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

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layout: base-en
id: choose-your-wallet
title: Choose your wallet - Bitcoin
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<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, these wallets are a good place to begin.</p>
<ul class="list">
  <li><a href="/en/download"><b>Bitcoin-Qt</b></a> is an app you can download for Windows, Mac and Linux.</li>
  <li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet"><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>
<div>
  <div>
    <h2>Bitcoin-Qt</h2>
    <span><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" /></span>
    <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>
  </div>
  <a href="download"><img src="/img/clients/lo-bitcoin.png" alt="bitcoin-qt" />Bitcoin-Qt</a>
</div>
<div>
  <div>
    <h2>Multibit</h2>
    <span><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" /></span>
    <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>
  </div>
  <a href="https://multibit.org/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-multibit.png" alt="multibit" />Multibit</a>
</div>
<div class="last">
  <div>
    <h2>Armory</h2>
    <span><img src="/img/dow-win.png" alt="windows" /><img src="/img/dow-linux.png" alt="linux" /></span>
    <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>
  </div>
  <a href="http://bitcoinarmory.com/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-armory.png" alt="armory" />Armory</a>
</div>
<div>
  <div>
    <h2>Electrum</h2>
    <span><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" /></span>
    <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>
  </div>
  <a href="http://electrum.org/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-electrum.png" alt="electrum" />Electrum</a>
</div>
</div>

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<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>
<div>
  <div>
    <h2>Bitcoin Wallet</h2>
    <span><img src="/img/dow-android.png" alt="android" /><img src="/img/dow-blackberry.png" alt="blackberry" /></span>
    <p>Bitcoin Wallet is a lightweight mobile client for Android and BlackBerry OS. 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">Visit website</a></p>
  </div>
  <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.schildbach.wallet"><img src="/img/clients/lo-bitcoinwallet.png" alt="bitcoin wallet" />Bitcoin<br>Wallet</a>
</div>
<div data-id="blockchainmobile">
  <div class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Web wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident on their side. As of today, no web 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>
  </div>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</div>
<div data-id="paytunia" class="last">
  <div class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Web wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident on their side. As of today, no web 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>
  </div>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</div>
</div>

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<h2><img src="/img/ico_international.svg" alt="web wallets" />Web wallets</h2>
<p>Web wallets allow you to use Bitcoin anywhere with less effort to protect your wallet. However, you must choose your web wallet service with care as they host your bitcoins.</p>
<div data-id="blockchaindesktop">
  <div class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Web wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident on their side. As of today, no web 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>
  </div>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</div>
<div data-id="bips">
  <div class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Web wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident on their side. As of today, no web 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>
  </div>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</div>
<div data-id="coinbase" class="last">
  <div class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Web wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident on their side. As of today, no web 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>
  </div>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</div>
<div data-id="instawallet">
  <div class="walletwarning">
    <h2>Be careful</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Web wallets host your bitcoins. That means it is possible for them to lose your bitcoins following any incident on their side. As of today, no web 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>
  </div>
  <a><img src="/img/clients/lo-hidden.png" alt="hidden" /></a>
</div>
</div>
</div>

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

<div style="display:none;">
<div id="blockchainmobile">
  <div class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Blockchain.info</h2>
    <span><img src="/img/dow-android.png" alt="android" /><img src="/img/dow-ios.png" alt="ios" /></span>
    <p>Blockchain.info is an hybrid web wallet for mobiles. It is also available for iPhone in a restricted mode to fit Apple policies. It includes many blockchain.info features like web wallet backup.</p>
    <p><a href="https://blockchain.info/wallet/">Visit website</a></p>
  </div>
  <a href="https://blockchain.info/wallet/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-blockchain.png" alt="blockchain" />Blockchain<br>.info</a>
</div>
<div id="blockchaindesktop">
  <div class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Blockchain.info</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Blockchain.info is a user-friendly hybrid wallet. It stores an encrypted version of your wallet online but decryption 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>
  </div>
  <a href="http://blockchain.info/wallet/chrome-extension"><img src="/img/clients/lo-blockchain.png" alt="blockchain" />Blockchain<br>.info</a>
</div>
<div id="paytunia">
  <div class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Paytunia</h2>
    <span><img src="/img/dow-ios.png" alt="ios" /></span>
    <p>Paytunia is a mobile web wallet powered by Paymium that works with Bitcoin-central to give you access to Bitcoin exchanges right from your mobile. It is available for iPhone and Android support is coming soon.</p>
    <p><a href="https://paytunia.com/">Visit website</a></p>
  </div>
  <a href="https://paytunia.com/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-paytunia.png" alt="paytunia" />Paytunia</a>
</div>
<div id="bips">
  <div class="walletnormal">
    <h2>BIPS</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>BIPS is a web wallet service from WalletBit that allows to buy and sell bitcoins easily in many countries. It also offers cold storage, wallet importation and many merchant tools features.</p>
    <p><a href="https://bips.me/">Visit website</a></p>
  </div>
  <a href="https://bips.me/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-bips.png" alt="BIPS" />BIPS</a>
</div>
<div id="coinbase">
  <div class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Coinbase</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Coinbase is a web wallet service that aims to be the easiest to use. It also provides an Android web wallet app, merchant tools and integration with US bank accounts to buy and sell bitcoins.</p>
    <p><a href="https://coinbase.com/">Visit website</a></p>
  </div>
  <a href="https://coinbase.com/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-coinbase.png" alt="coinbase" />Coinbase</a>
</div>
<div id="instawallet">
  <div class="walletnormal">
    <h2>Instawallet</h2>
    <span></span>
    <p>Instawallet is a web wallet in its simpliest form. It automatically creates a new wallet for each visitor with no need to signup. And each wallet can be re-used with its unique secret URL. Instawallet is owned by Paymium.</p>
    <p><a href="https://instawallet.org/">Visit website</a></p>
  </div>
  <a href="https://instawallet.org/"><img src="/img/clients/lo-instawallet.png" alt="instawallet" />Instawallet</a>
</div>
</div>

</div>