LND Channel Rebalancer 3 is a free, open-source command-line tool for node operators who run LND, the Lightning Network daemon written by Lightning Labs. It is aimed at people who already operate a Lightning node and want to keep their channels usable by moving funds between them, rather than at casual wallet users.
The program automates one of the more tedious chores of running a routing node: when a channel runs low on outbound liquidity, it finds a circular route that pushes funds back into it from another channel. The current release is v1.12.3, and the last code update in the project was on June 6, 2026.
What Is LND Channel Rebalancing?
A Lightning channel is a payment path between two nodes, and each side holds a share of the funds in it. Over time, payments tend to push money in one direction, so one side ends up with almost everything and the other side has little left to send. The side that has run out of outbound liquidity can no longer route payments in that direction.
Rebalancing fixes this by sending a payment in a loop that starts and ends at your own node. Funds leave a well-stocked channel and arrive in the depleted one. Nothing changes in the total amount you hold; only its distribution across channels is adjusted. Each rebalance usually costs routing fees, so the economics depend on how much a channel earns once it is usable again.
Who Is This Tool For?
The program is built for operators of LND nodes, particularly those running routing nodes that forward payments for others. If you only use a Lightning wallet on your phone or desktop, you do not need a rebalancer, because wallet software manages channels differently.
It also suits developers and testers who run LND on a local network and want to see how liquidity moves between nodes. The tool supports Bitcoin on the Lightning Network and is designed around LND specifically rather than other Lightning implementations.
Real-World Use Cases
Consider a node with five channels to different peers. Two of them are heavily used for outgoing payments and have drained their outbound liquidity, while the rest sit at a healthy balance. Rebalancing by hand would mean checking each channel, choosing a route, and retrying failed attempts. An automated run can handle the pairs it identifies as candidates and keep trying within the time window you configure.
Another scenario is a node whose larger channels fail to route at full size. Route probing can test smaller amounts to discover the largest workable value, after which the rebalance can proceed in steps.
Why Another Rebalancer Exists
The project's author wrote the tool because the two most capable existing rebalancers each had drawbacks. One was written in Python and the other in JavaScript, and both required runtime environments and ran slowly. Reimplementing the useful parts in Go allowed a single compiled program that is easier to run, with fewer dependencies on separate language runtimes.
The Go choice means you run a compiled binary rather than installing an interpreter stack. For a Windows user, that simplifies setup, though the tool still needs a working LND node to connect to.
Key features
Automatic channel selection
Persistent retries with time limits
Payment timeouts
Configuration file
Route probing
Rapid rebalancing
Caching for faster startup
Readable capacity formatting
Automatic fee ceiling
Excluding your own channels
Supported coins
The documentation mentions Bitcoin (BTC) on the Lightning Network as the network the tool works with. It is a Lightning-specific utility for LND rather than a multi-chain tool.
How to install LND channel rebalancer 3 on Windows
- 1
Get the program from an official source
Download the release from the official project repository on GitHub, using the Releases page, which lists version v1.12.3 and its files. Avoid copies from unknown sites, since a rebalancer touches channels that move real funds.
- 2
Verify the file
Check the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded archive against the value published with the release, or verify the signature if one is provided. A mismatch means the file should not be used.
- 3
Extract and place the binary
Unpack the archive into a folder of your choice. Keep the executable in a location you can reach from the command line, such as a dedicated tools folder, and note its full path.
- 4
Point the tool at your LND configuration
Make sure the tool can read your LND configuration directory and TLS certificate, and the macaroon file that grants it permission to act on your node. Adjust the path to match where LND is installed on your machine.
-
Run a test first
Start with a single small rebalance and read the output before enabling automation. Confirm that the tool connects to your node and reports channel balances correctly.
System requirements
- A running LND node that the tool can connect to
- Windows build or installer available from the official release page
- Access to the LND macaroon and TLS files
How to use LND channel rebalancer 3
The tool is run from the command line and works against an LND node you already operate. Before starting, make sure LND is synced and that you have the macaroon and TLS certificate it needs. Running the tool on a node you do not control is not appropriate, since it can move funds through your channels.
