# Bitcoin Core vs PanWatch

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Bitcoin Core | PanWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 86/100 ✓ | 62/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 42 in Cryptocurrency | #3 of 9 in Fintech |
| GitHub stars | 90 526 ✓ | 2 269 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +286 ✓ | +118 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 9 | 12 ✓ |
| Latest release | v29.5 · 26 Oct 2026 ✓ | 0.20.0 · 23 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | C++ | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

Bitcoin Core scores 86/100 against 62/100 for PanWatch, so it is the safer default.

PanWatch ships more often: 12 stable releases in the past year, against 9 for Bitcoin Core.

If you want the quickest setup, PanWatch is easier to run; Bitcoin Core needs more configuration.

Bitcoin Core is growing faster right now (+286 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Bitcoin Core](https://selfhost.directory/project/bitcoin-core) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/bitcoin-core.md)
- [PanWatch](https://selfhost.directory/project/panwatch) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/panwatch.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/bitcoin-core-vs-panwatch