zapfast: Use WhatsApp in a Native Desktop App

Overview

ZapFast provides a native desktop interface for WhatsApp, built with Rust and egui. It connects to WhatsApp through a linked phone rather than running WhatsApp Web inside a browser engine.

It may suit people who want a dedicated messaging app across Linux, macOS, or Windows, particularly if they prefer a native client to a browser-based one. It is an unofficial WhatsApp client, so users should consider the account and service risks before linking a phone.

Key Features

• Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Uses Rust and egui, with the whatsapp-rust library.
• Links to a phone as a WhatsApp companion device.
• Runs without a browser engine.
• Includes a demo mode with sample chats that does not require a WhatsApp connection.
• Provides installers, AppImages, and archives through its releases, with additional package installation options.
• Supports features such as stickers, polls, shortcuts, reactions, voice messages, and link previews, as described in the project materials.

Use Cases

• WhatsApp users who want a dedicated desktop app instead of keeping the web client open in a browser.
• Linux users looking for a native WhatsApp client, including people who install software through Arch packages or Nix.
• Users on macOS or Windows who want to link their phone to a separate desktop client.
• Contributors who want to explore the interface or make changes using the offline demo mode.

Project Facts

• Language: Rust
• License: MIT
• Stars: 1.5k
• Forks: 151
• Topics: chat, desktop-app, egui, linux, macos, messaging, rust, whatsapp, whatsapp-client, windows
• Archived: No

Getting Started

For macOS, install with Homebrew:

brew install --cask crmne/tap/zapfast

See the README for other installation options and instructions for building from source.

Alternatives

• simplex-chat: SimpleX is an independent end-to-end encrypted messaging network, while ZapFast connects to an existing WhatsApp account as a companion device.

Considerations

• ZapFast is unofficial and is not affiliated with WhatsApp or Meta. The project warns that using an unofficial client may violate WhatsApp's terms and could result in account suspension.
• The client links to a phone as a companion device, so it is not presented as a standalone WhatsApp service.
• The README describes a demo mode, but it uses sample chats and does not connect to WhatsApp.
• The repository lists 104 open issues. This is a point to consider when assessing project maturity, but does not by itself indicate their severity or status.