Electrum

Veteran lightweight Bitcoin wallet with deep hardware support.

electrum.org
Visit websiteView source
Price
FreeFree and open source.
Works on
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Based in
Germany
Source code
Open source
Payment
Accepts crypto

Electrum has guarded Bitcoin since 2011 and remains one of the most battle-tested self-custody wallets, holding your keys locally with an encrypted seed. It is lightweight because it leans on servers instead of downloading the whole chain but that is also its privacy catch: by default those public servers can see which addresses you query so use your own node or route it over Tor. It gives power users coin control, RBF fee bumping, multisig, and an optional built-in Lightning wallet. Hardware wallets including Ledger, Trezor, and Coldcard sign natively. Only ever download it from electrum.org, since fake versions are a recurring scam.

Strengths

  • Battle-tested since 2011
  • Coin control, multisig, optional Lightning
  • Native hardware-wallet signing
  • Lightweight, fast sync

Considerations

  • Default public servers can see your addresses
  • Fake copies circulate; download only from electrum.org
  • Bitcoin only
Listed inCrypto Wallets

Electrum alternatives

Feather WalletLightweight open-source Monero desktop walletMonero GUIOfficial desktop wallet for MoneroCake WalletNon-custodial mobile wallet for Bitcoin and Monero.ZodlPrivate, self-custody Zcash wallet for mobile.