Amethyst: the most powerful Nostr client, reviewed

Amethyst is the most feature-complete Nostr client on any platform. It implements more NIPs, surfaces more settings, and handles more edge cases than any alternative. It is also the least beginner-friendly mainstream client, which is the tradeoff that defines it.

This review is for the user deciding whether Amethyst fits their needs. Not everyone should install it. Some should.

Amethyst is Android-only, open-source, and built by Vitor Pamplona. Install it if you want Nostr's full feature set and do not mind a dense UI. Skip it if you want a smooth first-day experience; install Primal or a web client first, move to Amethyst when you know what features you miss.

When you are ready, grab your @nostr.blog address →

What Amethyst does that other clients do not

A representative list of features that are either unique to Amethyst or substantially more developed there than elsewhere.

• Full NIP coverage. Amethyst implements long-form articles (NIP-23), communities, polls, live streams, lists, drafts, badges, deletion requests, parameterized events, and the full gift-wrapped DM flow. Most other clients cover 60 to 70 percent of this surface; Amethyst covers closer to 95.
• Relay granularity. You can set per-account relay lists, different relays for different event types, and relay-level preferences at a level no other client exposes. Users who care about their network connectivity find this valuable.
• Multi-account from the start. Switch between Nostr identities inside the app without logging out. Every account has its own relay list and its own feed preferences.
• Content filters. Mute lists, keyword filters, relay-specific blocklists, sensitive content warnings. All configurable with fine control.
• Media handling. Handles images, videos, gifs, and large files with a wider format support than most clients.
• Amber integration. Was one of the first clients to support the Amber signer app, keeping the nsec out of Amethyst itself.

If you look at feature lists in spec-nerd terms, Amethyst is the reference implementation.

Where Amethyst is difficult

The same depth that makes it powerful makes it difficult.

The UI is dense. Every screen has more controls than a user needs. Newcomers get lost in settings looking for basic options because advanced ones are in the same menus.

Onboarding is minimal. Amethyst assumes you know what a Nostr account is. The first launch generates keys and hands you a timeline; it does not walk you through what any of the icons mean. Users coming directly from Twitter or Threads find this jarring.

Documentation is thin. The app has a GitHub README and a growing wiki, but most user-facing help is "open the menu and explore." For a feature-dense app, this means plenty of users never discover what they are using.

No Lightning wallet built in. Zaps work, but only via an external wallet paired through NWC. This adds one setup step that Primal and nostr.blog skip by bundling a wallet. For a new user, the gap is meaningful.

None of these are dealbreakers for the right user. For the wrong user, any one of them is enough to bounce.

Who should install Amethyst

The realistic user profiles that get the most from Amethyst:

• Nostr developers. The feature depth matches what developers need. Amethyst is often used as the reference for "does this NIP actually work end to end."
• Power users. People who want multiple accounts, aggressive filtering, and protocol-level features.
• Long-form writers. Amethyst's long-form support is among the best, especially with the NIP-23 editor flows.
• Users who care about open source. Amethyst is GPL-3, no telemetry, no analytics, no closed services in the default path.

Who should not install Amethyst (at first)

• Brand-new Nostr users. The signup drops you into a dense feed without guidance. Confusion is the most common reaction.
• Users who want a bundled wallet. Amethyst expects you to bring your own Lightning wallet. Primal or nostr.blog bundle theirs.
• Users who want Apple Watch integration or iOS parity. There is no iOS version.
• Users who just want to read a few posts a day. The power is wasted if you are not using it.

Installing Amethyst

Three distribution paths:

1. Google Play. Standard install. Gets auto-updates.
2. F-Droid. For users who prefer open-source-only app stores. Gets updates on F-Droid's release cycle (usually within a week of Google Play).
3. GitHub releases. Direct APK download. Requires enabling "install from unknown sources" in Android settings. Fastest path for users who want the latest release immediately.

All three ship the same build. The GitHub path is for developers or early adopters; most users stick with Google Play or F-Droid.

First-hour setup checklist

If you decide to install Amethyst, this is the order that produces the fewest problems.

1. Install Amber first (separate app on Google Play or F-Droid). Generate your key pair inside Amber.
2. Install Amethyst.
3. On Amethyst's welcome screen, choose "Sign in with Amber." Amber pops up to authorize. Now Amethyst has zero nsec exposure.
4. Follow 20 accounts. Use the suggestions Amethyst shows on first launch, plus search for people whose display names you know.
5. Open settings and pick your preferred feed theme. Amethyst has several; the default is busy. If you prefer minimal, switch.
6. Pair a Lightning wallet via NWC if you want to zap. Wallet of Satoshi, Phoenix, or Alby Hub all work; the NWC guide walks through the pairing.

Total elapsed time: twenty to thirty minutes if you are methodical. Longer than Primal but produces a more tailored setup.

Amethyst vs the alternatives

The honest comparison:

• Amethyst vs Primal (Android). Amethyst wins on features and privacy. Primal wins on onboarding and wallet integration.
• Amethyst vs Damus (iOS). Different platforms; if you switch, you are choosing OS first.
• Amethyst vs Voyage. Voyage is simpler, less busy, better for users who want a minimal feed. Amethyst is more capable, better for users who want the full toolbox.
• Amethyst vs web clients (nostr.blog, Primal web). Web clients have no install step and handle new-user onboarding better. Amethyst has more features but more friction.

There is no universal best client. Amethyst is the best for what it is: a deep, power-user, open-source Android Nostr client. Whether that matches your needs is the actual question.

The update rhythm

Vitor Pamplona ships Amethyst updates regularly. Expect a new release every few weeks, with significant feature additions every quarter. The release notes are worth reading; new NIPs often land in Amethyst first and propagate to other clients later.

If you install Amethyst in April 2026 and use it for a year, the client you end up with will have meaningfully more features than the one you started with. This is one of the reasons active users stick with Amethyst even when other clients catch up on specific features.