Keet

Keet is a free peer-to-peer app for messaging, voice and video calls, and direct file transfers on phones and computers. It suits people who want account-light communication with end-to-end encryption and uncompressed sharing, while its peer-to-peer design demands careful consideration of network privacy.

Its strongest case is private, server-independent communication across a broad set of desktop and mobile platforms. The trade-off is that other members of a group may be able to discover your IP address with network-monitoring tools.

Overview

Keet exchanges chats, calls, and files directly between participants, with end-to-end encryption enabled by default. You can create an identity without a phone number or email, and Keet says it does not retain personal information tied to that account. A 24-word recovery phrase is the identity for restoring your profile, so losing that phrase can leave you without a straightforward account-recovery route.

Because communication is peer to peer, Keet does not depend on a company server to keep room data available. Its blind-peering approach keeps encrypted room data accessible while members are offline. That architecture will appeal to users who prefer less centralized infrastructure, but the IP-visibility risk inside groups is a meaningful reason to choose another service if network anonymity is essential.

Key features

Messaging, calls, and rooms

Keet handles direct and group voice calls, video calls, and desktop screen sharing. Broadcast Rooms let a creator publish to an audience while blocking replies; participants can still respond with reactions. This is a useful format for announcements or one-way sessions rather than discussion-led communities.

Direct file sharing

Files can be transferred directly between devices at any size, without compression. That is a clear advantage for original media, large archives, or production files where preserving the source matters. Transfer availability depends on the participating devices rather than a conventional hosted storage quota.

Peer-to-peer foundation

Keet runs on the open-source Pear Runtime stack. The maker says this enables peer-to-peer integrations that can be modified, giving technically inclined users a more adaptable foundation than a closed messaging service.

Pricing

There is no paid tier, subscription, or trial to weigh against the free plan. Every listed capability is therefore available without a recurring charge, and there are no published seat, message, or storage quotas. Users who need premium administration or commercial service terms will not find a higher plan to upgrade to.

Platforms

Keet offers apps for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. A desktop app supports calls and screen sharing, while the same peer-to-peer model spans mobile and desktop devices. The broad operating-system coverage makes it practical for groups whose members use different device types.

Who it's for

Choose Keet for private group communication when avoiding phone-number or email registration matters, or when direct, uncompressed file exchange is more useful than cloud storage. It is also a sensible fit for users who value encrypted rooms that remain available through blind peering and for audiences that can use Broadcast Rooms without needing reply threads.

Look elsewhere if exposing an IP address to fellow group peers is unacceptable, if you need a hosted account-recovery process beyond a recovery phrase, or if your organization expects paid tiers, centralized administration, or published service quotas.

Pros and cons

• Pro: End-to-end encryption covers messages, calls, and file transfers by default.
• Pro: No phone number or email is required, and Keet says account-linked personal information is not stored.
• Pro: Any-size, uncompressed direct file transfers preserve original media and documents.
• Pro: Voice, video, group calling, and desktop screen sharing cover both personal and presentation use.
• Pro: One free plan has no subscriptions, ads, or premium feature gate.
• Con: Other peers may infer your IP address with network-monitoring tools, weakening network privacy for some groups.
• Con: The 24-word phrase is the account identity, so recovery depends on keeping it safe.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison of private communication tools, see Secure messaging apps.

• Jami is a free option on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API, and extension platforms, backed by a global free-software community.
• Olvid suits readers wanting a free tier with unlimited messages, unlimited attachments, secure group discussions, and ephemeral messages, plus a free trial.
• Wire is worth considering if independently verifiable, fully open-source code and web access matter; its free tier costs nothing.
• Crypho fits personal users who can accept files up to 3 MB and one group on its free plan, with encrypted calls and video calls.
• Delta Chat is free and open source, with Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and self-hosted availability.
• imo provides free calls and messages across mobile, desktop, and web, although carrier data charges may apply.
• Messenger is a broadly available free messaging app for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows.
• Session offers open-source encrypted messaging, no phone number, and attachments up to 10 MB on its free tier.

Verdict

Keet is a strong choice for users who want free, encrypted peer-to-peer messaging, calls, and unrestricted uncompressed file sharing across mobile and desktop systems. Its no-registration approach and server-independent rooms are compelling; users who cannot accept peers potentially seeing their IP address should choose a different messenger.