What is beChat?
beChat is an anonymous, post-quantum encrypted messenger for Android. It lets you send private messages without an email address, phone number, or any personal information. Messages are end-to-end encrypted with a Double Ratchet construction extended with post-quantum cryptography, and the beChat server is zero-knowledge: it cannot read your messages.
How is beChat different from Signal or WhatsApp?
Signal and WhatsApp both require a phone number to register, which ties your identity to a SIM card and telecom provider. beChat uses anonymous accounts: an auto-generated 8-character PIN and a device fingerprint, nothing else. beChat is also post-quantum: its key exchange and signatures use ML-KEM-1024 and ML-DSA-87 to protect messages against future quantum computers.
What does "post-quantum cryptography" mean?
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) refers to cryptographic algorithms designed to be secure even against a future large-scale quantum computer. Current encryption like RSA and ECDH could be broken by such a machine. beChat uses lattice-based schemes (ML-KEM-1024 for key encapsulation, ML-DSA-87 for signatures) standardized by NIST as FIPS 203 and 204.
Does beChat require an email or phone number?
No. beChat never asks for an email address, phone number, or legal name. Registration generates an 8-character PIN locally and pairs it with a device fingerprint. Your account is identified only by these two values.
Can the beChat server read my messages?
No. beChat is a zero-knowledge messaging architecture. The server only stores encrypted message blobs, public keys, your PIN, and your device fingerprint. The plaintext of your messages and attachments is never sent to or stored on the server.
Is beChat a good Signal alternative?
If you want end-to-end encryption without handing over your phone number, beChat is one of the most private Signal alternatives available. It implements the same Double Ratchet mechanism Signal uses for message encryption and adds post-quantum protection on top. The trade-off is that beChat is in open beta on Android and does not yet have the polish or network size of Signal.
What is an anonymous encrypted chat app?
An anonymous encrypted chat app is a messenger that combines end-to-end encryption (so the server cannot read messages) with anonymous registration (so the server does not know who you are). beChat is an anonymous encrypted chat app: accounts are PIN-based and device-bound, with no personal identifier collected.
Are attachments encrypted too?
Yes. Attachments are encrypted with AES-256-GCM-SIV on your device before they are uploaded. The server only ever sees the ciphertext. Plaintext attachments never leave your phone.
Where is beChat hosted?
beChat runs on an independent European hosting provider, on infrastructure in Europe governed by Belgian law. The service does not use hyperscaler cloud.
Does beChat include trackers or analytics?
No. beChat ships no analytics SDKs, no crash reporting, no advertising libraries, and no third-party data-collection code. The only external service used is Google Firebase Cloud Messaging for Android push notifications, and those payloads are encrypted and contain no message content.
How do I delete my account and data?
Open beChat, go to Settings, Account, then Delete account. You can also email privacy@bechat.world with your PIN and device fingerprint. Deletion removes your account record, device fingerprint, public keys, and encrypted message blobs, normally within 30 days. See the data deletion page for details.
How can I join the beChat beta?
beChat is in open beta on Android. Install directly from the Google Play Store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lab48.bechat. No invite or group membership is required. See the download page for details.
Still have questions?
Join the community at r/beChat, email privacy@bechat.world, or read the full security model and how beChat works.