A typical workflow looks like this:
- Open a terminal in the folder containing the executable and check that it starts and prints its help output.
- Create a config file in JSON or TOML that sets your default timeouts, retry window and any channels you want excluded.
- Run a rebalance with automatic channel selection to see which pairs the tool proposes, before letting it act.
- Enable route probing only if full-size rebalances keep failing, since probing adds extra attempts.
- Turn on rapid rebalancing for repeated rebalances over the same route once a working path is found.
- Review the results and adjust the maximum fee if routes are being skipped for cost reasons.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code publicly available
- Compiled Go binary avoids the runtime setup required by Python and JavaScript alternatives
- Automatic channel selection reduces manual work on busy nodes
- Configurable timeouts and retry windows give fine control
- Route probing helps find workable amounts when large payments fail
- Caching speeds up repeated runs
- Requires an existing LND node, so it is not suitable for beginners
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface in the documented feature set
- Works only with LND and Bitcoin on the Lightning Network
- Rebalancing costs routing fees, which can erode the benefit for low-value channels
- Mistaken settings can cause unnecessary spending, so testing is important
Is LND channel rebalancer 3 safe?
Because this tool sends payments through your real channels, handle it with care. Download only from the official project page or its GitHub Releases, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running it. Never share your macaroon or seed phrase with third-party websites or anyone offering help in exchange for access.
An antivirus program may flag unfamiliar command-line executables. If that happens, check the file's hash against the official value rather than disabling protection altogether. The project's last code update was on June 6, 2026, so review recent changes and the issue tracker before relying on it for significant funds.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/rkfg/regolancer. 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 of the similar programs in this catalog address different parts of the Lightning ecosystem. Polar creates local Lightning test networks with a click and is aimed at developers who want a sandbox. Zap Desktop and Lightning Peach Wallet are desktop wallets for everyday payments, not node maintenance tools. Peach Wallet focuses on micropayments for ordinary users.
LND Channel Rebalancer 3 sits in a different niche: it works on a live LND node to redistribute liquidity between channels. If you need a wallet, one of the desktop options fits better; if you need a test environment, Polar is the closer match. For keeping a routing node's channels balanced, this tool is the specialized choice.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.12.3
- Last update
- 6 Jun 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/rkfg/regolancer
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The program is open source and free to use. You still pay the routing fees that rebalancing payments incur on the Lightning Network, since each successful loop passes through other nodes that charge for forwarding.
Yes, the project offers a Windows build or installer. It runs from the command line, so you will need to open a terminal and point it at your LND configuration and macaroon files.
Yes. The tool connects to an existing LND node and works with its channels. It does not create a node or a wallet for you, so LND must be installed, synced and reachable before you start.
Route probing uses a binary search to test smaller amounts when a full-size rebalance fails. It finds the largest amount that can be routed, and the rebalance then proceeds at that size. It is optional and adds some extra attempts.
By default it retries for up to six hours until a rebalance succeeds. Each individual payment attempt times out after five minutes by default. Both values can be changed in the configuration.
Yes. You can exclude your own channels from consideration, which is useful for channels you want to keep at their current balance or never use as a source or target.
Download only from the official GitHub Releases, verify the checksum, and test with small amounts first. Rebalancing moves money through your real channels, so review the output and settings before enabling automation.
No. It is a maintenance tool for LND node operators, not a wallet for sending and receiving everyday payments. Wallets and rebalancers serve different purposes and are usually used together by different people.
Verdict
LND Channel Rebalancer 3 is a focused, free tool for operators of LND nodes who need to redistribute liquidity between channels. It rewards careful setup: test small rebalances, set sensible timeouts and fee limits, and keep your macaroon secure. Beginners who only want to pay and receive Lightning payments should look at wallets instead. For an experienced routing-node operator, it offers a fast, dependency-light way to keep channels usable.