diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 7dcd4d6..bd2ebe1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ jobs:
 
             > **Windows note:** The installer is not yet code-signed. Windows SmartScreen will show an "Unknown publisher" warning — click "More info → Run anyway" to install.
 
-            ### New in v0.2.9
+            ### New in v0.3.0
+            - **Instant feedback** — posted notes appear in feed immediately; thread replies show up without waiting for relay
             - **Image paste fix** — uploads now use Tauri HTTP plugin, fixing "Failed to fetch" on Windows
             - **Sent zaps visible** — zap history now correctly shows sent zaps (queries kind 9735 receipts instead of ephemeral kind 9734)
             - **Reply-to @name clickable** — clicking the @name in "↩ replying to @name" now opens that person's profile
diff --git a/PKGBUILD b/PKGBUILD
index b32c9b0..e84b2e4 100644
--- a/PKGBUILD
+++ b/PKGBUILD
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Maintainer: hoornet <hoornet@users.noreply.github.com>
 pkgname=wrystr
-pkgver=0.2.9
+pkgver=0.3.0
 pkgrel=1
 pkgdesc="Cross-platform Nostr desktop client with Lightning integration"
 arch=('x86_64')
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e6485d4..d0b295e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "wrystr",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "0.2.9",
+  "version": "0.3.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 10018d5..0d1052e 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "wrystr"
-version = "0.2.9"
+version = "0.3.0"
 description = "Cross-platform Nostr desktop client with Lightning integration"
 authors = ["hoornet"]
 edition = "2021"
diff --git a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 694e1b0..9a8baa3 100644
--- a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
   "productName": "Wrystr",
-  "version": "0.2.9",
+  "version": "0.3.0",
   "identifier": "com.hoornet.wrystr",
   "build": {
     "beforeDevCommand": "npm run dev",
diff --git a/src/components/thread/ThreadView.tsx b/src/components/thread/ThreadView.tsx
index 0df39ee..a7ce24c 100644
--- a/src/components/thread/ThreadView.tsx
+++ b/src/components/thread/ThreadView.tsx
@@ -166,12 +166,13 @@ export function ThreadView() {
     if (!replyText.trim() || replying) return;
     setReplying(true);
     try {
-      await publishReply(replyText.trim(), { id: event.id, pubkey: event.pubkey });
+      const replyEvent = await publishReply(replyText.trim(), { id: event.id, pubkey: event.pubkey });
       setReplyText("");
       setReplySent(true);
-      // Re-fetch replies to show the new one
-      const updated = await fetchReplies(event.id);
-      setReplies(updated);
+      // Inject reply locally so it appears immediately
+      setReplies((prev) => [...prev, replyEvent]);
+      // Also try fetching from relay in background
+      fetchReplies(event.id).then((updated) => setReplies(updated));
       setTimeout(() => setReplySent(false), 2000);
     } finally {
       setReplying(false);
diff --git a/src/lib/nostr/client.ts b/src/lib/nostr/client.ts
index 0fc1e78..345656a 100644
--- a/src/lib/nostr/client.ts
+++ b/src/lib/nostr/client.ts
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export async function publishReaction(eventId: string, eventPubkey: string, reac
   await event.publish();
 }
 
-export async function publishReply(content: string, replyTo: { id: string; pubkey: string }): Promise<void> {
+export async function publishReply(content: string, replyTo: { id: string; pubkey: string }): Promise<NDKEvent> {
   const instance = getNDK();
   if (!instance.signer) throw new Error("Not logged in");
 
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ export async function publishReply(content: string, replyTo: { id: string; pubke
     ["p", replyTo.pubkey],
   ];
   await event.publish();
+  return event;
 }
 
 export async function publishNote(content: string): Promise<NDKEvent> {