Forget WhatsApp: Bitchat, the app from the creator of Twitter that can be used even without internet, is here.

Jack Dorsey is a technology entrepreneur who founded the social networks Twitter (currently X) and Bluesky, but recently launched a decentralized messaging application called BitChat that aims to be the new rival to WhatsApp.

The platform works via Bluetooth, doesn’t require an internet or cellular data connection , doesn’t require a user account to send or receive messages, and, like Meta’s platform, conversations are encrypted and secure . Additionally, in a post on X, Dorsey describes Bitchat as “a weekend project to learn about Bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store-and-forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things.”

Dorsey's statement therefore suggests that BitChat is a Bluetooth-based peer-to-peer messaging app that doesn't require the internet, servers, or phone numbers. It's also important to mention that it's compatible with iPhone and Mac .

How BitChat Works: This Is How You Send Messages

The app doesn't require a phone number or email address to work, and creating an account isn't mandatory, as is the case with WhatsApp or Telegram.

But how does it work? Users can communicate encryptedly and send ephemeral messages without relying on an internet connection thanks to a decentralized mesh network that transmits messages via Bluetooth. Additionally, the app forms local clusters with users within a 30-meter radius. These clusters are interconnected via bridge nodes, allowing messages to be transmitted across the network and reach devices beyond direct range . Therefore, if a message is sent to a user who is offline, it is temporarily cached and delivered once the recipient reconnects.

On the other hand, messages are encrypted and exist only in the device's memory, so they are deleted when you exit the app . It's also possible to use usernames— like WhatsApp —to alert a recipient when you send them a message in a chat room.

How can I try BitChat?

BitChat can be tested via TestFlight on iOS for iPhone and macOS for Mac , but, according to the specialist publication 9toMac , "the 10,000 available beta spots have sold out." At the moment, it is unknown whether it will be available on the Android operating system, although the app's protocol is designed to be independent.

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