HORNET Storage is a free, open-source Nostr relay for Windows, aimed at people who want to run their own node on the decentralized social network and keep multimedia content on it. Nostr relays pass posts and events between users, and many of them handle text only. HORNET Storage is designed to handle larger files too, which makes it a fit for creators, community operators and developers who work with photos, audio and video.
The project describes itself as a configurable all-in-one relay. It brings together support for unchunked files, larger chunked files and a range of social features under one program. The source code is published on GitHub, the latest release is v1.0.2, and the code was last updated on 2026-08-07, so the project is active rather than abandoned.
What Is a Nostr Relay and Why Does It Matter?
Nostr is an open protocol for social apps. Users publish signed events, such as notes, profile updates and reactions, and send them to relays. A relay receives those events, stores them and passes them on to anyone who asks for them.
Because anyone can run a relay, the network does not depend on a single company's servers. A user can post to several relays at once, and if one goes offline, the content may still be available elsewhere. This design is the main reason people run their own relays: they want control over what their community can store and see.
Running a relay is different from using a Nostr app. An app is what you open to read and write. A relay is the infrastructure behind it, and its operator decides which features, file types and limits to support.
Who Should Consider Running HORNET Storage
HORNET Storage fits best where media is central. A small creative community might host shared photo galleries or audio clips on its own relay. A group of friends or a local club could use a relay to keep files close to home instead of relying only on public servers.
Developers also have a practical use. A Windows machine running a local relay is a convenient test environment for apps that send images, audio or video through Nostr. You can check how uploads, retrieval and configuration behave before you deploy anything publicly.
It is less suited to someone who only wants to follow friends and read a timeline. For that, a client app is simpler. The relay is the right tool when you want to be the one hosting the content.
How Larger Media Files Are Stored
HORNET Storage handles two kinds of file storage. Unchunked files are stored as Blossom Blobs, meaning each file is kept as a single object that can be requested as a whole. This works well for images and short clips that are small enough to move in one piece.
Larger files are stored as chunked Scionic Merkle Trees. Instead of treating a file as one object, the relay splits it into parts that are organized in a tree structure. Each part can be handled on its own, which is useful when a file is big enough that moving it in a single piece becomes impractical.
For an operator, the difference matters when planning disk space and bandwidth. Media takes up much more room than text notes, and every file a visitor downloads uses your connection. Estimating your expected traffic before you open a relay to the public is a sensible habit.
Key features
Combined relay and Airlock
Prebuilt sidecar binaries
Version-matched web panel
Example configuration files
Startup scripts for each platform
Multimedia and social features
Supported coins
The project documentation mentions the Lightning Network and Nostr. Nostr is the protocol the relay is built around, so it is the core of what the software does. Lightning Network references point to payment-related use cases that operators may want to explore on their own. HORNET Storage is a relay, not a wallet, so it is best understood as infrastructure for posts and files rather than a place to hold cryptocurrency.
How to install HORNET Storage on Windows
- 1
Get the program from the official source
Download the Windows build or installer from the GitHub Releases page for the HORNET-Storage project, or from the official website linked from the repository. Download only from the official website or GitHub, not from mirrors, file-sharing sites or links posted in comments.
- 2
Verify the download
If the release provides a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compare it with the file you downloaded before running anything. A mismatch means the file is not identical to the published release, and you should delete it and download again from the official source.
- 3
Install or extract the package
Run the installer, or extract the Windows build to a folder you control, such as a dedicated directory outside protected system folders. Keeping the relay in its own folder makes it easier to back up the configuration and media later.
-
Configure and start the relay
Copy the example configuration for the relay and for Airlock, then edit the settings to match your plans. Run start.bat to launch the relay, and open the web panel matched to this version to confirm that the server is running as expected.
How to use HORNET Storage
Once the relay is installed, the first session is mostly about configuration and confirming that everything responds. The steps below assume you are using the Windows build.
- Copy the example configuration files into the working folder and rename them only after you have read the comments inside.
- Open the relay configuration and set the storage location to a drive with enough free space for media.
