Damus is the original breakout Nostr client that brought the protocol to mainstream attention. Built for iOS with a focus on beautiful design and smooth user experience, Damus pioneered many features now standard across Nostr clients. Damus iOS v1.16 (January 2026) added live streaming and offline note loading, while Notedeck has rapidly matured to v0.8 as a cross-platform “Nostr browser”.

Key Features

Native iOS Experience: Built specifically for iPhone and iPad with native Swift
Live Streaming: Stream and chat directly within Damus (Damus Labs)
Offline Notes: Load and read notes without an internet connection
Long-Form Reader: Focus mode, sepia theme, and reading progress for articles
Notedeck Desktop: Cross-platform Nostr browser for macOS, Windows, and Linux (v0.8)
Lightning Integration: Built-in Lightning wallet support for zaps
NIP-65 Relay Lists: Smart relay selection based on user preferences
Media Support: Images, videos, and links preview seamlessly
Thread Support: Full conversation threading
Verified Identities: NIP-05 verification support
Direct Messages: Encrypted DMs (NIP-04)
Damus Purple: Premium membership with Notedeck Alpha access

Why Choose Damus?

Damus is perfect for Apple users wanting a polished, Twitter-like experience on Nostr. It was the first Nostr client to truly nail the UX, making decentralized social networking feel natural and intuitive.

The app features smooth scrolling, beautiful media rendering, and thoughtful design details throughout. Lightning zaps are seamlessly integrated, making value-for-value interactions effortless.

Notably banned in China within 48 hours of launch - a testament to its effectiveness as a censorship-resistant platform.

Notedeck

Notedeck is “the Nostr browser” — a cross-platform desktop client that reached v0.8-rc2 in March 2026. It features follows view with list columns, “View As User” on profiles, Gift Wrap support (NIP-59) for private messaging, real-time note statistics, Dave AI integration, and a Nostr-based auto-update system with SHA256 verification. Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Technical Details

Developer: William Casarin and team (11+ contributors)
First Released: 2022
Open Source: Yes (GPLv3)
Platforms: iOS 16.0+, macOS, Windows, Linux (via Notedeck)
Languages: Available in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese, and Chinese

Getting Started

Download from the App Store or get Notedeck for desktop
Generate new keys or import existing
Follow some recommended users
Start posting!

Important: Back up your private key (nsec) immediately. Damus stores it securely on your device, but you should have a backup.

Damus Purple

Support Damus development with a Purple membership and get exclusive benefits including Notedeck Alpha access, priority features, and community recognition. Helps keep the project independent and focused on freedom technology.

Community

Damus has the largest iOS user base in the Nostr ecosystem. The team is highly active and ships updates regularly. Join them at Bitcoin conferences worldwide.

Follow @jb55 on Nostr for updates.