning node in your pocket

Breez is an open-source, non-custodial mobile wallet that allows users to connect with the Lightning Network and run their own node in their pocket. You can install Breez on both iOS and Android devices, although the Android app is currently in the testing phase.

Breez is a decentralized service that allows you to control your own Bitcoin and private keys. It automatically opens a payment channel for you when you fund your wallet with BTC. It also connects you to other nodes on the network, so you can send and receive payments without intermediaries.

Breez also supports various features, such as tipping on social media platforms, buying gift cards with bitcoins, streaming podcasts with micropayments, and integrating with other apps via NFC or QR codes. In addition, you can use Breez Cloud, a cloud computing platform that combines the autonomy of non-custodial services with the convenience of custodial solutions.

The main advantages of Breez are its non-custodial design as well as its smooth and intuitive interface. The main disadvantage is that it requires some technical knowledge and responsibility. You have to back up your wallet regularly and manage your channel balance.

Key features of the Breez wallet:

• Non-custodial Lightning wallet
• Streaming podcasts with micropayments
• Breez Cloud for maximum convenience
• User-friendly interface

3. Phoenix – A non-custodial Bitcoin Lightning wallet

Phoenix is an open-source, non-custodial mobile wallet that offers native Lightning support and a smart and simple way to use the Lightning Network. Both iOS and Android users can install Phoenix on their devices.

Phoenix is a hybrid service that combines the benefits of custodial and non-custodial wallets. It allows you to control your own bitcoins and private keys, but also takes care of opening and closing payment channels for you behind the scenes. You don’t need to worry about channel management or backups.

Phoenix also supports various features, such as sending and receiving payments with QR codes or LNURLs, swapping Bitcoin to Lightning or vice versa, restoring your wallet with a 12-word seed phrase, and receiving notifications for incoming payments.

Key features of the Phoenix wallet:

• Native Lightning support
• Intuitive and simple UX
• Non-custodial wallet
• Send and receive payments with a QR code

4. Strike – A popular Bitcoin payment app partnered with Shopify

Strike is a mobile payment app that uses the Bitcoin network to facilitate fast, cheap and global transactions. It allows users to send and receive money in any currency, including Bitcoin, without intermediaries or fees. The app is available for iOS and Android devices in the U.S. and some other countries. 

The Strike app is developed by Zap Solutions, a Chicago-based fintech startup led by Jack Mallers. It is worth noting that Strike announced a major partnership deal with Shopify, allowing users to pay at millions of American storefronts.

Strike uses the Lightning Network to send and receive money in any currency, including Bitcoin, without intermediaries or fees. In addition, the app allows users to withdraw and deposit BTC from their Lightning wallets, scan QR codes to pay or request payments, make micropayments, tip content creators, and earn cash back with a rewards card.

Strike works globally, meaning that you can send and receive Bitcoin at thousands of merchants around the world. With Strike, you can use a routing number to convert a portion (1% to 100%) of your paycheck into Bitcoin automatically.

Key features of the Strike wallet:

• Scan the QR code to make or request payments
• Convert a portion of your paycheck into BTC periodically
• Tip content creators
• User-friendly design

5. Zap – A Lightning wallet software for desktop and mobile devices

Zap is a self-custodial desktop wallet that offers a sleek and sophisticated way to use the Lightning Network. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. Mobile versions of the Zap wallet are also being developed, with the iOS and Android apps currently in the early stage of development.

Zap is a decentralized service that allows you to control your own Bitcoin and Lightning Network wallets. It lets you open and close payment channels with any node on the network. It also allows you to send and receive payments with QR codes or invoices, using either on-chain or off-chain transactions.

Zap also supports various features, such as connecting to your own Bitcoin node, managing multiple wallets, customizing your fees, creating payment requests, and exploring the network graph. Zap is developed as an open-source piece of software, with over 70 contributors and 20 translated languages

Key features of the Zap wallet:

• Open source
• Swap fiat for Bitcoin instantaneously without intermediaries
• Support for multiple wallets
• Connect existing lighting network nodes

6. Muun – A Lightning wallet combining the benefits of on- and off-chain transactions

Muun is an open-source, non-custodial mobile wallet that offers a simple and secure way to use the Lightning Network. You can download Muun in Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.

Muun is a hybrid service that combines the benefits of on-chain and off-chain transactions. It allows you to send and receive payments with both Bitcoin and Lightning, without having to worry about the technical details. You don’t need to open or close payment channels manually, or switch between different wallets – overall, the wallet is designed in a way that even complete crypto novices can use it without any issue.

Muun also supports various features, such as sending and receiving payments with QR codes or links, restoring your wallet with a 2-of-2 multi-sig backup, and setting up a recovery code for emergencies.

Key features of the Muun wallet:

• Fully self-custodial
• Mempool-based estimator ensures you don’t overpay for fees
• Cold recovery code and multi-factor authentication options
• A multi-sig Lightning wallet

The bottom line: Pick a Bitcoin lighting wallet that’s best for you

Bitcoin Lightning wallets make everyday payments a reality within the Bitcoin ecosystem. No longer do you need to worry about high fees or network congestion – the Lightning Network and supported wallets allow the majority of transactions to take place off-chain, with the transactions broadcasted to the Bitcoin mainnet only after the user closes a payment channel.

However, due to its hot wallet design, Bitcoin Lightning wallets are not the best product for storing large among of crypto or for long-term storage. We suggest you deposit only the money you plan on spending in the short to medium term. For longer-term storage, use a hardware crypto wallet like the Ledger Nano X or Nano S Plus for maximum security.