⌁NOSTR ATLAS

THE OPEN-PROTOCOL FIELD GUIDE

One identity. Many apps. No gatekeeper.

Nostr is a public language for the internet: signed events move between independent relays, and any compatible app can read them. Learn the model, protect your keys, then explore what is already possible.

Start in 5 minutes ↘Explore the apps
1portable identity
∞open protocol
10languages
⌁NOSTRPROTOCOL
CLIENT
RELAY
EVENT
KEYS

01 · ORIENTATION

What is Nostr?

Nostr stands for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays. It is a protocol—not a company, blockchain, or single app. Your keypair is your identity; clients are the interfaces; relays receive, store, and serve signed events.

How a note travels

◉You
write + sign→
▣Client
publish→
⌁Relays
subscribe→
◎Readers

✓ verify signature

02 · MENTAL MODEL

A different social stack

Conventional appNostr
IdentityAccount belongs to the platformKeypair belongs to you
Data pathApp → company databaseClient ↔ chosen relays
Switching appsStart over or rely on exportKeep your identity and social graph
RulesOne company changes themOpen NIPs; clients choose features
ModerationCentral platform policyClient, relay, and user-layered

03 · QUICKSTART

Your first Nostr session

01

Choose a trusted client

Try a well-maintained web or mobile client. You can change later without changing identity.

02

Create keys safely

Use a signer or hardware-backed option when possible. Never paste your secret key into random websites.

03

Add a profile + relays

Set a display name, then connect to a few reliable relays. Relays do not automatically sync with one another.

04

Follow, post, and zap

Follow people, publish a signed note, and optionally send a Lightning tip—a “zap.”

PRIVATEnsec1••••••••••••••••••••••••

Your nsec/private key is the master key. Keep an offline backup. Share only your npub/public key.

04 · ECOSYSTEM

What can you do on Nostr?

A curated map of notable apps and tools across the ecosystem. Projects change quickly; use the live directories below for the broadest catalog.

41PROJECTS
Social

Damus

Native social client

iOS / macOS
Social

Amethyst

Feature-rich mobile client

Android
Social

Primal

Fast social client and discovery

Web / iOS / Android
Social

Iris

Browser-based social client

Web
Social

Coracle

Customizable web client

Web
Social

Snort

Fast web social client

Web
Social

Nostur

Native Apple client

iOS / macOS
Social

NDK Mobile

Mobile client built with NDK

iOS / Android
Social

Gossip

Security-focused desktop client

Desktop
Social

Nosotros

Simple web client

Web
0X
Chat

0xchat

Private messaging and groups

iOS / Android
WH
Chat

White Noise

Private chat with modern encryption

iOS / Android
NO
Chat

Nostrudel

Flexible multi-purpose client

Web
PL
Chat

Plebstr

Social messaging client

Mobile
HA
Publishing

Habla

Long-form writing and reading

Web
HI
Publishing

Highlighter

Highlights, reading, and publishing

Web
YA
Publishing

YakiHonne

Articles, social, and communities

Web / Mobile
BL
Publishing

Blogstack

Long-form Nostr blogging

Web
FO
Media

Fountain

Podcasts with Nostr interaction

iOS / Android
WA
Media

Wavlake

Music streaming and Lightning

Web
ZA
Media

Zap.stream

Live video streaming

Web
NO
Media

Nostr Nests

Live audio rooms

Web
OL
Media

Olas

Photo-focused social client

Mobile
FL
Media

Flare

Video on Nostr

Web
SA
Community

Satellite.earth

Communities and discussions

Web
NO
Community

Nostr.build

Media hosting for Nostr

Web
WI
Community

WikiFreedia

Collaborative knowledge

Web
JE
Community

Jester

Chess over Nostr

Web
SH
Commerce

Shopstr

Peer-to-peer marketplace

Web
NO
Commerce

Nostr Market

Decentralized storefronts

Web
PL
Commerce

Plebeian Market

Creator marketplace

Web
ND
Wallets

NDK Cashu Wallet

Cashu ecash wallet with Nostr

Web / Mobile
AL
Wallets

Alby

Lightning wallet and signer

Web / Extension
ND
Wallets

NDK NWC

Remote wallet connections

Protocol
AM
Tools

Amber

Nostr event signer

Android
ND
Tools

NDK

Nostr Development Kit

Developer SDK
NO
Tools

nostr-tools

Core JavaScript utilities

JavaScript library
ND
Tools

NDKstr

NIP and event explorer

Web
NO
Tools

Nostr.watch

Relay monitoring and discovery

Web
NO
Tools

Nostr.band

Search and analytics

Web
NO
Tools

nostr.directory

Curated app and tool directory

Web

Browse the live ecosystem

This guide highlights representative projects, not every experiment ever created. These community directories track additions and availability.

nostrdirectory.com ↗nostrapps.com ↗

05 · PROTOCOL

Under the hood

{ }

Events

Small JSON objects contain a public key, timestamp, kind, tags, content, ID, and Schnorr signature. The signature makes tampering detectable.

⌁

Relays

Independent WebSocket servers accept, store, filter, and return events. Each relay sets its own retention, access, and moderation policy.

NIP

NIPs

Nostr Implementation Possibilities are interoperable extensions: profiles, relay lists, long-form posts, zaps, groups, encrypted messages, and more.

◇

Keys & signers

A public key identifies you. A private key authorizes actions. Dedicated signers let apps request signatures without seeing the secret.

01{
02 "pubkey": "npub1…",
03 "created_at": 1786723200,
04 "kind": 1,
05 "content": "Hello, world",
06 "sig": "7ab4…"
07}

One event, many experiences

Clients interpret event kinds differently. The same identity can appear in a microblog, chat, marketplace, music app, or game—without a universal backend.

kind:0 PROFILEkind:1 NOTEkind:3 FOLLOWSkind:9735 ZAP

06 · READ FURTHER

Primary sources

Protocol overviewnostr.org ↗Protocol specificationsNostr NIPs ↗Human-friendly guidenostr.com ↗Developer guideLearn to build ↗