Yana is a free, open-source Nostr client for people who want a decentralized social feed without waiting on a slow interface. It is aimed at users with older phones and at developers who want a modular codebase they can extend. The project offers a Windows build or installer alongside its mobile apps, so desktop users can try it too.
The current release is v0.17.1, and the most recent code update is dated November 2025. The program is built with Dart and Flutter, and its source code is public on GitHub. This guide covers what Yana does, how to install it on Windows, how to use it, and how to stay safe while you do.
What Is Nostr and How Do Clients Fit In?
Nostr is an open protocol for social communication. Instead of posting to one company's servers, users send signed messages to relays, which are independent servers that store and pass along events. Any app that speaks the protocol can read and write those messages, which is why Nostr is often described as decentralized.
A client is the app you actually see and touch. It fetches notes from relays, shows a feed, handles replies and lets you publish. Two clients can read the same network and still feel very different, depending on how they render timelines, how quickly they load and which features they include. Your identity lives in a key pair: a public key that others use to find you, and a private key that proves you wrote a note.
For a newcomer, this means you can switch clients without losing your account, as long as you keep your keys safe. Yana is one of these clients, and its design choices make the most sense when you think about where the client sits between you and the network.
Why Build Another Nostr Client?
Many Nostr clients already exist, so it is fair to ask why another one is needed. The project's own answer comes down to three gaps its authors wanted to close. The first is responsiveness: the interface was not fast enough on phones that are a year or two old, which makes everyday scrolling frustrating for people who cannot upgrade hardware every season.
The second is community. The authors wanted a true free and open-source project where many contributors feel welcome and are encouraged to take part, rather than a closed codebase that only a few people can shape. The third is platform reach. They wanted an app that is not tied to a single kind of device.
These motivations shape the product. Performance work matters more to someone on an older Android phone than to someone with the newest flagship. Open participation matters to developers who want to add features. Clients often differ less in the protocol than in their priorities, and Yana's priorities are speed on modest hardware and a modular, open codebase.
Who Is Yana For?
Yana fits several kinds of readers. The clearest match is someone with an older phone who wants a Nostr client that does not stutter. If your current app feels sluggish on a device that still handles calls and messages well, Yana is designed with exactly that situation in mind.
Developers form a second group. Because the app is built with Dart and Flutter and its source is public, it can serve as a reference for a cross-platform Nostr project or as a base for experiments. Readers who care about transparency can review the code on GitHub before trusting any app with their keys.
Windows users who already use Nostr on a phone may want the desktop build for reading or posting on a larger screen. The project's platform list still points to Android and iOS first, so set expectations accordingly. Pick Yana if performance and openness matter more to you than a long list of polished extras.
Key features
Responsive on Older Phones
Modular Feature Design
Open Community Development
Windows and Mobile Builds
Supported coins
Yana is built around the Nostr network, and it works as a social client rather than a wallet, payment tool or mining program. Because it does not handle coins or run mining, mining algorithms such as SHA-256 do not apply to using the app. Its job is to read, publish and organize Nostr content on your devices.
How to install Yana on Windows
- 1
Open the official releases page
Go to the official GitHub Releases page for Yana at github.com/frnandu/yana/releases. Download the Windows build or installer for the latest version, v0.17.1. Download only from the official website or GitHub, and avoid mirrors, reposted installers and file-sharing sites.
- 2
Verify the file before running it
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If a signature is offered instead, verify it. If the values do not match, delete the file and do not run it, even if the name looks correct.
- 3
Run the installer or extract the build
If you received an installer, run it and follow the on-screen prompts. If the Windows build is delivered as an archive, extract it to a folder you control, such as Documents or a dedicated Apps folder, then start the program from there.
- 4
Handle security prompts carefully
Windows SmartScreen or your antivirus may warn about a newly downloaded program. Check the checksum again before you allow it through. Keep your protection turned on rather than disabling it entirely.
- 5
Start the app and add your keys
Open Yana and either import the Nostr keys you already use or generate a new pair. Keep your private key offline or in a password manager, and never type it into a browser page that you reached from a link in a message.
-
Android users: consider Zapstore
If you install on Android, the project recommends Zapstore, which uses your Nostr keys for signing and web-of-trust. It is a convenient route for phones, while the GitHub Releases page remains the source for the Windows build.
