Why run your own Bitcoin node?

A node verifies every rule of the network yourself — your wallet stops trusting someone else’s server for balances and transactions. It is the difference between “verify” and “trust”, and it strengthens the network’s decentralization as a side effect.

What hardware do I need to run a node?

Modest: a small single-board computer or mini-PC with a 2 TB SSD covers a full archival node. Several options in this catalog ship as ready-made hardware; the software stacks run on machines you already own.

Are node stacks like Umbrel and Start9 open source?

It varies, and the difference matters — some are OSI-licensed through and through, others mix open cores with source-available licenses. The table marks licensing honestly per stack rather than calling everything “open source”.

Directory · 8 stacks · don't trust, verify

Run your own node.

A node is how you verify instead of trust. Every established way to run one, compared honestly — including the column this audience actually cares about: whether the code is genuinely open source.

Comparevs

Umbrel

os · source-available · beginner · free (optional hardware)

The polished app-store experience — note the source-available (not OSI open-source) license.

The smoothest first node → project site ↗

Start9 (StartOS)

os · open source · beginner · free (optional hardware)

Sovereign-computing OS with a verification-first ethos — the open-source counterpart in the head-to-head.

Umbrel-grade ease, fully open source → project site ↗

RaspiBlitz

distro · open source · intermediate · free

The community classic — menu-driven, hackable, MIT-licensed to the bone.

DIY builders who want to see the wiring → project site ↗

myNode

distro · mixed license · beginner · free + premium tier

Free community edition plus a paid premium tier with more apps and support.

A managed-feeling node with a support tier → project site ↗

nodl

hardware · mixed license · beginner · hardware purchase

Turnkey node hardware with a privacy-focused software bundle.

Plug-in privacy stack without the DIY → project site ↗

nix-bitcoin

distro · open source · advanced · free

Declarative NixOS modules with a strict security posture — for operators who read the config.

Security-hardened, reproducible builds → project site ↗

Parmanode

scripts · open source · intermediate · free

Guided install scripts that teach as they build; no containers, no magic.

Learning by installing — scripts you can read → project site ↗

Alby Hub

os · open source · beginner · free self-hosted + paid cloud

A self-custodial Lightning hub that connects apps via Nostr Wallet Connect — node-lite, payments-heavy.

A Lightning-first node for daily payments → project site ↗

"Open source" here means OSI-style licensing of the core; source-available and mixed-tier projects are labeled as such — verify licenses yourself before you rely on them. Running Lightning? Network stats → · Need hardware to sign with? The wallet directory →

Quick answers

Why run your own Bitcoin node?: A node verifies every rule of the network yourself — your wallet stops trusting someone else’s server for balances and transactions. It is the difference between “verify” and “trust”, and it strengthens the network’s decentralization as a side effect.
What hardware do I need to run a node?: Modest: a small single-board computer or mini-PC with a 2 TB SSD covers a full archival node. Several options in this catalog ship as ready-made hardware; the software stacks run on machines you already own.
Are node stacks like Umbrel and Start9 open source?: It varies, and the difference matters — some are OSI-licensed through and through, others mix open cores with source-available licenses. The table marks licensing honestly per stack rather than calling everything “open source”.