Ipfs Chat is a free, open-source chat program for people who work in the terminal and want private conversations without a central server. It suits developers, system administrators and privacy-minded users who are comfortable with command-line tools and want to exchange messages and files directly with other participants. Rooms are created and joined much like IRC channels, and the program is available for Windows as a ready-made build or installer.
Messages are authenticated and end-to-end encrypted, and files or folders shared in a chat are encrypted as well. The program runs on the IPFS network, so participants connect peer to peer over the internet or a local network instead of through a signaling or rendezvous server. The latest version is v0.3.0, and the code was last updated in August 2026.
What Is IPFS Pubsub and Why Does It Matter?
Pubsub is a messaging pattern in which senders publish messages to a named topic and subscribers receive everything published to that topic. Nobody needs to run a central broker to route the messages. IPFS includes this capability, which lets applications exchange messages between peers on the same network.
For a chat program, the topic maps naturally onto a room. Everyone who joins a room subscribes to its topic, and each message is published to all of them. This model is why the program can work without a dedicated server. The trade-off is that a room exists only while its members are online and reachable, so messages sent when nobody is connected are not delivered later.
Understanding this model helps set expectations. If you expect a messenger to store history for you, a peer-to-peer tool built on pubsub behaves differently. Plan to save anything important outside the chat, and treat each session as a live conversation.
Who Is Ipfs Chat For?
The program is aimed at people who are comfortable working in a command-line environment. Developers who test peer-to-peer software often want a simple way to message colleagues without setting up a chat server. System administrators on a local network can use it for quick coordination in a room that never leaves the building.
Privacy-minded users form another group. If your priority is encrypted conversation and direct file exchange rather than a polished app with stickers and voice calls, the terminal-based approach may suit you. Small groups who already work in a Linux or WSL environment can share files with their Windows machines without extra tools.
If you need a mobile app, a graphical interface or a large public community, Ipfs Chat is probably not the right choice. It is better understood as a focused utility for specific tasks than as a general-purpose messenger.
How Peers Find Each Other Without a Central Server
Most chat applications rely on a server that keeps track of who is online and helps connections start. Peer-to-peer tools need another way to introduce participants. Ipfs Chat avoids a dedicated signaling or rendezvous server, so the connection process depends on the IPFS network and on the room name that participants share.
Reaching a peer on the other side of a router is a common challenge. Network address translation hides many devices behind a single public address, which can block direct connections. Built-in NAT traversal is designed to help in these situations, though some network setups, such as strict corporate firewalls, may still block direct paths.
The practical consequence is that you should agree on a room name through a separate, trusted channel, such as a phone call or an in-person conversation. Anyone who knows the name can try to join, so treat it with the same care you would give a password.
Key features
Peer-to-peer messaging over IPFS pubsub
Works over internet and LAN
Familiar alias and room workflow
Encrypted messages and files
Efficient use of bandwidth, CPU and disk
Plain terminal interface
Scanning of received files
Automatic updates
Windows file sharing from WSL
How to install Ipfs Chat on Windows
- 1
Get the program from the official source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/SomajitDey/ipfs-chat. Choose the Windows build or installer listed there. Avoid unofficial mirrors and re-uploaded copies, because they may be altered.
- 2
Verify the file
If the release page publishes a SHA-256 checksum, calculate the checksum of your download with a tool such as PowerShell's Get-FileHash and compare the two values. If a signature is offered, check it as well. Do not run a file whose checksum does not match.
- 3
Run the installer or build
Start the installer and follow its prompts, or extract the Windows build to a folder you control. If you plan to use WSL features, install and run the program inside your Linux distribution so that the file-sharing options work as described.
-
Set your alias and open a room
Open a terminal, start the program and enter the nickname you want to use. Then create a new room or join an existing one by name. Share the room name with your contacts through a channel you trust, since the name is what gives other people access.
System requirements
- A terminal window, such as Command Prompt, PowerShell or a WSL shell
- An internet connection or a local network for connecting with other participants
How to use Ipfs Chat
Ipfs Chat works like a simple text chat in your terminal. Once the program is running, the basic flow takes only a few steps, and most of the work happens through typed commands and prompts.
