Goop for Windows is a free, open source chat client built for Nostr, a decentralized social protocol. It suits people who already use Nostr and want private conversations in a desktop app instead of a browser tab. The project describes itself as a native NIP-17 client, so private direct messages sit at the center of the design.
Goop also fits a category that can confuse newcomers. The catalog places it under nodes and blockchain clients, but it does not run a node or handle coins. It is a messaging app that talks to the Nostr network. The latest version is v2.15.2, and the most recent code update is dated October 20, 2026. Windows is among the listed platforms, alongside macOS and Linux.
What Is Goop and How Nostr Messaging Works
Nostr is an open protocol where messages travel through independent servers called relays instead of one company's platform. Each user holds a cryptographic key pair, and that key is what identifies them across apps. A Nostr client such as Goop is the front end you read and write through. It connects to relays, fetches events and displays them as conversations.
Goop's core job is private messaging. Its design follows NIP-17, a Nostr standard for private direct messages, so chats are meant to stay between the people in them rather than appear as public posts. The app also supports encrypted draft sync through NIP-37, which keeps unsent messages available when you come back to them.
For people coming from mainstream messengers, the mental model takes a little adjusting. No single server owns your account. Your identity and message history depend on the keys you control and the relays you choose. Goop handles the interface, while the protocol handles transport and identity.
Who Goop Is For
Goop fits three kinds of users. The first is an existing Nostr user who wants a proper desktop app for private chats, search and organization. The second is someone who cares about privacy and wants encrypted direct and group conversations as the default. The third is a power user who manages many threads at once and prefers a keyboard-driven layout with tabs and resizable sidebars.
The project's own description playfully mentions chatting with 'clankers', a nod to automated agents. That makes Goop a sensible choice for people who exchange messages with bots or AI tools on Nostr as well as with friends.
Goop is less suited to people who want a single messenger for everything. It is built for desktop platforms only, so it does not replace a phone app, and it works within the Nostr ecosystem rather than as a general-purpose chat service.
Practical Scenarios for a Nostr Desktop Chat
Consider a freelancer who works with several clients on Nostr. Each project can live in its own group chat, with the active threads pinned at the top and finished conversations archived. The date-grouped list makes it easy to see what happened this week without digging through old messages.
Next, imagine a researcher who remembers a link shared in a group discussion three months ago. Searching message contents and conversations makes the link quick to recover, rather than forcing a scroll through the whole thread.
A writer drafting a long note can use the Note to self space to collect ideas, then rely on encrypted draft sync to pick up the work later. Someone who prefers speaking to typing can dictate replies with local voice dictation, which supports 25 languages and suits short bursts of communication during a busy day.
Key Terms to Know Before You Start
A Nostr identity is built on a key pair. The public key can be shared so others can find and message you. The private key proves that you control the identity and must stay secret. Anyone who has your private key can act as you, so treat it with the same care as a password you would never share.
Relays are the servers that store and pass along Nostr events. Because there are many relays, a message may be visible through the relays you and your contacts use, not through a single central host. Choosing reliable relays affects how fast conversations load and how well your history stays available.
NIP stands for Nostr Implementation Possibilities. Each NIP is a written specification that defines a feature, so NIP-17 covers private direct messages and NIP-37 covers encrypted draft sync. When you see these numbers in documentation, they describe how a client is expected to behave with other Nostr software.
Key features
Encrypted direct and group chats
Search across chats, messages and profiles
Local voice dictation in 25 languages
Archive, pin and date-grouped conversations
Keyboard-friendly interface
Supported coins
Goop works on the Nostr network, which is the only network named in the project's documentation. It is a messaging client rather than a wallet, a node or a trading tool, so its functions center on conversations, search, drafts and organization rather than on coins or transactions.
How to install Goop on Windows
- 1
Open the official source
Go to https://goop.dergigi.com/ or the Releases page at https://github.com/dergigi/goop. Download only from the official website or GitHub, and avoid mirrors or links shared in chats. The current release is v2.15.2.
- 2
Find the Windows build
Open the latest release and look for the Windows installer. Windows is among the listed platforms, but builds can change between releases, so confirm that a Windows file is present for v2.15.2 before downloading. Note any published SHA-256 checksum or signature next to the file.
- 3
Verify the file
In PowerShell, run Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 followed by the path to the downloaded installer. Compare the output with the checksum on the release page. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source. If a signature is published instead, check it according to the project's instructions.
