Berty

Free plan AndroidiPhone

What Berty is

Berty is a free messaging app built on the Wesh Network protocol, available for Android and iOS with a desktop app listed. It uses a distributed peer-to-peer network and says user data is kept off servers and cloud storage. Messages and files are end-to-end encrypted by default. Bluetooth Low Energy can support messaging without internet access or cell coverage. Contacts can be added through a QR code, public key, or invite link, and registration does not require an email address or phone number. Berty Technologies is a Paris-based non-profit, and the project describes the app as an early version under active development. Its intended audience includes higher-risk groups such as journalists, activists, lawyers, and whistleblowers. Important boundaries remain: Berty says it cannot currently hide users’ IP addresses, and its protocol has not been independently audited. Voice and video calls, disappearing messages, and encrypted backups are not available. File sharing and calls are described as future possibilities rather than short-term roadmap items. The plan is free forever and open source.

Who it suits

Berty suits users seeking peer-to-peer, encrypted messaging without phone or email registration. It is designed with journalists, activists, lawyers, and whistleblowers in mind, but remains an early version.

What it does well

Free forever and open source
End-to-end encryption enabled by default
Bluetooth messaging can work offline
No email or phone registration required
Peer-to-peer network without cloud storage

What to know first

IP addresses are not hidden
Protocol has no independent audit
No voice or video calls
No disappearing messages or encrypted backups

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Berty Messenger	Free forever · open-source	Free

As berty.tech lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Berty focuses on private, decentralized messaging and offline reach without requiring conventional account details. Its early development status and stated security and feature limitations are important for sensitive communications.

Facts from Berty's own pages

Contact sharing: Users can add contacts through a QR code, public key, or invite link. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Development status: The FAQ describes the app as under active development and says an early version is available. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Encryption: Messages and files are end-to-end encrypted by default, according to the FAQ. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Founded: 2018 · berty.tech, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Paris, France · berty.tech, 28 Sept 2026
Identity: The FAQ says registration does not require an email address or phone number. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Intended users: Berty says it designed the messenger with higher-risk groups such as journalists, activists, lawyers, and whistleblowers in mind. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Maker: Berty Technologies describes itself as a non-profit organization based in Paris, France. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Notable limits: The FAQ says file sharing and voice and video chat are planned for the future, but are not on the short-term roadmap. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Offline messaging: Berty says Bluetooth Low Energy can support messaging without internet access or cell coverage. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Peer-to-peer: The app uses a distributed peer-to-peer network and says it has no servers or cloud storage for user data. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Product: Berty is a privacy-first messaging app built on the Wesh Network protocol. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Security audit: Berty says its protocol has not yet been independently audited. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Security limitation: The FAQ states that Berty has no mechanism in place to hide users’ IP addresses at present. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026
Support and access: The contact page offers an application for preview access and links to the Berty Discord community. · berty.tech, 7 Oct 2026

Where Berty stands on Freedom251

Encrypted Messaging Apps#10 of 43