HAVEN is a free, open source Nostr relay bundled with a Blossom media server. It is built for people who want to run their own corner of the Nostr network, including self-hosters, developers and privacy-minded users who would rather keep personal notes on their own machine than rely on a public relay. The project is released under the MIT license and written in Go.
This page covers HAVEN for Windows: where to get the program, how to install it, what storage it needs and how it compares with other Nostr tools. The latest release is v1.2.2, and the code was last updated in August 2026, so the project is still being actively developed. If you have used Nostr clients before, this guide will show where a relay fits in.
What Is a Nostr Relay and Why Run One?
Nostr is a decentralized protocol for social apps. Users sign their messages with cryptographic keys, and clients send those signed events to relays. A relay stores events and passes them along to other clients that ask for them.
Most people use public relays run by other operators. Running your own relay changes the picture. You decide what gets stored, how long it stays, who is allowed to write, and whether the service is available when you are offline. For a small group, a family or a single writer, that control is the main reason to self-host.
A relay is a server, not an app you open to read posts. Your everyday client, such as a phone or desktop app, connects to the relay address you give it. HAVEN is the server side of that arrangement.
Who HAVEN Is For
HAVEN fits a few clear use cases. A small community can run a shared relay for its members and keep the content on hardware it controls. A writer can keep drafts in the private area and sync them between devices without posting them publicly.
Developers often use a local relay to test clients before they go live on the public network. A Windows PC at home is enough for that. Someone who wants to host images for their own Nostr posts can use the Blossom media server for the same purpose.
HAVEN is less suited to people who only want to read and post on Nostr from a phone. For that, a regular client connected to a public relay is simpler. Self-hosting makes sense when you are ready to think about storage, backups and access settings.
How Private Notes and Access Control Fit Together
Public and private content on a relay are handled differently. Public events are meant to be shared with anyone who connects. The private area is restricted, and Auth is the mechanism that checks a connecting client before it reads or writes there.
Access control only works as well as the machine it runs on. Anyone with administrator access to the PC hosting HAVEN can read the data folder directly. Keep the computer locked down, and avoid running the relay on a shared account.
Backups matter as much as access rules. If your private notes exist only on one disk, a failed drive can erase them. Copy the data folder to a separate location on a regular schedule, and test that you can restore it.
Key features
Four Relays in One
Built-In Blossom Media Server
Private Notes Behind Authentication
No External Database Required
Simple HTTPS With Caddy
Supported coins
The project's documentation mentions Nostr and Nano. Nostr is the protocol HAVEN is built around, and Nano appears as a related network in the project's materials. HAVEN is focused on relaying Nostr events and hosting media rather than managing funds.
How to install HAVEN on Windows
- 1
Get the Windows Build
Download the Windows build or installer from the Releases page of the project's GitHub repository at github.com/bitvora/haven, or from the official website. Choose the latest release, currently v1.2.2, and avoid copies from forums or mirror sites.
- 2
Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If a signature is provided, check it as well. Do not run the file if the checksum does not match.
- 3
Install and Set Storage Options
Run the installer or extract the Windows build to a folder you control. Before the first start, set the LMDBMAPSIZE environment variable to a value below your free disk space if the default is too large for your drive.
-
Start and Test the Relay
Launch HAVEN and confirm that it is listening on the address shown in its output. Connect a Nostr client to that address to check that events are being stored. If you plan to expose the relay publicly, set up Caddy before sharing the address.
System requirements
- A Windows build or installer for the program, taken from the project's release page
- Free disk space larger than the LMDB map size you configure; the default of 273 GB is a ceiling, and LMDB uses only the space it needs on most modern systems
- An NVMe drive is recommended for the best LMDB performance
- No external database server is required
- For public access over HTTPS: a domain name and Caddy, since Certbot is not needed
How to use HAVEN
HAVEN runs as a background server, so the setup is mostly about configuration and then connecting your clients. Follow these steps to get a working relay on your PC.
