Comparison table of software implementations

Implementations
LND
Core Lightning
Codebase
written in Go
github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd​
written in C with plugins in various languages
github.com/ElementsProject/lightning​
Documentation
​api.lightning.community
docs.lightning.engineering​
​lightning.readthedocs.io​
Contact
​lightning.engineering/slack.html
t.me/lightninglab​
IRC libera.chat #c-lightning
t.me/lightningd​
Main advantages
bigger networkshare and team
more services built on top
detailed documentation
bundled with services and GUI in lit
binaries provided for various platforms
specs driven
modular development ensures flexibility
very modest hardware need even as a routing node
built with privacy as a priority in mind
Multiple channels between two peers
yes
yes since v0.11.0
Keysend
optional
on by default
Payments
most efficient in finding the shortest path
best success rate
a cost function takes recent failures into consideration
prefers low locktimes
takes channel sizes into account since v0.10.2 (Pickhardt Payments)
Slightly more expensive due to randomization for privacy
the logic can be replaced with plugins
MPP (multi part payments)
optional
on by default
Swaps
Loop service (with daemon)
Boltz.exchange (with daemon)
PeerSwap
Boltz.exchange through website + API
PeerSwap
Autopilot
built in, but limited
CLBOSS plugin with advanced logic
Watchtower
built in
not incentivised
available as a plugin for Eye of Satoshi
not incentivised
Dymanic fee settings
solved by external tools like charge-lnd and Balance of Satoshis
feeadjuster plugin, CLBOSS
Dual funded channels
manual, using PSBTs and/or Balance of Satoshis
experimental feature
automated with liquidity ads
Paid incoming channels
Pool service including sidecar channels
Voltage Flow
amboss.space Magma
boltz.exchange plugin
liquidity ads
amboss.space Magma
Privacy
full Tor support
Full Tor support
MPP usage by default
Route Randomization
Shadow Route (virtual extension of hops)​
WebUI
RTL
Thunderhub
Lightning Terminal

RTL
Spark Wallet / Sparko
Mobile Apps
Zeus
Fully Noded (iOS only)
Zap Android (iOS unmaintained)
Zeus
Fully Noded (iOS only)
Database format
bbolt by default (restarts needed to compact)
experinemtal etcd
full postgres support
sqlite3 by default (compacts on-the-fly)
full postgres support
Backups and recovery
seedwords + SCB (status channel backups)
github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/docs/recovery.md
node-recovery.com​
hsmsecret hex (optional seedwords) + append-only (low wear) backup of the sqlite3 database with the backup plugin
sqlite3 replication to a custom path or NFS mount
lightning.readthedocs.io/BACKUP.html​
​
​
​
Resources
Comparative Analysis of Lightning's Routing Clients
Article: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9566199
Summary Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/roasbeef/status/1453434255237795840​

Implementations	LND	Core Lightning
Codebase	written in Go github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd	written in C with plugins in various languages github.com/ElementsProject/lightning
Documentation	api.lightning.community docs.lightning.engineering	lightning.readthedocs.io
Contact	lightning.engineering/slack.html t.me/lightninglab	IRC libera.chat #c-lightning t.me/lightningd
Main advantages	bigger networkshare and team more services built on top detailed documentation bundled with services and GUI in lit binaries provided for various platforms	specs driven modular development ensures flexibility very modest hardware need even as a routing node built with privacy as a priority in mind
Multiple channels between two peers	yes	yes since v0.11.0
Keysend	optional	on by default
Payments	most efficient in finding the shortest path best success rate a cost function takes recent failures into consideration	prefers low locktimes takes channel sizes into account since v0.10.2 (Pickhardt Payments) Slightly more expensive due to randomization for privacy the logic can be replaced with plugins
MPP (multi part payments)	optional	on by default
Swaps	Loop service (with daemon) Boltz.exchange (with daemon) PeerSwap	Boltz.exchange through website + API PeerSwap
Autopilot	built in, but limited	CLBOSS plugin with advanced logic
Watchtower	built in not incentivised	available as a plugin for Eye of Satoshi not incentivised
Dymanic fee settings	solved by external tools like charge-lnd and Balance of Satoshis	feeadjuster plugin, CLBOSS
Dual funded channels	manual, using PSBTs and/or Balance of Satoshis	experimental feature automated with liquidity ads
Paid incoming channels	Pool service including sidecar channels Voltage Flow amboss.space Magma	boltz.exchange plugin liquidity ads amboss.space Magma
Privacy	full Tor support	Full Tor support MPP usage by default Route Randomization Shadow Route (virtual extension of hops)
WebUI	RTL Thunderhub Lightning Terminal	RTL Spark Wallet / Sparko
Mobile Apps	Zeus Fully Noded (iOS only) Zap Android (iOS unmaintained)	Zeus Fully Noded (iOS only)
Database format	bbolt by default (restarts needed to compact) experinemtal etcd full postgres support	sqlite3 by default (compacts on-the-fly) full postgres support
Backups and recovery	seedwords + SCB (status channel backups) github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/docs/recovery.md node-recovery.com	hsmsecret hex (optional seedwords) + append-only (low wear) backup of the sqlite3 database with the backup plugin sqlite3 replication to a custom path or NFS mount lightning.readthedocs.io/BACKUP.html

Last modified 10mo ago