BitChat vs Silent Phone
BitChat
bitchat.freeSilent Phone
silentcircle.comSide by side
| Figure | BitChat | Silent Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Encrypted Messaging Apps | 8.9 (#1) | 6.9 (#38) |
| Audience | The maker describes offline mesh communication as useful during internet outages, natural disasters, protests, and in regions with limited connectivity. | Silent Circle describes the product for enterprises, NGOs, government agencies, and organizations in fields including defense, energy, and law. |
| Integrations | The listed internet messaging transport is the Nostr protocol, which connects BitChat users through relays. | Silent Phone supports SSO through OpenID Connect and Active Directory Federation Services, SIEM systems, and deployment via MDM. |
| 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. | Silent Circle provides Silent Phone for iOS and Android devices. |
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.
Silent Phone
Silent Phone has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.