Umbrel is the best-known node platform for beginners, but it is not the only one. Start9, RaspiBlitz and myNode each have their own idea of what running a node at home should feel like. In the previous lesson you saw why running your own node matters. Now you choose the platform that will run it.
This lesson compares the four main platforms in November 2026. All of them run Bitcoin Core and Lightning software underneath; they differ in how easy they are, how they handle privacy and updates, what else they can run, and who they are for. For each one, you’ll see what its choices mean for you in practice.
Bitcoin Node Platforms in 2026
A node platform, also called a node distribution or node operating system, is a ready-made package that bundles Bitcoin Core with a web dashboard, Lightning software (usually LND or Core Lightning) and extra apps. Without one, installing and wiring together Bitcoin Core, a Lightning node, an Electrum server and a block explorer takes real Linux administration skills.
With one, you write a single image to a card or drive, start the device, open a page in your browser (or, on RaspiBlitz, connect over SSH, a text connection to the device) and follow the setup. After the hands-on part, and the days the first sync takes, you have a working Bitcoin and Lightning node with a graphical interface.
All four publish their source code, so anyone can inspect it, and all four can run on your own hardware. Their licences differ, which matters if you care about open-source software: RaspiBlitz and StartOS are open source under the MIT licence. umbrelOS is source-available under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 licence, which allows personal and nonprofit use, and myNode’s main licence is a modified CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, also non-commercial (umbrelOS licence, myNode on GitHub; checked 6 November 2026).
Umbrel
Umbrel is the usual recommendation for a first node. It started in 2020 as a Bitcoin node system for the Raspberry Pi and has grown into a full home-server operating system with an app store covering Bitcoin, Lightning, media, file storage, home automation and more. Lesson 4.7 uses it for the step-by-step setup.
What Makes Umbrel Stand Out
Its main strength is the interface: clean and easy to understand. Installing an app, whether Bitcoin Core, a Lightning node, a Nostr relay or a media server, takes one click, much like installing an app on a phone.
Key features of Umbrel in 2026:
- App Store: hundreds of apps, including Bitcoin Core, LND, Core Lightning, Electrs, Mempool, BTCPay Server, Nextcloud and Home Assistant (Umbrel’s app repository held about 400 app folders on 6 November 2026; umbrel-apps)
- One-click installs: each app installs and configures itself
- Hardware: umbrelOS runs on a Raspberry Pi 5 (recommended) or Pi 4 and on most Intel and AMD PCs, and comes pre-installed on Umbrel’s own box, the Umbrel Home (from $499, Nov 2026)
- Remote access: reach your node from outside your home through Tailscale (Umbrel’s recommendation) or Tor (Umbrel’s remote access guide)
- Community: large and active, with plenty of troubleshooting help
- Source-available: the code is public on GitHub under the PolyForm Noncommercial licence, which is not an open-source licence
What this means for you: Umbrel is the quickest way from a box of parts to a working node, and the easiest to find help for.
Umbrel’s Limitations
- You must install updates yourself: umbrelOS updates “are never installed automatically” (Umbrel), and apps don’t update themselves either. That gives you control, but if you never check, your node runs outdated software. Update from Settings → Software update, and watch our security advisories.
- Many apps on one machine: apps run in separate containers on the same computer. A flawed or malicious app could put the others, including your Lightning funds, at risk, so install only the apps you need.
- Broad scope: Umbrel has become a general home server. Some Bitcoin-focused users feel that dilutes its focus.
- Team-led development: the code is public, but the Umbrel team makes the decisions rather than a community governance process.
For more on the platform, read our full Umbrel review for 2026.
Start9 (StartOS)
Start9 takes a different approach. Where Umbrel puts ease of use and breadth of apps first, Start9 puts control, privacy and security first. Its operating system, StartOS, is a Linux system built for self-hosting; the current series is StartOS 0.4 (latest release 0.4.2, 9 November 2026).
What Makes Start9 Stand Out
Start9’s idea is that you should decide what your server does and when. StartOS doesn’t install updates on its own, and services are updated one by one when you choose (Start9 docs).
