{"id":"btcpayserver-lnd","name":"lnd","af_score":42.0,"security_score":69.2,"reliability_score":38.8,"what_it_does":"lnd is an implementation of the Lightning Network node. It runs as a daemon that connects to the Bitcoin network, manages channels with peers, and provides an RPC/REST-like interface (via gRPC/proxy servers) for creating/monitoring payments over the Lightning Network.","best_when":"You can operate and secure a node (network connectivity, wallet/back-end management, backups) and need direct Lightning Network access.","avoid_when":"You want a simple hosted API with minimal ops/security responsibility; or you cannot maintain Bitcoin/Lightning infrastructure and monitoring.","last_evaluated":"2026-04-04T19:36:56.713012+00:00","has_mcp":false,"has_api":false,"auth_methods":["TLS client authentication for RPC (commonly via macaroons + TLS in lnd deployments)","macaroon-based authorization for RPC"],"has_free_tier":false,"known_gotchas":["Statefulness: repeated calls may create duplicates (e.g., payment retries or channel-related actions) unless the method supports safe re-use semantics.","Need correct cryptographic configuration (TLS/macaroon) to avoid authorization failures.","Network/chain dependencies: failures can be transient due to Bitcoin connectivity or Lightning peer/channel state.","Rate limiting/flow control may be implicit (peer/channel/backpressure) rather than clearly documented as HTTP-style limits."],"error_quality":0.0}