TL;DR
Sparrow if you want a desktop app that shows every detail and needs no account. Nunchuk if you want to check your multisig on your phone, or might later want its paid inheritance or assisted options.
| Sparrow | Nunchuk | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Desktop, Android, iOS |
| Price | Free | Free; optional paid plans |
| Account needed | No | No, guest mode works |
| Open source | Yes | Desktop and Android yes; iOS no |
| Hardware wallets | USB, QR, microSD | USB on desktop; QR and NFC on phone |
| Imports a descriptor | Yes | Yes |
Where Sparrow is better
Sparrow shows every input, output and fee in detail, lets you pick exactly which coins to spend, and exports a PDF backup of your descriptor with a QR code. It never asks you to sign up for anything. The downside: there’s no phone app.
Where Nunchuk is better
Nunchuk’s phone app lets you watch your balance and prepare transactions away from your desk. Nunchuk also sells plans where they hold one key or help your heirs recover. You don’t have to use any of that; the basic wallet stands on its own.
Can you switch later?
Yes. Both work with output descriptors, so a multisig built in Sparrow can be opened in Nunchuk from its descriptor, and the other way round. Your hardware wallets don’t care which app is asking.
My pick
Sparrow on a dedicated computer, as in the setup guide. A phone is a busier, riskier device than a laptop that does nothing else. More background in is Sparrow Wallet safe?.