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bitchat alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave bitchat: only reaches people within Bluetooth relay range, and young project with past security concerns. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces bitchat, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Briar currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Briar logoBriarFreeYesAndroid4 of 466.5
2Session logoSessionFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 559.6
4SimpleX Chat logoSimpleX ChatOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 457.2
  1. Briar logo

    1. BriarTop pick

    Best for: Activists and journalists who need messaging that works during internet shutdowns

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from bitchat

    Also works offline over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and over Tor when internet is available.

    Pros

    • Works offline over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
    • No servers; traffic goes over Tor when online
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Now in maintenance mode, with few new features
    • Mainly Android only
    • Contacts must be online at the same time for delivery
    Visit Briar Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Briar a good bitchat alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Project status
    Maintenance mode (July 2026)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026briarproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Connections
    Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Tor
    Checked Oct 25, 2026briarproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Android (Google Play, F-Droid)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026briarproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026briarproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Session logo

    2. Session

    Best for: People who want an anonymous messenger with no phone number and minimal metadata

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from bitchat

    Anonymous, onion-routed messaging for when internet access is available.

    Pros

    • No phone number or email needed
    • Onion routing hides who talks to whom
    • Open source and audited

    Cons

    • Slower delivery and less reliable calls
    • Lost recovery password means a lost account
    • Network is tied to a cryptocurrency token
    Visit Session Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Session a good bitchat alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Phone number
    Not required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Routing
    Onion routing network
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Session Pro price
    From $2.99/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Steward
    Session Technology Foundation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Signal logo

    3. Signal

    Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest mainstream privacy without giving up a familiar chat app

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from bitchat

    Reliable encrypted messaging for everyday use over the internet.

    Pros

    • Everything end-to-end encrypted by default, including groups
    • Collects almost no metadata
    • No ads, tracking or paid tier; open source

    Cons

    • Needs a phone number to register
    • Desktop app only works linked to a phone
    • Smaller network than WhatsApp in most countries
    Visit Signal Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Signal a good bitchat alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Organisation
    Independent nonprofit
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads and tracking
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Always on
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    Requires Signal on your phone
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. SimpleX Chat logo

    4. SimpleX Chat

    Best for: Privacy-focused users and groups who want to minimise metadata as far as possible

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from bitchat

    No user identifiers, with full messaging features over the internet.

    Pros

    • No phone numbers, usernames or account IDs
    • Self-hostable relay servers
    • Open source and independently audited

    Cons

    • No contact discovery; you must share links
    • Multi-device use and phone migration are awkward
    • Large groups can be slow
    Visit SimpleX Chat Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SimpleX Chat a good bitchat alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    User identifiers
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplex.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly users
    600K
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplex.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplex.chat(opens source in a new tab)

The best bitchat alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Briar logo

Best bitchat alternative for most people

Briar

Also works offline over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and over Tor when internet is available.

Signal logo

Best bitchat alternative for a free option

Signal

Reliable encrypted messaging for everyday use over the internet.

Session logo

Best bitchat alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Session

Anonymous, onion-routed messaging for when internet access is available.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best bitchat alternative for open source

SimpleX Chat

No user identifiers, with full messaging features over the internet.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best bitchat alternative for self-hosting

SimpleX Chat

No user identifiers, with full messaging features over the internet.

Session logo

Best bitchat alternative for Mac

Session

Anonymous, onion-routed messaging for when internet access is available.

Session logo

Best bitchat alternative for Windows

Session

Anonymous, onion-routed messaging for when internet access is available.

Session logo

Best bitchat alternative for Linux

Session

Anonymous, onion-routed messaging for when internet access is available.

Session logo

Best bitchat alternative for iPhone and Android

Session

Anonymous, onion-routed messaging for when internet access is available.

bitchat alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to bitchat?

Briar ranks first right now. Also works offline over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and over Tor when internet is available. Session and Signal follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to bitchat?

Yes. Briar (free), Session (free plan + paid), Signal (free) and SimpleX Chat (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to bitchat?

Yes: Briar, Session, Signal and SimpleX Chat. SimpleX Chat can also be self-hosted.

Which bitchat alternatives work on Linux?

Session, Signal and SimpleX Chat run on Linux.

Why do people switch from bitchat?

The complaints we hear most: only reaches people within Bluetooth relay range; young project with past security concerns; not a replacement for everyday messaging.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces bitchat, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.