Ergowallet Desktop is a free, open-source, non-custodial wallet for Windows, macOS and Linux, made for people who hold Ergo (ERG) and want full control of their coins. It suits anyone who prefers a desktop app to a browser or an exchange account, and it is a good fit for readers who want to see the code behind the software. Because it is non-custodial, your keys stay with you rather than with a company that holds funds on your behalf.
Before you install, note the status: the latest release is v0.2.0-beta, and the last code update was on October 3, 2023. That is more than two years ago, so the project may not be actively maintained. Software that has not seen code changes for a while can still run, but bug fixes and compatibility updates may be missing. Treat it as experimental, keep balances small while you test, and read the safety section before you go further.
What Is Ergo Platform and Why Use a Desktop Wallet?
Ergo Platform is a blockchain network, and ERG is its native coin. Like most blockchains, it records transfers between addresses, and anyone holding ERG needs a way to sign transactions. A wallet provides that function: it stores the keys that prove ownership and builds transactions for the network.
Wallets generally come in a few forms. Browser versions are convenient but depend on the site or extension staying trustworthy. Mobile apps are handy for daily use. A desktop wallet installs on your computer, so signing happens on a machine you control, and you can keep it on a dedicated device if you want more separation from everyday browsing.
The key idea is who holds the keys. In a custodial service, the provider controls the coins for you. In a non-custodial wallet like Ergowallet Desktop, you hold the keys yourself, which gives you control but also full responsibility for backups.
Who Is Ergowallet Desktop For?
This wallet fits a few situations better than others. The first is a holder who moves ERG off an exchange because they want to control their own keys. After a withdrawal to a self-custody address, they can check balances and send payments without depending on a platform's account system.
The second is a developer or technically minded user. Because the code is open source and built with JavaScript, TypeScript and Electron, it can serve as a reference for how a desktop wallet handles keys and network calls. Reading code is different from auditing it, though, so treat your review as a learning exercise unless you have security expertise.
The third is a cautious tester. People who want to try a self-custody workflow can start with a small amount of ERG, learn how addresses, transactions and backups work, and only then decide whether to move larger balances. Anyone who needs many coins in one place will be better served by the multi-asset options covered in the alternatives section.
Key Terms: Seed Phrases, Private Keys and Addresses
Three terms come up on almost every wallet page. A private key is a secret value that authorizes spending from an address. An address is the public identifier you share so others can send you ERG. A seed phrase, sometimes called a recovery phrase, is a list of words from which the wallet can derive your keys. Anyone who has the seed phrase can rebuild your wallet on another device.
That is why backups matter more than the installation itself. Write the seed phrase on paper, store it somewhere safe and offline, and avoid photographing it or saving it in a cloud note. If you restore on a new computer, the seed phrase brings back your addresses and balances, provided you use the same network.
You will also see the term hot wallet, which means a wallet connected to the internet on a device you use daily. A desktop wallet is generally a hot wallet. Keeping only the amount you plan to spend in it is a common way to limit exposure if the computer is compromised.
Key features
Non-Custodial Control
Built for Ergo (ERG)
Open Source Codebase
Supported coins
Ergowallet Desktop is built around Ergo (ERG), the native coin of the Ergo Platform blockchain. It is a single-network wallet, so it does not handle a broad mix of tokens from other chains. If you hold assets on other networks, you will need a separate wallet for each one.
How to install Ergowallet Desktop on Windows
- 1
Download the Windows build
Open the project's GitHub repository at github.com/ergowallet/ergowallet-desktop and go to the Releases page. Download the Windows build or installer from the release you want. Download only from the official source: the project's GitHub Releases page.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If the release includes a signature, check that as well. If the checksum does not match, delete the file, download it again from the same page, and do not run it.
-
Install and launch
Run the installer and follow the prompts, or extract the Windows build and start the app from its folder. Launch the wallet, then create a new wallet or restore an existing one with your seed phrase. Write any new seed phrase on paper before you deposit ERG.
How to use Ergowallet Desktop
Ergowallet Desktop works like most desktop wallets: you create or restore a wallet, then send and receive ERG. Start with a small test amount so you can confirm the workflow before moving larger balances.
