Sparrow Wallet

What is Sparrow?

Sparrow is a software walletGlossarySoftware walletA wallet in the form of an app on a smartphone or computer. It stores your keys on a device with internet access – convenient and usually without a purchase price, but more vulnerable than a hardware wallet. Good for smaller amounts and for practising.On the learning path: Stage 5 · Step 2 – Setting up your first wallet →In the glossary →× for Bitcoin only, with no purchase price. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; there is no smartphone app.^[1] The code is released under the Apache 2.0 licence, and the program files have been reproducible since version 1.5.0.^[2] Sparrow shows every transaction in detail: which coins (UTXOsGlossaryUTXO (Unspent Transaction Output)An output of an earlier transaction that hasn’t been spent yet – like a single banknote in your wallet. Bitcoin has no account balances: your balance is the sum of all the UTXOs you can spend with your keys.On the learning path: Stage 5 · Step 4 – First withdrawal →In the glossary →×) you spend and where the change goes, right down to a byte-level view.^[3]

With hardware wallets

Sparrow often serves as the control centre for a hardware walletGlossaryHardware walletA small dedicated device that keeps your private keys offline and signs transactions internally. The key never leaves the device, so malware on your computer can’t get at it.On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →In the glossary →×: the keys stay on the device, while Sparrow shows your balance and prepares transactions for signing. According to the documentation, this works:^[4]

• via USB: TrezorProvider · Hardware walletTrezor SafeHardware wallets by SatoshiLabs from the Czech Republic – Safe 3, Safe 5 and Safe 7, each also as a Bitcoin-only edition.Hardware manufacturer – no financial licence required · reviewed Sept 2026Price: Safe 3: $59 · Safe 5: $129 · Safe 7: $249 (same amounts in euros, as of Sept 2026)On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →Our profile →AdVisit Trezor* (paid link, opens in a new window)on trezor.ioOnly buy hardware wallets from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller.*Paid link: if you sign up or buy through it, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same. How we make money →×, LedgerProvider · Hardware walletLedgerMulti-coin hardware wallets from Paris with a secure element – from the Nano S Plus to touchscreens, no Bitcoin-only edition.Hardware manufacturer – no financial licence required · reviewed Sept 2026Price: $59 (Nano S Plus) to $399 (Stax), manufacturer’s prices (as of Sept 2026)On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →Our profile →Official website ↗Only buy hardware wallets from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller.×, BitBox02Provider · Hardware walletBitBox02Hardware wallet from Switzerland with open-source firmware – optionally as a Bitcoin-only edition fixed at the factory.Hardware manufacturer – no financial licence required · reviewed Sept 2026Price: BitBox02 Nova €175 (manufacturer price for Germany incl. VAT, as of Sept 2026)On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →Our profile →AdVisit BitBox* (paid link, opens in a new window)on bitbox.swissOnly buy hardware wallets from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller.*Paid link: if you sign up or buy through it, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same. How we make money →×, JadeProvider · Hardware walletBlockstream JadeAffordable open-source hardware wallet from Blockstream: Jade Core without a camera, Jade Plus with a camera for QR signing without a cable.Hardware manufacturer – no financial licence required · reviewed Sept 2026Price: Jade Core $99, Jade Plus $149 (plastic) or $169 (metal) (as of Sept 2026)On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →Our profile →AdVisit Blockstream Jade* (paid link, opens in a new window)on blockstream.comOnly buy hardware wallets from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller.*Paid link: if you sign up or buy through it, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same. How we make money →×
• via QR code (air gapGlossaryAir gapAn air-gapped signing device has no cable or wireless connection to other devices. Transactions travel back and forth by QR code or memory card – so the private key stays completely offline.On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →In the glossary →×): Passport, Jade, SeedSignerProvider · Hardware walletSeedSignerOpen-source DIY signing device: Raspberry Pi Zero, camera, small display – Bitcoin-only, no key storage, QR only.Open-source project – no company, no financial licence · reviewed Sept 2026Price: Parts usually under $50 (project’s figure) (as of Sept 2026)On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →Our profile →Official website ↗Only buy hardware wallets from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller.×, Keystone, Krux
• via microSD card: COLDCARD, Keystone, Passport

Both single-signature and multisigGlossaryMultisig (multi-signature)A wallet in which several keys jointly control the bitcoin – for example 2 of 3. If one key is lost or stolen, the bitcoin stays safe. In return, setting it up and backing it up is considerably more demanding.On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 4 – Inheritance & emergency plan →In the glossary →× wallets are possible; everything is built on the PSBTGlossaryPSBT (partially signed Bitcoin transaction)A standard format for Bitcoin transactions that are not yet fully signed. It lets a wallet app, a hardware wallet and co-signers pass a payment between them without sharing private keys.On the learning path: Stage 6 · Step 1 – Hardware wallets compared →In the glossary →× format.^[3] Without a hardware wallet, the keys are stored on your computer, normally encrypted with a password.^[3] Step by step: Setting up a hardware wallet.

Costs (as of September 2026)

Sparrow has no purchase price; the project accepts donations.^[1] When you send, you only pay the network fee; Sparrow shows current fee estimates to help you choose it.^[3]

The server decides your privacy

Sparrow gets its blockchain data from a server: a public one, your own full nodeGlossaryFull nodeA node that checks every block and every transaction itself against all the consensus rules. If you run a full node, you don’t have to trust anyone to know whether a payment is valid.In the glossary →× (Bitcoin Core) or your own Electrum server, optionally via Tor.^[5],[3] With a public server, the operator sees your public key information and therefore your balance and payment history. Your money is not at risk, but your privacy is. For larger amounts, Sparrow therefore recommends a server you trust.^[5] More on this: Nodes & decentralisation.

Download and help

Verify every download before installing it. The first time, you do this with gpg on the command line, as the download page explains; if Sparrow 1.8.3 or later is already installed, you simply drag the downloaded files onto the app.^[1] There is no support team; help comes from a community-run Telegram group. Many scammers are active there – the admins will never message you privately.^[4]