What Is BlueWallet?
BlueWallet is a free, open-source Bitcoin wallet for iOS and Android. It was created in 2018 and has grown into one of the most feature-rich Bitcoin-only mobile applications available.
Unlike multi-chain wallets that support hundreds of cryptocurrencies, BlueWallet focuses exclusively on Bitcoin — including both on-chain Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments. This focus results in a deeper, more Bitcoin-native experience than you get from general-purpose wallets.
BlueWallet is non-custodial for on-chain wallets. For Lightning, there is both a custodial option (simple, beginner-friendly) and a path to self-custodial Lightning through LNDHub integration.
The app is available on iOS and Android. A macOS desktop version also exists. The codebase is fully open source on GitHub.
Key Features
On-Chain Bitcoin Wallets
BlueWallet allows you to create multiple on-chain Bitcoin wallets within a single app. Each wallet can be:
Multiple wallets within one app is a powerful feature for users who want to separate funds — for example, keeping a “spending” wallet and a “savings” wallet distinct.
Lightning Network Wallets
Lightning Network support is a core BlueWallet feature. Lightning enables:
- Near-instant Bitcoin payments
- Fees measured in satoshis (fractions of a cent for typical transactions)
- Micropayments and streaming payments
- More private payments than on-chain
BlueWallet offers two Lightning approaches:
Custodial Lightning (LNDHub): By default, Lightning wallets in BlueWallet use a hosted LNDHub instance provided by BlueWallet. This is custodial — BlueWallet (or the LNDHub provider) controls the Lightning channel liquidity. It is extremely easy to use: no channel management, no liquidity concerns. Great for beginners and for small amounts.
Self-Custodial Lightning (Your Own LNDHub): Advanced users can connect BlueWallet to their own LNDHub node (running on Umbrel, RaspiBlitz, or a custom server). This gives full self-custody over Lightning funds without giving up the BlueWallet interface. This is the recommended path for users who want non-custodial Lightning.
The default custodial option is convenient but represents a genuine custody risk — if BlueWallet’s LNDHub service goes down or is compromised, custodial Lightning funds could be affected. Keep only small amounts in the default custodial Lightning wallet.
Watch-Only Wallets
BlueWallet’s watch-only wallet feature is excellent for Bitcoin cold storage users.
You can import any Bitcoin address (or xpub/zpub extended public key) as a watch-only wallet. BlueWallet will:
- Display the balance for that address or all derived addresses
- Show transaction history
- Track incoming and outgoing transactions in real time
- Allow you to generate receive addresses without the private keys present
This is extremely useful for Ledger, Trezor, or Coldcard users who want to monitor their cold storage balance from their phone without ever connecting the hardware wallet.
For advanced users, watch-only wallets combined with PSBT support (see below) create a complete hardware wallet signing workflow from your phone.
PSBT Support (Hardware Wallet Integration)
PSBT stands for Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions. It is a protocol that allows a transaction to be created on one device and signed on another — most commonly, a hardware wallet.
BlueWallet supports PSBT, which enables an air-gapped hardware wallet signing workflow:
- Create a transaction in BlueWallet (watch-only wallet knows the inputs/outputs)
- Export the unsigned transaction as a PSBT (via QR code or file)
- Sign the PSBT on your hardware wallet (Coldcard, Keystone, SeedSigner)
- Import the signed PSBT back into BlueWallet
- Broadcast the signed transaction
This workflow is particularly powerful with QR-code-based hardware wallets like Keystone or SeedSigner, creating a completely air-gapped signing process with no USB connection required.
Tor Support
BlueWallet supports routing connections through Tor, the privacy-preserving network that hides your IP address from servers.
When Tor is enabled, BlueWallet connects to its Electrum servers through the Tor network. This means:
- Your IP address is not revealed to the server operator
- Your Bitcoin address queries are more private
- Transaction broadcasts are harder to link to your IP address
For privacy-conscious Bitcoin users, Tor support is a meaningful feature. Combined with connecting to your own Electrum server (see below), it provides strong transaction privacy.
Custom Electrum Server
By default, BlueWallet connects to public Electrum servers to query blockchain data. For users who want maximum privacy and sovereignty, BlueWallet allows you to connect to your own Electrum server.
Running your own Electrum server (on Umbrel, RaspiBlitz, or a dedicated machine) means:
- Only your own server knows which addresses you are monitoring
- No third party can track your address queries
- Full validation of your transactions against your own node
This is the gold standard of Bitcoin wallet sovereignty.
Batch Transactions and Advanced Features
BlueWallet supports several advanced Bitcoin features:
These features are significant for Bitcoin power users. Most mobile wallets hide UTXO management and fee control; BlueWallet exposes them for users who understand them.
Setting Up BlueWallet
Creating a Bitcoin Wallet
- Download BlueWallet from the App Store or Google Play. Confirm the publisher.
- Open the app. No registration or account creation required.
- Tap the “+” button to add a wallet
- Select wallet type: “Bitcoin” for on-chain, “Lightning” for Lightning Network
- For Bitcoin wallets: BlueWallet generates a 12-word seed phrase. Tap “Show” to reveal it, write it down on paper, and store it offline securely.
