Comparison

Off vs Waves

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

Head to head
About

Off

Features
Read full description

Off-Grid is a secure, serverless messenger built for people who take privacy seriously. Messages travel peer-to-peer over Bluetooth mesh — no servers, no accounts, no logs. When you send a message, it hops through nearby devices to reach its destination. Nothing touches the internet. SECURE BY · End-to-end encrypted with AES-256-GCM · Zero metadata — no sender, no timestamp, no read receipts stored anywhere · Messages exist only in RAM — close the app, they're gone · No account registration, no phone number, no email MESH NETWORKING · Works without Wi-Fi or cellular · Range extends through every device running DataSec nearby · Location-based channels let you communicate with people in the same area · Direct encrypted messages to specific peers ENCRYPTED VOICE CALLS (Pro) · Real-time P2P encrypted voice calls · Voice effects — Deep, High, Robot · No call servers log your conversations OPERATIONAL SECURITY · PIN lock with biometric authentication · Lockout after failed attempts — survives app kill · Auto identity rotation — randomizes your alias every 4 seconds · Panic wipe DataSec does not have access to your messages. We cannot read them, hand them over, or be compelled to produce them. There is nothing to produce. This software is subject to U.S. export control laws (EAR). ECCN 5D002, CCATS Z1894258. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Waves

Features
Read full description

Waves is a peer-to-peer mesh messenger that works without internet, servers, or accounts. Just Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct. Your phone connects directly to nearby phones, forming a mesh network. Messages hop from device to device, extending range across crowds, campuses, and festivals — all without cell towers. PRIVACY BY DESIGN • End-to-end encryption on all private messages (Curve25519 + ChaChaPoly) • No accounts, no phone number, no email — ever • No servers store your messages — they exist only on your device • Messages auto-delete after the time you choose (15 min to 2 hours) • No analytics, no tracking, no ads • Only location group pins are stored in the cloud — nothing else FEATURES • General broadcast chat — talk to everyone nearby • Private 1-on-1 encrypted chats • Voice messages — push to talk • Photo sharing through mesh • Contacts — add friends when nearby • Location & portable groups with optional password • AR Radar — see direction and distance to people (UWB, iPhone 11+) • SOS emergency broadcast • Shake to wave hello • Emoji reactions • Disappearing messages with visible countdown PERFECT FOR • Festivals & concerts where cell service is dead • Camping, hiking, off-grid adventures • Classrooms & campus without Wi-Fi • Anywhere you want to communicate privately NO INTERNET. NO SERVERS. NO RULES. Just people and their phones.

Screenshots

Off4 screens
Waves4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Waves at none against Off's 2. Waves also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.2). On price, ads and device support 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. Off sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Waves asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 3 level
Off versus Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOffWaves
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.218.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB16 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAdham QurbonovAndrey Kiselev

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Off

Subscriptions2
  • DataSec Pro Monthly$4.997 Days
  • DataSec Pro Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
None

Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Off free?
Off is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Waves free?
Waves is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Off or Waves have ads?
Neither Off nor Waves shows ads.

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