Ethui is a free, open-source Ethereum wallet and developer toolkit for programmers who build and test smart contracts from a desktop computer. It is released under the MIT license, so its source code is public and anyone can read, build or modify it. The latest tagged release is v1.27.0, and the code was last updated on 2026-07-30.
The project is written mainly in Rust and JavaScript/TypeScript. Its focus is the local development loop: deploying contracts to test chains, switching between accounts and checking what was deployed. If you only want a simple app for holding ETH, a consumer wallet may suit you better. Ethui makes more sense when your daily work centers on a terminal, a code editor and a Foundry project.
What Is a Developer Wallet and Why Does It Differ?
A crypto wallet holds the keys that sign transactions. On Ethereum, those keys are usually derived from a mnemonic, the list of words also called a seed phrase. Most everyday wallets are built for buying, holding and sending tokens.
Developers need something different. They deploy contracts many times a day, call functions on local test chains and want to see exactly which account signed each action. A developer wallet is designed around that repetitive cycle. Ethui follows this approach: it treats the wallet as one part of a workflow that includes compiling, deploying and inspecting contracts, rather than as a standalone place to store coins.
Who Is Ethui For? Common Developer Scenarios
Ethui suits people who write and test Ethereum smart contracts. A typical example is a developer who deploys a token contract to a local anvil node, runs a deployment script and then checks balances across three test accounts. Another is a frontend developer who connects a local web app to a test chain and needs a quick way to switch between users.
Learners following Ethereum tutorials can also benefit, because the explorer lets them see how a compiled contract appears after deployment. People who only want to hold ETH for the long term may find general-purpose wallets simpler, since Ethui is built around development tasks rather than everyday payments.
Why Local Test Chains Come Before Live Networks
A local test chain, such as one started by anvil, behaves like a real Ethereum network but has no real value at stake. Transactions are fast, balances can be reset and mistakes cost nothing. That makes it the right place to try deployments, debug failing calls and check how your contract responds to unexpected inputs.
On a live network, transactions are final and fees are paid in ETH. Working through every step on a local chain first helps you catch logic errors before they can cost money. Keep test wallets clearly separate from any wallet that holds funds, so you never confuse the two when you switch accounts in the app.
Key features
Foundry-Aware Contract Explorer
Multiple Wallets in One App
Fast Mode for Test Setups
Desktop-Native Design
Supported coins
Ethui's documentation names Ethereum (ETH) as the network it works with. Developers building Ethereum-based contracts will find that focus direct. Anyone who needs other chains should check the latest release notes before relying on the app for them.
How to install Ethui on Windows
- 1
Find the Official Download
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/ethui/ethui/releases. Choose the newest release, currently v1.27.0, and look for a Windows build. If no Windows build is listed, read the release notes before attempting anything else.
- 2
Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the installer with the value published on the release page. If the project publishes a signature instead, verify that signature. Do not run a file whose checksum does not match.
- 3
Run the Installer
Launch the file, follow the prompts and choose an install folder. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning for software from smaller projects. Confirm the file name and checksum again before you continue.
-
Create Your First Wallet
On first launch, generate a wallet and write down its seed phrase on paper. Store that paper offline. Set a password when prompted, and then point Ethui at a Foundry project folder if you want the contract explorer.
How to use Ethui
Once Ethui is installed, the basic workflow looks like this. Work through it on a local test chain first, so mistakes cost nothing.
- Open Ethui and create a wallet, then back up its seed phrase offline.
- Start a local anvil node from your terminal and leave that window open.
- Add a network entry in Ethui that points to the anvil RPC address.
- Create or import a test account and fund it using the accounts anvil prints at startup.
- Point Ethui at your Foundry project folder so it can find forge outputs and build the contract explorer.
- Deploy a contract with forge, then open it in the built-in explorer to confirm the interface matches your source.
- Create a second test wallet and send a transfer between the two accounts to check your application logic.
- Only after everything works locally should you consider a live network, and then use a separate wallet holding only funds you can afford to lose.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use, with no listed price
- Open source under the MIT license
- Several wallets can live in one app
- Foundry-aware explorer for locally compiled projects
- Fast mode for test wallets on an anvil node
- Desktop app reachable by local scripts through RPC
- Recently updated, with v1.27.0 as the latest release
- Windows support is described as likely rather than confirmed, so check the releases page first
- Focused on Ethereum (ETH) with no other networks highlighted
- Fast mode can be risky if a test setup is confused with an account holding real funds
- Aimed at developers, so casual users may find it more involved than a consumer wallet
Is Ethui safe?
Ethui is a wallet, so treat installation and key management with care. Use only the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and check the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the installer. Never enter your seed phrase on a third-party website, in a chat or in a form that asks for it. Write the phrase down offline and keep it away from your computer's cloud folders.
Fast mode is meant for test wallets on a local anvil node. Do not use it for accounts that hold real assets. The latest code update is recent, so the project is not presented as abandoned. Before installing, check the latest version on the official website. Nothing here is financial advice.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ethui/ethui. 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
Ethui sits next to, not in place of, the usual Ethereum toolchain. Foundry is a command-line toolkit with forge for building and testing, cast for interacting with chains and anvil for local nodes. Ethui adds a desktop wallet and a contract explorer around that workflow, which is useful if you prefer a graphical interface for accounts and deployed contracts.
Solidity is the compiler that turns source code into bytecode, so it is a building block rather than a direct competitor. EthereumStudio is a standalone desktop IDE and overlaps more with the editor side of your work. Anchor is a framework for Solana programs, so it belongs to a different ecosystem entirely.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v1.27.0
- Last update
- 30 Jul 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/ethui/ethui
Frequently asked questions
Ethui is open source under the MIT license, so its code is publicly available for review. Safety still depends on how you use it. Download only from the official website or GitHub Releases, verify the checksum, and keep seed phrases offline. Use fast mode only with test wallets.
Yes. Ethui is listed as free, and it is released under the MIT license. There is no price to pay for the app itself. Your only costs on Ethereum come from network fees when you send transactions on a live chain, which are separate from the software.
The project builds for Windows, but Windows support is described as likely rather than confirmed. Check the GitHub Releases page for a Windows build of the version you want. If none is listed, read the release notes before trying to build it yourself.
Point Ethui at your Foundry project folder so it can find the outputs produced by forge. The built-in explorer then matches them against deployed bytecode. Run a local anvil node, deploy with forge, and open the contract in Ethui to confirm its interface.
Fast mode lets Ethui skip some security and password checks when you use a test wallet with an anvil node. It speeds up repeated testing. It should never be used for wallets that hold real ETH, and it is not a substitute for careful key management.
Yes. Ethui is not limited to a single mnemonic, so you can create as many wallets as you need and switch between them. Many developers keep separate accounts for deploying, administering and testing, which makes it easier to track who signed what.
Verdict
Ethui is a good fit for Ethereum developers who work from a desktop and want a wallet that understands their Foundry projects. It is free, open source under MIT, and recently updated. It is less suited to people who only want a simple place to hold ETH. If you develop on Windows, download the latest Ethui for Windows build from the releases page, verify it, and start on a local test chain.