diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index ee76b51..8f2298e 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with co
 
 - **Editable install:** `pip install -e .`
 - **Run the CLI locally:** `python -m coinhunter --help`
-- **Install for end users:** `./scripts/install_local.sh` (standard `pip install -e .` wrapper)
+- **Install for end users:** `pipx install coinhunter` (recommended) or `./scripts/install_local.sh` for local editable install.
 - **Tests:** There is no test suite yet. The README lists next priorities as adding pytest coverage for runtime paths, state manager, and trigger analyzer.
 - **Lint / type-check:** Not configured yet.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2b83f7f..3a3ce56 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -89,8 +89,10 @@ src/coinhunter/
 
 ### From PyPI (recommended)
 
+`coinhunter` is a standalone CLI application. Use [pipx](https://pypa.github.io/pipx/) to install it in an isolated environment:
+
 ```bash
-pip install coinhunter
+pipx install coinhunter
 ```
 
 This installs the latest stable release and creates the `coinhunter` console script entry point.
@@ -102,6 +104,8 @@ coinhunter --help
 coinhunter --version
 ```
 
+> On newer Linux distributions, installing directly into the system Python with `pip install coinhunter` will fail with `externally-managed-environment`. Use `pipx` or a virtual environment instead.
+
 ### Development install (editable)
 
 If you're working on this repo locally: