Orbit is an open-source chat application that runs in the browser, built for developers, students and hobbyists who want a free, MIT-licensed messenger they can read and modify. Besides browser use, the project is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, and it appears in the Other Crypto Tools category.
Before you install it, know this: the project has had no code updates since April 7, 2021, and it should be treated as unmaintained. Its latest tagged release is v3.2.0. Windows support appears in the documentation but has not been independently confirmed for this listing. Expect no ongoing bug fixes or security patches, and weigh that before using it for anything private. This page covers setup, safety and practical use so you can decide whether it is worth trying.
What Is Orbit and Where It Fits
Orbit is an open-source chat application designed to run in a web browser, with desktop and extension builds listed alongside it. Its code is released under the MIT license, which means anyone can read it, change it and reuse it under permissive terms.
The project sits in the Other Crypto Tools category, but it is a messaging program rather than a wallet, exchange client or mining utility. That distinction matters. A chat app handles conversations, not funds or keys. When you evaluate Orbit, judge it first as a messenger: how it stores messages, how it connects people, and whether it still receives fixes. The GitHub repository is the best place to look at how it is built.
Who Orbit Is For
Orbit suits a narrow group of readers. Developers who want a small, MIT-licensed codebase to study may find it useful as a reference. Students learning how browser-based messaging is put together can run it on a test machine and trace how the pieces fit. Hobbyists who enjoy experimenting with open-source projects can also learn from reading the repository history.
It is a poor fit for people who need a messenger for daily communication, especially for sensitive or time-critical conversations. The project has had no code updates since April 2021, so bugs reported since then may remain open, and security problems are unlikely to get fixes. Someone who needs reliable, actively supported chat should look at maintained alternatives instead.
Why Maintenance Matters for Chat Software
A chat app is only as safe as its most recent update. Browsers change how they handle storage, scripts and network connections, and operating systems ship security patches that can affect how an app behaves. When a project stops receiving code changes, those shifts go unaddressed, and an app that worked well in 2021 may behave unpredictably today.
The last code update for Orbit is dated April 7, 2021, and the latest tagged release is v3.2.0. A tagged version shows what the maintainers last shipped, not whether the app is still safe. Before installing any unmaintained program, look at the commit history, open issues and the dependency list. A quiet repository is a signal to proceed carefully.
Key features
Runs in Your Browser
Open Source Under MIT
How to install Orbit on Windows
- 1
Get the File from an Official Source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/haadcode/orbit. Skip mirror sites, bundled installers and file-sharing links, since they are common sources of altered software.
- 2
Verify the File
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside the release, or check the signature if one is provided. If the values do not match, delete the file and do not run it.
- 3
Install or Extract the Program
If the release includes a Windows installer or archive, run the installer or extract the files to a dedicated folder. Windows is mentioned in the project documentation, but compatibility has not been independently verified here, so test on a non-critical machine first.
-
Try the Browser Version
If you do not want a desktop install, open the web or extension version in your browser instead. It runs the same codebase, so the same maintenance concerns apply.
How to use Orbit
Orbit is used through its interface once the desktop app or browser version is running. Because the project is unmaintained, keep your first session low-stakes, such as testing with a throwaway account on a secondary machine.
- Launch Orbit from the folder where you installed it, or open the web or extension version in your browser.
- Follow the on-screen setup prompts and pick a display name that does not reveal personal details.
- Start a test conversation and send a message to confirm that the connection works.
- Check that the message appears on a second device or browser window before relying on the app.
- Look through the available settings to understand what data the app keeps on your machine.
- Close the app when you finish, and delete any test data if you do not plan to keep using it.
If something fails, search the GitHub issues list to see whether others have reported the same problem. Do not expect a fix from the maintainers, since the project has had no code updates since 2021.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use
- Released under the MIT license
- Source code is publicly available on GitHub
- Available as a browser or extension version as well as desktop builds
- Useful for studying open-source messaging code
- No code updates since April 7, 2021
- Windows support has not been independently verified
- Unlikely to receive security patches or bug fixes
- Not a good fit for sensitive or daily communication
Is Orbit safe?
Only download Orbit from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/haadcode/orbit. Mirror sites, bundled installers and file-sharing links are common sources of tampered software, so skip them. After downloading, compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published with the release, or verify a signature if one is provided. A mismatch means you should delete the file.
The bigger risk is age. With no code updates since April 2021, Orbit may contain unpatched bugs and may not behave securely on current browsers or Windows builds. Never share seed phrases, wallet keys or passwords through any chat app, and never enter them on a third-party site posing as Orbit. Check the latest version on the official website before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/haadcode/orbit. 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
Orbit is a messaging program, while the similar programs in this catalog work in other corners of crypto software. PSBT Commander is a Rust tool built on BDK for creating partially signed Bitcoin transactions, so it deals with real funds. Dumplings focuses on CoinJoin analysis, and MEV Boost is middleware for Ethereum block building. None of them is a chat app, so comparing them directly mostly shows where Orbit does not fit.
If you want to study how specialized crypto utilities are structured, Dumplings and PSBT Commander are useful references. For everyday messaging, neither Orbit nor those programs should be your primary choice.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v3.2.0
- Last update
- 7 Apr 2021
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/haadcode/orbit
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Orbit is listed as free and released under the MIT license, which permits use, modification and redistribution. Because it is open source, you can inspect the code on GitHub before running it. There is no paid version to consider when you are evaluating it.
Use caution. Orbit has had no code updates since April 2021, so it may contain unpatched issues. Verify any download with its SHA-256 checksum, keep sensitive conversations elsewhere, and treat the app as experimental rather than a dependable daily messenger.
Windows is mentioned in the project documentation, but that support has not been independently verified for this listing. Test it on a non-critical machine first. Because the code has not changed since 2021, compatibility with newer Windows releases is something you should check yourself.
The latest tagged release is v3.2.0. The most recent code update in the repository is dated April 7, 2021, so the version has not changed in several years. Use the GitHub Releases page to see the files attached to that tag.
Yes. The project lists web and extension options alongside its desktop platforms, so you can try the chat without a traditional setup. Browser versions rely on the same unmaintained code, so the same maintenance concerns apply.
No. Orbit is a chat application, even though it appears in the Other Crypto Tools category. It is not a wallet, exchange client or mining program, so it has no role in holding coins.
Verdict
Orbit is a free, MIT-licensed chat application for browsers and desktop, best suited to developers, students and hobbyists who want to study or experiment with open-source messaging. It is not a good choice for everyday or sensitive communication, because the project has had no code updates since April 2021. Use it as a learning tool and keep it away from anything important.