Compare software

Core Lightning vs Eclair: catalog facts
Core Lightning	Eclair
Best for: Lightning node operators who want a customisable, plugin-based node	Best for: Operators running a Lightning node on the JVM
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Self-hosted, Command line	Self-hosted, Command line
Modular design with plugins in any language Supports dual-funded channels All 3 strengths for Core Lightning Modular design with plugins in any language Supports dual-funded channels Privacy features such as multi-part payments and blinded paths	Follows the Lightning Network specifications Docker image and build instructions included All 3 strengths for Eclair Follows the Lightning Network specifications Docker image and build instructions included Grafana dashboard for monitoring
Blinded payment paths are still experimental Requires a Bitcoin node and command-line setup	Requires a Bitcoin node and technical setup Runs on the JVM, which some operators may not want
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Core Lightning corelightning.org Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Eclair github.com/ACINQ/eclair Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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