在某些情况和事件中，您会发现离线消息很有用——例如，计划与一群朋友一起去没有蜂窝网络覆盖或互联网连接的偏远地区露营？在旅行前，你们都应该在设备上安装离线消息应用程序。
政府当局是否定期关闭贵国的互联网(shut down the internet in your country)？离线(Offline)消息应用程序提供了另一种通信方式。
网状消息的工作原理
在我们列出最好的离线消息应用程序之前，有必要解释一下“ Mesh Messaging ” ——(—the)离线消息背后的技术。网状(Mesh)消息（也称为“Off-the-Grid Messaging ”）是一种点对点或设备对设备网络的形式，可以在没有互联网连接的情况下在短距离（通常在 50-100 米之间）进行数据传输.
该技术使用您设备的蓝牙(Bluetooth)或Wi-Fi作为传输媒介，在网状网络上的设备之间反弹消息，直到它到达接收者。请注意(Mind)，通过网状消息发送的消息通常使用端到端加密进行保护。因此，您的消息内容不会被第三方泄露或截获。
网状网络上的用户越多，离线消息传递的质量就越好。阅读这篇全面的解释器，了解 Mesh 网络如何为离线消息传递提供动力(explainer on how Mesh networking powers offline messaging)，以了解更多信息。
最佳离线消息应用程序
离线(Offline)消息应用程序适用于Android和 iOS 设备。浏览列表，仔细阅读应用程序的功能，安装您喜欢的离线消息应用程序，并说服您周围的人（同事、兄弟姐妹、队友等）也这样做——即，在他们的设备上安装相同的应用程序。
对于Bridgefy ，您将在 300 英尺（或 100 米）范围内与其他Bridgefy用户享受端到端加密消息传递。只需(Simply)下载该应用程序，创建一个昵称，人们将通过该昵称找到您，授予它访问您设备的蓝牙(Bluetooth)和定位服务的权限，然后在“广播”或“聊天”部分与附近的用户开始对话。
顺便说一句，Bridgefy需要互联网连接才能在网络上激活您的设备。因此，在发送或接收离线消息之前，您至少需要通过 Internet 连接使用一次 Bridgefy 。(Bridgefy)请注意，只有私人聊天是加密的。任何附近的Bridgefy用户都可以阅读广播消息。
在开始对话之前，您的联系人列表中不必有用户。对方只需要在他们的设备上正确设置和运行Bridgefy 。此外，它们必须在建议的离线通信范围内（300 英尺/100 米）。
Bridgefy也是少数支持跨平台通信的离线消息应用程序之一。也就是说，您可以将离线消息从Android设备发送到 iOS 设备，反之亦然。该应用程序是免费提供的（在Android和 iOS 上），但您必须忍受在使用过程中偶尔出现的弹出广告。
2.蓝牙聊天（安卓(Android)）
蓝牙聊天(Bluetooth Chat)也易于使用，并以零成本提供无互联网消息。该应用程序创建了一个蓝牙(Bluetooth)点对点网络，允许连接的设备交换文本和图像。此应用程序的传输距离取决于所连接设备的蓝牙(Bluetooth)范围，通常为 100 米左右。
与我们测试的其他离线消息应用程序不同，蓝牙聊天(Bluetooth Chat)完全脱离电网工作。您无需连接互联网即可在网络上注册您的设备，也无需提供电子邮件地址、电话号码等个人或联系信息。首次启动应用程序时，您需要通过提供首选显示名称、配置文件颜色等来设置您的配置文件。
之后(Afterward)，在出现提示时授予应用访问您设备的存储空间和位置的权限。在下一页上，点击扫描设备以使用(Scan For Devices)蓝牙聊天(Bluetooth Chat)应用程序检查附近的设备。该应用程序将在超时前扫描附近的设备 30 秒。
如果您没有找到用户，那可能是因为他们的设备不可被发现。点击“扫描”页面上的“可发现(Make Discoverable)”按钮将使附近的蓝牙聊天(Bluetooth Chat)用户可以看到该设备 60 秒。
选择您要发短信的用户，并要求他们在其设备上接受配对/连接邀请。当两台设备建立连接时，应用程序上将出现一个聊天窗口。
当应用与其他用户配对时，通知中心会出现一个持久横幅。点击停止(Stop)以结束对话并断开两个设备。
要继续对话，请单击聊天页面上的plus (+) icon，扫描用户，然后在“配对(Paired)设备”部分选择设备。
3.信号离线信使（安卓(Android)）
注意：此应用程序与(Note:)注重隐私的 Signal Messenger(privacy-focused Signal Messenger)无关。相反，它们是两个独立的应用程序，用于不同的目的。所以，不要把它们混为一谈。
Signal离线消息应用程序使用Wi-Fi 对等连接（也称为Wi-Fi Direct）来促进在没有互联网连接的情况下交换文本和多媒体文件（照片、音频文件、视频等）。Signal的最佳通信距离为60 米，但连接范围可达 100 米。
(Install Signal)在您的Android设备上(Android)安装 Signal，前往“可用”部分，该应用程序将自动连接到60-100 米半径内的其他附近Signal用户。(Signal)如果列表中的设备或头像显示为灰色，则表示该应用无法与用户建立连接。告诉用户确保其设备的Wi-Fi已启用且未连接到任何其他网络。
信号(Signal)在此列表中，因为它有效。但由于开发人员没有提及任何安全或加密协议，我们假设第三方可以渗透消息。因此，如果您决定继续使用Signal，请避免在应用程序上发送机密信息和文件。
4.荆棘（安卓(Android)）
Briar在设计上缺乏什么，它在功能上弥补了。它是一款开源应用程序，拥有消息消失、端到端加密、内容过滤、博客部分（用于创建博客文章或阅读RSS提要文章）等功能。
Briar允许您选择个人资料图片、修改应用程序的主题以及自定义文本通知和警报。还有一个内置的“应用程序锁定”，可以在几分钟不活动后自动锁定应用程序。
免注册和无广告模式简化了入职流程并简化了用户体验。我们无需创建帐户或提供任何个人信息（如电子邮件地址）即可使用该应用程序。安装应用程序后，只需提供用户名、设置密码，就可以开始使用了。
