{"data":{"slug":"lnd","name":"lnd","tagline":"MIT Lightning Network node daemon in Go","category":"payments","categoryName":"Payments","url":"https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd","github":"https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd","pricing":"open-source","hook":"lnd is a full Lightning Network node implementation in Go: open and close channels, route payments, issue invoices, and expose it all over gRPC and REST so your app can send and receive bitcoin over Lightning.","whatsGood":"MIT (lightningnetwork/lnd), release v0.21.4-beta (2026-10-01), developed since 2016. Pluggable chain backends: btcd, bitcoind or the neutrino light client. Fully manages channel state, path finding and the channel graph, and ships many reusable Lightning libraries. It sits underneath a large share of Lightning wallets, exchanges and payment tools. ★~8.2k.","theCatch":"Running a Lightning node means managing liquidity, channel backups and hot-wallet risk yourself; this is infrastructure, not a checkout button. Releases still carry a beta tag. For simple merchant payments a hosted processor or BTCPay-style layer on top is easier.","verdict":"The reference choice when you want to run your own Lightning node.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Payments","subSpecialty":"Payments","subcategory":"Payments","tags":["api","self-host","permissive","payments","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["API","Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":8201,"starsPerWeek":15,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2016-01-16","pushedAt":"2026-10-19","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"}},"related":[{"slug":"stripe-cli","name":"Stripe CLI","tagline":"Official Stripe terminal for webhooks, events, and API objects"},{"slug":"polar","name":"Polar","tagline":"Apache-2.0 merchant-of-record billing for indie and AI products"},{"slug":"hyperswitch","name":"Hyperswitch","tagline":"Apache-2.0 payment orchestrator you can self-host"},{"slug":"killbill","name":"Kill Bill","tagline":"Apache-2.0 in-house subscriptions and payments, no % take-rate"},{"slug":"lago","name":"Lago","tagline":"AGPLv3 usage and entitlements metering you self-host"}],"links":{"self":"/api/gems/lnd","html":"/gems/lnd","markdown":"/gems/lnd.md","category":"/api/gems?category=payments","categoryPage":"/stacks/payments"}}