Messaging
SteamChat on your desktop, inside Franz
Use Steam Chat as a desktop app on Mac, Windows, and Linux, with friend messages and notifications, without launching the Steam client, in Franz.
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
Steam Chat is how a lot of players keep in touch with their friends list between sessions, but reaching it usually means firing up the whole Steam client just to read a message. The web version at steamcommunity.com lets you chat without launching the game store, and Franz turns that into a focused service tab in your sidebar, signed in and ready, so messaging your gaming friends does not mean opening Steam and everything that comes with it.
Steam Chat without launching the full client
Franz loads the Steam Chat web experience, so your friends list, group chats, and conversation history are right there without the Steam desktop client running in the background. You sign in once and Steam Chat stays connected, ready for the next message, instead of you launching the store every time you want to say something. Direct messages, group conversations, and your friends list behave exactly as they do in the web version, because it is the web version, wrapped as a desktop tab you can pin next to your other chats rather than buried inside a game launcher.
Friend messages you catch right away
A message from a friend mid-session is easy to miss if it is hidden in a client you are not looking at. Franz gives Steam Chat native desktop notifications with the notification sound, so a new message surfaces immediately instead of waiting silently behind another tab. The unread badge on the Steam Chat service shows how many conversations are waiting at a glance, and because it runs as its own tab it keeps notifying you while you are busy elsewhere.
Steam Chat beside your other conversations
Franz is a native desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux, so Steam Chat works the same wherever you play, with a real dock or taskbar presence and a keyboard shortcut to your other services. Instead of keeping the heavy Steam client open just to stay reachable, you keep Steam Chat beside Discord, Telegram, and the rest of your conversations in a single light window.
Other Messaging services
Frequently asked questions
Which platforms does SteamChat work on in Franz?
Franz runs SteamChat as a native desktop app on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with the same notifications, badges, and fast switching on every operating system.
Can I use multiple SteamChat accounts at once?
Yes. Franz lets you add SteamChat as many times as you need, one tab per account, all signed in at once. Each tab keeps its own session and unread badge, so you never sign out of one to check another.
Is SteamChat in Franz free?
Franz is free to use with SteamChat and every other service. A free account covers the essentials and takes minutes to set up; paid plans add extra features, but running SteamChat in Franz costs nothing to start.