Nostui is a free, open-source terminal client for Nostr, the decentralized social protocol. It is built for people who prefer a text-based interface and are comfortable working from the command line, including developers, system administrators and power users who want to follow conversations without opening a browser.
Nostui is written in Rust and is distributed as a ready-to-run program for several operating systems, with Windows among the listed platforms. Its version is 0.1.1, which points to an early-stage project. The core reading and posting features are in place, but expect rough edges and check the release notes before each upgrade.
Who Is Nostui For?
Nostui is aimed at people who already spend time in a terminal. Developers who keep a shell open all day can check mentions and post a quick note without switching to a graphical app. Sysadmins who manage servers over SSH may also appreciate a client that runs in the same environment as their other tools.
It is less suited to users who expect a polished interface with images, rich media and menus. A typical scenario is someone who wants to read a handful of accounts, watch for replies and post short updates from a keyboard. If that describes you, a terminal client can feel faster than a window full of panels.
Beginners to Nostr may find it easier to learn the protocol through a graphical client first, then move to a terminal tool once they understand keys, relays and timelines.
How Nostr Works Behind a Client
Nostr is a protocol in which users publish signed messages, often called events, to relays. A relay is a server that stores and forwards those messages, and a client connects to one or more relays to fetch the notes it displays. Because no single company owns the network, the content you see depends on which relays your client reads from.
Each account is identified by a cryptographic key pair. The public key is shared so others can find you, while the private key signs your posts and proves you wrote them. Anyone who holds your private key can act as you, which is why key handling matters so much in any Nostr application.
A terminal client like Nostui handles these details in the background. You see timelines, mentions and replies, while the signing and relay connections run without extra steps on your part.
What a Text User Interface Means in Practice
A text user interface, or TUI, draws its screens with characters inside a terminal window instead of buttons and images. Navigation relies on the keyboard, so moving between timelines, opening a tab or composing a note takes a few keystrokes rather than mouse clicks.
This approach has clear benefits. A TUI uses little memory, starts quickly and works well in remote sessions where a graphical desktop is not available. Scrolling through long timelines can feel more predictable when everything is laid out in fixed rows and columns.
The trade-off is a learning curve. Users need to remember shortcuts and get comfortable reading dense screens. Once those habits settle, many people find a TUI quicker for routine tasks, while still turning to a graphical client when they want media previews or a more visual layout.
Key features
Mention Timeline
Post, Reply, React and Repost
Per-User Timelines as Tabs
Music Status Broadcasting
Supported coins
Nostui works with the Nostr network, which is the protocol behind the client rather than a cryptocurrency or token. There is no list of coins to choose from, because the program does not handle payments. Instead, it carries notes, reactions, reposts and profile information between you and the relays your client connects to. Since Nostr depends on relays rather than one central server, what you see in a timeline can vary with the relays in use.
How to install Nostui on Windows
- 1
Open the Releases Page
Go to the project's source code repository at github.com/akiomik/nostui and open the Releases section. Download the program only from the official website or from this GitHub Releases page, and avoid mirrors, file-sharing sites and third-party download portals.
- 2
Choose the Windows Build
Look for a Windows binary among the files attached to the newest release. File names usually indicate the operating system and processor architecture, so pick the one that matches your PC. If no Windows file is attached to a given version, check earlier releases or the project's build notes.
- 3
Verify the Download
Calculate the SHA-256 hash of the downloaded file with a tool such as PowerShell's Get-FileHash command, then compare the result with the checksum published on the release page. A mismatch means the file should not be run. If no checksum is published, be extra careful about where the file came from.
-
Place the File and Launch It
If the download is a zip archive, extract it to a folder you control, such as a dedicated tools directory. Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell, navigate to that folder and start the executable from the command line. Because Nostui is a terminal program, double-clicking it may open a window that closes immediately.
How to use Nostui
Nostui runs inside a terminal, so the workflow is different from a typical desktop app. Once the program is in place, the steps below will get you to your first post.
- Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and move to the folder that contains the Nostui executable.
- Start the program by typing its file name and pressing Enter.
- Connect your Nostr account by supplying the key pair you already use with other clients, and keep the private key private.
- Open the mention timeline first to see replies and tags directed at your account.
- Move to the home or main timeline to read the latest posts from accounts you follow.
- Open a specific user's timeline as a new tab when you want to follow that person closely.
- Write a note, reply to a thread, add a reaction or repost, then check the result in the timeline.
- Optionally, broadcast your current track as a music status if you want friends to see what you are playing.
Take a few minutes to learn the on-screen key hints before posting regularly, since shortcuts make the TUI much faster.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code publicly available on GitHub
- Lightweight terminal interface that works well in remote sessions over SSH
- Covers the core actions: mention timeline, posting, replies, reactions and reposts
- Per-user tabs make it easy to follow several accounts side by side
- Written in Rust, a language known for performance and memory safety
- Version 0.1.1 signals early development, so rough edges are likely
- A terminal-only interface has a steeper learning curve than graphical clients
- The feature set is narrower than in mature, full-featured Nostr apps
- Windows builds depend on the release, so you may need to look through several versions
Is Nostui safe?
Nostui is open source, and the code is public on GitHub, which helps you review what you are running. Download the program only from the GitHub Releases page of the project, and calculate the SHA-256 checksum of the file before launching it. If the project publishes a signature or checksum, compare it with your result. Never enter your Nostr private key, which acts as your account credentials, on third-party websites or in tools you have not verified. Anyone holding that key can post as you. Since the program is still at version 0.1.x, check the Releases page for the newest version and read its notes before upgrading. The project is actively maintained and is not deprecated.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/akiomik/nostui. 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
Nostui differs from many Nostr clients in its interface. Amethyst is a general-purpose Nostr client with a full visual layout, which suits people who want media, menus and a broader set of features. Gossip is a desktop client written in Rust, so it offers a graphical experience rather than a terminal one. Nostr Commander RS is also command-line based, but it focuses on sending and managing messages through a CLI workflow. NAK takes a different approach altogether: it is a console toolkit for working with Nostr events, better for developers and scripters than for casual timeline browsing. Choose Nostui if you want a keyboard-driven timeline reader that fits inside a terminal session.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.1.1
- Last update
- 27 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/akiomik/nostui
Frequently asked questions
Nostui is a free, open-source terminal client for Nostr, the decentralized social protocol. It lets you read timelines, check mentions, post notes, reply, react and repost from a text-based interface. It is written in Rust and is aimed at people who are comfortable with the command line.
It can be, as long as you get the program from its official GitHub Releases page and verify the SHA-256 checksum before running it. The biggest risk is your Nostr private key, so never paste it into websites or tools you have not checked. Keeping the program updated to the newest release also helps.
The project lists Windows among its supported platforms. Check the newest GitHub release for a Windows binary, since file availability can change between versions. If a given release does not include one, look at earlier releases or the project's build instructions for guidance.
Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell, start the executable, and use the on-screen key hints to move between timelines. Begin with the mention timeline to see replies, then open tabs for accounts you follow closely. Posting, reacting and reposting are available from the same screens.
Yes. Nostui can broadcast the track you are playing as a music status using the NIP-38 convention for user status on Nostr. Whether other clients display it depends on their own support for the standard, so the status may appear differently for different viewers.
Yes, Nostui is free and open source, and its source code is published on GitHub. You can read the code, see how it handles your keys and build it yourself if you prefer. There is no paid tier to consider when choosing it.
Verdict
Nostui suits Nostr users who want a fast, keyboard-driven client and are comfortable working in a terminal. It works best as a lightweight reader for mentions, posts and a few tabbed timelines. Because it is still at version 0.1.1, treat it as an early-stage tool and expect changes. If you need a polished graphical app with many features, compare the alternatives first, then try Nostui in a quiet session before relying on it daily.