Sending messages today is one of the things that we take for granted. Thanks to online chat apps like WhatsApp, Line, Instagram etc, there is no longer the need to worry about sending a message to your loved one. But what would you do if you don’t have a data connection and still want a message to go through? Well, send them an SMS, of course. But if this isn’t something that you wish doing, there are several other apps out there that can help you send offline messages to your loved ones.
Keeping this in mind, we’re going to discuss a few of them to help you broaden your horizons with regards to offline messaging apps. So without waiting any further, let’s have a look at our list.
5 Best Offline Messaging Apps to Send Text Without Internet
Bridgefy
This app simply relies on your phone’s Bluetooth signals in order to send messages to your family and friends. This technology doesn’t reach as far out as a standard online message, but relying on mesh technology, it can convey messages to those in their immediate vicinity (up to 330 feet). You can also choose to talk to people further away if there are other Bridgefy users in the middle, acting literally as a bridge to your messages. Although it does rely on other users who you may not know, the makers of Bridgefy clarify that the people in the middle cannot read your messages and all your messages are safe.
One of the crucial features here is the ability to broadcast messages. This allows you to simply put up a message that will be shown to every Bridgefy user around you, making this an extremely useful app in emergency situations. This is a free app on the Google Play Store, and has no ads or in-app purchases.
FireChat
This is yet another helpful app that can conveniently help you reach your family or friends even if you don’t have an internet connection or even a signal on your phone. Similar to Bridgefy, the app relies on other users who have the FireChat app. For messages to be sent without data, you will still have to keep your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on to send messages to nearby users. An app like this can be very handy if you’re surrounded by cellphone jammers and need to contact someone urgently.
As a rule, it makes sense to have each friend install this app, so you can reach them even without data or signal. However, a lot depends on how many users are signed up to the app near you, so it may not be as fruitful as one would expect. However, the ability to send messages even on airplanes or sea without a proper network or cellular connection is pretty cool. FireChat is a free download on the Google Play Store and lacks ads or in-app purchases. The app will work with devices running Android 4.2 or higher.
Signal Offline Messenger
This is a secure instant messaging application that relies on Wi-Fi Direct to establish connection between two devices. Much like the apps we have talked about above, Signal also requires a user with the same app to function properly. However, this app also allows you to send media files such as images, videos, as well as music and documents all without an internet connection.
The high-speed transfer rate ensures that none of the media you send are compressed or modified in any way. Chats can be established one on one or in groups, with the features applying across the board. However, Signal only has a range of about 100 meters to work on Wi-Fi Direct. The highlight of Signal though is the fact that it’s completely secure and doesn’t store any data on the cloud, so you can be assured of keeping all your messages secure with Signal. This is a free app on the Play Store and has no ads or in-app purchases. You will require a smartphone or tablet running at least Android 4.1 or higher to use Signal Offline Messenger.
Near Peer
This app basically lets you chat to your “peers” who are within your proximity. It establishes a connection over Wi-Fi which is why it is quite crucial to keep it switched on for Near Peer to work. While it’s not as polished as some of the other apps we’ve talked about in this list, it does offer some of the same features. Users also have the ability to talk to strangers anonymously or otherwise and even create groups, all without an internet connection. This aspect makes it extremely simple to use, and the fact that there’s no complicated setup process also helps greatly.
This app also supports file sharing thanks to Wi-Fi Direct, allowing you to transfer relatively larger files without an internet connection or even a signal. Users can block users they don’t want to talk to, which is a necessary safety feature on every chat app. This app comes with ads, but there are no in-app purchases. This app requires devices running Android 4.4 and up.
Briar
This an extremely handy app for journalists or activists who need a safe platform to communicate with their friends and family in the midst of crisis. The messages on Briar are synchronized directly between the users’ devices, ensuring there’s no cloud data or backups of your chats. The messages can sync over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when there’s no signal or data network on your phone. If you do have internet, however, the app can sync messages through the ultra secure Tor network, making sure your private messages are impenetrable.
Given the limitations of the app, it’s not possible to send attachments in chat conversations. While this may be inconvenient, it’s been designed as a safety feature to avoid interference and potential stealing of sensitive data. This app may lack the bells and whistles of a conventional offline messaging app, but it gets the job done efficiently. Briar is a free download on the Google Play Store.