- Start the program from your terminal window.
- Enter an alias, the nickname other participants will see.
- Create a new room, or join one using the room name someone shared with you.
- Type your messages and press Enter to send them to everyone in the room.
- For a private conversation, use the private messaging option to write to one participant without addressing the whole room.
- To share a file or folder, pass its path to the program or drag it into the terminal, keeping in mind the file size limit you have configured.
- Choose a folder for incoming files. Under WSL, you can drag a Windows folder into the command line so received files land where your Windows applications can open them.
- When you finish, leave the room and close the program.
The exact prompts may vary between versions, so read the on-screen hints the first time you run the program. Test with a friend on a non-sensitive topic before using it for important work. This helps you learn how the room workflow feels and how quickly messages arrive on your connection.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code published on GitHub
- Messages and shared files are end-to-end encrypted
- Serverless design with no central chat server to set up
- Works over both internet and local networks, with NAT traversal
- Designed to use bandwidth, CPU and disk space efficiently
- Convenient sharing of Windows files and folders from WSL
- The terminal-only interface has no graphical features
- Relies on go-ipfs and possibly argon2 as external components
- Best suited to users who are comfortable with the command line
- Not a replacement for mainstream messengers with mobile apps and cloud history
Is Ipfs Chat safe?
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the published value before running it. If a signature is offered, verify it as well. Keep your antivirus protection active at all times. The built-in scanning of received files is a helpful extra layer, but it cannot guarantee that every file is safe.
Because the program handles encrypted conversations and files, be careful about what you share in any room. Never paste seed phrases, passwords or private keys into a chat, and be cautious about anyone who asks for them. The project shows recent activity, with its last code update in August 2026, but check the official website for the latest version before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/SomajitDey/ipfs-chat. 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
Ipfs Chat sits between a chat client and a network tool. IPFS Desktop keeps an IPFS node running in the system tray and suits people who want to manage content through a visual interface. Kubo is the reference IPFS node for users who prefer full control from the command line, and it is the kind of component Ipfs Chat depends on.
Peergos focuses on end-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing rather than live conversation. Storj is a decentralized cloud storage network designed for storing and retrieving data at scale. Ipfs Chat is the choice when your main goal is real-time, encrypted conversation in a terminal, with files exchanged inside the chat itself.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.3.0
- Last update
- 30 Aug 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/SomajitDey/ipfs-chat
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Ipfs Chat is free and open source, and its source code is publicly available on GitHub. You can read the code, build the program yourself or install a ready-made Windows build from the official release channels. The price is zero, and there are no paid features listed on the project's pages.
Ipfs Chat encrypts chat messages end to end and encrypts shared files as well. Safety still depends on how you install it and what you share. Download only from the official sources, verify the SHA-256 checksum, keep your antivirus active, and avoid sending passwords or private keys in any conversation.
Yes, Ipfs Chat is listed for Windows and is available as a build or installer. It runs in a terminal window. Its file-sharing features are especially convenient inside WSL, where you can drag Windows files and folders into the command line and save received files to a Windows folder.
No. The program does not depend on a signaling or rendezvous server to connect participants. Peers find each other through the IPFS network and a shared room name. This is one of its main differences from typical chat apps, which keep a central service online to route every conversation.
Yes. You can share files and directories inside a chat, and they are encrypted during transfer. You can set a limit on file size to control how much data moves across the network. Received files are scanned for malicious content and saved to a folder you choose.
It works over both. Participants on the same local network can chat directly, and people on different networks can connect over the internet. Built-in NAT traversal helps connections pass through home and office routers, although strict firewalls can still block some direct connections.
The project is recently active. Its latest version is v0.3.0, and the code was last updated in August 2026. The program also includes auto-update, which helps participants stay on current releases. Check the GitHub repository for the newest changes before you rely on it for important work.
Verdict
Ipfs Chat suits people who want encrypted, serverless chat from a terminal and are comfortable with command-line tools. It is free, open source and recently updated, with encrypted messages and files, support for both internet and local networks, and convenient file sharing from WSL. It is not the right fit for anyone who expects a graphical interface, mobile apps or polished consumer features. Try it in a small room with a trusted friend before relying on it for anything important.