Our verdict: Ferdium is a free, open-source way to keep all your chat and mail web apps in one window instead of a dozen browser tabs. Every paid feature of the apps it was forked from is free here. Each service is still a web page, so memory use grows with every service you add.
About Ferdium
Ferdium is a community fork of Ferdi, which itself was based on Franz. It wraps the web versions of messaging and productivity services in tabs inside one desktop app, with a combined notification badge for each one.
You can group services into workspaces, run several accounts of the same service, and use Ferdium without an account or with an optional account to sync your setup. The project is published under the Apache License 2.0 and has no paid tier.
What it does well
- Many services. Recipes for WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, Discord, Gmail, Outlook and more.
- Multiple accounts. Add the same service several times with different logins.
- Workspaces. Group services, for example work and personal.
- Do Not Disturb. Mute notifications from all services at once.
- Optional sync. Use it locally or sign in to sync services between computers.
Who it is for
Good fit
People who juggle several messengers and mail accounts and want them in one window.
Look elsewhere
Users with low-RAM PCs or those who want the native desktop apps' full features.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source
- No paid tier or limits on services
- Multiple accounts per service
- Workspaces
Cons
- Uses a lot of RAM with many services open
- Some services lack features of their native desktop apps
How to install Ferdium
Install the x64 setup. On first start you can use Ferdium without an account or sign in to a Ferdium server to sync your services. Add services from the list and sign in to each one as you would in a browser.
Questions about Ferdium
Is Ferdium free?
Yes. Ferdium is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and has no paid version.
Do I need an account for Ferdium?
No. You can use it without an account. An account only syncs your services between computers.
What is the difference between Ferdium and Franz?
Ferdium is a community fork of Ferdi, which was based on Franz. It is fully free, while Franz limits features in its free version.
