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Bitcoin Core vs MyNode: catalog facts
Bitcoin Core	MyNode
Best for: Run a Bitcoin node that independently validates the blockchain	Best for: Running a personal Bitcoin and Lightning node without assembling the software yourself
Free The open-source software is available without a license fee. Hosting, hardware and external services are separate.	Free + paid options Free Community Edition; Premium software, subscriptions and hardware are paid.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Web, Self-hosted
Includes wallet functionality and a graphical interface.	Bitcoin and Lightning node managed from one web interface Many bundled apps such as Mempool, BTCPay Server and Thunderhub All 4 strengths for MyNode Bitcoin and Lightning node managed from one web interface Many bundled apps such as Mempool, BTCPay Server and Thunderhub Tor and VPN options for remote access One-click software updates
Initial synchronization requires substantial storage, bandwidth and time.	Some features are limited to the paid Premium edition Needs dedicated hardware with room for the Bitcoin blockchain
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Self-hosted, Operating system
Open source	Not open source
License: MIT	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Bitcoin Core github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin Catalog checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for MyNode mynodebtc.com Catalog checked September 23, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.