Key features of Start9 in 2026:
- Local by default, Tor if you want it: in StartOS 0.4 you reach your services on your home network, at ports of your server’s own
.localaddress. Tor is “not included in StartOS by default”; you install it from the marketplace if you need it (Start9 Tor docs). Start9’s guide to the 0.4 update says Tor is “rarely needed” and that most users “will be better served by other networking options” (Start9 update guide). For access from outside the house, its documentation covers several options, including a VPN into your home network and Tor. - Encrypted backups: back up all your services to a physical drive or a network folder, encrypted with your master password.
- Health checks: each service shows whether it is working, with diagnostic information.
- Several app registries: besides Start9’s own, you can add other registries, so developers can publish apps without going through Start9.
- Detailed documentation: it explains not only how to use the system but why it works the way it does.
- Hardware options: a pre-built server, the Server One (from $899 to $1,399, depending on memory and storage; checked 8 November 2026), or install StartOS on your own Intel, AMD, ARM64 or RISC-V computer; among Raspberry Pis, only the Pi 4 is supported.
What this means for you: Start9 asks more reading up front and rewards it with a system where little happens without your say.
Start9’s Limitations
- Fewer apps: its marketplace is smaller than Umbrel’s and more curated.
- Steeper learning curve: you’ll read more documentation than with Umbrel, for example to install the security certificate StartOS uses for local connections.
- Privacy takes your own steps: Tor and remote access are things you set up, not defaults. Our lesson on network privacy compares the options.
- Smaller community: fewer user guides and forum threads than Umbrel.
RaspiBlitz
RaspiBlitz is the tinkerer’s platform: open-source, community-run and built to teach. If you want to understand what is happening inside your Bitcoin and Lightning node, RaspiBlitz is made for you.
What Makes RaspiBlitz Stand Out
RaspiBlitz began as a workshop project for Bitcoin meetups, and that teaching spirit shows. Setup runs in a terminal over SSH and explains each component as it goes.
Key features of RaspiBlitz in 2026:
- Learn as you go: setup scripts explain each step
- Command line and web interface: a terminal menu for learning and control, plus a web dashboard
- Bitcoin-focused: it stays on Bitcoin and Lightning rather than becoming a general home server
- Community-driven: development happens in the open, and contributions are welcome
- Thorough documentation
- LCD display: supports a small screen on the Pi that shows the node’s status
- LND or Core Lightning: your choice
What this means for you: you’ll learn the most, and you’ll need to be comfortable typing commands.
RaspiBlitz’s Limitations
- Less polished interface than Umbrel or Start9
- More technical: you follow detailed instructions and use the command line now and then
- Raspberry Pi first: built mainly for the Raspberry Pi, from a microSD card of 64 GB or more
- Fewer apps: Bitcoin and Lightning tools rather than a broad app store
For step-by-step instructions, see our RaspiBlitz setup tutorial for 2026.
myNode
myNode keeps things simple: a no-frills platform that runs Bitcoin Core, a Lightning node and a set of supporting tools.
What Makes myNode Stand Out
myNode suits people who want a working Bitcoin and Lightning node without a big app store or a steep learning curve.
Key features of myNode in 2026:
- Simple interface: a clean web dashboard focused on Bitcoin and Lightning
- Free Community Edition: free software you install on your own hardware; a paid Premium edition adds one-click upgrades, optional automatic updates (since October 2026, off until you switch them on) and support (myNode products; prices on that page)
- Bitcoin-focused apps: more than 40, including an Electrum server, BTCPay Server, Mempool and ThunderHub
- Hardware: a Raspberry Pi 5 or 4, or a mini-PC, booting from a USB stick
What this means for you: a focused, simple node, with easier upgrades if you pay.
myNode’s Limitations
- Fewer apps than Umbrel
- Some conveniences are paid: one-click and automatic upgrades come with Premium; on the free edition you upgrade by hand, following myNode’s guide
- Not open source: the code is published under a non-commercial licence
- Bitcoin Core on older installs: myNode v0.3.53, released on 8 November 2026, installs Bitcoin Core 32.1, but installs still on a Debian release before 12 stay on 27.2. Until that release myNode installed 29.5. Bitcoin Core maintains its “latest three major versions”, 30 to 32 today, and says 29.x and older “will no longer receive updates” (myNode changelog, myNode source, Bitcoin Core life cycle, Bitcoin Core 32.1 notes; checked 11 November 2026). On myNode, check which version your node runs and watch our security advisories.