- Name your wallet (optional but useful for multiple wallets)
- Your wallet is ready to receive Bitcoin
Creating a Lightning Wallet
- Tap “+” and select “Lightning”
- BlueWallet creates a custodial Lightning wallet connected to BlueWallet’s hosted LNDHub by default
- Name your wallet
- Fund it by sending on-chain Bitcoin to the provided address (BlueWallet handles the channel opening)
- You can now send and receive Lightning payments
For self-custodial Lightning, go to Settings and enter your own LNDHub connection string after setting up your node.
Adding a Watch-Only Wallet
- Tap “+” and select “Bitcoin”
- Instead of creating new, select “Import wallet”
- Paste your extended public key (xpub, ypub, or zpub) from your hardware wallet
- BlueWallet imports all derived addresses and shows your balance
Sending and Receiving Bitcoin
Receiving Bitcoin
- Open your wallet
- Tap “Receive”
- BlueWallet generates a new receive address (for HD wallets)
- Share the address or QR code
- The transaction appears in your history once broadcast, and confirms after the required number of blocks
Sending Bitcoin
- Open your wallet
- Tap “Send”
- Scan a QR code or paste the destination address
- Enter the amount
- Set the fee (choose preset or enter custom sat/vbyte)
- Review the transaction details
- Confirm and broadcast
For hardware wallet users using PSBT, step 7 involves exporting the unsigned transaction instead.
Lightning Payments
- Open your Lightning wallet
- Tap “Send”
- Scan a Lightning invoice QR code (or paste the invoice string)
- Review and confirm
- Payment completes in seconds
To receive Lightning, tap “Receive,” generate an invoice, and share it with the sender.
Security Model
BlueWallet’s on-chain wallets are non-custodial and fully self-sovereign. Your seed phrase is generated locally and never sent to any server.
Seed phrase storage: Your 12-word seed phrase is the only backup. Write it down on paper and store it somewhere secure and offline. If you lose it and lose your device, your Bitcoin is gone permanently.
App protection: Secure the app with biometric authentication or PIN. On iOS, ensure your phone is PIN protected.
Lightning custody risk: The default Lightning wallet is custodial. Keep only small amounts you are comfortable losing if the service was disrupted.
Privacy considerations: Enable Tor and connect to your own Electrum server for maximum privacy. Default public server connections expose your address queries.
BlueWallet vs Other Bitcoin Wallets
| Feature | BlueWallet | Electrum | Muun | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS/Android | Desktop/Android | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
| Lightning support | Yes (custodial + self-hosted) | Limited | Yes (unified) | Yes (self-custodial) |
| Watch-only wallets | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| PSBT hardware wallet | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Tor support | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Custom Electrum server | Yes | Native | No | No |
| Coin control | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Multisig | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Beginner friendliness | Medium | Low | High | Medium |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
BlueWallet is the most feature-complete Bitcoin mobile wallet for intermediate to advanced users. Muun is better for pure beginners who want seamless Lightning without any setup.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fully open source and auditable
- Both on-chain and Lightning Network in one app
- Watch-only wallets for cold storage monitoring
- PSBT support for air-gapped hardware wallet signing
- Tor support for network-level privacy
- Custom Electrum server support for complete sovereignty
- Coin control and UTXO management
- Multiple wallets within one app
- No registration or account required
- No ads, no tracking
- Free
- Active development and strong Bitcoin community backing
Cons
- Bitcoin and Lightning only — no other cryptocurrencies
- Default Lightning is custodial (important caveat)
- More complex than beginner wallets like Muun or ZenGo
- PSBT and coin control features have a learning curve
- No built-in exchange or swap functionality
- Not suitable for multi-chain users
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BlueWallet non-custodial?
On-chain Bitcoin wallets in BlueWallet are fully non-custodial — your keys are generated locally. The default Lightning wallet is custodial. You can make Lightning non-custodial by connecting to your own LNDHub node.
Does BlueWallet support the Lightning Network?
Yes. BlueWallet offers both custodial Lightning (easy but third-party custody) and self-custodial Lightning via your own LNDHub instance.
Can I use BlueWallet with a hardware wallet?
Yes. BlueWallet supports PSBT for air-gapped signing with Coldcard, Keystone, SeedSigner, and other compatible hardware wallets. You can also use watch-only wallets to monitor your hardware wallet balance.
Is BlueWallet free?
Yes. BlueWallet is completely free to download and use.
Does BlueWallet support Ethereum or other cryptocurrencies?
No. BlueWallet is Bitcoin and Lightning only. For Ethereum and other assets, you need a different wallet.
How do I enable Tor in BlueWallet?
Go to Settings in BlueWallet and toggle on the Tor option. The app will route its connections through the Tor network when this is enabled.
What is coin control in BlueWallet?
Coin control lets you manually choose which UTXOs (unspent transaction outputs) are used as inputs for a transaction. This is useful for fee optimization and privacy — you can avoid combining UTXOs that would reveal their connection.
Can I recover my BlueWallet in another app?
Yes. Any Bitcoin wallet that supports BIP39 seed phrases can restore a BlueWallet on-chain wallet using the 12-word seed phrase. Lightning wallet state cannot be restored this way — that is a limitation of Lightning generally.
What is LNDHub?
LNDHub is an open-source server that manages Lightning Network channels and allows multiple users to share liquidity. BlueWallet’s hosted LNDHub lets you use Lightning without running your own node. You can host your own LNDHub for self-custody.
Is BlueWallet available on desktop?
BlueWallet has a macOS desktop app. The primary products are the iOS and Android mobile apps.
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