<p>Electrum lets you manage offline wallets and still safely spend from an online computer.</p>

<p>You don't even need to use an insecure USB key, you can use webcams to make the computers talk to each other.</p>

<p>See these instructions for more information <a href="http://electrum.org/tutorials.html#offline-mpk" rel="nofollow">http://electrum.org/tutorials.html#offline-mpk</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-09T15:22:10.460Z
The page at that URL has disappeared.
akaihola
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-18T22:57:48.293Z
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20150214064443/https://electrum.org/tutorials.html#offline-mpk

Possible replacement: https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/coldstorage.html
user47560
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-14T14:45:53.280Z
2013-12-09T02:17:31.597Z
2013-12-09T02:17:31.597Z
rdymac
<p>Since you just need to create a password-protected wallet file, most Bitcoin clients offer this functionality. Electrum uses a third-party to download the blockchain, so perhaps just for that reason I'd rather go with Armory. Certainly has a lot more security features. But again, since all you need is your password-protected wallet file you can also use MultiBit.</p>

<p>I also use a laptop for this. I make sure it's disconnected from the internet. I run MultiBit on it. Create the password-protected wallet. I can then deposit in this address my savings. When I need to retrieve my funds, I connect it to the internet and run the transfer. Make sure you're using Linux.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-13T18:44:53.890Z
2013-11-13T18:44:53.890Z
Luca Matteis
<p>Electrum is definitely the best general public bitcoin wallet ever made.  Downloading GB of blockchain is not an option for many users.  Electrum is very secure. It can be used on offline computer  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-26T22:26:03.233Z
-1 What makes Electrum better than other wallets? Your answer doesn't provide any new information that wasn't found in older answers.
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-16T01:37:37.110Z
+1 It's not a bad answer - it's a subjective opinion, but the OP wanted opinions. I found it useful to learn the difference in the blockchain download required.
Tom
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-26T21:10:09.833Z
2014-01-26T21:10:09.833Z
Art
<p>Electrum is easier. Armory is harder. Electrum lean towards minimalism. Armory is aimed at power users. </p>

<p>Even though you asked about offline wallets you will likely want to maintain a watch only version of your wallet on your online system to be able to see the current balance, create unsigned transactions and give out addresses to people who want to send you money. So let's compare the online wallet experiences as well.</p>

<p>Armory's online wallet requires a copy of bitcoin-qt running and that means you need to download the whole blockchain. Armory's online wallet is also known for being a memory hog. The advantage is that you have a local copy of the blockchain and don't have to trust anybody else with that.</p>

<p>Electrum relies on third party servers so it runs pretty lean. The downside is that you loose out on privacy to those servers and if they are compromised they could send you fake transaction data and not broadcast your send transactions. They can't steal your coins though - your private key is never shared with them.</p>

<p>BTW if your netbook has wifi then make sure you turn that off in the BIOS.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T19:37:14.490Z
"if they are compromised (the servers) could send you fake transaction data" This is avoided by using SPV, verification of the block headers. A malicious server can attack an user by the omission of transactions, so getting an incomplete transaction history.
rdymac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T14:32:06.080Z
2013-12-09T14:32:06.080Z
Abdussamad
<p>I'd like to secure my bitcoin with an offline wallet. A lot of security conscious people seem to use Armory. I am trying to get a better understanding of the differences between these two clients.</p>

<p>I plan on having a cheap netbook, never touched the internet, and using it as an air gapped offline wallet. If I need to make transfers then use a USB to sign transactions for the online wallet.</p>

<wallet><electrum><armory><offline>
Offline Wallets: Electrum vs Armory?
John
# Offline Wallets: Electrum vs Armory?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-13)

I'd like to secure my bitcoin with an offline wallet. A lot of security conscious people seem to use Armory. I am trying to get a better understanding of the differences between these two clients.

I plan on having a cheap netbook, never touched the internet, and using it as an air gapped offline wallet. If I need to make transfers then use a USB to sign transactions for the online wallet.

**Tags:** wallet, electrum, armory, offline


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2013-12-09. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

Electrum is easier. Armory is harder. Electrum lean towards minimalism. Armory is aimed at power users.

Even though you asked about offline wallets you will likely want to maintain a watch only version of your wallet on your online system to be able to see the current balance, create unsigned transactions and give out addresses to people who want to send you money. So let's compare the online wallet experiences as well.

Armory's online wallet requires a copy of bitcoin-qt running and that means you need to download the whole blockchain. Armory's online wallet is also known for being a memory hog. The advantage is that you have a local copy of the blockchain and don't have to trust anybody else with that.

Electrum relies on third party servers so it runs pretty lean. The downside is that you loose out on privacy to those servers and if they are compromised they could send you fake transaction data and not broadcast your send transactions. They can't steal your coins though - your private key is never shared with them.

BTW if your netbook has wifi then make sure you turn that off in the BIOS.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "if they are compromised (the servers) could send you fake transaction data" This is avoided by using SPV, verification of the block headers. A malicious server can attack an user by the omission of transactions, so getting an incomplete transaction history.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-11-14. Score: 2

Electrum lets you manage offline wallets and still safely spend from an online computer.

You don't even need to use an insecure USB key, you can use webcams to make the computers talk to each other.

See these instructions for more information <http://electrum.org/tutorials.html#offline-mpk>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The page at that URL has disappeared.  
> **username_3**: Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20150214064443/https://electrum.org/tutorials.html#offline-mpk  Possible replacement: https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/coldstorage.html  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2013-11-13. Score: 0

Since you just need to create a password-protected wallet file, most Bitcoin clients offer this functionality. Electrum uses a third-party to download the blockchain, so perhaps just for that reason I'd rather go with Armory. Certainly has a lot more security features. But again, since all you need is your password-protected wallet file you can also use MultiBit.

I also use a laptop for this. I make sure it's disconnected from the internet. I run MultiBit on it. Create the password-protected wallet. I can then deposit in this address my savings. When I need to retrieve my funds, I connect it to the internet and run the transfer. Make sure you're using Linux.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-01-26. Score: 0

Electrum is definitely the best general public bitcoin wallet ever made. Downloading GB of blockchain is not an option for many users. Electrum is very secure. It can be used on offline computer

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: -1 What makes Electrum better than other wallets? Your answer doesn't provide any new information that wasn't found in older answers.  
> **username_7**: +1 It's not a bad answer - it's a subjective opinion, but the OP wanted opinions. I found it useful to learn the difference in the blockchain download required.  

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