- Start HAVEN from the folder where you installed it and confirm that it reports a running relay.
- Check the LMDBMAPSIZE value and make sure it is lower than the free space on the drive that holds the database.
- Choose your storage engine. Use LMDB for speed on a fast drive, or BadgerDB if you want an alternative.
- Open your Nostr client and add a relay address that points to your PC. Use a local address for testing.
- Publish a test event, then check that it appears when you reconnect.
- Test the private area by connecting a second client without authentication and confirming it cannot read private notes.
- Schedule regular copies of the data folder, and keep at least one backup on a separate drive.
Pros & cons
- Combines four relays and a Blossom media server in one program
- Free and released under the MIT license
- No separate database server to install or maintain
- Private notes are protected by Auth
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Docker
- Caddy setup handles HTTPS certificates without Certbot
- Storage settings such as the LMDB map size need some technical care
- Public hosting requires a domain name and HTTPS configuration
- Media uploads grow the storage footprint over time
- Running a personal server means you are responsible for backups and access control
Is HAVEN safe?
HAVEN stores your private notes and runs a network-facing service, so treat installation with care. Download the Windows build only from the official website or the Releases page of the GitHub repository at github.com/bitvora/haven. After downloading, verify the SHA-256 checksum against the published value, or check the signature if one is provided. Never enter your Nostr private key or any seed phrase on third-party websites, including pages that claim to offer a helper tool or a faster download. The last code update was in August 2026, which is recent, but check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/bitvora/haven. 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
HAVEN is a server, while most programs in the similar list are clients or tools that connect to servers. Amethyst is a Nostr client, and Gossip is a desktop client written in Rust. Vega is a cross-platform desktop client, and Coop focuses on private messages. NAK is a command-line toolkit for working with Nostr events, and Nostr Commander RS is a command-line client.
If you want to read and post, pick a client. If you want to host your own relay and media, HAVEN is the relevant choice. Many people use both: a client on their phone or desktop, and HAVEN on a home PC for private storage.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v1.2.2
- Last update
- 26 Aug 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/bitvora/haven
Frequently asked questions
Yes, HAVEN is free to download and use. It is released under the MIT license, and the source code is available on GitHub. The Windows build is provided as a ready-made program, so you do not need to compile it yourself to run it.
HAVEN can be installed safely if you download it from the official website or the GitHub Releases page and verify its SHA-256 checksum or signature. Never enter your Nostr private key or seed phrase on third-party sites. Because the relay stores private notes, keep the PC secured and back up your data regularly.
No, HAVEN does not require an external database server. It stores data locally using LMDB or BadgerDB. LMDB can be faster but works best on NVMe drives and may need its map size adjusted so it stays below your free disk space.
The Blossom media server is a component included with HAVEN that handles media files shared over Nostr. It lets you host images and other files on the same machine as your relay. This gives you more say over where your media is stored, but it also means you need enough disk space for uploads.
No, Certbot is not required. Caddy manages certificates and WebSocket connections automatically, so it is the simpler option for a public relay. Local testing on your own PC does not require HTTPS at all, so you can skip this step until you need public access.
Start HAVEN, then enter the relay address it reports in the relay settings of your Nostr client. Use a local address for testing on the same PC. Once you publish a test event and see it come back, the connection is working and your relay is storing data.
If you want a client rather than a server, look at Amethyst, Gossip or Vega. For command-line work, NAK and Nostr Commander RS are good options. Choose based on whether you need to host a relay, read and post, or script Nostr tasks.
Verdict
HAVEN suits people who want a private, self-hosted Nostr relay on their own Windows PC, with a media server included. It is free, open source and easier to run than several separate services, but it is a server, so it needs storage planning and some attention to backups. If you only want to read and post on Nostr, a client connected to a public relay will be simpler. If you want to keep drafts and personal notes under your own control, HAVEN is a strong candidate.