- Open the app and create a new wallet, or restore an existing one using your seed phrase.
- Write the seed phrase on paper, store it offline, and confirm it is complete before you continue.
- Copy your ERG receiving address from the wallet and send a small test amount to it from an exchange or another wallet.
- Wait for the transaction to confirm and check the balance in the app.
- To send ERG, enter the recipient address carefully, set the amount, review the fee shown, and confirm.
- Keep a record of each address you use so you can match incoming and outgoing payments later.
Repeat the test with a second small transfer before you trust the wallet with larger amounts.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code publicly available on GitHub
- Non-custodial: you control your own ERG keys
- Focused on Ergo (ERG), with a simple single-network scope
- Available for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Built with widely used web technologies
- The latest release is a beta (v0.2.0-beta)
- The last code update was October 3, 2023, so ongoing maintenance is uncertain
- Supports only Ergo (ERG), not a multi-coin wallet
- Self-custody means you carry full responsibility for backups
Is Ergowallet Desktop safe?
Start with the source. Download the Windows build only from the project's GitHub Releases page, not from mirrors or links shared in chat. Verify the SHA-256 checksum against the published value, and check the signature if one is provided. A mismatch is a reason to stop.
Never type your seed phrase into a website, app or chat that asks for it. Legitimate wallet software asks you to write the phrase down, not to submit it anywhere. Also remember that the last code update was in October 2023 and the release is beta, so it may have received less testing than a mature product. Check the releases page for the latest version before you install, and keep test balances small.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ergowallet/ergowallet-desktop. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Ergowallet Desktop sits in a narrow niche. Satergo is also a desktop wallet for Ergo, and it runs with a built-in node, so it is the most direct alternative if you want Ergo-only software with a different setup. Coinomi and Atomic Wallet cover much larger catalogs, with more than 1,700 and more than 500 coins respectively, which suits people with mixed holdings. Exodus adds a built-in exchange across many assets on desktop. Electron Cash focuses on Bitcoin Cash, and Trust Wallet on a PC runs as a browser extension. Rosetta API for Ergo is an integration standard for developers rather than a personal wallet.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.2.0-beta
- Last update
- 3 Oct 2023
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/ergowallet/ergowallet-desktop
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Ergowallet Desktop is free to download and use, and it is released as open-source software with its code on GitHub. There is no purchase price, but you pay the normal Ergo network transaction fees when you send ERG.
Yes. A Windows build or installer is published on the project's GitHub Releases page, alongside builds for macOS and Linux. Download the file, verify its checksum, and then install it as described on this page.
It can be used with reasonable care, but it is beta software and its last code update was in October 2023. Use the GitHub Releases page, verify the SHA-256 checksum, never enter your seed phrase on third-party sites, and test with small amounts before trusting it with more.
Ergowallet Desktop is built for Ergo (ERG), the native coin of the Ergo Platform blockchain. It is not a multi-coin wallet, so other assets need separate software or a separate wallet for their own network.
No. It is non-custodial, which means the keys controlling your ERG are held on your device rather than by the developer or a service provider. The benefit is control, and the responsibility is backing up your seed phrase, because no one can recover it for you if it is lost.
Both are desktop wallets for Ergo. Satergo runs with a built-in node, which is its main architectural difference. Ergowallet Desktop is open source and free, with its code on GitHub. Try each with a small amount before choosing one for regular use.
The latest release is v0.2.0-beta, and the last code update was on October 3, 2023. That is more than two years ago, so ongoing maintenance is uncertain. Look at the GitHub repository for recent activity before relying on it for regular use.
Verdict
Ergowallet Desktop is a free, open-source, non-custodial wallet for Ergo (ERG) on Windows, macOS and Linux. It suits holders who want a simple, single-network desktop wallet and are comfortable with beta software. Because the last code update was in October 2023, it is better treated as a tool for small balances and learning than as long-term storage for significant funds. If you need multiple coins, Coinomi, Exodus or Atomic Wallet are more practical. If you want an Ergo-only desktop wallet, compare it with Satergo first.