What is ZapFast?
Why ZapFast
WhatsApp has no official Linux app. ZapFast is a native WhatsApp client written in Rust with egui. It connects through whatsapp-rust. ZapFast is a single binary with no browser engine, starts in well under a second, and uses a layout similar to WhatsApp Web.
What it does
- Stores your chats. ZapFast links as a companion device and stores messages in one SQLite file. History remains after restart, and older messages are fetched from your phone as you scroll.
- Sends common message types. Send formatted text, replies, edits, reactions, forwards, pictures, files, stickers, GIFs, and recorded voice messages. You can add captions to attachments before sending them.
- Plays media in the chat. Voice messages, GIFs, and animated stickers play in place. The required audio and video decoders are built in.
- Uses consistent names. Choose address-book names or public WhatsApp profile names for chats, mentions, replies, and notifications.
- Runs in the background. Closing the window keeps ZapFast in the system tray. Notifications can show the chat picture and open the chat. Muting a chat also mutes it on your phone.
- Copies message text. Select part of a message or copy across messages with the time, date, and sender included.
What it does not do yet
ZapFast does not currently support:
- Calls, status posts, communities, newsletters, and group administration.
- Playing ordinary videos in the app; they open in your player. Voice messages and GIFs do play in place.
- Replying with an attachment (replying with text or a voice message works).
- Colour emoji on Windows: Segoe UI Emoji is not a bitmap font, so emoji stay monochrome there for now.
When reporting an issue, include what happened, what you expected, and when it happened. This helps match the problem to the log in the state directory.
Account safety
ZapFast is an unofficial client. Using it may be against WhatsApp’s terms of service. It uses WhatsApp’s companion-device protocol, sends normal receipts, and does not automate or send messages in bulk. WhatsApp may still restrict accounts that use unofficial clients. Use an official client if you cannot accept that risk.
Prior art
ZapFast connects through whatsapp-rust, which grew out of the whatsmeow lineage. WhatsApp Web defines the companion-device model. ZapFast is a sibling of Spotifast, a native client for Spotify.
ZapFast is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp LLC or Meta. WhatsApp is a trademark of WhatsApp LLC.