Electrum
Desktop and Android Bitcoin wallet
We reviewed Electrum using 4 official and public sources. The notes below focus on custody, recovery, and security trade-offs.
Electrum is transparent and technically capable, but its Bitcoin-only scope, server model, native seed format, and Lightning recovery nuances require a more technical operating model.
- Bitcoin users who value open source, signed releases, and advanced wallet control
- users comfortable with server, seed-format, and Lightning tradeoffs
Key specifications
- Brand
- Electrum
- Role
- Consumer Wallet
- Custody
- Self Custody
- Platforms
- WindowsMacosLinuxAndroidTails
- Networks
- bitcoinlightning
- Pricing
- Free
Free to download and use
Lightning channels and wallet-specific state need separate recovery research from on-chain seed recovery.
- Key setup
- Seed Based HdGenerated KeysImported KeysWatch only
- Backup options
- paper backup of seed phraseencrypted wallet-file backupprivate-key backup for imported wallets
Bitcoin self-custody with local encrypted key material and external server privacy/availability exposure; users must verify signed releases and protect seed/password backups.
- Encrypts keys locally
- Yes
- Privacy note
- The server model and optional Nostr/swap infrastructure deserve specific privacy review; do not infer privacy from self-custody alone.
Third-party providers can affect uptime, privacy, and recovery. They are documented here for context, not as ranking points.
- Electrum servers (Indexer; KYC: Not Required)
- TrustedCoin (Other; KYC: Provider Dependent)
- Affiliate
- No affiliate relationship recorded
Sources we checked
4 sources reviewed, with 6 documented claims tied to specific fields.
- Malwarebytes Labs: Electrum Bitcoin wallets under siege
Public incident documented during software-wallet ratings editorial review.
- Editorial scoring per docs/software-wallet-scoring-rubric.md
Editorial review pass completed per the WalletLab software-wallet scoring rubric, including public-incident research where applicable.
- Electrum FAQ
Electrum documents that its seed can restore the wallet, that the password cannot be recovered, and that imported/watch-only wallets have different backup requirements.
- Electrum Seed Version System
Electrum uses a native seed-version system to derive keys and addresses from its seed phrases.
- Electrum repository
The official public repository contains Electrum source code; the project is distributed under the MIT license and publishes reproducible signed executables on its official site.
Related comparisons
More in this category
AQUA Wallet
mobile Bitcoin users who need Liquid USDt and Lightning in one appAQUA targets practical Bitcoin/Liquid payments and self-custody, but its network-specific recovery and service dependencies need more evidence than the high-level product page provides.
Custody: Self Custody
Platforms: iOS, Android
Role: Payments Wallet
Free
Bitcoin Core Wallet
advanced Bitcoin users who want independent validationBitcoin Core offers the strongest independence from hosted wallet infrastructure in this batch, but its full-node and descriptor-wallet operating model makes backup, storage, sync, and maintenance the user’s responsibility.
Custody: Self Custody
Platforms: Windows, Macos, Linux
Role: Full Node Wallet
Free
Blockstream App / Green
Bitcoin users who want open-source multisig, Liquid, and Lightning optionsBlockstream App offers unusually broad Bitcoin-stack coverage and open source, but its account variants, federation/provider relationships, and beta Lightning surface require architecture-aware evaluation.
Custody: Self Custody
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Macos, Linux, F Droid
Role: Consumer Wallet
Free