Flycat is a free, open-source client for Nostr, the decentralized social protocol. It is aimed at people who want to read and write short notes, long-form articles and media posts in one place, without the engagement mechanics common on mainstream platforms. If you have been curious about Nostr but found the typical clients busy and noisy, Flycat offers a calmer, more deliberate way in.
The client is styled after the simpler web of the early 2000s: plain layouts, a restrained visual style and a light mode that favors reading over scrolling. Its developers designed it around blogging as much as microblogging, so it suits writers who want to publish longer pieces on a decentralized network alongside their quick updates.
What Is Nostr and Why Does a Client Like Flycat Matter?
Nostr, short for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays, is an open protocol for social communication. Instead of a single company hosting every account and post, users publish signed messages to relays, which are servers anyone can run. Your identity is a cryptographic key pair rather than an account on one platform, so the same identity can work across many apps.
That design means a client is only an interface. Flycat reads from and writes to relays, and it can be replaced by another client without losing your identity or your posts. For readers new to the protocol, this separation is the main thing to understand: the network is decentralized, and clients such as Flycat are the windows you look through.
Because there is no central moderator, what you see depends heavily on which relays you connect to. Flycat's relay selector and discovery features are designed to make that choice visible and manageable rather than hidden.
Who Is Flycat For?
Flycat suits several kinds of people. Writers who want to publish essays, notes and longer posts on an open network will find the blogging orientation useful. Readers who are tired of engagement metrics may appreciate the decision to remove follower counts and likes. Developers and self-hosters can also benefit, since the client needs no custom backend.
It is less suited to people who want the polished, heavily moderated experience of large mainstream apps, or who expect an extensive set of mobile features. The interface is deliberately spare, and the project's focus is on the web rather than on a broad app ecosystem.
If you are comparing options, a good approach is to try the client with a few relays you already know and see whether the minimal style helps or frustrates your reading habits.
Practical Use Cases for a Calm Nostr Client
One common scenario is a writer who keeps a public journal on Nostr. They can post short updates for quick thoughts and switch to article mode for longer entries, all from the same window. Since there are no like counts, feedback comes through replies and reposts, which can feel more personal.
Another scenario involves community participation. A user who belongs to a NIP-172 community can follow its discussions in Flycat while keeping their general feed separate. Switching relay groups makes it easier to keep work, hobby and personal conversations apart.
A third case is someone experimenting with self-hosting. Since the client does not require a custom server, a technically inclined user can serve the web app themselves and point it at their preferred relays, keeping control over how the interface is delivered.
Key features
Built-in relay selector
Gossip mode and automatic relay discovery
No follower counts, likes or recommendation feed
Mixed content in a single client
Support for NIP-172 communities
Several sign-in options
No database or custom backend required
Shared connection pool across tabs
Supported coins
Flycat's documentation refers to Nostr as the network it works with. It is a social protocol rather than a payment network, so the client does not handle coins or transactions. Some sign-in options it supports, such as WalletConnect and the wallet-based signers, are tools that can also be used with cryptocurrency wallets, but Flycat itself is a Nostr social client.
How to install Flycat on Windows
- 1
Choose a trusted source
Download Flycat only from the official project repository or its official website. The source code is published on GitHub at github.com/digi-monkey/flycat-web, and that is the place to check for the current release.
- 2
Pick the right build
The project offers a Windows build or installer. Look for the most recent release, which is listed as v0.2.12, and make sure the file you download comes from the release page rather than a mirror.
- 3
Verify the file
Before running the installer, compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published on the release page, or check a signature if the project provides one. A mismatch means you should not run the file.
- 4
Run the installer
Start the installer and follow the prompts. Install to the default location unless you have a reason to change it, and avoid bundling extra software if the installer offers it.
-
Launch and connect
Open Flycat after installation, then add or choose the relays you want to use. The relay selector lets you set up groups early, which makes later switching easier.
How to use Flycat
Once Flycat is open, the first useful step is to decide which relays you want to connect to. Start with a small set of relays you trust, then let gossip mode and automatic discovery expand your reach as you follow people. This gives you control over the content you see from the start.
