No you don't. But it's one way to use lightning. There's other ways, too.

Not really. No.

Streamlines non-custodial zapping and other LN transactions from your own self hosted node. I actually find it to be faster than Zeus.

Absolutely not, but it is a really easy way to interface to your node. Easy as a custodial wallet in fact.

Ask not what bitcoin can do for you, ask what you can do for bitcoin

cashu/fedimint is strictly better than a lightning custodial wallet.

cashu.space

nostr:nprofile1qqswq087qywczsjtkc9p960tpjcvn35gcdr39smefsr49cr33vmfausppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qgdwaehxw309a38yc3wd9hj734nsuz

Coin os works fine for me most of the time

If you have a personal node, it would be beneficial with a rather low cost. You can also use its hosted version at a fair price. The benefit is that it’s self-custodial. However, Primal’s custodial wallet would be a fair choice for such low amounts we use for zaps.

The browser extension is great for logging in to web based nostr clients without giving each one your nsec.

Alby Hub sounds like it's a great way to run a Lightning Node for novices, but if you don't want to run a node, then you don't need it.

No, there are other options for wallets, and if you have your keys backed up already and trust what you are signing with it.

Zaps work better when using a cloud-based node like Alby Hub or Rizful.

I subscribe to Alby Cloud because I'm like a magnet for inexplicable hardware problems and I don't have any LN gurus in my area to calm my concerns about running my own LN node on a Start9 that has already crashed once. Plus I don't have the most reliable internet service.

IMO, Alby's customer service is about the closest you'll get to the internet equivalent of a good B&M business. For that I don't mind paying.

If I was in the position of receiving more sats than I send, I might be more committed to running a LN node on my own hardware. But for now, I basically only use the Lightning Network as a convenient way to tip podcasters and nostriches.

Still, it's not a bad idea to have some redundancy like Alby, Zeus, Primal, Fountain, for those times when (not if) one has problems. [cough] Steve Webb [cough]