In This Article
The Bitcoin Lightning Network is one of the most anticipated features currently in active development. The Lightning Network was first launched in the beginning of 2018 and has since grown to become the home of Bitcoin micro payments. There have been many companies that have popped up to support Lightning payments for merchants, with Strike and Bitcoin beach in El Salvador being the most obvious example. This post explains what the Lightning Network is and what the best wallets are that support it.
Key Takeaways
- The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a Layer 2 scaling solution that enables instant and low-fee BTC micro transactions.
- To use Lightning payments, users need a compatible Lightning Network wallet that supports both on-chain and off-chain balances.
- Wallet options include non-custodial apps for maximum control or custodial services for easier onboarding and simplified channel management.
- While adoption is growing, many Lightning wallets are still in testing stages so users should only store small amounts of Bitcoin.
- Platforms like Best Wallet, Blockstream Green, and Kraken make it simple to send and receive Bitcoin instantly through Lightning.
Lightning Network Wallets Summary
At their core Lightning Network (LN) wallets are normal Bitcoin wallets with the capability to open an LN payment channel on the first layer Bitcoin network. LN wallets are not very user-friendly, possibly since the Lightning Network is still in its early stages.
Many of these wallets are still in public testing stages, so never deposit too much funds into them.
Lightning Network in a Nutshell
The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a second layer solution built on top of the Bitcoin network that enables instant, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. It works by allowing two users to open a payment channel using their Bitcoin wallets. Once the channel is open, they can transact back and forth instantly without waiting for confirmations on the blockchain.
While the initial and final transactions, opening and closing the channel, are recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, all intermediate transactions take place off-chain. This means users can make dozens or even hundreds of micro-transactions without burdening the main Bitcoin network. When the channel is closed, the final balance is broadcast as a single Bitcoin transaction, improving efficiency and scalability.
To use the network, users need a lightning wallet, which can interact with both the main Bitcoin blockchain and off-chain payment channels. These wallets simplify the process of sending and receiving funds over the network and typically come with user-friendly interfaces for managing both on-chain and off-chain balances.
By shifting frequent or small transactions off-chain, the Lightning Network provides a practical solution for everyday payments, helping to reduce congestion on the Bitcoin network.
Best Lightning Network Wallets
Pro Tip: Always store your private keys in a secure offline location. Losing them means losing access to your Bitcoin. Whether you’re using regular Bitcoin wallets or Lightning wallets, your private keys are the only way to prove ownership and authorize transactions.
Best Wallet
While non custodial Lightning wallets are designed specifically for fast, feeless Bitcoin payments, Best Wallet offers a broader set of features that cater to both Bitcoin enthusiasts and general crypto users. If you’re someone who values security, user-friendliness, and versatility, Best Wallet might just be the solution you’re looking for. Best Wallet is not just a mobile wallet. As a non-custodial, multi-chain wallet, it allows users to store, trade, and manage cryptocurrencies across 60+ blockchains, making it much more than a standard Bitcoin wallet. Let’s find out what makes Best Wallet stand out.
Best Wallet: Key Features
Best Wallet delivers a secure, user-friendly, and future-ready experience, making it one of the best BTC Lightning wallets in the market.
Download Best WalletLedger
Ledger is the foremost crypto hardware wallet provider, supporting thousands of cryptocurrencies. While it does not offer direct support for the Lightning Network, Ledger users can still access the Bitcoin Layer-2 through third-party apps.
One way of accessing the Lightning Network via Ledger is by connecting the hardware wallet to Electrum, a non-custodial wallet app that supports hardware integration. It also has other useful elements.
Ledger: Key Features
Remember to always keep your Ledger firmware and Electrum app up to date for the latest security and compatibility upgrades.
Visit LedgerBlockstream Green
Founded in 2014, Blockstream is a leading Bitcoin infrastructure company that offers both a hot and cold wallet for managing BTC. The Blockstream app (formerly known as Blockstream Green) provides Bitcoin self-custody storage for Android and iOS devices.
Blockstream Green: Key Features
If you’re looking for additional security for your Bitcoin storage that still supports the Lightning Network, consider Blockstream Jade. It’s a fully air-gapped, Bitcoin and Liquid hardware wallet with a QR code scanner, USB-C, and Bluetooth connectivity. The device can easily connect to the Blockstream app for easy Lightning Network integration.
Visit BlockstreamKraken
Kraken is one of the most established global cryptocurrency exchanges, with over 15 million users and support for more than 500 cryptocurrencies. Launched in 2011, the custodial crypto exchange allows traders to send and receive BTC over the Lightning Network.
Wallet of Satoshi
For one of the easiest experiences with a Bitcoin Lightning wallet, you can download the Wallet of Satoshi. This is a mobile custodial wallet, which means that you don’t control your Bitcoins. The wallet is available for iOS and Android.
Wallet of Satoshi: Key Features
Wallet of Satoshi is a reliable tool. As long as you’re careful not to delete the app or lose your phone, you can continue using the wallet. If you’re just looking to test out some Lightning payments, this is probably the best way to get started. Fund your wallet with a small amount of Bitcoin and start making payments.
Breez
Breez is a open source, non-custodial mobile wallet supporting Bitcoin Lightning network. What’s unique about Breez is that it takes care of opening up an LN channel for you.
Breez: Key Features
Keep in mind that connecting this service with Google Drive may affect your anonymity. That said, if you want an easy solution that allows you full control over your funds, Breez is a good choice. Also, note that Breez is still in Beta, both for Android and iOS.
Bitcoin Lightning Wallet
Bitcoin Lightning Wallet (BLW) is an Android only, non-custodial, standalone Bitcoin SPV node with LN functionality. It means that you have total control over your funds and that you need to manage your payment channels yourself (unlike Breez). BLW uses Olympus Servers, which help with several tasks such as the ones outlined below.
