Alby Hub is a free, open source program that lets you run your own Lightning wallet and node on your computer. It is built for people who already use Bitcoin over the Lightning Network and want direct control over their channels instead of depending on a hosted service. Developers and Nostr users who want to connect several apps to one wallet will get the most out of it.
Its central idea is that you can operate your Lightning node or wallet from any other application that supports Nostr Wallet Connect, known as NWC. Apps such as Damus and Amethyst can be linked to your node, so they can send and receive payments through it. The latest release is v1.24.4, and the code is still being updated, so this is an actively maintained project rather than a dormant one.
How Nostr Wallet Connect Links Apps to Your Node
Nostr Wallet Connect is a way for an app to talk to a wallet through the Nostr network without holding the wallet's keys. When you link an application to Alby Hub, the two exchange messages through relays, and the app can ask your node to create invoices or pay them.
This design lets you use a familiar social client as a payment interface while your funds stay in the wallet you control. A zap sent from a client, for example, can be settled by your own node rather than by a company's server.
The NWC standard is not limited to Alby Hub. Other wallets implement it as well, so an app that supports NWC can often switch between wallets. A directory of compatible applications is maintained at nwc.dev.
Understanding Outgoing Liquidity on the Lightning Network
Lightning payments travel through payment channels, and each channel's balance is split between the two sides. Your outgoing liquidity is the amount you can send through your active channels at a given moment. If you try to pay an invoice larger than that total, the payment will fail, even when your overall balance looks high.
This is one of the most common surprises for new users. Funds split across several channels cannot always be combined into one payment. Opening new channels or rebalancing existing ones increases what you can send.
Before paying a large invoice, check how much you can send through active channels. For bigger amounts, consider preparing liquidity in advance rather than waiting until the payment is due.
Who Should Run a Self-Hosted Lightning Wallet?
Alby Hub fits a few clear groups. Bitcoiners who already hold Lightning balances and want to reduce reliance on custodial services can use it as a personal wallet. Nostr users who enjoy tipping and zapping can connect their favorite client and keep those payments flowing through their own node.
Developers building payment features may also find it useful, because one node can serve several applications through NWC connections. Node operators who want to contribute routing capacity can use the network address settings to make their node reachable.
If you are new to Lightning, start with a small amount and learn how channels, liquidity and fees behave before storing larger sums. Running a node asks for more attention than using a simple mobile wallet.
Key features
Self-hosted Lightning node and wallet
Nostr Wallet Connect integration
Support for several platforms
Optional auto-unlock on startup
Configurable network addresses
Supported coins
Alby Hub is built around Bitcoin (BTC) on the Lightning Network. Nostr plays a supporting role as the messaging layer behind Nostr Wallet Connect, so connected apps can reach your node through it.
How to install Alby Hub on Windows
- 1
Get the file from the official source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/getAlby/hub. The source code builds for Windows, so look in the latest release, v1.24.4, for a Windows package. If no Windows file is listed, use another platform option the project offers.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published on the release page. If a signature is provided, verify it as well. Do not continue if the values do not match.
-
Install and start for the first time
Run the installer, or start the program from the folder where you placed it. You will need to set an unlock password, which protects access to the interface. Store it somewhere safe, because you will need it every time you open Alby Hub.
How to use Alby Hub
Once Alby Hub is running, the basic workflow is to unlock the interface, set up your node or wallet, and then connect apps. The steps below cover the common path.
- Start Alby Hub and enter your unlock password to open the interface.
- Follow the setup screens to configure your node or wallet, and fund it or open channels as the interface guides you.
- Find the Nostr Wallet Connect option and generate a connection string for the app you want to use.
- Paste the connection string into a supported app such as Damus or Amethyst, following that app's instructions.
- Make a small test payment or invoice to confirm the link works before you rely on it.
- If you restart your computer often, consider the auto-unlock option, and use it only on a machine you control.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so the code can be reviewed by anyone
- Run your own Lightning node and wallet without a custodial intermediary
- Connects to NWC-compatible apps such as Damus and Amethyst
- Lists several platforms, including Windows, Linux and Docker
- Optional auto-unlock for restarts while keeping the interface password-protected
- Actively updated, with the latest release at v1.24.4
- Windows availability depends on the release, so you must check the releases page
- Payments can fail when outgoing liquidity is too low, even with a healthy total balance
- Running a node requires more attention than a simple mobile wallet
- Connected apps gain the ability to request payments, so access needs careful management
- Beginners may find channels and liquidity hard to grasp at first
Is Alby Hub safe?
Alby Hub handles Lightning funds and private keys, so treat it with the same care as any wallet. Download it only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before installing. A file from a search ad, a forum link or a copied mirror can contain malware that steals keys or redirects payments. Never enter your seed phrase or unlock password on third-party websites, and do not paste connection strings into pages you do not trust. Before you start, check the latest version on the official website. The project's code is recently updated, but that does not replace verifying the file you run.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/getAlby/hub. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Alby Hub differs from several Lightning tools in this catalog by focusing on a self-hosted node that other apps can attach to through Nostr Wallet Connect. Polar, by contrast, creates local Lightning test networks with one click, which suits developers experimenting rather than people managing real payments. Peach is a desktop wallet aimed at micropayments, where you use the wallet directly instead of connecting outside apps. Spark Wallet offers a minimal interface for c-lightning, so it fits users already running that node implementation. Zap Desktop is no longer supported, which makes Alby Hub the more relevant option if you want a maintained desktop wallet.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.24.4
- Last update
- 26 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/getAlby/hub
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Alby Hub is free and open source, so anyone can read the code on GitHub or build it themselves. Lightning payments and channel operations may involve network fees that you pay when you send, so the program itself being free does not make every transaction cost nothing.
The code builds for Windows, but availability depends on the release you choose. Check the latest version, v1.24.4, on the GitHub Releases page for a Windows package before you download. Verify the file's SHA-256 checksum before running it, and use another platform option if no Windows build is listed.
Its safety depends mostly on how you handle it. Get the file from the official source, check its checksum, protect your unlock password, and connect only apps you trust. The safety section covers these checks in more detail.
Nostr Wallet Connect, or NWC, is a protocol that lets an app send requests to a wallet over the Nostr network. It allows apps to create invoices or make payments without holding your wallet's keys. Alby Hub uses it so clients such as Damus and Amethyst can use your node, and nwc.dev lists compatible applications.
The most common reason is that the invoice is larger than your outgoing liquidity across active channels. Your total balance can be high while the amount you can send in one payment is lower, because funds are split across channels. Check your channel balances and consider opening or rebalancing channels before sending larger payments.
Generate a Nostr Wallet Connect connection string in Alby Hub, then paste it into the wallet connection settings of the app. Once the app confirms the link, it can send requests to your node. Test with a small payment first before relying on the connection.
Verdict
Alby Hub is a practical choice for Bitcoin users who want a self-hosted Lightning wallet and node that can serve other apps through Nostr Wallet Connect. It is free, open source and actively updated, with the latest release at v1.24.4. It suits experienced users and developers more than complete beginners, because channels and liquidity need attention. Before you install, confirm the Windows package on the official releases page. If you mainly want a local test network for development, Polar is a better fit.