{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "nuanyue": "https://www.nuanyue.com/ns#"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "@id": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/whatsapp-desktop/#software",
  "name": "WhatsApp Desktop",
  "description": "WhatsApp's messaging client for macOS, distributed through the Mac App Store as 'WhatsApp Messenger', free to use and requiring macOS 15.1 or later.",
  "url": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/whatsapp-desktop/",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/whatsapp-desktop/",
  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "WhatsApp Inc.",
    "url": "https://www.whatsapp.com/"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.whatsapp.com/",
    "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=12"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "26.38.74",
  "license": "Proprietary; free to use, published by WhatsApp with no licence text released",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "0",
    "priceCurrency": "USD"
  },
  "nuanyue:record": {
    "schemaVersion": 1,
    "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
    "slug": "whatsapp-desktop",
    "name": "WhatsApp Desktop",
    "type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "entityType": "messaging app",
    "description": "WhatsApp's messaging client for macOS, distributed through the Mac App Store as 'WhatsApp Messenger', free to use and requiring macOS 15.1 or later.",
    "shortDescription": "WhatsApp's messaging client for macOS.",
    "answer": "WhatsApp Desktop is WhatsApp's own client for macOS, and the first thing to know is where it now lives: the listing this catalogue used to point at has been delisted, and the live one is the general WhatsApp Messenger app, which also covers the Mac. It is free, with no paid tier, and it is a native App Store install rather than an Electron wrapper you download from a website. The second thing to know is the floor: the current build declares macOS 15.1, which is one of the highest requirements of any messaging client here and rules out Macs that cannot be upgraded that far.",
    "page": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/whatsapp-desktop/",
    "dataUrl": "https://www.nuanyue.com/data/software/whatsapp-desktop.json",
    "categories": [
      "productivity"
    ],
    "tags": [],
    "platform": [
      "macOS"
    ],
    "minOsVersion": "macOS 15.1",
    "architecture": [],
    "featured": false,
    "pricing": "free",
    "pricingDescription": "Free. The App Store listing shows no price, and WhatsApp charges no subscription for personal messaging.",
    "license": "Proprietary; free to use, published by WhatsApp with no licence text released",
    "currentVersion": "26.38.74",
    "releaseDate": "2026-09-28",
    "openSource": false,
    "website": "https://www.whatsapp.com/",
    "appStore": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=12",
    "developer": {
      "name": "WhatsApp Inc.",
      "website": "https://www.whatsapp.com/"
    },
    "icon": "/apps/whatsapp-desktop.png",
    "features": [
      "Installs from the Mac App Store rather than as a download from the vendor's site",
      "Free to use, with no paid tier or subscription for personal messaging",
      "Ships as the same WhatsApp Messenger listing that covers the company's other platforms",
      "Published by WhatsApp Inc., the entity named on the App Store listing"
    ],
    "useCases": [
      "Reading and replying to WhatsApp messages from a Mac instead of a phone",
      "Typing longer messages on a physical keyboard",
      "Keeping WhatsApp in a desktop window alongside other work"
    ],
    "formats": [],
    "integrations": [],
    "pros": [
      {
        "text": "Free, with no paid tier or subscription for personal messaging.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Installs from the Mac App Store, so it updates alongside the rest of your applications.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The direct-download route is not needed; there is one canonical Mac listing to install.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "cons": [
      {
        "text": "Requires macOS 15.1 or later, one of the highest floors of any messaging client in this catalogue.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Closed source with no public repository, so the client cannot be audited.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The listing the catalogue linked to has been delisted, so any bookmark to the old App Store id is dead.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "whoIsItFor": [
      "Anyone who uses WhatsApp and wants it as a Mac application",
      "Users on macOS 15.1 or later, which the current build requires",
      "People who prefer an App Store install that updates with the rest of their apps"
    ],
    "notFor": [
      "Anyone on macOS 15.0 or earlier — the current build declares macOS 15.1, a high floor for a messaging client",
      "Users who want an open-source client they can audit",
      "People looking for a direct download; the Mac route is the App Store"
    ],
    "limitations": [
      "The App Store listing this entry originally used, id1147396723, has been delisted — it returns no result. The live listing is id310633997, 'WhatsApp Messenger', published by WhatsApp Inc.",
      "The current build declares macOS 15.1 or later, so it will not install on a Mac that cannot be upgraded that far",
      "Closed source, with no public repository and no way to audit the client",
      "WhatsApp publishes little product documentation specific to the Mac client, so feature claims cannot be verified from first-party pages"
    ],
    "firstUse": {
      "installation": {
        "value": "Install the free 'WhatsApp Messenger' listing from the Mac App Store. There is no separate desktop installer for macOS.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "firstLaunch": {
        "value": "It pairs with the phone app rather than creating an independent desktop account, so the mobile client is required to sign in.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "systemIntegration": {
        "value": "Installs as a standalone Mac application alongside any other messaging client; it does not replace or integrate with Messages.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "appleSilicon": {
        "value": null,
        "status": "unknown",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    },
    "updates": [
      {
        "version": "26.38.74",
        "date": "2026-09-28",
        "summary": "Current App Store release, published by WhatsApp Inc. and requiring macOS 15.1 or later.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "question": "Is WhatsApp for Mac free?",
        "answer": "Yes. The App Store listing shows no price, and WhatsApp charges no subscription for personal messaging.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Why does the old App Store link not work?",
        "answer": "Because the listing was delisted. The id this entry originally carried, 1147396723, returns no result from Apple's lookup API. The live Mac listing is id310633997, 'WhatsApp Messenger', published by WhatsApp Inc.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Which macOS version does WhatsApp need?",
        "answer": "The current build declares macOS 15.1 or later. That is a high floor, so check your Mac can reach it before expecting the install to work.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Is there a direct download for Mac?",
        "answer": "Not through this catalogue's links. The Mac route is the App Store listing, so any 'download for Mac' link elsewhere should be treated with suspicion.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Is WhatsApp open source?",
