WeChat comes to the desktop with the launch of a native Mac client; Windows is likely to be next

There’s now an additional way for users of popular messaging service WeChat to communicate — via a newly-launched native desktop Mac client. Announced on its official Weibo account, the WeChat Mac client is available in both English and Chinese and brings the WeChat interface into a setting optimized for the Mac desktop. You need to have Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) or above to install the client.

A Web version of WeChat has already been available for users to chat on their PCs — all you have to do is scan a QR code to sync your mobile version to the browser — but this is the first time a native desktop client has been introduced. Other than providing more options for users and making it easier to chat across platforms, WeChat’s move brings it closer in line with its fierce rival, Japanese messaging app Line, which already has desktop clients for both Mac and Windows users.

Windows users of WeChat have to wait for their turn though — despite the company declining to comment on its future plans, a WeChat Windows client is expected to land at some point in the future.