Bitcoin Lightning Wallet: Key Features
Some Bitcoiners have raised issues regarding the wallet’s privacy, however, Bitfury quickly addressed them. I suggest reading Bitfury’s blog post if this is a concern for you. Otherwise, you could do far worse than consult our guide to the best 5 no KYC wallets.
Eclair Mobile
Eclair Mobile is an Android-only Bitcoin wallet by ACINQ, with the option to connect to the Lightning Network.
Eclair Mobile: Key Features
Zap
Zap wallet is a non-custodial Lightning BTC wallet available for desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), iOS and Android. It was developed by Jack Mallers, a 30 year-old developer from Chicago Illinois. Mallers has gone on to found Strike, and Zap wallet conveniently fully integrates Strike.
Zap: Key Features
Jack Mallers maintains a list of tutorials over at his YouTube Channel, where you can see how to set up the wallet, open channels and send payments.
Lightning Network Services
Once you have your LN wallet, you may want to test it out with some services that accept Lightning payments. Here are a select few:
Strike
Strike is a payments app that leverages the Bitcoin Lightning Network to send and receive money instantly and with minimal fees. With Strike, users can pay in local currency while the backend uses Bitcoin transactions for settlement, making cross-border payments fast and efficient. It supports both traditional bank transfers and Lightning payments, acting as a bridge between fiat and Bitcoin. Strike is also integrated with a lightning wallet, so users can easily send funds to other lightning enabled services or wallets.
Bitrefill
Bitrefill allows you to buy gift cards with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Gift cards are available from retailers such as Steam, Viber, Skype, Hotels.com and more. Bitrefill also allows you to top up prepaid phones with cryptocurrency payments.
Fold App
Fold allows you to shop at your favorite retailers using Lightning payments. The app allows you to purchase gift cards for Amazon, Burger King, Starbucks and more. You also earn back up to 20% of your purchase when using the app.
Fold also launched Lightning Pizza, which allows you to order Domino’s Pizza with Lightning payments anywhere in the US.
Moon
Moon is a browser extension that offers an alternative payment method when shopping online. Pay with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ether or Bitcoin Cash directly on Amazon.com.
Y’alls
Y’alls is a social news platform that requires you to pay micropayments in order to read articles. You can also buy emoticons and other icons to display how you feel about articles. All payments are done via the Lightning Network.
Conclusion
Now that the Bitcoin Lightning Network has been around for a few years, there are plenty of Lightning wallets available for public use.
Keep in mind that these wallets aren’t as battle-tested as your everyday Bitcoin wallet, so make sure not to deposit amounts you can’t afford to lose in them.
Overall, it seems that LN development is growing worldwide, and soon we will probably see more wallets and services supporting it. The most recent news is that fintech giant Revolut is going to roll out Lightning Network payments for users in Europe via Lightspark’s payment infrastructure.
However, LN nodes were last at all-time-high in February 2022, with channels also decreasing since that time until today in 2026.
See Also: Best Mobile Crypto Wallets for June 2026
FAQs
What wallets support Lightning Network?
There are several wallets that support Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. Some of the most prominent are: Best Wallet, Wallet of Satoshi, Breez, BLW, and Eclair Mobile.
What is the best Bitcoin Lightning Network wallet?
In our opinion, Best Wallet might be the best wallet for Lightning Network because of its supreme UX and user security.
How to get a Bitcoin wallet?
You can download software crypto wallets for free on your smartphone. Some software Bitcoin wallets are also available as a browser extension. If you want a hardware Bitcoin wallet, you will have to buy it from developers such as Ledger, Blockstream Jade, Trezor, and ELLIPAL.
What is a hard wallet?
A hardware wallet is a device that stores private keys that give you access to your cryptocurrencies. Hardware wallets keep your cryptocurrencies in isolation from the internet, thereby adding an extra layer of security.
How to find Bitcoin wallet address?
Your Bitcoin wallet address will be displayed on your wallet app or browser. You can also search for wallet address on blockchain scanner websites such as BTCscan.
How to use Lightning Network?
The Lightning Network is a second layer on top of the Bitcoin network for instant, feeless payments. It works by opening a payment channel on the main Bitcoin network and then “keeping tabs” with your counterparty until you want to close the channel.
Which wallet support Lightning Network?
Most Bitcoin wallets support the Lightning network. Here are the names of a few Bitcoin Lightning network wallets: Best Wallet, Wallet of Satoshi, and Zap.
What is a Bitcoin Lightning Wallet?
A Bitcoin Lightning Wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet that allows you to transact on Bitcoin’s layer two payment channel called the Lightning Network. Most Bitcoin wallets support the Lightning network.
What is the best Bitcoin Lightning wallet?
Best Wallet, Blockstream Green, Wallet of Satoshi, Zip, Breez, and Eclair Mobile are some of the best Bitcoin wallets in the market.
How does Lightning Network work?
The Lightning Network is a second layer on top of the Bitcoin network for instant, feeless payments. It works by opening a payment channel on the main Bitcoin network and then “keeping tabs” with your counterparty until you want to close the channel.
References:
- Lightning network. “Lightning Network.” Lightning.network, 2019, lightning.network/
- “Choose Your Wallet – Bitcoin.” Bitcoin.org, 2025, bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet.
- “What Is the Lightning Network?” @Coinbase, Coinbase, 2025, www.coinbase.com/en-in/learn/your-crypto/what-is-lightning.
- “Non-fungible Token.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_token
- Best Wallet. “Best Wallet Token.” https://bestwallettoken.com/en.
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