dash-docs/en/choose-your-wallet.html

---
layout: base-en
title: Choose your wallet - Bitcoin
---
<!--CSS to prevent bubbles to be partially hidden in low-res devices-->
<style xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/html">body{min-width:1200px;}</style>

<h1>Choose your wallet</h1>
<p>Your Bitcoin wallet is what allows you to transact with the world. It gives you ownership of Bitcoin <i>addresses</i> that you can use to receive coins from other users, and then lets you send those coins onwards. Just like email, you can receive Bitcoins when you are offline and all wallets are compatible with each other. Before you start with Bitcoin, <b>be sure to read <a href="/en/you-need-to-know">what you need to know</a></b> first.</p>
<h2>Get started fast and easy</h2>
<p>If you are new to Bitcoin, those wallets are a good place to begin.</p>
<ul class="list">
  <li><a href="https://multibit.org"><b>MultiBit</b></a> is an app you can download for Windows, Mac and Linux. It provides maximum privacy.</li>
  <li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet&hl=fr"><b>Bitcoin Wallet</b></a> for Android runs on your phone or tablet.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Be the Bitcoin network</h2>
<p><img src="/img/icon-be-the-network.svg" alt="Network" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"/>Do you have a computer that you keep switched on all the time, that's connected to the internet? You can help the community by simply running the <a href="download"><b>original Bitcoin client</b></a> on it. The original client is more resource intensive and will take a complete day to synchronize. After that your computer will contribute to the network by checking and relaying transactions.</p>

<div class="preview">
<div class="previewcol">

<div class="previewrow">
<h2><img src="/img/ico_software.svg" alt="Software wallets" />Software wallets</h2>
<p>Software wallets are installed on your computer. They give you complete control of your wallet. You are responsible for doing backups and protecting your money. Just like cash.</p>
<span>
  <span>
    <h2>Bitcoin-Qt</h2>
    <div><img src="/img/dow-win.png" alt="windows" /><img src="/img/dow-linux.png" alt="linux" /><img src="/img/dow-osx-uni.png" alt="mac os x" /></div>
    <p>Bitcoin-Qt is the original Bitcoin client and it builds the backbone of the network. It offers the highest levels of security, privacy and stability. However it has fewer features and it takes a lot of space and memory.</p>
    <p><a href="download">Download</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="download"><img src="/img/clients/lo-bitcoin.png" alt="bitcoin-qt" /></a>
</span>
<span>
  <span>
    <h2>Multibit</h2>
    <div><img src="/img/dow-win.png" alt="windows" /><img src="/img/dow-linux.png" alt="linux" /><img src="/img/dow-osx-uni.png" alt="mac os x" /></div>
    <p>Multibit is a lightweight client that focuses on being fast and easy to use. It synchronizes with the network and is ready to use in minutes. Multibit also supports many languages. It is a good choice for non-technical users.</p>
    <p><a href="https://multibit.org/">Visit website</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="https://multibit.org/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-multibit.png" alt="multibit" /></a>
</span>
<span class="lastspan">
  <span>
    <h2>Armory</h2>
    <div><img src="/img/dow-win.png" alt="windows" /><img src="/img/dow-linux.png" alt="linux" /></div>
    <p>Armory is an advanced Bitcoin client that runs on top of Bitcoin-Qt. Expanding its features for Bitcoin power users. It offers many backup and encryption features, and it allows secure cold-storage on offline computers.</p>
    <p><a href="http://bitcoinarmory.com/">Visit website</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="http://bitcoinarmory.com/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-armory.png" alt="armory" /></a>
</span>
<span>
  <span>
    <h2>Electrum</h2>
    <div><img src="/img/dow-win.png" alt="windows" /><img src="/img/dow-linux.png" alt="linux" /><img src="/img/dow-osx-uni.png" alt="mac os x" /><img src="/img/dow-android.png" alt="android" /></div>
    <p>Electrum's focus is speed and simplicity, with low resource usage.  It uses remote servers that handle the most complicated parts of the Bitcoin system, and it allows you to recover your wallet from an encrypted online backup.</p>
    <p><a href="http://electrum.org/">Visit website</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="http://electrum.org/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-electrum.png" alt="electrum" /></a>
</span>
</div>

<div class="previewrow">
<h2><img src="/img/ico_mobile.svg" alt="mobile wallets" />Mobile wallets</h2>
<p>Mobile wallets allow you to bring Bitcoin with you in your pocket. You can exchange coins easily and pay in physical stores by scanning a QR code or using NFC "tap to pay".</p>
<span>
  <span>
    <h2>Bitcoin Wallet</h2>
    <div><img src="/img/dow-android.png" alt="android" /></div>
    <p>Bitcoin wallet is a lightweight mobile client that is available for Android phones and tablets. This client does not need to be associated with any online service to work. It is compatible with QR Code scanning and NFC.</p>
    <p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet&hl=fr">Visit website</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet&hl=fr"><img src="/img/clients/lo-bitcoinwallet.png" alt="bitcoin wallet" /></a>
</span>
<span data-id="blockchainmobile">
  <span class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <div></div>
    <p>Online wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident. As of today, no online wallet service provide enough insurance to be used to store value like a bank.</p>
    <p><a href="javascript:walletshow();">OK, I understand</a></p>
  </span>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</span>
</div>

<div class="previewrow">
<h2><img src="/img/ico_international.svg" alt="online wallets" />Online wallets</h2>
<p>Online wallets allow you to use Bitcoin anywhere with less do to protect your wallet. However, you must choose your online wallet with care as they host your bitcoins.</p>
<span data-id="blockchaindesktop">
  <span class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <div></div>
    <p>Online wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident. As of today, no online wallet service provide enough insurance to be used to store value like a bank.</p>
    <p><a href="javascript:walletshow();">OK, I understand</a></p>
  </span>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</span>
</div>
</div>

<div class="previewcol">.</div>

<div style="display:none;">
<span id="blockchainmobile">
  <span class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Blockchain.info</h2>
    <div><img src="/img/dow-android.png" alt="android" /><img src="/img/dow-ios.png" alt="ios" /></div>
    <p>Blockchain.info is a mobile online wallet. It is also available for iPhones in a restricted mode to fits Apple policies. It includes many blockchain.info features like online wallet backup.</p>
    <p><a href="https://blockchain.info/wallet/">Visit website</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="https://blockchain.info/wallet/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-blockchain.png" alt="blockchain" /></a>
</span>
<span id="blockchaindesktop">
  <span class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Blockchain.info</h2>
    <div></div>
    <p>Blockchain.info is a user-friendly web wallet. It stores an encrypted version of your wallet online but decryption only happens in your browser. For security reasons, you should always use the browser extension and email backups.</p>
    <p><a href="http://blockchain.info/wallet/chrome-extension">Visit website</a></p>
  </span>
  <a href="http://blockchain.info/wallet/chrome-extension"><img src="/img/clients/lo-blockchain.png" alt="blockchain" /></a>
</span>
</div>

</div>