BitChat vs Dino
BitChat
bitchat.freeDino
dino.imSide by side
| Figure | BitChat | Dino |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Encrypted Messaging Apps | 8.9 (#1) | 8.3 (#5) |
| Audience | The maker describes offline mesh communication as useful during internet outages, natural disasters, protests, and in regions with limited connectivity. | The site describes Dino as a desktop chat client for people seeking a private Jabber/XMPP experience. |
| Distribution | The maker links to the App Store and Google Play, and provides Android APK releases through GitHub. | The site says Dino is available from repositories of many Linux distributions and links to distribution package information. |
| Encryption | The project describes Noise Protocol end-to-end encryption for mesh messages and BitChat private envelopes for Nostr fallback messages. | Dino supports end-to-end encryption using OMEMO or OpenPGP; the site says only the user and chat partners can read encrypted messages. |
| Open source | The iOS/macOS project and Android project state that they are released into the public domain. | Dino is free and open-source software whose code anyone can inspect and modify. |
| Platforms | The maker's site lists iOS, macOS, and Android builds; iOS requires version 16.0 or later, macOS 13.0 or later, and Android 8.0 or later. | The distribution packages page lists release packages for Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, Ubuntu, Alpine, Gentoo, Guix, NixOS, Void Linux, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD. |
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.