BitChat vs ChatSecure
BitChat
bitchat.freeChatSecure
chatsecure.orgSide by side
| Figure | BitChat | ChatSecure |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Encrypted Messaging Apps | 8.9 (#1) | 7.7 (#22) |
| Accounts | The app says it requires no accounts, phone numbers, or central servers. | Users can connect existing Google accounts, create accounts on public XMPP servers, or connect to their own server. |
| Distribution | The maker links to the App Store and Google Play, and provides Android APK releases through GitHub. | ChatSecure is available on the Apple App Store for free. |
Plans
In their own words
BitChat
BitChat is a decentralized messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh for nearby communication and Nostr relays for internet messaging. Bluetooth messages can pass between nearby devices across as many as seven hops without internet access. When Bluetooth is unavailable, the app can use Nostr; if neither route is available, messages can wait in a queue. Geographic chat rooms use geohash coordinates.
The app requires no account, phone number, or central server. Live mesh sessions use Noise XX for mutual authentication and forward secrecy, while private Nostr messages use an app-specific encrypted format that works only with BitChat clients. However, mesh announcements expose static keys and nicknames in cleartext, and a persistent per-device identifier can allow nearby listeners to follow a device over time and place. A triple-tap emergency wipe clears app data, including identity keys and queued messages. Android adds Wi-Fi Aware on supported devices and built-in Tor. BitChat is available for iOS, Android, and macOS, and is free.
ChatSecure
ChatSecure has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.