- Review the Airlock example settings and adjust them to match your planned use.
- Double-click start.bat to launch the relay, and keep the window open while the server runs.
- Open the web panel in your browser and check that it reports the relay as running.
- Connect a Nostr client, such as Amethyst or Vega, to the local relay address to test it.
- Upload a small image or audio file and confirm that it can be retrieved through the client.
- Note your settings and back up the configuration before you change anything important.
Testing with small files first keeps mistakes cheap. Once the basic flow works, you can expand to larger media and tune storage settings.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and open source, with the code published on GitHub
- Designed to handle larger media files alongside standard Nostr posts
- Includes a web panel matched to the server version
- Example configurations and startup scripts reduce the first-run effort
- Listed platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux and Docker
- Version 1.0.2 is an early release line, so expect changes between updates
- Running a relay means hosting a server, which takes more effort than installing a client
- Media storage uses significant disk space and bandwidth, which need planning
- Less suited to people who only want to read or post; a client app is easier for that
Is HORNET Storage safe?
HORNET Storage is open source, and its code is public on GitHub, so the project can be reviewed by anyone who wants to look at how it works. Download only from the official website or GitHub, and avoid copies on third-party download sites. Verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature when the release provides one. Never enter a seed phrase, private key or relay admin password on third-party websites or in forms that claim to be affiliated with the project. Keep your relay configuration and any private keys on your own machine and do not share them. The last code update was 2026-08-07, so the project is currently maintained, but check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/HORNET-Storage/HORNETS-Nostr-Relay. 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
Most Nostr programs on this list are clients, the apps you use to read and write posts. Amethyst, Vega, Nostrid and Notedeck fall into that group. HORNET Storage works on the other side of the network. It is a relay that stores and serves events and files, so you would typically use it alongside a client rather than instead of one.
If you want to browse a feed or post a note, a client such as Amethyst or Vega is the better fit. If you want to host media for your own community, HORNET Storage is the more relevant choice among these programs.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.0.2
- Last update
- 7 Aug 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/HORNET-Storage/HORNETS-Nostr-Relay
Frequently asked questions
Yes. HORNET Storage is free to download and open source, with its code published on GitHub. Any real costs come from running the relay itself, such as a machine that stays online, disk space for media, and the bandwidth needed to serve files to other users.
Yes. A Windows build or installer is available, and the package includes start.bat to launch the relay. The project also lists Linux, macOS and Docker as supported platforms, so the same software can run on other systems.
A Nostr relay is a server that receives, stores and forwards signed events from users of the Nostr network. Anyone can run one, and users can post to several relays at once. HORNET Storage is a relay that also handles larger media files, which typical text-focused relays do not emphasize.
It is open source, so its code can be reviewed on GitHub. Download it from the official website or GitHub, check the SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is published, and keep private keys and admin passwords away from third-party sites. Those steps address most of the practical risks.
Yes, it is built with multimedia in mind. Files that are not chunked are stored as Blossom Blobs, while larger files are handled as chunked Scionic Merkle Trees. Plan enough disk space in advance, since media takes up far more storage than text posts.
No, not for the ready-made Windows build. Go is the language the project is written in, so it matters mainly for people who compile the software from source. If you use the packaged build, you can follow the installation steps and start the relay without a development toolchain.
Install or extract the package, copy the example configuration, and adjust the settings to your needs. Then double-click start.bat to launch the relay. Open the web panel in your browser to confirm that the relay is running and responding.
Docker is among the platforms the project lists, so running the relay in a container on a server is an option. Container setups are useful when you want the relay on a machine that stays online and can be moved or restored more easily.
Verdict
HORNET Storage suits people who want to host a Nostr relay that handles photos, audio and video, not just text. It is free, open source and currently maintained, and its web panel and startup scripts make the first run on Windows manageable. It is not the right first choice for someone who only wants to browse or post, since a client such as Amethyst or Vega fits that role better. If hosting media for a community is your goal, plan your storage and bandwidth, test with small files, and keep your configuration backed up.