Nostr Clients

A client is an app you use to access Nostr. Unlike traditional social media where you're locked into one app, Nostr gives you the freedom to choose from many different clients.

What is a Client?

A client is any application that:

• Connects to Nostr relays
• Lets you read and write posts
• Manages your keys (or works with a signer)
• Displays content in its own unique way

One Identity, Many Experiences

                    ┌─────────────┐
                    │  Your Keys  │
                    │  (Identity) │
                    └──────┬──────┘
                           │
        ┌──────────────────┼──────────────────┐
        ▼                  ▼                  ▼
┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐
│    Damus      │  │    Primal     │  │   Amethyst    │
│  (iPhone)     │  │  (Web/Mobile) │  │  (Android)    │
└───────────────┘  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘

Your followers, posts, and identity work across ALL clients!

Types of Clients

By Platform

Platform	Best For
Mobile	On-the-go posting, notifications
Web	No download, works anywhere
Desktop	Power users, long-form content

By Focus

Type	Examples	Best For
Twitter-style	Damus, Primal, Amethyst	Microblogging, social feed
Long-form	Habla, Yakihonne	Blog posts, articles
Media	Olas, Nostragram	Photos, visual content
Chat	0xchat	Private messaging
Streaming	Zap.stream	Live video
Audio	Fountain	Podcasts

→ See Specialized Clients for more

Choosing Your First Client

Beginners: Start Here

Platform	Recommended	Why
iPhone	Damus	Beautiful, intuitive
Android	Amethyst	Feature-rich
Web	Primal	Clean, works anywhere

Questions to Consider

1. What device do you use most?

   • Phone → Mobile client
   • Computer → Web or desktop client

2. What do you want to do?

   • Microblog → Damus, Primal, Amethyst
   • Write articles → Habla
   • Share photos → Olas

3. How technical are you?

   • Beginner → Primal (simple, clean)
   • Intermediate → Damus/Amethyst (more features)
   • Advanced → Gossip, Coracle (customizable)

Using Multiple Clients

One of Nostr's best features is client portability. You can:

• Use Damus on your iPhone
• Use Primal on the web at work
• Use Amethyst on your Android tablet

All from the same account!

How to Use Multiple Clients

1. Open the new client
2. Choose "Login" or "Use existing account"
3. Enter your private key (nsec) or use a signer
4. Your account loads automatically!

Using Your nsec

When entering your private key into a new client, make sure:

• You trust the app
• You're on the official website (not a fake)
• You're on a secure connection (https)

Better yet: use a signer app

Client Comparison

Feature	Damus	Primal	Amethyst
Platform	iOS	All	Android
Zaps	✅	✅	✅
DMs	✅	✅	✅
Media	✅	✅	✅
Beginner-friendly	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Customization	⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free	Free	Free

Switching Clients

Switching is easy:

1. Back up your private key
2. Download the new client
3. Import your account
4. Done!

Your followers, posts, and everything else comes with you.

Next Steps

• Mobile Clients - Best apps for phone
• Web Clients - Browser-based options
• Desktop Clients - Computer applications
• Specialized Clients - Unique experiences