        "answer": "No. It is proprietary software published by WhatsApp Inc., with no public repository for the client.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Does WhatsApp for Mac run on Apple Silicon?",
        "answer": "Not stated. The App Store listing publishes a minimum macOS version but says nothing about architecture, so Nuanyue records it as unknown rather than assuming.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "relationships": [
      {
        "target": "telegram",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both are messaging clients with a native macOS app, but Telegram supports macOS back to 10.13 where WhatsApp's current build requires 15.1.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "signal-desktop",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both are desktop messaging clients for macOS, but Signal is end-to-end encrypted and open source where WhatsApp is proprietary.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "wechat",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both are messaging clients for macOS run by large internet companies and closed source, but WeChat offers a direct universal installer where WhatsApp is App Store only.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "id": "whatsapp-desktop:app-store",
        "type": "app_store",
        "url": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=12",
        "title": "WhatsApp Desktop on the Mac App Store",
        "trustLevel": "A",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "whatsapp-desktop:official",
        "type": "official_website",
        "url": "https://www.whatsapp.com/",
        "title": "WhatsApp Desktop — official website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "whatsapp-desktop:developer",
        "type": "developer",
        "url": "https://www.whatsapp.com/",
        "title": "WhatsApp Inc. — developer website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.isA",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "isA",
        "value": "messaging app",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.supportsPlatform",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "supportsPlatform",
        "value": [
          "macOS"
        ],
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.officialWebsite",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "officialWebsite",
        "value": "https://www.whatsapp.com/",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.listedInCategory",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "listedInCategory",
        "value": [
          "productivity"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.pricingModel",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "pricingModel",
        "value": "Free",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store",
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.developedBy",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "developedBy",
        "value": "WhatsApp Inc.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:developer",
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.ownership",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "ownership",
        "value": "Third-party product — not published by Nuanyue",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.licensedUnder",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "licensedUnder",
        "value": "Proprietary; free to use, published by WhatsApp with no licence text released",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.currentVersion",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "currentVersion",
        "value": "26.38.74",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store",
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.hasFeature",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "hasFeature",
        "value": [
          "Installs from the Mac App Store rather than as a download from the vendor's site",
          "Free to use, with no paid tier or subscription for personal messaging",
          "Ships as the same WhatsApp Messenger listing that covers the company's other platforms",
          "Published by WhatsApp Inc., the entity named on the App Store listing"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.usedFor",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "usedFor",
        "value": [
          "Reading and replying to WhatsApp messages from a Mac instead of a phone",
          "Typing longer messages on a physical keyboard",
          "Keeping WhatsApp in a desktop window alongside other work"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.audienceFor",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "audienceFor",
        "value": [
          "Anyone who uses WhatsApp and wants it as a Mac application",
          "Users on macOS 15.1 or later, which the current build requires",
          "People who prefer an App Store install that updates with the rest of their apps"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.audienceNotFor",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "audienceNotFor",
        "value": [
          "Anyone on macOS 15.0 or earlier — the current build declares macOS 15.1, a high floor for a messaging client",
          "Users who want an open-source client they can audit",
          "People looking for a direct download; the Mac route is the App Store"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.limitation",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "limitation",
        "value": [
          "The App Store listing this entry originally used, id1147396723, has been delisted — it returns no result. The live listing is id310633997, 'WhatsApp Messenger', published by WhatsApp Inc.",
          "The current build declares macOS 15.1 or later, so it will not install on a Mac that cannot be upgraded that far",
          "Closed source, with no public repository and no way to audit the client",
          "WhatsApp publishes little product documentation specific to the Mac client, so feature claims cannot be verified from first-party pages"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.advantage.0",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Free, with no paid tier or subscription for personal messaging.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.advantage.1",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Installs from the Mac App Store, so it updates alongside the rest of your applications.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.advantage.2",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "The direct-download route is not needed; there is one canonical Mac listing to install.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.drawback.0",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Requires macOS 15.1 or later, one of the highest floors of any messaging client in this catalogue.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.drawback.1",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Closed source with no public repository, so the client cannot be audited.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:whatsapp-desktop.drawback.2",
        "subject": "software:whatsapp-desktop",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "The listing the catalogue linked to has been delisted, so any bookmark to the old App Store id is dead.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "whatsapp-desktop:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      }
    ],
    "lastUpdated": "2026-10-07T00:00:00.000Z",
    "lastReviewedAt": null
  }
}