Delta Chat is a reliable, decentralized and secure messaging app, available for mobile and desktop platforms.
Delta Chat feels like Whatsapp or Telegram but you can also use and regard it as an e-mail app. You can signup anonymously to a variety of interoperable chatmail servers which are minimal e-mail servers optimized for fast and secure operations. Or you may use classic e-mail servers and an existing e-mail account in which case Delta Chat acts as an e-mail app.
Publisher’s description
What is DeltaChat?
DeltaChat by DeltaChat Developers is open-source Windows software in the chat & messaging category. It is written in TypeScript. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 141.5 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.62.0, released on September 27, 2026. The version history goes back to March 21, 2025: 17 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 11 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (deltachat/deltachat-desktop) has 1,627 stars. On Windows it registers 1 file type, including .xdc. Similar programs include Signal, Telegram Desktop and Discord.
Project description on GitHub: “Decentralized private messenger with chat-shared tools and games for Desktop”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 11 a year)
- Also runs on Linux
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: DeltaChat is an open-source chat & messaging tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Key features
- 🌐 Anonymous. Instant onboarding without a phone number, e-mail or other private data.
- 📱 Flexible. Supports multiple chat profiles and is easy to setup on multiple devices.
- 🧩 Extensible. Add tools like shopping lists, calendars or gaming apps to any chat.
- 🌧️ Reliable. Works under bad and adversarial network conditions.
- 🛡️ Secure. Audited End-to-End encryption safe against network and server attacks.
- 🏠 Sovereign. Can be run with your own e-mail address or server.
- 📜 FOSS. Fully Open Source/Free Software, built on Internet Standards.
AppStream · Flathub
Is DeltaChat safe to download?
- The file is served by download.delta.chat, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
4A473FFC92CE58D8192B755B4533C04EB8910D82752CAE550DE1A09D5B956810· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the deltachat/deltachat-desktop repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- Security policy10
- Licence declared10
- Restricted token permissions9
- Static code analysis9
- Code review7
- No binaries in the repository4
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Pinned dependencies0
- Fuzzing0
- Signed releases0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 17 versions ›17 versions over 2 years · about 11 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.62.0Latest | September 27, 2026 | 141.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.59.1 | August 23, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.59.0 | August 15, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.57.0 | July 26, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.56.0 | July 25, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.53.0 | June 22, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.52.0 | June 9, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.51.0 | June 4, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id DeltaChat.DeltaChat -escoop install extras/deltachatDeltaChat-2.62.0-Setup.x64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask deltachatflatpak install flathub chat.delta.desktopInformation
- Publisher
- DeltaChat Developers
- Category
- Chat & messaging
- Licence
- GPL-3.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/deltachat/deltachat-desktop
- Written in
- TypeScript
- Content rating
- 15+
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- Linux
- Version
- 2.62.0
- Released
- September 27, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 22, 2025
- Versions listed
- 17
- Updates / year
- 11.2
- GitHub stars
- 1,627
- GitHub forks
- 251
- Website
- delta.chat
- winget ID
- DeltaChat.DeltaChat
- Scoop package
- extras/deltachat
File types it opens (1)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DeltaChat free?
Yes. DeltaChat is open-source software under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.
Is DeltaChat safe to download?
The download comes from download.delta.chat, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install DeltaChat with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can DeltaChat be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does DeltaChat run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of DeltaChat?
The versions page lists all 17 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 21, 2025.
Can I use DeltaChat without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to DeltaChat?
Signal, Telegram Desktop, Discord, Slack and Viber. The alternatives page compares them.