Here is a simple workflow to begin with:
- Open the relay selector and create a group for your main relays.
- Sign in using one of the supported methods, such as a browser signer you already use.
- Follow a few accounts whose writing you know, so the feed has useful content.
- Try the article view to see how long-form posts appear alongside short notes.
- If you want community content, search for a NIP-172 community and join its discussions.
- Adjust your relay groups as you learn which servers carry the posts you care about.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code publicly available
- No follower counts, likes or engagement-driven ranking
- Combines short notes, articles and media in one client
- Built-in relay selector and automatic relay discovery
- Supports NIP-172 communities
- Several sign-in options, including wallet-based signers
- No custom backend or database needed, which simplifies self-hosting
- Shared connection pool reduces duplicate connections across tabs
- Minimal interface may feel sparse to users who want many features
- Web-focused design, so it is less suited to users wanting a native mobile experience
- Last code update was in February 2024, so activity may be slower than in more actively maintained clients
- Discovery of content depends heavily on which relays you choose
- Smaller ecosystem than the largest mainstream social platforms
Is Flycat safe?
Flycat is open-source software, which means its code can be inspected, but that does not replace basic precautions. Download only from the official GitHub repository or the project's official website, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running any installer. Never enter a seed phrase or private key into a third-party website that claims to be Flycat or a Nostr service.
Note that the most recent code update was in February 2024, so the project may not receive frequent maintenance. Before relying on it for important posts, check the release page for recent activity and review the latest version on the official website.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/digi-monkey/flycat-web. 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
Several clients in the same space take different approaches. Amethyst is a full-featured Nostr client with a broader feature set and mobile orientation, while Gossip is a desktop client written in Rust that focuses on efficient relay handling. Vega offers a cross-platform desktop experience, and Blockcore Notes is a progressive web app that can be installed on phones and computers.
Flycat stands apart through its deliberately quiet design and its blogging focus. Where some clients emphasize speed, mobile use or a rich feature list, Flycat emphasizes reading calmly, publishing longer pieces and avoiding engagement metrics. It is also notable for needing no custom backend, which fits users who want a simple, self-hostable web client. Choose based on whether you prefer a minimal web interface or a more complete application.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.2.12
- Last update
- 20 Feb 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/digi-monkey/flycat-web
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Flycat is free and open source, and its source code is published on GitHub. There are no subscription fees listed for the client itself. You will still need to choose relays, and some relays may have their own rules, but the client does not charge for access.
Flycat is a client for the Nostr protocol. It lets you read and write short notes, long-form articles, media posts and highlights, and it supports community spaces under NIP-172. It is aimed at people who want an open, decentralized social experience without follower counts or likes.
Flycat is available as a Windows build or installer, alongside its web version. You can download the Windows package from the official GitHub release page and verify its checksum before installing. The most recent release is listed as v0.2.12.
Nostr uses cryptographic keys as identities rather than traditional accounts. To post, you sign in with a key through one of the supported methods, such as a browser extension or wallet-based signer. You can browse some content without signing in, depending on your relay setup.
Flycat supports several options, including getAlby, Nostr2x, MetaMask, WalletConnect, JoyID and DotBit. Using a signer you already trust is generally safer than pasting a private key into a web page, because the signer keeps the key under its own protection.
Yes. Flycat does not require a database, a custom backend or a private caching server, so self-hosting is relatively simple. You serve the web app yourself and configure which relays it connects to. Check the project repository for current build instructions.
The client is open source, which helps transparency, but you should still download it only from the official repository or website and verify the file's checksum. Never share your private key or seed phrase with any site or app that asks for it outside a trusted signer.
Flycat emphasizes a calm interface with no follower counts or likes, plus a blogging-friendly design that handles articles alongside short notes. It also offers a built-in relay selector and automatic relay discovery. Other clients may offer more features or better mobile support.
Verdict
Flycat is a good fit for people who want a quiet, open window into Nostr, especially writers who publish both short updates and longer articles. Its free, open-source model, minimal interface and lack of engagement metrics set it apart from mainstream platforms. It is less suitable for users who expect a feature-rich mobile app or very active development. Try it with a few trusted relays, check the project for recent updates, and decide from there.