Comparison

Berty Messenger vs bitchat mesh

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Berty Messenger

This app offers secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging without central servers. It allows communication even without an internet connection, ensuring anonymity and protecting user metadata from surveillance.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • 100% decentralized P2P network
  • Completely anonymous user profiles
  • Metadata protection
  • Offline communication via Bluetooth
  • Group chats and media sharing
  • Voice message sharing
Features
Read full description

Berty makes privacy the easy option. Berty is an encrypted and offline peer-to-peer messenger with NO central server. Connect with or without an internet connection, message for free, and avoid surveillance and censorship. DISCLAIMER: Berty is fresh off the development line and hasn’t been audited yet. Please keep this in mind when exchanging data. END-TO-END ENCRYPTED MESSAGING In some countries, even a lol or a like can get you sent to jail. Berty is end-to-end encrypted - not even our developers could access your data, let alone corporations or governments. 100% DECENTRALIZED Just like blockchain technologies, Berty doesn’t pass your data through central servers - the place where internet service providers, hackers, and governments can intercept your data. Instead, Berty’s network is distributed, based on P2P direct messaging. COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS Berty couldn’t care less about who you are. You don’t need to provide your real name, an email, or a date of birth. You don’t even need a SIM card! PROTECT YOUR METADATA You might not know what metadata is, but WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat all collect it. This data can reveal a lot about you - so you’ll be glad to hear Berty is a messaging app alternative that collects as little metadata as humanly possible. COMMUNICATE WITHOUT TRADITIONAL NETWORKS Berty is made to work in the most challenging network conditions in the solar system. If governments, hackers, or natural disasters shut down cellular or internet networks, users can still make vital instant communications over Berty’s proximity Bluetooth feature. JOIN GROUP CHATS Berty is a full-featured instant messaging app. Create groups, chat securely, and share media with friends, family, and colleagues. SHARE VOICE MESSAGES Instantly send encrypted voice memos and audio files on Berty’s decentralized network. FREE FOREVER Privacy is a right for everyone, so Berty doesn’t profit from keeping you safe online. Created by an NGO, Berty will always be free and relies on the generous community to fuel development. TOGGLE BETWEEN ACCOUNTS Create different accounts to split your messaging identities by work, school, family - however, you want to categorize your messages! The Berty messaging app, built on the Berty Protocol, is designed, developed, and deployed by the French non-profit NGO, Berty Technologies. But Berty isn’t just decentralized in terms of its architecture - it’s also owned by the community, not a corporation interested in profits. The progress of Berty relies on developers testing and feeding back on our open source code, generous funding from funds and individual donors, and online and offline advocacy in the community. Documentation on Berty: https://berty.tech/docs Source Code: https://github.com/berty Join Berty’s Discord: Follow Berty on Twitter: @berty

About

bitchat mesh

Connect with people nearby without needing personal contact information. This app facilitates private, encrypted group chats using Bluetooth mesh technology, making it ideal for local communication without internet access.

Highlights
  • Local Bluetooth mesh chat
  • No internet required
  • Encrypted private messages
  • Relays messages for range
  • Sidegroupchat functionality
Features
Read full description

chat with people around you. don't need their phone # or email. the sidegroupchat for any function. uses bluetooth mesh, no internet needed. relays messages to go the distance! encrypted private messages.

Screenshots

Berty Messenger4 screens
bitchat mesh3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: bitchat mesh at 80% against Berty Messenger's 30%. bitchat mesh also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). Berty Messenger's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

bitchat mesh holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: bitchat mesh has 522 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Berty Messenger's written reviews are positive against 80% of bitchat mesh's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Berty Messenger ships an update every 2 months, bitchat mesh weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Berty Messenger versus bitchat mesh: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBerty Messengerbitchat mesh
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (23 ratings)4.7 (522 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews79.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings23522 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#106 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size167 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBerty Technologiespermissionless tech, llc

Customer experience

Berty Messenger

All ratings23 ratings
Positive43.5%
Neutral17.4%
Negative39.1%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative36.7%

bitchat mesh

All ratings516 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral3.9%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews300 reviews
Positive79.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative12.7%

Bugs and requests

Berty Messenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

bitchat mesh

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Typing input field issues on Mac
  • Notifications not working consistently on iOS

Requested features

5 requests
  • Drawing/sketching feature like Pictochat
  • Customizable themes and UI options
  • Ability to filter messages by favorites or verified users
  • Support for file sharing and image transfer
  • Integration with cryptocurrency/Bitcoin payments

In-app purchases

None

Berty Messenger

No in-app purchases

None

bitchat mesh

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Berty Messenger free?
Berty Messenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is bitchat mesh free?
bitchat mesh is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Berty Messenger or bitchat mesh?
bitchat mesh is rated higher. Berty Messenger averages 3.1 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while bitchat mesh averages 4.7 from 522 ratings.
Do Berty Messenger or bitchat mesh have ads?
Neither Berty Messenger nor bitchat mesh shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Berty Messenger or bitchat mesh?
Berty Messenger ships an update every 2 months, and bitchat mesh weekly. Most recently, Berty Messenger was updated on October 24, 2026 and bitchat mesh on October 30, 2026.

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