Pinstr is a free, open-source bookmark manager for people who want to save links on the Nostr network instead of inside a single company's service. It suits readers who already use Nostr or are curious about decentralized social tools and want a simple way to keep saved pages in sync. The code is written in JavaScript and TypeScript and published on GitHub, so anyone can inspect how it works.
The project was last updated on December 5, 2025, so it is not abandoned. Windows support is listed as likely because the project builds for Windows, but you should check the Releases page for a ready-made Windows package before installing. Think of Pinstr as a focused tool: it does one job, saving bookmarks, and leaves full social features to other Nostr clients.
How Nostr Relays Keep Your Bookmarks Available
Nostr is a simple protocol built around signed messages called events, which travel between servers known as relays. Anyone can run a relay, and no single company controls the whole network. When you save a bookmark in Pinstr, the entry is packaged as an event, signed with your key, and sent to the relays you have configured.
The practical effect is that your bookmarks do not depend on one company's database. If a relay becomes slow or disappears, copies published elsewhere can still be retrieved, as long as at least one relay keeps them. Relays differ in their policies and how long they retain data, so it helps to know which servers you rely on.
For most users these mechanics stay in the background. What matters is that your saved links live on an open network you can move between apps, rather than in a closed list you cannot export.
Who Gets the Most Out of Syncing Bookmarks Over Nostr
Pinstr fits people who already spend time on Nostr and want their reading list to follow them. A developer who follows technical threads can save a note or link from one device and find it later from another, provided the same key and relays are used. Anyone who keeps a semi-public reading list may also find the format useful, since it sits on the same open event model as their posts.
It is less suited to people who want fully private notes. Nostr events are generally public unless they are encrypted, so a tool that publishes to relays is not the place for sensitive research. Treat it as a way to organize links you are comfortable sharing with the network.
If your goal is simple local bookmarking with no network involved, a browser's built-in bookmarks or a local notes app will likely serve you better.
Real-World Scenarios for Saving Links on a Decentralized Network
Consider a journalist tracking a set of Nostr discussions over several weeks. Each useful post or article can be saved as it appears, and the list stays consistent when the journalist switches between a laptop and a desktop, as long as both use the same signing key and relay list. The bookmarks form a timeline the journalist can review later.
A community moderator might use a bookmark list to keep track of threads that need follow-up. Because the entries are shared through relays, another trusted account could view the same list if the moderator chooses to publish it.
The common thread is that each bookmark becomes a small signed record. That is useful for continuity, but it also means you should decide deliberately what you save and where it is published.
Key features
Sign-in through your Nostr extension
Broadcast to one or several relays
Bookmarks stored as NIP-B0 notes
Supported coins
Pinstr is built around Nostr, the decentralized social protocol, and it does not connect to any cryptocurrency network. Its bookmarks are Nostr notes, so the relevant infrastructure is the set of Nostr relays you choose to publish to.
How to install Pinstr on Windows
- 1
Get the program from the official source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/zeroxbob/pinstr. Avoid mirror sites and file-sharing links, even if they look identical to the original.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside the release. If the release is signed, check the signature as well. Do not run a file whose hash does not match.
- 3
Install or extract the package
If the release includes an installer, run it and follow the prompts. If it is a portable archive, extract it to a folder you control. Confirm on the Releases page that a Windows build exists, since Windows support is listed as likely rather than confirmed.
-
Prepare a Nostr signer
Install a Nostr browser extension or signing tool, then create a key or import an existing one there. Keep your private key inside the extension, and never paste it into a website or form to sign in.
How to use Pinstr
Once Pinstr is installed, the workflow is short. Most of the time you will save a link, approve the signature, and confirm that the bookmark appears on the relays you chose. Start with a test bookmark so you know the setup works before relying on it for real research.
- Open Pinstr and choose the sign-in option that uses your Nostr extension.
- Approve the sign-in request in the extension, and confirm the public key shown matches the account you intend to use.
- Add a test bookmark using a harmless link, such as a page you are happy to make public.
- Check that the bookmark appears in your list, then confirm it reached the relays you configured.
- Repeat the test on a second device, if you have one, to confirm your bookmarks sync with the same key and relays.
- Start saving real links, and review your list from time to time to remove anything you no longer want published.
If a bookmark does not appear, check your relay connection first. A dropped connection is a likely reason a save fails to publish.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code published on GitHub
- Signs in through a Nostr extension you may already use
- Publishes each bookmark to one or several relays for redundancy
- Stores bookmarks in the open NIP-B0 format, which supports portability
- Recently updated, with the last code change in December 2025
- Windows support is listed as likely, not confirmed, so check releases first
- Requires a separate Nostr extension or signing tool
- Bookmarks published to relays are generally public unless encrypted
- Syncing depends on relay availability
- Focused narrowly on bookmarks rather than a full social client
Is Pinstr safe?
Pinstr is free and open source, so the safest path is to get it straight from the source. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running anything. Antivirus warnings on unfamiliar executables deserve a closer look rather than dismissal, and you should never disable protection entirely to install a tool.
Because sign-in relies on a Nostr signing key, treat that key as the most sensitive item in your setup. Never enter a seed phrase, private key or recovery words on a third-party website, and never share them in a chat or form. The project was last updated in December 2025, but check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/zeroxbob/pinstr. 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
Pinstr is narrower than most Nostr tools in this catalog. Amethyst, Gossip and Vega are full client applications for reading and posting, and Pinstr does not try to replace them. Its purpose is saving links. Nostr Commander RS and NAK are command-line tools suited to scripting and terminal workflows, while Blockcore Notes focuses on following and organizing circles, which overlaps less with bookmarking. If you want a bookmark-first tool, Pinstr is the focused choice. If you also want to read and post, one of the full clients will fit better.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 5 Dec 2025
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/zeroxbob/pinstr
Frequently asked questions
Pinstr is a free, open-source bookmark manager that stores and syncs your bookmarks using the Nostr network. It signs you in through a Nostr extension and publishes each saved link to one or more relays. It is aimed at people who already use Nostr and want their saved links on an open protocol.
Yes, Pinstr is free and released as open-source software. You can read its code on GitHub and download the program without paying anything. Because it runs on Nostr, you may still rely on relays and a signing extension, which are separate tools you install yourself.
Windows support is likely, since the project builds for Windows, but it should not be assumed. Check the GitHub Releases page for a ready-made Windows package before installing. If none is available, you would need to build the program yourself, which is a developer task rather than a simple install.
It can be, if you get it from the official source and verify the file. Download only from the official website or GitHub Releases page, check the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party site. Antivirus warnings should be examined, not ignored.
You sign in through a Nostr browser extension or signing tool that holds your key. Pinstr asks the extension to approve the sign-in, so your private key is meant to stay inside the extension rather than in the app. Confirm that the public key matches the account you intend to use before approving.
NIP-B0 is a numbered Nostr specification that describes a shared data format. Pinstr follows it when turning a bookmark into a Nostr note. Because the format is common, other software that supports it can read the same bookmark data, which keeps your saved links from being tied to one app.
No. Pinstr is built on Nostr, a decentralized social protocol, and it does not involve coins, tokens or wallets. You need a Nostr key to sign in, but that is an identity key rather than a payment account. Nothing in the tool requires buying or holding digital money.
Verdict
Pinstr is a small, free and open-source tool for a specific job: saving bookmarks to the Nostr network and syncing them across relays. It suits people who already use Nostr, want their saved links on an open protocol and are comfortable with a signing extension. It is less suitable for private notes or for anyone who needs a polished, Windows-first experience, since Windows support is listed as likely rather than guaranteed. Test with a harmless bookmark and decide from there.