唯一的缺点是Briar需要全天候后台访问才能将消息传递到您的设备。虽然这有助于应用程序以最佳方式运行，但持续的后台访问会耗尽您设备的电池并随着时间的推移缩短其使用寿命。
Briar有两种添加联系人以进行离线通信的方法。您可以通过扫描二维码发起或加入与附近联系人的私人对话。如果对方离得很远，你可以给他们发一个“荆棘(Briar)链接”。
没有互联网，没有问题
许多应用程序声称提供离线消息服务，但这四个应用程序从功能到安全性、广泛的连接范围、可用性等方面脱颖而出。
在这个列表中，只有Bridgefy同时支持 iOS 和Android操作系统，因此它是最有力的竞争者。跨平台支持得分加分，并使其比竞争对手的应用程序更具优势。除了偶尔的弹出广告外，我们会给Bridgefy打分 10/10。Briar是另一个顶级竞争者。它具有最复杂的功能，而且易于使用。然而，在可用性方面，蓝牙聊天(Bluetooth Chat)占了上风。
请记住(Remember)授予您首选的离线信使应用程序必要的权限。在使用离线消息应用程序时，您还应该启用设备的蓝牙(Bluetooth)或Wi-Fi（或两者，取决于应用程序使用的网络协议）。如果你有问题就告诉我们。
The 4 Best Offline Messaging (No Internet) Apps for iPhone and Android (2021)
There are several situatіons and events whеre you’d find offline messaging useful—for instance, planning a camping trip with a group of friends to a rеmote location with no cellular coverage or internet connection? You all should have an оffline messaging app installed on yoυr devices before the trip.
Do government authorities regularly shut down the internet in your country now and then? Offline messaging apps offer an alternative means of communication.
How Mesh Messaging Works
Before we list the best offline messaging apps, it’s important to explain “Mesh Messaging”—the technology behind offline messaging. Mesh messaging (also called “Off-the-Grid Messaging”) is a form of peer-to-peer or device-to-device networking that powers data transmission over a short range—typically between 50-100 meters—without an internet connection.
The technology uses your device’s Bluetooth or Wi-Fi as a transport medium to bounce messages across devices on the mesh network until it gets to the recipient. Mind you, messages sent via mesh messaging are often secured using end-to-end encryption. So, the content of your messages doesn’t get compromised or intercepted by a third party.
The more users on a mesh network, the better the quality of the offline messaging. Read this comprehensive explainer on how Mesh networking powers offline messaging to learn more.
Best Offline Messaging Apps
Offline messaging apps are available for Android and iOS devices. Go through the list, peruse the apps’ features, install your preferred offline messaging app, and convince people around you (coworkers, siblings, teammates, etc.) to do the same—i.e., install the same app on their devices.
For Bridgefy, you’ll enjoy end-to-end encrypted messaging with other Bridgefy users within a 300 feet (or 100 meters) range. Simply download the app, create a nickname through which people will find you, grant it access to your device’s Bluetooth and location services, and start a conversation with a nearby user in the “Broadcast” or “Chats” section.
