Bitchat - Anonymous messaging via Bluetooth mesh networks by Dorsey
Chat with people nearby using only Bluetooth - no WiFi, cellular, or internet needed. Messages relay through connected devices up to 300m away. End-to-end encrypted with no accounts or tracking. Built for gatherings, disasters, protests, etc.
Replies
Hey Product Hunters 👋
Excited to hunt Bitchat today! 🤩
Imagine, what if messaging worked even when the internet didn’t?
BitChat is a privacy-first, peer-to-peer messaging app that runs entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks — no servers, no SIM cards, no internet.
Most messaging apps rely on centralized servers, persistent IDs, and account systems. That creates a single point of failure, tracking risks, and makes them unusable in offline or censored environments.
BitChat flips that model. It’s:
Fully decentralized – messages hop device to device, mesh-style
End-to-end encrypted using X25519 + AES-256-GCM
Runs natively on iOS & macOS
Built for zero registration and zero trust environments
Adds fun IRC-style commands for real groupchat nostalgia
And features like emergency wipe, cover traffic, and battery-aware scanning show how serious the team is about privacy & UX.
Use Cases:
Local community chats at protests or festivals
Mesh-based team communication in disaster zones
Group messaging in remote areas without mobile coverage
Students or travelers looking for ultra-private, no-footprint messaging
Who it’s for:
Privacy maximalists, off-grid enthusiasts, protest organizers, hackers, researchers, and anyone building future-proof communication infrastructure.
Open source. Public domain. Protocol-first.
If you're into mesh networking, cryptography, or local-first software, this is worth diving into. The protocol is also Android-ready for those who want to port it.
👉 Try it, fork it, contribute and join the mesh. Here's the GitHub link: https://github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat
@rohanrecommends Cool idea but needs better encryption details for privacy folks.
@masump What exactly would you like to see? :)
Tough Tongue AI
Super cool concept! sounds like the walkie-talkie of future.
@aj_123 Exactly :D
Tried it out at a concert and it worked surprisingly well. No lag, no setup headaches — just straight-up messaging. Definitely see the potential for festivals or emergencies.
@edith_christian Oh wow, good to know you tried :)
Slashit App
I build a chat application using BLE for my bitsflow hardware (BBC micro:bit like hardware) it use BLE advertisement for sending message. I also use esp-now for building same messaging system, it also uses Wi-Fi advertisement for sending message. This is very cool projects but use case is very limited.
@manobbiswas I agree with you on the part where you mentioned the use case is limited.
Jupitrr AI
This is probably going to revolutionize a lot of things. But I am still confused about how would it work in places where you have no one around? Isn't it limited by the proximity? What do you guys think about it?
Btw, great hunt @rohanrecommends
@lakshya_singh It’s limited by proximity, yes! if no one’s around, it won’t work. But in crowded areas, BitChat shines by hopping messages across nearby devices. It’s not a replacement for the internet, but a powerful offline alternative when networks aren’t available.
BestPage.ai
No internet needed?? That's wild—perfect for when the wifi dies at festivals or whatever. Super smart, fr. Big props to Dorsey & team for this one!
@joey_zhu_seopage_ai Right! It is built for gatherings, disasters, protests, etc.
I swear the author of the name knew about sound game BIT-CHAT v.s. BITCH-AT
@je_suis_yaroslav hahaha @jack named it maybe xD
@german_merlo1 Same, I found it interesting + unique hence hunted! :)
Love how this skips the internet entirely, it’s like walkie-talkies got an encrypted PhD.
Curious how stable the message relay is in crowded places like concerts or campuses, does it degrade gracefully?
@rohanrecommends @jack
@shantanusewu Per my understanding, in places like festivals, campuses, or concerts, BitChat won’t crash or lag like internet-based apps. Instead, it adapts to the network density using local devices, ensuring messages eventually get through, even if there's a slight delay. That’s the beauty of peer-to-peer over BLE. :)
Dope Notes
@jack @rohanrecommends Nice, I always thought this was a great idea for airplane travel too.
@jack @tim_holmgren1 Yes, BitChat can work during airplane travel as long as Bluetooth is enabled and others nearby are also on the app. It's ideal for offline, short-range, secure chat in flights or airports.
Linkinize
Offline, anonymous, and encrypted — this is such a powerful concept for real-world use cases like festivals or emergencies. Congrats on the launch 🚀
This is quietly powerful.
In a world obsessed with cloud connections, something local, private like this feel refreshing. Whether it’s emergency zones, or just off-grid moments, having a secure way to communicate nearby without needing signal or credentials is a total win.
3Common
@budb Hey, thanks for pointing that. That's how we discovered the project. When you Google "BitChat" that's what is ranking #1 at our end. Couldn't realise it wasn't the official website.
I hunted it, but I am not the owner of the project or the website.
Could you point us to the right website if there is any?
For now, only the GitHub is linked. :)
It really take me back to the 90s... and also reminds me of our privacy nowadays. CONGRATS and thank you for you work!
reminds me of firechat https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/firechat-chat-without-wifi-signal/
404tomb
great idea!