Seer is an open source Nostr client built for people who want group conversations and relay administration in one app. It is aimed at users comfortable with decentralized social networks who also want a familiar, Slack-like experience for managing communities.
Nostr works differently from centralized social platforms. Messages are published to relays that anyone can run, and users control their own cryptographic keys instead of relying on a single company's account system. Seer builds on that model by letting you create and manage relay-based groups and by keeping your keys in a secure store. The project is written in Swift and SwiftUI, and its documentation mentions Nostr as the network it supports.
What Is Nostr and Why Do Clients Like Seer Matter?
Nostr, short for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays, is an open protocol for social communication. Instead of posting to one company's servers, users sign their messages with a private key and send them to relays. Any relay can store and serve those messages, so no single operator controls the network.
This design means a client like Seer is only an interface. Your identity belongs to your keys, and your data can move between apps that speak the same protocol. Choosing a client is therefore a question of experience and features rather than account lock-in.
For readers new to the concept, the practical takeaway is simple: you own your identity, and you pick which relays carry your content.
Who Is Seer For?
Seer suits Apple users who already understand Nostr or want to learn it without giving up a polished interface. Community organizers are a natural audience, because the relay and group tools target people who run spaces for others.
Privacy-conscious users may appreciate the keychain storage for keys and the on-device language conversion, which avoids sending conversation text to a cloud translation service. People who want a single client across their Mac, iPhone and iPad will find the shared SwiftUI codebase useful.
If you mainly want a command-line tool for scripting or a desktop client built for Linux, one of the alternatives listed below may fit better.
How Group Chats Work on Relays
In a relay-based group, the group's messages are tied to the relays where its members publish and read. An admin decides which relays host the group, and members follow the same relays to see new posts. This is different from a centralized chat service, where the platform itself keeps the membership list.
Because relays can be run by different operators, a community may choose a relay that matches its needs for uptime, retention or moderation. Moving a group can mean updating relay lists rather than migrating accounts.
The trade-off is responsibility. A group is only as available as its relays, so admins should choose reliable servers and keep a record of which relays they depend on.
Understanding Keys, Keychains and Identity
On Nostr, your identity is a key pair. The public key is shared with others, and the private key signs everything you post. Losing the private key means losing control of the identity, and anyone who obtains it can post as you.
Storing keys in the system keychain is a sensible default because the operating system encrypts stored secrets and guards them behind your login. Seer's support for multiple keys lets you keep, for example, a personal identity separate from a community or business identity.
A good habit is to back up each private key in a password manager or other secure offline location, and never paste it into a website or a message to another person.
Common Scenarios for a Nostr Group Client
A small hobby community might use Seer to run a discussion group on a relay the organizer hosts, with a few admins who approve members and clean up spam. A developer team could keep project updates in a relay-based group and use separate keys for work and personal posts.
Someone exploring decentralized social media might simply use the client to follow people, read public notes and test how relay lists affect what they see. The on-device translation feature may help when conversations mix several languages.
In each case the value comes from ownership and control: you decide the relays, the keys and the moderation rules.
Key features
Relay-Based Group Communication
Relay Administration Inside the App
Secure Multi-Key Storage
On-Device Language Conversion
Profile Metadata Management
Kind 10002 Relay List Support
Optional Push Notifications
Native Performance Across Apple Platforms
Supported coins
Seer's documentation mentions Nostr as its network. The app is built around the Nostr protocol and its relay model rather than a list of cryptocurrencies, so it does not handle coin wallets or on-chain transactions.
How to install Seer on Windows
- 1
Find the Official Source
Open the project's official source page on GitHub at the Galaxoid-Labs/Seer repository. Check the Releases section for a prebuilt package, and avoid copies of the app from unknown download sites.
- 2
Download the Release File
Download the file that matches your platform from the official release. Keep the download in a folder you can find again, so you can verify it before running it.
- 3
Verify the File
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published by the project, or check its signature if one is provided. A mismatch means the file may have been altered, and you should not run it.
