{"name":"zapfast: Use WhatsApp in a Native Desktop App","description":"ZapFast is a Rust desktop client for WhatsApp on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It links to a phone as a companion device and avoids a browser engine, making it an option for people who want a lighter desktop messaging app.","github":"https://github.com/crmne/zapfast","url":"https://osrepos.com/repo/crmne-zapfast","source":"osrepos.com","sourceDescription":"This repository profile is provided by osrepos.com, an open source repository discovery platform.","repositoryProfile":"https://osrepos.com/repo/crmne-zapfast","generatedFor":"open source discovery and AI-assisted research","markdown":"https://osrepos.com/repo/crmne-zapfast.md","json":"https://osrepos.com/repo/crmne-zapfast.json","topics":["rust","desktop-app","cross-platform","whatsapp-client","messaging"],"keywords":["rust","desktop-app","cross-platform","whatsapp-client","messaging"],"stars":null,"summary":"ZapFast is a Rust desktop client for WhatsApp on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It links to a phone as a companion device and avoids a browser engine, making it an option for people who want a lighter desktop messaging app.","content":"## Overview\n\nZapFast 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.\n\nIt 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.\n\n## Key Features\n\n- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.\n- Uses Rust and egui, with the `whatsapp-rust` library.\n- Links to a phone as a WhatsApp companion device.\n- Runs without a browser engine.\n- Includes a demo mode with sample chats that does not require a WhatsApp connection.\n- Provides installers, AppImages, and archives through its releases, with additional package installation options.\n- Supports features such as stickers, polls, shortcuts, reactions, voice messages, and link previews, as described in the project materials.\n\n## Use Cases\n\n- WhatsApp users who want a dedicated desktop app instead of keeping the web client open in a browser.\n- Linux users looking for a native WhatsApp client, including people who install software through Arch packages or Nix.\n- Users on macOS or Windows who want to link their phone to a separate desktop client.\n- Contributors who want to explore the interface or make changes using the offline demo mode.\n\n## Project Facts\n\n- Language: Rust\n- License: MIT\n- Stars: 1.5k\n- Forks: 151\n- Topics: chat, desktop-app, egui, linux, macos, messaging, rust, whatsapp, whatsapp-client, windows\n- Archived: No\n\n## Getting Started\n\nFor macOS, install with Homebrew:\n\n```sh\nbrew install --cask crmne/tap/zapfast\n```\n\nSee the [README](https://github.com/crmne/zapfast) for other installation options and instructions for building from source.\n\n## Alternatives\n\n- [simplex-chat](https://osrepos.com/repo/simplex-chat-simplex-chat): SimpleX is an independent end-to-end encrypted messaging network, while ZapFast connects to an existing WhatsApp account as a companion device.\n\n## Considerations\n\n- 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.\n- The client links to a phone as a companion device, so it is not presented as a standalone WhatsApp service.\n- The README describes a demo mode, but it uses sample chats and does not connect to WhatsApp.\n- 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.","metrics":{"detailViews":10,"githubClicks":3},"dates":{"published":null,"modified":"2026-10-05T08:44:18.000Z"}}