How to use Yana
Once Yana is installed, the workflow resembles other Nostr clients. Your keys define your identity, and relays deliver the content you see. Here is a practical sequence for a first session.
- Open Yana and choose how to sign in: import the Nostr keys you already use or generate a new pair.
- Store your private key safely before you post anything, ideally in a password manager.
- Connect to one or more relays so the app can fetch notes.
- Follow a few accounts you trust to build your first feed.
- Publish a short test note and check that it appears on a second client or a relay viewer.
- Review your relay list over time and remove any relay that delivers poor results.
- Test responsiveness on your own device, especially while scrolling long feeds, and note whether it meets your expectations.
Pros & cons
- Designed for a responsive interface on phones that are a year or two old
- Modular structure makes features easier to add, change or replace
- Free and open source, with the full code public on GitHub
- Windows build available alongside Android and iOS apps
- Recent code update in November 2025 signals ongoing work
- The platform list emphasizes Android and iOS, so the Windows build may not be the main experience
- Version 0.17.1 means the project is still pre-1.0, so expect changes between releases
- The contributor community is still growing, so fewer tutorials and add-ons may exist than for larger clients
Is Yana safe?
Get Yana only from its official GitHub Releases page at github.com/frnandu/yana, and avoid mirrors, reposted installers and file-sharing sites. Before running any file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value published on the release page, or verify the signature if one is offered. A mismatch means the file should be deleted. Yana works with your Nostr private key, and whoever holds that key can publish as you, so never paste it into a third-party website, a login form that asks for it, or a message from someone claiming to be support. The project's last code update is dated November 2025, so it is not deprecated, but check the official website for the latest version before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/frnandu/yana. 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
Yana sits among many Nostr clients, and its main distinguishing focus is performance on older devices combined with a modular design. Amethyst is also a Nostr client and is a natural point of comparison for mobile users. Gossip is a desktop client written in Rust, which suits people who want a native desktop experience from a Rust codebase. Blockcore Notes is a progressive web app that installs on mobile and desktop and organizes following in circles. Coop focuses on personal messages over Nostr. Choose Yana if your phone is older, you want a Windows build from a Flutter codebase, or you value reading the source before you rely on an app.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.17.1
- Last update
- 6 Nov 2025
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/frnandu/yana
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Yana is free and open source, and its source code is published on GitHub. You do not pay to download the program or to use the Windows build, and it is listed with no price attached.
Yes. The project offers a Windows build or installer on its GitHub Releases page, so you can run it on a desktop. The platform list emphasizes Android and iOS, so the mobile apps remain the primary experience. Check the releases page for the newest Windows file and verify its checksum before installing.
It is safe when you get it from the official source and verify the file. Download from the GitHub Releases page, compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and never enter your private key on third-party websites. Because the code is public, independent reviewers can examine it.
Nostr is an open protocol for decentralized social messaging. Users publish signed notes to relays, and any client that speaks the protocol can read them. Yana is one of many apps that connect to this network, and your identity is tied to a key pair rather than to a single company account.
No. Yana is a social client for the Nostr network, not a wallet for storing or sending coins. It does not mine anything either, so mining algorithms such as SHA-256 do not apply to using the app. Use dedicated wallet software for any money-related tasks.
The most recent code update is dated November 6, 2025, and the current version is v0.17.1. That places the project in recent development. Check the releases page before updating, since version numbers change over time and new builds may appear.
Yes. Yana is listed for Android and iOS, and the project recommends Zapstore for Android installs. Zapstore uses your Nostr keys for signing and web-of-trust. Because the mobile apps are the project's main focus, they are built to stay responsive on older phones.
No. You can use the app without touching any code. Programming knowledge becomes useful only if you want to contribute, and the project invites outside contributors on GitHub to report issues, suggest changes or help build new features.
Verdict
Yana suits people with older phones who want a responsive Nostr client, developers curious about a Flutter-based social app, and open-source fans who want to read the code. Windows users can try the desktop build, though the mobile apps remain the project's main focus. It is free, its latest update is recent, and its code is public. Verify every download, keep your private key offline, and check the official website for the latest version before you start.