Installing Flotilla on Web and Mobile

Part of our guide to running an online community you actually own.

Flotilla is a Nostr client, so the only thing you need to bring is your key (see Understanding Your Nostr Identity). You can run it in a browser tab, install it on your home screen, or download the native Android or iOS app.

Use it in a browser

Visit app.flotilla.social in any modern browser, on desktop or mobile. There’s nothing to install, and it works the same on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS. See Getting Started for the signup and login flow.

Install it as a PWA

Flotilla is also a Progressive Web App (PWA), so you can install it straight from your browser without going through an app store. Installing gives you a home-screen or desktop icon, a standalone window without browser chrome, and push notifications. When you visit app.flotilla.social, most browsers offer an “Install” or “Add to Home Screen” option in a menu or the address bar; the exact wording and location depend on your browser and OS.

Android: get it on Google Play

On Android, install Flotilla from the Google Play Store. The native app supports push notifications and can hand signing off to a dedicated signer app like Amber, so your key never has to live inside Flotilla itself (see Ways to Log In to Flotilla for how that works).

It’s also available on Zapstore, an alternative app store. The browser and PWA options work on Android too.

iOS: get it on the App Store

On iPhone and iPad, install Flotilla from the App Store. It works like the web and Android versions for chatting, spaces, rooms, events, and direct messages.

Desktop

There’s no dedicated desktop application for Windows, macOS, or Linux. For a desktop experience, use Flotilla in your browser or install it as a PWA. Both work fully, notifications included.

One identity, every device

Flotilla doesn’t store your spaces or messages itself; those live on the relays your spaces run on. So you can install Flotilla on your phone, log in on your laptop’s browser, and add the PWA on a tablet, all with the same key, and your spaces, rooms, and direct messages will be there on each one. There’s no separate “Flotilla account” to set up per device.

If you’re not sure which login method fits the device you’re setting up, Ways to Log In to Flotilla walks through the options and which is safest for each situation.