Methodology
How we review Lightning tools
The methodology behind LN Cash reviews, comparisons, and recommendations.
LN Cash exists to help creators, freelancers, developers, and small merchants choose the right way to accept Bitcoin over Lightning. To do that fairly, we need a methodology that is transparent about how we form opinions, when we recommend tools, and how monetization affects (and doesn't affect) what we say.
Editorial state of the site
At launch, every wallet review, processor review, comparison, and country guide on LN Cash is in editorial draft. Drafts have a visible banner. They are excluded from the sitemap. We publish them so contributors can review structure and direction, but we do not yet treat them as authoritative.
A page leaves draft status when we have done all of the following:
- Created a real account with the provider (or, for self-hosted tools, completed a real deployment).
- Sent or received at least one test transaction.
- Verified the listed fees, country availability, and custody behavior at the time of review.
- Captured screenshots and the rough setup time.
- Documented one specific limitation we encountered.
Scoring
Each wallet and processor is scored across ten editorial dimensions, each on a 0–5 scale:
- Beginner-friendliness
- Suitability for creators
- Suitability for merchants
- Suitability for developers
- Self-custody support
- Country coverage
- Documentation quality
- Pricing clarity
- Lightning feature completeness
- Setup speed
These scores are editorial assessments, not objective truths. A different reviewer with different priorities would score differently. We publish the scores so you can compare consistently, not so you can substitute them for your own judgment.
How we choose what to recommend
Recommendations on LN Cash try to answer one question: given what this person is trying to do, what's the simplest, safest path? We weight in this order:
- Match to the use case. A merchant doesn't need a creator's tip-jar wallet.
- Custody model fit. Self-custody where it matters; custodial where convenience wins for low stakes.
- Country availability. If a tool isn't available where you live, we won't recommend it.
- Long-term durability. Tools with a track record beat brand-new entrants for primary recommendations.
- Pricing transparency. We're more skeptical of tools that hide their fees.
Sponsored placements and affiliate links
Some links on LN Cash are affiliate or sponsored. We follow three rules:
- Disclosure is mandatory. Every monetized page renders an affiliate disclosure. The site-wide rules are at /affiliate-disclosure.
- Sponsored placements are labeled. If a piece of content is paid for, it says so at the top in plain language. Editorial reviews are not sponsored.
- Affiliate relationships do not change recommendations. We do not put a worse tool above a better one because the worse one pays more. If we believe a non-affiliate tool is the right answer, we recommend it.
What we will never do
- Custody user funds.
- Route payments through LN Cash.
- Charge a transaction fee.
- Provide financial, tax, or legal advice.
- Recommend a tool we haven't, at minimum, tried personally.
- Hide a paid placement.
Corrections
If you spot an error — particularly if you operate a tool listed here — email hello@ln.cash with the correction and a source. We update pages promptly and credit corrections if you'd like.
FAQ
Are reviews on this site sponsored? +
Sponsored placements are clearly labeled. Wallet and processor reviews are editorial. We may receive affiliate commissions on links we recommend — that does not change which tools we recommend. See /affiliate-disclosure for the full rules.
How often are pages updated? +
We aim to re-review every page every six months at minimum. Lightning moves quickly — wallets change features, regulations shift, new players emerge — so update cadence is part of the product. Each page shows its last reviewed date.
Can a provider correct information on their listing? +
Yes. If you operate a wallet or processor and we have something wrong, email hello@ln.cash with the correction and a source. We will update the page (and credit you if you'd like).