- Smaller community and fewer guides
Comparison Table
| Feature | Umbrel | Start9 | RaspiBlitz | myNode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Excellent — simplest setup | Good — requires more reading | Moderate — some command line | Good — straightforward |
| Apps | Hundreds (largest) | Fewer, curated | Bitcoin and Lightning tools | 40+, Bitcoin-focused |
| Network Privacy | Tor available | Local by default; Tor optional | Tor supported | Tor available |
| Updates | You install them | You install them | You install them | You install them; Premium adds one-click or automatic upgrades |
| Licence | Source-available (non-commercial) | Open source (MIT) | Open source (MIT) | Source-available (non-commercial) |
| Hardware Options | RPi 5/4, Intel/AMD PC, Umbrel Home | Server One, Intel/AMD, ARM64, RISC-V, RPi 4 | Raspberry Pi | RPi 5/4, mini-PC |
| Price | Free (DIY) or Umbrel Home from $499 (Nov 2026) | Free (DIY) or Server One from $899 (Nov 2026) | Free | Free Community Edition; paid Premium |
| Lightning Support | LND + Core Lightning | LND + Core Lightning | LND + Core Lightning | LND |
| Best For | Beginners, home servers | People who want control and privacy | Tinkerers and learners | Simple Bitcoin-only setup |
Which Platform Should You Choose?
It depends on what you care about most, how comfortable you are with technology, and what else you want the machine to do.
Choose Umbrel If You Want the Easiest Setup
For a first node with the smoothest experience, choose Umbrel. One-click apps, a polished interface and a large community mean less time troubleshooting. It is also the best choice if you want the same machine to store files or stream media. Just make a habit of checking for updates.
Choose Start9 If Control and Privacy Come First
If you run a node mainly to keep your data away from third parties and to decide everything yourself, choose Start9. Nothing installs or updates without you, and its documentation explains what each choice does. Expect to spend more time reading during setup, and to set up Tor or remote access yourself.
Choose RaspiBlitz If You Want to Learn
If you like to look under the hood, choose RaspiBlitz. Its guided setup, command-line access and detailed documentation teach you how a node works, knowledge that helps whenever something needs fixing.
Choose myNode If You Want Simple and Focused
If you want a Bitcoin and Lightning node and nothing more, myNode keeps things clean. Start with the free Community Edition; Premium adds one-click upgrades, optional automatic updates and support. Check first which Bitcoin Core version it ships: in November 2026 it was still 29.5, a series Bitcoin Core has stopped updating.
For a longer head-to-head of the two most popular platforms, read our guide Umbrel vs Start9: which node software is right for you?
The next lesson, Lesson 4.7, follows one setup from start to finish, umbrelOS on a Raspberry Pi 5, because it is the most common first node and the simplest to describe step by step. A table at the start of that lesson tells you what changes on StartOS, RaspiBlitz and myNode.
Key Takeaways
- All four platforms (Umbrel, Start9, RaspiBlitz and myNode) run Bitcoin Core and Lightning underneath; they differ in ease of use, privacy features, apps and updates
- Umbrel is the easiest for beginners, with hundreds of apps; you install its updates yourself
- Start9 suits people who want control: services on your local network by default, Tor as an optional add-on, nothing updated without you
- RaspiBlitz is for learning how a node works, with some command line
- myNode offers a simple, Bitcoin-focused node; its paid Premium edition adds one-click upgrades and optional automatic updates
- RaspiBlitz and StartOS are open source; umbrelOS and myNode are source-available under non-commercial licences
- You can switch platforms later by reinstalling, but you’ll have to sync again and should close your Lightning channels first
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from one node platform to another without losing my bitcoin?