- 4
Install and Launch
Move the app to your Applications folder if it is a macOS bundle, then open it. macOS may ask you to confirm that you trust an app from an identified developer; approve it only after the checksum check passes.
-
Create or Import Your Keys
On first launch, create a new key or import an existing one. Back up any private key immediately in a password manager, since it is the only way to recover the identity.
System requirements
- The project documentation mentions Windows support, but this status is unverified, so check the project page before installing on Windows.
- Apple devices are the primary target, using Swift and SwiftUI for macOS, iOS and iPadOS.
- An internet connection is needed to reach relays.
- Push notifications are optional and require the relevant permissions on your device.
How to use Seer
Seer is organized around your identity, your relays and your groups. Setting these up in order makes the rest of the app much easier to use.
Start with your keys and profile, then connect to the relays you want to use. Once you can read and post, create or join a group and invite members.
- Open the app and create a new key, or import one you already keep.
- Save the private key in a password manager before you do anything else.
- Edit your profile metadata so other users can recognize you.
- Add the relays you use for reading and posting, or let the app read your relay list.
- Create a group, or join one using the relay it lives on.
- If you are an admin, open relay and group management to approve members and manage content.
- Turn on push notifications only if you want alerts for messages that mention you.
- Use on-device conversion when a conversation is in a language you do not read.
Pros & cons
- Open source code that can be inspected by anyone
- Relay-based group chats with admin tools inside the app
- Multiple keys stored in the system keychain
- On-device language conversion that keeps text processing local
- Shared codebase across Apple platforms
- Windows support is listed as unverified in the documentation
- The documentation mentions only Nostr, so it is not a multi-network wallet or trading tool
- Group reliability depends on the relays an admin chooses
- Push notifications require trusting the app with device permissions
- Relay-based design takes time to understand for newcomers
Is Seer safe?
Seer is open source, which lets anyone review its code, but reviewing code is not the same as trusting every build. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website, and treat any site that asks for your key as a scam. Because the app stores private keys, keep a backup in a secure location. The last code update in the project record is from March 2025, so review the project's activity before relying on it for important communities.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/Galaxoid-Labs/Seer. 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
Seer's main distinction is its focus on Apple platforms and admin-friendly group management. Amethyst, Gossip and Vega cover other platforms or styles of Nostr use, and Coop also targets direct messaging. Nostr Commander RS and NAK are command-line tools, which suit scripting rather than everyday chatting. Blockcore Notes is a progressive web app that runs in a browser and can be installed on mobile and desktop, which offers a different installation path. If you need a Windows-first desktop client, check Gossip or Vega. If you want a single client across your Apple devices with group administration built in, Seer is the closer fit.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 14 Mar 2025
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/Galaxoid-Labs/Seer
Frequently asked questions
The documentation mentions Windows, but the platform status is unverified. Seer is designed mainly for Apple devices, so confirm the current build options on the official project page before attempting an installation on Windows.
Yes, Seer is listed as free and open source. You can read the code on GitHub and download releases from the official repository without a purchase.
Nostr is an open protocol for decentralized social messaging. Seer is a client for Nostr, so you will need a key pair and access to relays to read and post messages.
Seer stores keys in the system keychain, which is protected by your operating system login. You should still back up private keys separately, because losing them means losing access to the identity.
Yes, Seer can convert conversations into your native language using Apple's on-device language framework. The processing happens on your device rather than on an external server.
Yes, the app allows admins to manage relays and groups directly from the client, so routine administration does not require direct access to the relay server.
Seer is open source and stores keys in the keychain, but safety depends on downloading the official build and verifying its checksum. Never share private keys with anyone or enter them on websites.
Seer focuses on relay-based groups, admin tools and Apple platform consistency. Other clients may focus on a different platform, a command-line workflow or a broader feature set.
Verdict
Seer is a good choice for Apple users who want a Nostr client with group chats, relay administration and secure key storage in one app. It is most useful for community organizers and privacy-minded people who understand how keys and relays work. If you need confirmed Windows support or a tool for scripting, look at the alternatives on this page. Before relying on the app for an important community, check the project's recent activity on GitHub.