Bitcoin Forum

What is the best wallet to choose and how do you set one up?

Thanks

Multibit ( https://multibit.org/ ) is good choice for starters though i like electrum better  :P

the  best option is to download the official wallet
http://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet (http://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet)

I use Bitcoin-Qt as it is the safest but if you are eager to start as fast as possible you can also try multibit..

You could always try https://blockchain.info/wallet/.  They have an android apps that syncs up, also.

There are no "official" wallets.

There are many wallets, and everyone has their own preference.

You should pick the one that best suits your personal needs.

Since you told us nothing about your particular needs, it is impossible for anyone to give you good advice about which wallet might be best for you.  Therefore, you will likely just get a lot of people stopping by to vote for whatever wallet they have chosen for themselves.

The wallet you choose depends on your needs. Just don't choose a ''third party wallet'', it's unsafe. Here are some safe options, copied from http://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet:

Bitcoin-Qt (Windows, Linux Mac OS X)
Bitcoin-Qt is a full Bitcoin client and builds the backbone of the network. It offers the highest levels of security, privacy, and stability. However, it has fewer features and it takes a lot of space and memory.

MultiBit (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X)
MultiBit is a lightweight client that focuses on being fast and easy to use. It synchronizes with the network and is ready to use in minutes. MultiBit also supports many languages. It is a good choice for non-technical users.

Armory (Windows, Linux)
Armory is an advanced Bitcoin client that expands its features for Bitcoin power users. It offers many backup and encryption features, and it allows secure cold-storage on offline computers.

Blockchain is probably the best online one in my opinion. Two-factor authentication is a plus.

this.....

I just want to say, never keep many btc in online wallets. You can't stress this enough!

Although blockchain.info seems pretty solid so far i agree that online wallets should be avoided like plague.
Bips just got hacked and is now added in the long list of compromised online wallets.

EasyCoin (https://easycoinsayj7p5l.onion.to (https://easycoinsayj7p5l.onion.to)).
It does what it says. It's a cold wallet (=offline wallet, which is more secure than a hot wallet - an online one), and it launders your money.

Online wallet use BlockChain.

Computer wallet use electrum. Nice and light and simple to set up and use.

Bitcoin-Qt

Multibit FTW !

Pro:
Super fast (no download of the whole Blockchain)
Very easy to Set up and use.
Not much RAM needed (even runs on a Netbook super smooth)

Contra:
Looks a bit bad :P
Has no Option for incoming Alerts (Sound, Message, whatever)  but they are working on that....


Online Wallet : Forget it ! And if...then Blockchain.info

The official bitcoin website brings some...


http://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet

I use the official Bitcoin-Qt wallet but after a week of trying to catching up (computer on day and night) I'm still 5 weeks behind... so far the size of the bitcoin folder on disk grew to 14 Gb.. hopefully an update of the wallet software will be able to sync faster and reduce the size of the data blocks on disk.

Wow, the wallet requires that much space, 14 gb. That suprises me.

Danny,

I am looking to set up a wallet to try bitcoins out. I am also interested in doing some mining for fun, it seems like you cannot do this profitably right now if you have to pay for power, but either way I am interested in this and want to learn more.

I would like to be able to use my wallet on my cpu and iphone to buy things, maybe this is not possible. I am trying to learn and know that I am a newb.

Danny
Further question, I would like to have a wallet that I can hold offline because I have heard that it is more secure and a necessity, am I wrong about this?

Blockchain also allows you to create a paper wallet that you can store your bitcoins on.

Please don't use those nasty online wallets - I got all my coins (and dreams) stolen at BIPS - I say NEVER again trust a online wallet, no matter how much sales talk you can read about how state-of-the-art and super secure they are.

They are all big targets for thieves and unless you know the persons behind they can get away with stealing every single BTC from you - and claim it was "hackers", no way you can prove them wrong and no way you can ever get your coins back.

better stay with a good old qt wallet :p