Feather Wallet review (2026)
Feather is a free, open-source Monero-only desktop wallet for Windows, macOS, Linux and Tails. It scans locally, bundles Tor, supports Ledger and Trezor, and has more coin control than the official GUI. Its latest release is v2.8.1 from 14 April 2025.
Verdict
Feather is the best everyday Monero wallet for a computer. It starts fast, is easy enough for beginners, and has features on par with the official command-line wallet. The one caveat in October 2026 is release cadence: there has been no new version since v2.8.1 in April 2025. It still works with the current network, but watch for an update before the FCMP++ upgrade.
Facts at a glance
| Item | Feather Wallet |
|---|---|
| Type | Desktop software wallet, Monero only |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS (12 or later), Linux, Tails |
| Open source | Yes (code on GitHub) |
| Custody | Non-custodial |
| Sync method | Remote or own node; blockchain scanned locally; Tor bundled |
| Hardware support | Ledger Nano S, S Plus, X, Flex, Stax; Trezor Model T, Safe 3, Safe 5, not Safe 7 (per Feather docs) |
| Status (Oct 2026) | Active project; latest release v2.8.1 (14 April 2025); repackaged by Debian in October 2026 |
Notable features
- Tor built in: Feather ships its own Tor (v2.8.1 bundles Tor 0.4.8.16), so you can hide your IP from nodes without setting anything up.
- Polyseed: new wallets use 16-word Polyseed. Feather also restores 14-word seeds from its own pre-2.0 versions and standard 25-word seeds.
- Coin control: freeze and thaw outputs, label coins, choose inputs manually and sweep several outputs at once. The GUI cannot do most of this.
- Offline signing: sign transactions on an air-gapped computer using animated QR codes.
- Transaction notes: import descriptions from CSV files, handy for bookkeeping (see Monero taxes).
- Runs on Tails and in virtual machines.
Feather does not support multisig; for that you need the CLI.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast and light; no full node needed | Desktop only, no mobile app |
| Bundled Tor | No release since 14 April 2025 |
| Best coin control of any Monero GUI wallet | No multisig |
| Ledger and Trezor support | Polyseed is English-only |
| Offline signing with QR codes | Fewer seed languages than the official wallets (10 vs 12) |
About the release gap
Feather's latest version, v2.8.1, was released on 14 April 2025. It updated Qt to 6.9.0, Tor to 0.4.8.16 and OpenSSL to 3.5, fixed a Windows start-up crash and a seed-checksum bug, and raised the minimum macOS version to 12. We found no newer release as of 24 October 2026, though Debian repackaged it in October 2026. A long gap is not a security problem in itself, but Monero's FCMP++ upgrade will require new wallet software, so check featherwallet.org before that fork.
Who it suits
- Anyone who wants a desktop Monero wallet without downloading the whole blockchain.
- Hardware-wallet owners who prefer a lighter app than the GUI.
- Privacy-focused users on Tails.
- Merchants and power users who need coin control and labels.
If you want to run your own node in the same app, the Monero GUI is the better fit. If you mostly use a phone, see Cake Wallet. Compare them in Cake vs Feather vs Monerujo.
Getting started
- Download Feather from featherwallet.org for your system and verify the signed hash.
- On first launch, choose whether to connect through Tor. For most people, leaving Tor on is the simple privacy win.
- Create a new wallet and write down the 16-word Polyseed. Feather also lets you set a wallet password; use a strong one.
- Let Feather pick a node or add your own under the network settings.
- Receive a small test payment, then label it so you can track it later.
Using a Ledger or Trezor? Choose the hardware wallet option when creating the wallet, and confirm addresses on the device screen.
Feather compared with the GUI
| Feather | Monero GUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs a node itself | No (connects to one) | Yes, in advanced mode |
| Tor | Bundled | SOCKS5 proxy only |
| Coin control | Freeze, label, manual inputs | Basic |
| Seed | Polyseed by default | 25 words |
| Offline signing | Animated QR codes | File-based |
Many people use both: a node run by the GUI or monerod, and Feather connected to it for daily spending.
Security track record
Feather's v2.7.0 fixed a bug in which the base address could be displayed instead of the integrated address for outgoing payments with a payment ID. The reporter received a 2.5 XMR bug bounty. We found no reports of funds lost to Feather itself.
Safety notes
- The official site is featherwallet.org. Type it yourself or use a bookmark. Feather is also linked from getmonero.org/downloads.
- Verify the download against the signed hashes published by the project before running it.
- Feather never asks for your seed by email or chat. Ignore "update" emails.
- Write the Polyseed on paper. Note that a Polyseed restores only in wallets that support Polyseed, such as Feather and Cake.
Frequently asked questions
Is Feather Wallet safe?
Feather is open source, Monero-only and scans locally, so no server receives your keys. Download it from featherwallet.org, typed by hand, and verify the signed hashes.
Is Feather Wallet still updated?
The latest release is v2.8.1 from 14 April 2025, and we found nothing newer as of October 2026. It still works on the current network. Check featherwallet.org for updates ahead of the FCMP++ upgrade.
Can Feather restore a 25-word seed?
Yes. Feather restores 16-word Polyseeds, 14-word seeds from its older versions and standard 25-word Monero seeds.
Does Feather work with Trezor?
Yes. Feather supports the Trezor Model T, Safe 3 and Safe 5 according to its documentation; the Safe 7 is not supported yet. It also supports Ledger Nano S, S Plus, X, Flex and Stax.