diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 45fbd41..8f01bd7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 # nak, the nostr army knife
 
-install with `go install github.com/fiatjaf/nak@latest` or
+Install with this one-liner:
+
+```sh
+curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fiatjaf/nak/master/install.sh | sh
+```
+
+Or install with `go install github.com/fiatjaf/nak@latest` or
 [download a binary](https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak/releases).
 
-or get the source with `git clone https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak` then install with `go install` or run with docker using `docker build -t nak . && docker run nak event`.
+You can also get the source with `git clone https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak` then install with `go install` or run with docker using `docker build -t nak . && docker run nak event`.
 
 ## what can you do with it?
 
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9b09565
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env sh
+set -e
+
+# Detect OS
+detect_os() {
+    case "$(uname -s)" in
+        Linux*)     echo "linux";;
+        Darwin*)    echo "darwin";;
+        FreeBSD*)   echo "freebsd";;
+        MINGW*|MSYS*|CYGWIN*) echo "windows";;
+        *)
+            echo "Error: Unsupported OS $(uname -s)" >&2
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+# Detect architecture
+detect_arch() {
+    case "$(uname -m)" in
+        x86_64|amd64)   echo "amd64";;
+        aarch64|arm64)  echo "arm64";;
+        riscv64)        echo "riscv64";;
+        *)
+            echo "Error: Unsupported architecture $(uname -m)" >&2
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+# Set install directory
+INSTALL_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR:-$HOME/.local/bin}"
+
+# Detect platform
+OS=$(detect_os)
+ARCH=$(detect_arch)
+
+echo "Installing nak ($OS-$ARCH) to $INSTALL_DIR..."
+
+# Check if curl is available
+command -v curl >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "Error: curl is required" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+# Get latest release tag
+RELEASE_INFO=$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/fiatjaf/nak/releases/latest)
+TAG="${RELEASE_INFO#*\"tag_name\"}"
+TAG="${TAG#*\"}"
+TAG="${TAG%%\"*}"
+
+[ -z "$TAG" ] && { echo "Error: Failed to fetch release info" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+# Construct download URL
+BINARY_NAME="nak-${TAG}-${OS}-${ARCH}"
+[ "$OS" = "windows" ] && BINARY_NAME="${BINARY_NAME}.exe"
+DOWNLOAD_URL="https://github.com/fiatjaf/nak/releases/download/${TAG}/${BINARY_NAME}"
+
+# Create install directory and download
+mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+TARGET_PATH="$INSTALL_DIR/nak"
+[ "$OS" = "windows" ] && TARGET_PATH="${TARGET_PATH}.exe"
+
+if curl -sS -L -f -o "$TARGET_PATH" "$DOWNLOAD_URL"; then
+    chmod +x "$TARGET_PATH"
+    echo "Installed nak $TAG to $TARGET_PATH"
+    
+    # Check if install dir is in PATH
+    case ":$PATH:" in
+        *":$INSTALL_DIR:"*) ;;
+        *) echo "Note: Add $INSTALL_DIR to your PATH" ;;
+    esac
+else
+    echo "Error: Download failed from $DOWNLOAD_URL" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi