Best Mobile Bitcoin Wallets 2024: Self-Custodial Options Compared

Your phone is the most convenient place to store spending Bitcoin. But with dozens of wallet options, which one should you choose? We’ve tested the top self-custodial mobile wallets to help you decide.

What Makes a Great Mobile Bitcoin Wallet?

Before diving into specific wallets, let’s establish evaluation criteria:

Security

• Self-custodial: You control the private keys
• Recovery phrase: Standard BIP39 12/24-word backup
• Biometric auth: Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint
• Open source: Auditable code

Features

• Lightning support: Fast, cheap payments
• On-chain support: Traditional Bitcoin transactions
• BOLT12 offers: Reusable payment addresses
• Address types: Support for modern formats (SegWit, Taproot)

User Experience

• Easy setup: Quick onboarding for beginners
• Clear interface: Intuitive navigation
• Good support: Documentation and help resources
• Active development: Regular updates and improvements

Privacy

• No KYC: No identity verification to use
• Address rotation: New address for each payment
• Coin control: Advanced privacy features

Top Self-Custodial Mobile Wallets

1. Bolt21 - Best for Lightning + BOLT12

Platforms: Android (iOS coming soon)

The Focus: Self-custodial Lightning wallet optimized for mining payouts and everyday payments.

Key Features:

• Native BOLT12 offer support
• Lightning-first design
• Simple, clean interface
• Perfect for Ocean mining payouts
• Zero-fee Lightning receiving

Pros:

• Easiest BOLT12 implementation
• Purpose-built for miners
• True self-custody
• Lightning-optimized

Cons:

• Lightning-focused (on-chain support via swaps)
• Newer wallet (smaller user base)

Best For: Bitcoin miners, Lightning power users, anyone wanting BOLT12 offers

Download: bolt21.io

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2. Phoenix - Best for Lightning Simplicity

Platforms: iOS, Android

The Focus: Ultra-simple Lightning wallet that “just works.”

Key Features:

• Automatic channel management
• No manual liquidity management
• Lightning-only
• ACINQ (Lightning developer) built

Pros:

• Easiest Lightning wallet to use
• Reliable, stable
• Great for beginners
• Automated everything

Cons:

• No on-chain sending (only receiving for swaps)
• Small setup fee for first channel
• No BOLT12 yet (coming soon)

Best For: Lightning beginners, everyday spending

Download: phoenix.acinq.co

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3. BlueWallet - Best All-Around

Platforms: iOS, Android

The Focus: Full-featured wallet supporting on-chain and Lightning.

Key Features:

• Both on-chain and Lightning
• Watch-only wallets
• Multisig support
• Connect to your own node

Pros:

• Very versatile
• Active development
• Good privacy features
• Hardware wallet support

Cons:

• Lightning is custodial by default (can connect own node)
• More complex for beginners
• No BOLT12 support yet

Best For: Users wanting both on-chain and Lightning in one app

Download: bluewallet.io

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4. Muun - Best for Beginners

Platforms: iOS, Android

The Focus: Hybrid wallet that seamlessly handles on-chain and Lightning.

Key Features:

• No channel management
• Automatically routes payments
• Submarine swaps for Lightning
• Very user-friendly

Pros:

• Simplest onboarding
• Works like Venmo/CashApp
• No Lightning complexity
• Good fee management

Cons:

• Higher fees for Lightning (uses swaps)
• Not true Lightning (submarine swaps)
• Larger backup complexity (2-of-2 multisig)

Best For: Complete beginners, users who don’t want to think about Lightning channels

Download: muun.com

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5. Breez - Best Open-Source Lightning

Platforms: iOS, Android

The Focus: Full-featured Lightning wallet with advanced capabilities.

Key Features:

• Lightning-only
• Point-of-sale mode
• Podcasting integration
• Open-source

Pros:

• Very feature-rich
• Good for merchants
• Active Lightning community
• Non-custodial

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• More complex for casual users
• Can be buggy at times

Best For: Lightning enthusiasts, podcast listeners, small merchants

Download: breez.technology

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6. Electrum - Best for Advanced Users

Platforms: Android (desktop also available)

The Focus: Power user wallet with maximum control.

Key Features:

• Full on-chain control
• Lightning support
• Hardware wallet integration
• Coin control
• Custom fees

Pros:

• Maximum flexibility
• Very private (connect to own server)
• Advanced features
• Long track record (since 2011)

Cons:

• Intimidating interface
• Not beginner-friendly
• Mobile version less polished than desktop

Best For: Bitcoin veterans, privacy-conscious users, advanced features

Download: electrum.org

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7. Aqua - Best for Multi-Asset

Platforms: iOS, Android

The Focus: Wallet supporting Bitcoin, Lightning, and Liquid Network.

