Sparrow vs Electrum for desktop

[apogio]

Since I was the OP I want to add one more argument in favour of Sparrow. I have tried communicating with the Devs, just to see their reactions and how easy it is to approach them. With Sparrow it was incredibly easier. I count this as a very important factor.

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[cygan]

the new Sparrow wallet 1.8.1 update released today includes the following new functions, among others:

• fee rate estimation from http://oxt.me
• export transactions with historical values
• wider range in fee range slider

you can see the complete changelog as well as the two download and github links below:
https://sparrowwallet.com/download/
https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/tag/1.8.1

[satscraper]

I like the increase of subwindow for QR dialog implemented by Sparrow in the preceded 1.8.0.  I use QR to pair Sparrow with Passport 2 and should say that with such increased subwindow the code reading is much faster and less dependent on the ambient light illumination. Heretofore, the pairing was (sometimes) painful process and required much patience.

[satscraper]

Sparrow has been elevated to 1.8.2 version in today's release.

Among new features brought by this release Sparrow has acquired  three the most noticeable  (in my view) traits

• "Support creating wallets from descriptors containing master xprvs"
• "Support reading QRs containing revised BC-UR tags in the 40000 range, including v3 output descriptors"
• "Add the calculated master fingerprint to the passphrase entry dialog in Sparrow Terminal"

As always new release has fixed a few bugs that were inherent to previous versions.

Sparrow continues to  strengthen its wings.

[virasog]

Since I was the OP I want to add one more argument in favour of Sparrow. I have tried communicating with the Devs, just to see their reactions and how easy it is to approach them. With Sparrow it was incredibly easier. I count this as a very important factor.

I have noticed more people are favoring Sparrow wallet here as compared to the Electrum wallet. The reason may be it offers better Advanced features but does the normal end user care about these features?

I guess, generally speaking, people are more aware of the Electrum wallet as compared to the Sparrow wallet. Also, if we survey the users or check the downloads of both wallets (If it is possible), I guess the Electrum wallet may lead in the more popular wallet used by the average Bitcoin users as compared to the Sparrow Wallet.

I am in no way denying some of the good features offered by the Sparrow wallet, but only comparing the popularity of both wallets and Electrum leads here.

[apogio]

I have noticed more people are favoring Sparrow wallet here as compared to the Electrum wallet. The reason may be it offers better Advanced features but does the normal end user care about these features?

I guess, generally speaking, people are more aware of the Electrum wallet as compared to the Sparrow wallet. Also, if we survey the users or check the downloads of both wallets (If it is possible), I guess the Electrum wallet may lead in the more popular wallet used by the average Bitcoin users as compared to the Sparrow Wallet.

I am in no way denying some of the good features offered by the Sparrow wallet, but only comparing the popularity of both wallets and Electrum leads here.

I get your point. To be honest I use both.

Sparrow connects straight to Bitcoin Core, whereas Electrum requires an Electrum Server. I run a full Bitcoin node and an Electrum Server, so to be honest, both wallets can work for me fine.

If I couldn't install an Electrum server then the only option I had would be Sparrow. Because for me, connecting to my own node is the only hard requirement I have. I would never connect to other nodes to use a desktop wallet.

Apart from that, I like Sparrow's UI and UX more than Electrum's but this is subjective and it only applies because both the wallets are top notch, so the determining factor is the UI and the UX. If there were security issues with one of them, then I would have stronger arguments  

Anyway, both wallets are great, now that I have used them for quite a while.

[satscraper]

I have noticed more people are favoring Sparrow wallet here as compared to the Electrum wallet. T

Contrary to Electrum which is  based on the old key-centered architecture Sparrow has acquired  the new descriptor-centred-architectonics which gave him many advantages particularly in interacting with other descriptor-based-wallets to transfer seamlessly the most  types of addresses between them in both directions.

[dkbit98]

Sparrow continues to  strengthen its wings.

Sparrow wallet is great alternative for Electrum wallet and it's even better for connecting with hardware wallets and signing devices.
However during my testing with Krux signing device had some issues with my camera that was not detected in wallet so it was not working with Sparrow QR codes, and I had to use Specter wallet instead.

[satscraper]

Sparrow continues to  strengthen its wings.

Sparrow wallet is great alternative for Electrum wallet and it's even better for connecting with hardware wallets and signing devices.
However during my testing with Krux signing device had some issues with my camera that was not detected in wallet so it was not working with Sparrow QR codes, and I had to use Specter wallet instead.

Probably the issue is hidden in Krux camera and relevant software.

And what about pairing Krux with Electrum?

I tested both Specter and Sparrow to check their performance at being pairing with Passport 2 and Sparrow seemed to me runs on steroids. Thus, I have selected Sparrow.

[Synchronice]

I have noticed more people are favoring Sparrow wallet here as compared to the Electrum wallet. The reason may be it offers better Advanced features but does the normal end user care about these features?

I guess, generally speaking, people are more aware of the Electrum wallet as compared to the Sparrow wallet. Also, if we survey the users or check the downloads of both wallets (If it is possible), I guess the Electrum wallet may lead in the more popular wallet used by the average Bitcoin users as compared to the Sparrow Wallet.

I am in no way denying some of the good features offered by the Sparrow wallet, but only comparing the popularity of both wallets and Electrum leads here.

I think that Sparrow's features matter for normal users because those who use hardware wallets, most likely have the idea about UTXOs, transaction fees, RBF, double spend and so on. So, Sparrow has just many features with a very good interface, it looks like an upgraded version of Electrum in every aspect. Overall, I would vouch for Sparrow but to be honest, I have no idea how secure it is. I only use Electrum because it's one of the oldest and secure wallet that also has android version.

