This WhatsApp Rival App Will Work Without Internet

ISLAMABAD: Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, has introduced Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging application that functions entirely via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for internet access, phone numbers, or centralized servers. The app is currently available in beta through Apple’s TestFlight, according to a report by CNBC.

Dorsey announced the project on July 6, describing it as a personal experiment in Bluetooth mesh networking, encryption models, and store-and-forward communication technologies that enable decentralized and secure messaging.

Messaging Without the Internet

Unlike traditional apps such as WhatsApp that rely on cloud infrastructure and user data, Bitchat is designed to offer fully encrypted, temporary communication stored only on user devices. It forms dynamic Bluetooth mesh networks as users move through physical spaces, allowing messages to hop from one device to another, even beyond the standard Bluetooth range.

To cover greater distances, bridge devices can be used, enabling communication across extended areas without requiring Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Privacy-First Features

Messages on Bitchat disappear automatically and are never stored on any central server, reinforcing its privacy-first approach and resistance to censorship. Users can create group chats or “rooms”, which are password-protected and organized using hashtags.

A key feature, store-and-forward, ensures that messages sent to offline users are saved and delivered once they reconnect to the mesh network.

Expansion Plans

Future versions of the app will include support for Wi-Fi Direct, which will increase data transfer speed and extend range without relying on external infrastructure.

Bitchat’s approach mirrors the tools used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests, where decentralized apps helped demonstrators communicate amid internet disruptions and surveillance. It also aligns with Dorsey’s ongoing interest in decentralized platforms, building on his previous involvement with Damus and Bluesky.

Read more: WhatsApp developing ‘Search for Draft Messages’ feature

A Radical Alternative to Big Tech Messaging

By removing reliance on centralized systems and corporate control, Bitchat represents a significant departure from mainstream messaging services like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Its focus on privacy, resilience, and decentralization positions it as a promising tool for users seeking secure and censorship-resistant communication in an increasingly monitored digital world.