By the way, Bridgefy requires an internet connection to activate your device on the network. Therefore, you need to use Bridgefy with an internet connection at least once before sending or receiving offline messages. Note that only private chats are encrypted. Any nearby Bridgefy user can read broadcast messages.
You don’t have to have a user on your contact lists before initiating a conversation. The other party only needs to have Bridgefy properly set up and running on their device. Plus, they must be within the recommended offline communication range (300 feet/100 meters).
Bridgefy is also one of the few offline messaging apps that support cross-platform communication. That is, you can send offline messages from an Android device to an iOS device and vice versa. The app is available for free (on Android and iOS), but you’d have to put up with occasional pop-up ads during usage.
2. Bluetooth Chat (Android)
Bluetooth Chat is also easy to use and provides internet-free messaging at zero cost. The app creates a Bluetooth peer-to-peer network that allows connected devices to exchange texts and images. The transmission distance of this app depends on the Bluetooth range of the connected devices, which is typically around 100 meters.
Unlike other offline messaging apps that we tested, Bluetooth Chat works completely off-grid. You don’t need an internet connection to register your device on the network, nor do you need to provide personal or contact information like email address, phone number, etc. When you launch the app for the first time, you’ll need to set up your profile by providing a preferred display name, profile color, etc.
Afterward, grant the app access to your device’s storage and location when prompted. On the next page, tap Scan For Devices to check for nearby devices using the Bluetooth Chat app. The app will scan for nearby devices for 30 seconds before it times out.
If you don’t find a user, that could be because their device isn’t discoverable. Tapping the Make Discoverable button on the “Scan” page will make the device visible to nearby Bluetooth Chat users for 60 seconds.
Select the user you want to text and ask them to accept the pairing/connection invitation on their device. A chat window will appear on the app when both devices establish a connection.
A persistent banner will appear on the notification center when the app is paired with another user. Tap Stop to end the conversation and disconnect both devices.
To continue the conversation, click the plus (+) icon on the chat page, scan for the user, and select the device in the “Paired devices” section.
3. Signal Offline Messenger (Android)
Note: This app has no affiliation with the privacy-focused Signal Messenger. Instead, they’re two separate applications that serve different purposes. So, don’t get them mixed up.
The Signal offline messaging app uses a Wi-Fi peer-to-peer connection (also called Wi-Fi Direct) to facilitate exchanging texts and multimedia files (photos, audio files, videos, etc.) without an internet connection. The optimum communication distance for Signal is 60 meters, but the connection range can go up to 100 meters.
Install Signal on your Android device, head to the “Available” section and the app will automatically connect to other nearby Signal users within a 60-100 meter radius. If a device or avatar is greyed out on the list, that means the app is unable to establish a connection with the user. Tell the user to ensure their device’s Wi-Fi is enabled and not connected to any other network.
Signal is on this list because it works. But because the developers make no mention of any security or encryption protocol, we’d assume a third party can infiltrate messages. Therefore, if you decide to proceed with Signal, avoid sending confidential information and files on the app.
What Briar lacks in design, it makes up for in functionality. It’s an open-source app that boasts features like disappearing messages, end-to-end encryption, content filtering, a blog section (for creating blog posts or reading RSS feeds articles), and many more.
Briar lets you choose a profile picture, modify the app’s theme, and customize text notifications and alerts. There’s also a built-in “App Lock” that automatically locks the app after some minutes of inactivity.
The registration-free and ad-free model simplifies the onboarding journey and smoothens users’ experience. We didn’t have to create an account or provide any personal information (like email address) to use the app. After installing the app, all there is to do is to provide a username, set up your password, and you’re good to go.
The only downside is that Briar requires round-the-clock background access to deliver messages to your devices. While that helps the app perform optimally, constant background access will drain your device’s battery and reduce its lifespan over time.
Briar has two methods for adding contacts for offline communication. You can initiate or join a private conversation with a nearby contact by scanning a QR code. If the other party is far away, you can send them a “Briar link.”
No Internet, No Problem
Numerous apps claim to offer offline messaging services, but these four stood out for reasons ranging from functionality to security, wide connection range, usability, and more.
On this list, only Bridgefy supports both iOS and Android operating systems, so it’s a top contender. The cross-platform support scores extra points and gives it an edge over rival apps. Save for the occasional pop-up ads, we’d score Bridgefy a 10/10 rating. Briar is another top contender. It sports the most sophisticated features, and it’s also easy to use. Usability-wise, however, Bluetooth Chat takes the cake.
Remember to grant your preferred offline messenger app the necessary permissions. You should also enable your device’s Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (or both, depending on the network protocol the app uses) while using offline messaging apps. Let us know if you have any questions.
