bitchat-android

<img width="256" height="256" alt="icon_128x128@2x" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/90133f83-b4f6-41c6-aab9-25d0859d2a47" />

## bitchat for Android

A decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app with dual transport architecture: local Bluetooth mesh networks for offline communication and internet-based Nostr protocol for global reach. No accounts, no phone numbers, no central servers.

This is the Android implementation of bitchat, fully protocol-compatible with the [iOS version](https://github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat) for cross-platform mesh communication.

[bitchat.free](http://bitchat.free)

[GitHub Releases](https://github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat-android/releases)

[<img alt="Get it on Google Play" height="60" src="https://play.google.com/intl/en_us/badges/static/images/badges/en_badge_web_generic.png"/>](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitchat.droid)

## See it in action

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Offline mesh conversation</th>
    <th>Geohash globe picker</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><img src="docs/screenshots/readme-mesh-chat.png" alt="Active four-peer Bitchat mesh conversation with an image, voice messages, and text messages" width="360"/></td>
    <td><img src="docs/screenshots/readme-geohash-globe.png" alt="Bitchat geohash location picker showing the whole Earth and geohash grid" width="360"/></td>
  </tr>
</table>

## License

This project is released into the public domain. See the [LICENSE](LICENSE.md) file for details.

## Features

- **Dual Transport Architecture**: Bluetooth LE mesh for offline messaging, Nostr relays for internet-based messaging
- **Location-Based Channels**: Geographic chat rooms using geohash coordinates over Nostr relays
- **Intelligent Message Routing**: Automatically chooses the best transport, with queuing and retry when a peer is unreachable
- **End-to-End Encryption**: [Noise Protocol](https://noiseprotocol.org) (XX pattern, X25519 + ChaCha20-Poly1305) for private messages over the mesh
- **Decentralized Mesh Network**: Automatic peer discovery and multi-hop relay over Bluetooth LE (max 7 hops)
- **Wi-Fi Aware Transport**: Higher-bandwidth local mesh on supported devices
- **Channel Chats**: Topic-based group messaging with optional password protection (Argon2id + AES-256-GCM)
- **IRC-Style Commands**: Familiar `/join`, `/msg`, `/who` style interface
- **Tor Support**: Built-in Tor (Arti) for private internet connectivity
- **Emergency Wipe**: Triple-tap to instantly clear all data
- **Cross-Platform**: Binary protocol compatible with bitchat on iOS and macOS

## Technical Architecture

### Bluetooth Mesh Network (Offline)

- Direct peer-to-peer within Bluetooth range, multi-hop relay through nearby devices
- Noise Protocol sessions with forward secrecy; peer identities derived from static keys
- Compact binary packet format with fragmentation, TTL routing, and deduplication
- Adaptive duty cycling and connection limits for battery efficiency
- Foreground service