Key Features:

• Bitcoin on-chain
• Lightning
• Liquid Network
• USDT support (Liquid)

Pros:

• Multi-layer support
• Clean interface
• Good for traders
• Liquid for fast settlements

Cons:

• More complex (three different layers)
• Smaller user base
• Liquid is less decentralized

Best For: Users wanting Bitcoin, Lightning, and Liquid in one wallet

Download: aquawallet.io

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Quick Comparison Table

Wallet	On-Chain	Lightning	BOLT12	Difficulty	Best For
Bolt21	Via swap	Yes	Yes	Easy	Miners, BOLT12 users
Phoenix	Receive only	Yes	Coming	Very Easy	Lightning beginners
BlueWallet	Yes	Yes	No	Medium	All-around use
Muun	Yes	Via swaps	No	Very Easy	Complete beginners
Breez	No	Yes	No	Medium	Lightning power users
Electrum	Yes	Yes	No	Hard	Advanced users
Aqua	Yes	Yes	No	Medium	Multi-asset users

Choosing the Right Wallet

For Bitcoin Miners (Ocean, etc.)

Recommendation: Bolt21

• Native BOLT12 support
• Optimized for mining payouts
• Zero-fee receiving

For Lightning Beginners

Recommendation: Phoenix or Muun

• Phoenix: True Lightning, simple UX
• Muun: Even simpler, higher fees

For Everyday Spending

Recommendation: BlueWallet or Bolt21

• BlueWallet: Both on-chain and Lightning
• Bolt21: Lightning-optimized

For Maximum Privacy

Recommendation: Electrum

• Connect to your own server
• Full coin control
• Advanced features

For Merchants

Recommendation: Breez

• Built-in POS
• Invoice management
• Feature-rich

Security Best Practices

Regardless of which wallet you choose:

1. Backup Your Recovery Phrase

• Write it down on paper
• Store it safely offline
• Never take a screenshot
• Verify it works before depositing large amounts

2. Enable Biometric Authentication

• Use Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint
• Adds a layer of security for daily access
• Recovery phrase is still the ultimate backup

3. Start Small

• Test with small amounts first
• Practice sending and receiving
• Understand the interface before depositing serious money

4. Keep Your OS Updated

• Install security updates promptly
• Use official app stores only
• Be cautious of phishing apps

5. Consider a Hardware Wallet for Savings

• Mobile wallets are for spending money
• Large amounts should be in cold storage (hardware wallet)
• Think of it like wallet (phone) vs safe (hardware wallet)

Special Mention: Custodial Wallets (Not Recommended)

These wallets hold your keys for you. We don’t recommend them for primary use:

• Wallet of Satoshi: Very easy, but fully custodial
• Strike: Great UX, but not self-custodial
• Cash App: Convenient, but you don’t control the Bitcoin

Remember: Not your keys, not your Bitcoin.

Use these only for spending amounts you can afford to lose, like you would with cash in your physical wallet.

The Future: What’s Coming

BOLT12 Adoption

More wallets will add BOLT12 support in 2024-2025:

• Phoenix (announced)
• BlueWallet (under consideration)
• Others following

Bolt21 already has native support.

Lightning Improvements

• Better channel management
• Lower fees
• Improved reliability
• More LSP options

Privacy Enhancements

• Taproot adoption
• Silent payments
• Improved coin control

Our Recommendation

For most users: Start with Bolt21 (if you need BOLT12) or Phoenix (for simplest Lightning).

As you learn: Experiment with BlueWallet for on-chain + Lightning versatility.

For privacy: Graduate to Electrum with your own server.

For savings: Use a hardware wallet (Coldcard, Trezor, Ledger) and only keep spending money on mobile.

Download Bolt21

Ready to experience the future of Lightning payments with BOLT12 support?

Bolt21 Features:

• Self-custodial security
• Native BOLT12 offers
• Perfect for mining payouts
• Simple, clean interface
• Zero-fee Lightning receiving

Download today and start receiving instant Bitcoin payments.

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Related Articles:

• Self-Custodial Wallets: Why You Should Control Your Keys
• BOLT12 Offers: Reusable Lightning Addresses
• Payment Security: Protecting Your Bitcoin