[satscraper]

I only use Electrum because it's one of the oldest and secure wallet that also has android version.

Hm, secure.

Do you know that up to 4.2.2 version Electrum had backdoor that allowed hackers  to penetrate into users wallets and make with them any things they want. And all of this was due to   to the  lack of integrity in wallets' code. No one knows how many similar "surprises"  are still lurking inside this wallet.

More on that:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5472109.msg63228785#msg63228785

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5472109.msg63230916#msg63230916

[apogio]

So, Sparrow has just many features with a very good interface, it looks like an upgraded version of Electrum in every aspect.

This is indeed a contributing factor to choose Sparrow. It has a simpler UX in my opinion. And I love how it explains the whole transaction process to the end user. As I said above, I have used both and I still use both. I can't really choose but if you put a gun to my head and ask me to choose only one, I would do a deep research to check the security features of both. If they proved to be equal, I would choose Sparrow for its UI and UX.

[virasog]

I only use Electrum because it's one of the oldest and secure wallet that also has android version.

Hm, secure.

Do you know that up to 4.2.2 version Electrum had backdoor that allowed hackers  to penetrate into users wallets and make with them any things they want. And all of this was due to   to the  lack of integrity in wallets' code. No one knows how many similar "surprises"  are still lurking inside this wallet.

That vulnerability was detected in that version but the current version Electrum-4.5.2 is secure and you can use it without any fear. Also, since the Electrum wallet is open source, if there were any "Surprises", they would have been known or "Discovered" by now. Electrum wallet is one of the most secure wallets out there.

I think that Sparrow's features matter for normal users because those who use hardware wallets, most likely have the idea about UTXOs, transaction fees, RBF, double spend and so on. So, Sparrow has just many features with a very good interface, it looks like an upgraded version of Electrum in every aspect. Overall, I would vouch for Sparrow but to be honest, I have no idea how secure it is. I only use Electrum because it's one of the oldest and secure wallet that also has android version.

Sparrow wallet may be user friendly for those who are using the hardware wallets, but how about people who only want to use it as a desktop wallet and do not connect it to the hardware wallet.
Electrum wallet desktop version provides all these features like RBF etc and if you have been using Electrum for a long time (like me) and are comfortable with it, it takes time to switch to Sparrow.

[Kakmakr]

Has anyone installed the Sparrow wallet with the Tails operating system yet? I know Sparrow are working in other Linux distros like Redhat/Ubuntu/Debian and CentOS, so it should also work with Tails (Persistent volume enabled)

Tails does work on Electrum and even came with it as a default crypto wallet in some versions of it.

I get "permission" problems when I try to use Sparrow with Tails. 

[apogio]

Has anyone installed the Sparrow wallet with the Tails operating system yet? I know Sparrow are working in other Linux distros like Redhat/Ubuntu/Debian and CentOS, so it should also work with Tails (Persistent volume enabled)

Tails does work on Electrum and even came with it as a default crypto wallet in some versions of it.

I get "permission" problems when I try to use Sparrow with Tails. 

Hi. Can you be more specific on where you get these permission issues?

Also, have you configured the "persistent storage"? Have you rebooted after enabling the persistent storage?

[Synchronice]

And I love how it explains the whole transaction process to the end user.

Yes, Sparrow does that very nicely while Electrum is confusing.

Sparrow wallet may be user friendly for those who are using the hardware wallets, but how about people who only want to use it as a desktop wallet and do not connect it to the hardware wallet.
Electrum wallet desktop version provides all these features like RBF etc and if you have been using Electrum for a long time (like me) and are comfortable with it, it takes time to switch to Sparrow.

No, it's not only user friendly for those who use hardware wallets, it's user-friendly for everyone. Just take Electrum and Sparrow and put them next to each other. Sparrow outperforms Electrum in every possible way. Do you want to see a map of your transactions? Sparrow has a visually good map tree. It has many settings and features. I think that visually, aesthetically, Sparrow is superior. Electrum just reminds me very basic windows xp software.

[satscraper]

Sparrow is great wallet which I use in my daily routine to connect my Passport 2 to my Bicoin Core node.

The GUI is cool but what I really miss in it is the OP_RETURN field in the SEND tab.

I'm not alone who would appreciate such  field but craigraw is reluctant to add it saing he don't see good reasoning for adding it into GUI.

If that field was introduced I would pgp-encrypt my SEED, convert it into hex code and embedded it  into blockchain.

P.S. Electrum allows to add OP_RETURN output in transaction.

[apogio]

Has anyone ever paid multiple addresses at once using Sparrow? I know batch payments are a thing in electrum, but is there the same capability in Sparrow? Thanks

[satscraper]

Has anyone ever paid multiple addresses at once using Sparrow? I know batch payments are a thing in electrum, but is there the same capability in Sparrow? Thanks

Yeah, Sparrow has such build-in feature. Tools --> Send To Many

You can fill up to 100 addresses in Send to Many subwindow, setting relevant  amounts to them  as well as assigning  labels to  those addresses according  your needs.

I'm using this feature, very handy at batch payments.

[Synchronice]

Has anyone ever paid multiple addresses at once using Sparrow? I know batch payments are a thing in electrum, but is there the same capability in Sparrow? Thanks

Don't tell me that you figured out how to spend to multiple addresses in Electrum but you failed to do that in Sparrow wallet because I found it hard to do that in Electrum and also I remember that you liked the UI and UX of Sparrow.
P.S. Thanks to @satscraper for explanation but I'll leave the images down below for those who might have the same question and need a graphical guidance.