Lncli WEB is a free, open-source web client for lnd, the Lightning Network daemon. It is aimed at people who run their own Lightning node and would rather check on it in a browser than type commands into a terminal. The program is written in NodeJS and Angular, so the interface opens like any other web page on your own computer or server.
The project's last code update dates to January 2022, more than two years before this page was written. Treat Lncli WEB as an unmaintained project. It remains useful as a reference for how a Lightning web front end can be built, and as a starting point for a local dashboard, but you should expect to troubleshoot dependencies yourself.
What the Lightning Network Is and Why a Web Client Helps
The Lightning Network is a layer of payment channels built on top of Bitcoin. Two parties open a channel with an on-chain transaction, then exchange payments off-chain and settle the final balance later. This makes small, fast payments possible without recording every one on the main blockchain.
Running a Lightning node means watching channel balances, peers and routing activity, which is easy to neglect when everything lives in a terminal. A web client puts those numbers on a screen you can check at a glance. Lncli WEB focuses on that job: it is a viewer and control panel for a node you already run, not a separate network of its own.
Who Lncli WEB Is For
The most natural user is a node operator who runs lnd on a home computer, a mini server or a virtual machine and wants a browser dashboard. Someone who manages a few channels may prefer a visual overview to repeated command-line queries.
Developers and students also find it useful. Because the code is public and written in JavaScript, it can serve as a study example of how a Lightning front end talks to a daemon. Teams that want a quick local view of a test node can run it in Docker, keeping the setup isolated from their everyday machines.
Those who only want to send and receive payments from a phone or desktop wallet will likely prefer a dedicated wallet instead, since Lncli WEB assumes you already have a node.
How a Browser Front End Connects to an lnd Node
lnd exposes its functions through remote interfaces that programs use to request data and send commands. A web client like Lncli WEB runs a small server component that makes these requests on your behalf, then serves the results to the browser as pages.
To make that connection, the client needs credentials that lnd generates. These include a TLS certificate, which encrypts traffic, and macaroon files, which define what the client is allowed to do. Choosing a restricted macaroon limits the damage if a client is compromised, so it is worth understanding these files before you start the program.
Key features
Browser Interface for lnd
NodeJS and Angular Stack
Network Graph Rendering
Several Platforms
Supported coins
Lncli WEB is built around the Lightning Network, and it works through an lnd node rather than directly with other networks or coins. Its documented scope covers Lightning payments and channel management, so it is best suited to people who already use the Lightning Network and run lnd.
How to install Lncli WEB on Windows
- 1
Find the Windows build
Open the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/mably/lncli-web and look for a Windows build. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, never from a mirror or a search-result link. If no Windows build is published, installing the program becomes a developer task that involves building from source.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published next to the download. If a signature is provided instead, verify it before running the file. A mismatch means the file should not be installed, and you should download it again from the official source.
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Run the installer
Start the installer or extract the archive into a folder you control, then launch the program. Keep the installation outside protected system folders so that configuration files and certificates can be stored where you can manage them.
System requirements
- Graphviz installed on the server, only if you want the network graph rendering feature
How to use Lncli WEB
Lncli WEB sits between your browser and a running lnd node, so the setup begins with the node itself. Once lnd is running and synchronized, the client needs the connection files and a local address to open.
- Start your lnd node and confirm that it is running and synchronized.
- Locate the TLS certificate and macaroon files that lnd generates, and keep them in a folder only you can read.
- Start Lncli WEB and open http://127.0.0.1:8280 in your browser.
- If your setup uses Let's Encrypt certificates, provide a contact email when you generate them, and regenerate your certificates as the project notes describe.
- Open the dashboard to review channels and balances, then enable the graph view only if Graphviz is installed on the server.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code public on GitHub
- Simple browser interface for an lnd node
- Lists Windows, macOS, Linux and Docker as platforms
- Network graph rendering helps visualize your node's position
- Built with common JavaScript tools that are easy to inspect
- The last code update was in January 2022, so the project is effectively unmaintained
- Windows support should be confirmed on the releases page before you plan around it
- Requires an existing, running lnd node; it is not a standalone wallet
- Graph rendering needs Graphviz on the server
- Not a good fit for managing significant funds without your own review of the code
Is Lncli WEB safe?
Lncli WEB is not a wallet, but it connects to a node that controls funds, so treat it with the same care. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature whenever one is published. Never enter a seed phrase on third-party websites or in any page that asks for one. Keep TLS certificates and macaroon files private, because anyone holding them may gain access to your node. The project has not seen a code update since January 2022, so it is effectively unmaintained. Review the source, run it on a trusted machine, and check the latest version on the official website before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/mably/lncli-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
Lncli WEB differs from the other programs in this group mainly in its role. It is a front end for your own lnd node, so it helps you monitor and manage a node you already run. Polar, by contrast, creates local Lightning networks in one click, which makes it a development and testing tool rather than a dashboard for a live node. Spark Wallet is a minimal GUI for c-lightning, so it targets a different Lightning implementation. Peach is a desktop wallet for making micro payments, and Zap Desktop is a desktop Lightning wallet that is no longer supported. If you want a wallet, Peach or Zap are closer matches; if you want to check an lnd node from a browser, Lncli WEB is the more specific choice, provided you accept its age.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 27 Jan 2022
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/mably/lncli-web
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Lncli WEB is free and open source. Its source code is published on GitHub, so you can read it, build it yourself or review its history. Because it is free, there is no purchase or subscription to manage. Keep in mind that the project's last code update dates to January 2022, which matters more than the price.
Windows is listed among the supported platforms, but you should confirm the current status on the GitHub Releases page before installing. Support depends on the builds the project actually publishes. If no Windows build is available, you would need to build the program from source, which is a developer task rather than a simple installation.
It can be, if you take basic precautions. Download only from the official website or the GitHub repository, and check the SHA-256 checksum or signature. Protect your TLS certificate and macaroon files, since they control access to your node. Because the project has not been updated since January 2022, review the code and run it on a trusted machine.
Yes, Lncli WEB is a client for lnd, so a running and synchronized lnd node is required. The client connects to the node using the TLS certificate and macaroon files that lnd generates. Without a node, there is nothing for the interface to display or control, so set up lnd first.
No. The project's last code update dates to January 2022, more than two years ago. That means you should not expect new features, security fixes or compatibility updates. It can still serve as a reference or a local dashboard, but you should plan to maintain its dependencies and monitor your node carefully.
Lncli WEB works as a client for an lnd node, so its ability to send payments depends on the features the project implements and the node it connects to. Test any payment action on a small amount first. Check the project's documentation and the current code before relying on it for real transactions.
Alternatives depend on your goal. Polar suits local testing of Lightning networks, Peach is a desktop wallet for micro payments, and Spark Wallet offers a minimal GUI for c-lightning. Choose a tool that matches whether you want a dashboard for a live node, a development sandbox or a wallet for everyday payments.
Verdict
Lncli WEB is a free, open-source browser client for people who run an lnd Lightning node and want a simple visual dashboard. It is most useful for operators, developers who want to study a Lightning front end and anyone who prefers a local web view of their node. Its value lies in transparency and simplicity rather than in active development. Because the last code update came in January 2022, it is better suited to experimentation and learning than to managing significant funds. Verify the Windows build, review the code and check the latest version on the official website before you commit to it.