Side by side
BitChat vs SimpleX Chat
Both stand on encrypted messaging apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac
Choose BitChat if you want peer-to-peer messaging that can work nearby without internet and can also use Nostr. Look elsewhere if you need Nostr private-message compatibility with other apps or do not accept the privacy exposure from mesh announcements.
Visit BitChat Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+4
SimpleX Chat pairs identifier-free network design with messaging, groups, and calls across mobile and desktop platforms. Note the local-network requirement for desktop linking and the limits on ensuring deletion from recipients' devices.
Visit SimpleX ChatThe facts
| BitChat | SimpleX Chat | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Mac | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | bitchat.free | simplex.chat |
| On encrypted messaging apps | #6 of 43 | #2 of 43 |
BitChat: what it does well
- Bluetooth mesh messaging works without internet, across up to seven hops.
- Nostr provides internet messaging and geohash-based location channels.
- Messages can route automatically or wait in a queue.
- No account, phone number, or central server is required.
- Android supports Wi-Fi Aware on supported devices and built-in Tor.
What to know first
- Mesh announcements expose static keys and nicknames in cleartext.
- A persistent device identifier can enable tracking across time and places.
- Nostr private messages interoperate only with BitChat clients.
SimpleX Chat: what it does well
- Available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Network assigns no user profile identifiers.
- Messages and metadata use end-to-end encryption.
- Users can run their own servers.
- Supports audio and video calls.
What to know first
- Mobile-to-desktop linking requires the same local network.
- Deletion on recipients' devices is not guaranteed in some cases.
- No encrypted backups are listed.
Alternatives to BitChat Alternatives to SimpleX Chat The whole list