Apple App Store
BitChat for iOS
- Minimum OS
- iOS 16.0+
- Released
- Jul 31, 2026
Public App Store builds are the normal installation path. TestFlight is optional beta access, not required for the current public release.
Independent download & verification guide
Download BitChat from a source you can verify
Current iOS and Android versions, official store links, release notes, and a plain-language guide to what works offline.
iOS 1.7.1 Android 2.0.1 Checked Aug 28, 2026
Verify the developer and package name before installing.
Official distribution
Choose your platform
We link to the stores and repositories controlled by the BitChat project. This site does not re-host an APK.
v1.7.1
Google Play / GitHub
BitChat for Android
- Package
- com.bitchat.droid
- Released
- Aug 11, 2026
Use Google Play when available. For sideloading, use only APK assets on the official GitHub release page and compare the published digest.
How “current” is checked: a Cloudflare Worker runs daily at 08:00 Beijing time, reads both official GitHub release feeds and attempts an Apple public-listing cross-check, then writes a timestamped snapshot to Workers KV. This page is showing that live KV snapshot.
View machine-readable status.
What works offline
Bluetooth mesh and internet features are different paths
Nearby mesh
Nearby devices discover and relay public chat over Bluetooth. No Wi-Fi or mobile data is required for this local path, but actual range and reliability depend on hardware, obstacles, permissions, and the number of participating devices.
Internet-assisted features
Current BitChat versions can also include internet-based capabilities such as Nostr-backed private messaging. Those features need connectivity and should not be described as “fully offline.” Check the official platform README for the exact behavior of your release.
Security status
Treat BitChat as experimental software
Open source makes inspection possible; it does not by itself prove that an app or cryptographic design is safe. Before sensitive use, read the project’s current notices, inspect the exact release you install, and keep a separate fallback communication plan.
- • Install only from the official stores or project repositories.
- • Confirm the Android package is
com.bitchat.droid. - • Review release notes for security-relevant changes before updating.
- • Do not infer anonymity or audit status from marketing language.
Latest release summaries
What changed in the versions shown above
iOS 1.7.1
bitchat 1.7.1 is a security and reliability release. private photos and voice notes are now encrypted before they travel over bluetooth stronger identity verification during encrypted handshakes stops impersonation identity keys are now bound to this device and never sync or transfer — a seized backup or cloned storage no longer yields your keys. your identity stays with the device: switching phones or reinstalling starts fresh panic wipe is faster, more thorough, and behaves the same every time a locked phone gives away less direct messages reliably survive reconnects, bluetooth toggles, and
Read official release notes →Android 2.0.1
Bitchat Android 2.0.1 Highlights Bitchat for Wear OS: join the nearby mesh from your watch, use public chat and encrypted direct messages, browse People, manage favorites and verification, receive notifications, record voice notes, and receive images and files. New chat styles: choose the classic Matrix layout or peer colored message bubbles, including bubble aware media, timestamps, and delivery indicators. Live push to talk: stream voice in public channels and encrypted direct messages on Android and Wear OS, with improved recording feedback, waveforms, haptics, and slide to cancel controls.
Read official release notes →Detected version changes
- android: 1.7.4 → 2.0.1, detected Aug 12, 2026
- ios: 1.7.0 → 1.7.1, detected Aug 1, 2026
FAQ
Common questions
Is this the official BitChat website?
No. Bit-chat.xyz is an independent community guide. The project’s official website is bitchat.free.
What are the current BitChat versions?
As last checked on Aug 28, 2026, the public iOS version is 1.7.1 and the latest official Android release is 2.0.1. The timestamp and source URLs are available in the status JSON.
Does BitChat work without internet?
Nearby public chat can use Bluetooth mesh without internet. Internet-relay features are unavailable when fully offline, and Bluetooth performance varies by environment.
Should I use it for highly sensitive communication?
Treat it as experimental software. Review the current security notices and exact release in the official repositories before relying on it, and keep another communication method available.