Ehagaki is a lightweight, post-only Nostr client for people who mainly want to write and publish notes rather than browse a full timeline. It suits users who value a simple interface, fast uploads on slow connections, and control over how they log in to the Nostr network.
Because it focuses on posting, Ehagaki keeps its interface small and direct. You write in an editor that looks close to the final post, attach media, and publish. The project is open source under the MIT license, free to use, and its source code is publicly available on GitHub, which makes it easier to inspect how it works.
What Is Ehagaki and Who Is It For?
Ehagaki is a client for Nostr, an open protocol where messages are sent through independent relay servers rather than a single company's platform. A client like Ehagaki is the app you use to write and sign those messages.
The program is aimed at people who already have a Nostr identity and mostly want to publish. Writers, photographers who share images, and users on mobile data plans will find the compression and light interface especially practical. It is less suited to someone who wants a full-featured reader with complex filtering, because the focus here is clearly on posting.
How Post-Only Clients Differ From Full Nostr Apps
Most Nostr clients combine three jobs: reading a feed, managing relationships and publishing. A post-only client narrows its scope to publishing. That usually means fewer screens, less data loaded in the background and a faster path from idea to published note.
The trade-off is that you will likely need another app to follow conversations, browse profiles at length or manage contacts. Many users pair a posting client with a separate reader and use each for what it does best.
Why Media Compression Matters on Nostr
Images and video can be large, and on a slow or metered connection a single upload can take a long time or use a noticeable share of a monthly allowance. Compressing media before it leaves your device reduces the amount of data sent to relays and speeds up posting.
Compression always involves some loss, so the sensible approach is to test the adjustable setting with a few of your own files. Keeping GIFs and animated WebP files in their original form is a useful choice, because re-encoding animation often produces visible artifacts.
Understanding Keys, Signers and Accounts
On Nostr, your identity is a cryptographic key pair. The private key (often shown as nsec) signs every post you publish. Whoever holds that key can post as you, which is why the way you log in matters.
Browser extensions following NIP-07 keep the key inside the extension and ask it to sign each message, so the key does not need to be pasted into a web page. Remote signing under NIP-46 goes a step further by letting a separate signing device or service approve posts. Ehagaki supports these options, so you can choose the level of control that fits your habits.
Practical Scenarios for Everyday Use
A photographer might post a set of edited images from a phone while travelling, relying on compression to keep uploads manageable. A community organizer could use hashtag pinning to publish a series of announcements tagged the same way. A developer embedding posting into a project website could choose the iframe or Web Component option to offer a publishing box without building one from scratch.
Key features
Focused Posting Interface
Automatic Image and Video Compression
WYSIWYG Rich Editor
Multiple Login Methods
PWA and Share Intent Support
Draft Storage
Replies, Quotes and Channel Posts
Content Warnings
Embedding Options
Japanese and English Interface
Supported coins
Ehagaki is designed for the Nostr network. Its documentation mentions Nostr as the network it works with, and it does not handle cryptocurrency coins or wallets.
How to install Ehagaki on Windows
- 1
Choose the Right Version
Ehagaki is distributed as a web application and can also be installed as a Progressive Web App. For a desktop setup on Windows, open the official project page or the GitHub repository and look for the build most suited to your browser.
- 2
Download From the Official Source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. Avoid files from unofficial mirrors or links shared in chats, since a modified copy could be used to capture your private key.
- 3
Verify the File
Where the release page provides a SHA-256 checksum or signature, compare it with the downloaded file using a tool such as certutil or PowerShell's Get-FileHash before running it.
-
Install and Launch
Run the installer or open the application in your browser, then choose whether to install it as a PWA from the browser menu. Launch it, set your language if needed, and add your account using one of the supported login methods.
System requirements
- A current version of Windows with a modern web browser
- An internet connection to reach Nostr relays and upload media
How to use Ehagaki
Ehagaki is built for quick posting, so setup takes only a few minutes. Once you sign in, the composer is ready to use.
- Open Ehagaki in your browser or launch the installed app.
- Sign in with your private key, a browser extension, a remote signer, or an existing parent client connection.
- Check that the account you want is selected if you have more than one.
- Write your note in the editor. Hashtags and links are formatted as you type.
- Attach an image or video. Adjust the compression level if you want smaller or higher-quality uploads.
- Add a content warning if the note needs one, choosing between the standard NIP-36 format and the experimental option.
- Save the note as a draft if you want to finish it later, or publish it directly.
- For a reply or quote, open the relevant note link so the composer is filled in automatically.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Simple, post-focused interface without a distracting feed
- Automatic media compression reduces upload size
- Multiple login options including browser extension and remote signing
- Works as a PWA on mobile and desktop
- Draft saving with up to 100 drafts
- Supports replies, quotes and NIP-28 channel posts
- Available in Japanese and English
- Built for posting, so it is not a full Nostr reader
- Compression involves some quality loss on photos and video
- Desktop-specific features may vary by how you run it on Windows
- Users who need advanced feed filtering will need another client
Is Ehagaki safe?
Ehagaki handles private keys, which makes careful setup important. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is provided. Never enter a private key or seed-style secret on third-party websites or in messages from strangers.
When possible, prefer a browser extension (NIP-07) or remote signing (NIP-46) over pasting a raw nsec key, because these keep the key away from the posting page. Antivirus software may occasionally flag unfamiliar web-based tools, so check the source before adding exceptions. Be aware that the project's last code update is recorded as October 2026, so check the latest release status on the official site before relying on it for important accounts.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/Lokuyow/ehagaki. 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
Ehagaki sits at the posting end of the Nostr client spectrum. Full clients such as Amethyst and Gossip provide complete timelines, profile browsing and broader features, while Ehagaki stays deliberately small. If your main goal is to write and send media quickly, its narrower scope is an advantage. If you want one app for reading, following and posting, a full client is usually the better fit. Command-line tools such as NAK and Nostr Commander RS serve people who prefer the terminal, and Blockcore Notes offers a installable web app with broader social features.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v1.32.0
- Last update
- 29 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/Lokuyow/ehagaki
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Ehagaki is free and released as open source under the MIT license. You can use it without payment and inspect the source code on GitHub. Costs you may incur come from your own internet connection and data use rather than from the software itself.
Ehagaki is a web-based client that runs in modern browsers and can be installed as a Progressive Web App on Windows. Its platform information indicates likely Windows support through builds, so check the official releases page for the current options that suit your setup.
It can be, provided you download it from the official source and verify the file when a checksum or signature is available. Using a browser extension or remote signer is safer than pasting a raw private key, because the key stays out of the posting page.
An nsec login means you enter your private key directly into the client. NIP-07 uses a browser extension that holds the key and signs posts for the client when asked. The extension method keeps the key inside a dedicated tool, which generally reduces exposure.
Yes. Images and videos are compressed on your device before upload, and you can adjust the compression level. GIFs and animated WebP files are sent in their original form, so animation is kept intact.
Yes. You can store up to 100 drafts and edit or publish them at any time. When you reach the limit, you are asked to confirm before the oldest draft is deleted to make space for a new one.
It does. You can use the standard NIP-36 content warning, or choose an experimental format that moves the note body into a separate kind 36 payload while keeping the original post kind. Pick the option that other clients on your network understand.
The interface is available in Japanese and English. It chooses a language automatically from your browser settings, so you can usually start using it without changing anything.
Verdict
Ehagaki is a sensible choice for people who want a fast, uncluttered way to publish on Nostr, especially if they regularly share photos or video and care about data use. It is free, open source and offers several secure login methods. Users who want a full reading and social experience should pair it with a broader client rather than expect it to replace one.