Yes, if you prepare. Your on-chain bitcoin is protected by your wallet’s backup, not by the node software. Reinstalling erases the blockchain data (you’ll sync again) and your Lightning channels. So before switching, close your Lightning channels cooperatively, so the funds return to your node’s on-chain wallet, and make sure you have that wallet’s backup: its recovery words and any passphrase or, on a Core Lightning node created before version 25.12 that never gave you words, its hsm_secret file. If a peer doesn’t respond, force-close that channel and wait until its funds are back on-chain before you reinstall. Until every channel has closed, keep a fresh copy of your channel backup: if something goes wrong, it is what gets the money out of the channels still open (see our lesson on Lightning backups and watchtowers). Then either send the on-chain balance to a wallet you control before you reinstall, which is the simplest route, or restore the backup on the new platform with the same Lightning software, LND or Core Lightning.
Do these platforms cost anything?
umbrelOS, StartOS and RaspiBlitz are free to install on your own hardware, and so is myNode’s Community Edition; myNode also sells a Premium edition. RaspiBlitz and StartOS are MIT-licensed open source; umbrelOS (PolyForm Noncommercial) and myNode (a modified CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) are free for personal use but not open source. Start9 sells a pre-built server, the Server One (from $899 to $1,399, Nov 2026), and Umbrel sells the Umbrel Home (from $499, Nov 2026), but you can install StartOS or umbrelOS on your own hardware for free.
Which platform gets updates most frequently?
All four are actively maintained; check each one’s release page rather than relying on a general rule. What matters more is that, on Umbrel and StartOS alike, nothing updates by itself: you have to look. Platforms usually ship a new Bitcoin Core or LND version a little after its release, once they have tested it. Some take longer: until 8 November 2026 myNode still installed Bitcoin Core 29.5, a series that had stopped receiving updates. Our security advisories tell you when an update is urgent.
Can I run multiple platforms on the same hardware?
Not if you install them directly: each platform is a whole operating system that takes over the device, so you would keep separate cards or drives and swap between them. On a PC with enough memory and storage, you can run more than one at once in virtual machines (umbrelOS and myNode offer VM installs; RaspiBlitz’s is experimental). Each needs its own copy of the blockchain, so keep testing setups apart from the one that holds your money.
Is Umbrel really less secure than Start9?
Both are secure enough for a home node when kept up to date. The differences are mostly about design choices. Start9 runs fewer, more curated services and leaves more decisions to you. Umbrel runs many apps side by side on one machine, which makes it more convenient and gives a faulty app more to affect. On both, you install updates yourself, so the most important security habit is the same: update promptly when a fix comes out. The detailed comparison guide goes further.
What about Citadel, Nix-Bitcoin, or other alternatives?
There are other options. Nix-bitcoin, built on the NixOS Linux system, is actively maintained and suits experienced Linux users. Citadel, a fork of Umbrel, looks abandoned: its GitHub repositories are archived, the last code changes there date from 2022–2023, and its website no longer loads, so we don’t recommend it. If you see the name Embassy, it is Start9’s earlier name for its device and its operating system, now called StartOS. For most people, one of the four platforms above is the right fit.
Check Your Understanding
1. You set up an Umbrel six months ago and haven’t touched it since. Is it running the latest software?
Answer
Probably not. umbrelOS never installs updates automatically, and apps don’t update themselves either. Check Settings → Software update and the App Store’s Updates, and look at our security advisories for anything urgent.
2. A friend chose Start9 “because it is Tor by default”. Is that right for StartOS 0.4?
Answer
No longer. In StartOS 0.4 you reach services on your home network at your server’s .local address, and Tor is an optional service you install from the marketplace. Start9 says it is rarely needed. Privacy on Start9 comes from its design and your own setup choices, not from Tor being on automatically.
3. You want to move your node from myNode to Umbrel and you have two Lightning channels open. What should you do first?
Answer
Close the channels cooperatively so their balances return to the node’s on-chain wallet, and make sure you have that wallet’s recovery words. Reinstalling erases the channels, and you’ll have to sync the blockchain again on the new platform.