-
Install and launch
Run the installer and follow the prompts, then start Goop from the Start menu. On first launch, connect your existing Nostr identity so your conversations and contacts can load. Keep your private key out of screenshots and chat messages.
How to use Goop
Goop is designed to feel familiar to anyone who has used a desktop messenger, while still exposing Nostr-specific features. Once the app is installed and your Nostr identity is connected, the basic workflow takes only a few minutes to learn.
- Open the app and check that your conversations are loading from your relays.
- Start a new direct chat or open an existing one, and send a short test message to confirm that delivery works.
- Create a group chat for a project or small circle, then add participants you already know.
- Use the search field to look for a word, a conversation title or a profile name, and note how results appear.
- Pin the threads you check every day and archive the ones you no longer need, so the main list stays readable.
- Open a Note to self entry to save drafts or reminders, then return later to confirm that the draft is still there after restarting the app.
- Try voice dictation on a longer reply, and review the text before you send it.
- Use tabs and resizable sidebars to arrange your workspace, then restart the app to see whether the layout persists.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so the code can be inspected by anyone
- Encrypted direct and group chats built on NIP-17
- Search covers conversations, message contents and profiles
- Local voice dictation in 25 languages using Parakeet v3
- Archive, pin and date-grouped views keep busy inboxes manageable
- Keyboard-friendly interface with tabs and resizable sidebars
- Recent code update dated October 20, 2026
- Built for Nostr, so it is useless without a Nostr identity
- Desktop platforms only, with no phone app listed
- Windows availability should be confirmed on the releases page for each version
- Not a wallet, node or coin tool, which may disappoint users who expected one
Is Goop safe?
Goop is open source, which lets security-minded users review the code on GitHub. Download the installer only from https://goop.dergigi.com/ or the Releases page at https://github.com/dergigi/goop. Verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file, because a modified installer is the most common way desktop software gets compromised. Never paste your Nostr private key or any recovery phrase into a third-party website, browser extension or chat that claims to offer support. For the most current build, check the latest version on the official website before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/dergigi/goop. 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
Goop belongs to the Nostr chat category, which makes it different from most programs in the catalog. Native apps and CLI tools offer a command-line client for scripts and agents, so they suit automation more than daily conversation. Bija is a desktop client written in Python, but it currently runs on Linux only, while Goop lists Windows among its platforms. Bitcoin Core, Geth, Aptos, TON and Nethermind are node or blockchain clients that maintain a network connection and often need significant storage. Goop does none of that. If you want to read and send private messages on Nostr from a Windows desktop, Goop is the more relevant choice. If you want to run infrastructure, look at the node software instead.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v2.15.2
- Last update
- 20 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/dergigi/goop
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Goop is listed as free and open source. You can download it from the official website or the GitHub Releases page without paying for the app itself. Costs you may encounter are unrelated to the software, such as your own internet connection or any paid services you choose to use alongside it.
Windows is among the platforms the project lists, alongside macOS and Linux. Because builds can change between releases, check the Releases page for a Windows installer that matches the current version, v2.15.2, before you download. If a Windows build is present, install it like any other desktop program.
Goop is open source, so its code can be reviewed publicly. Safety depends on where you download the file and whether you verify it. Get the installer from the official website or GitHub, check the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and never enter your private key on a third-party site.
NIP-17 is a Nostr specification for private direct messages. Goop is described as a native NIP-17 client, so its messaging is designed around that standard. In practice, this means chats are intended to remain private between participants rather than appear as public Nostr posts.
No. The network named in the project's documentation is Nostr, and Goop is a messaging client rather than a wallet or coin tool. If you need to manage coins, use a dedicated wallet, and treat Goop as a separate app for conversations.
Yes, in practice you need a Nostr identity to take part in conversations. Goop connects to the Nostr network through your key pair, so the app is most useful if you already have an identity or are ready to create one. Keep the private key secret and back it up somewhere safe.
Goop focuses on private direct and group chats, search, archiving and a keyboard-friendly desktop layout. Its feature set emphasizes organizing a busy inbox and dictating messages locally. Other Nostr clients may focus on public feeds or different interfaces, so compare features against your daily habits before switching.
Verdict
Goop for Windows suits people who already use Nostr and want a serious desktop app for private conversations. Its encrypted direct and group chats, search, archiving and keyboard-friendly layout make it practical for busy users. It is not a wallet, a node or a general-purpose messenger, and it works only on desktop. If your goal is coins or infrastructure, look elsewhere. If your goal is private, organized Nostr conversations on Windows, Goop is worth trying.