OffGrid Messenger
Family chat, no signal.
Messages travel straight between your devices over Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi — no cell signal, no Wi‑Fi network, no internet connection, no account and no phone number. Once two devices are paired, they simply talk to each other — chat, share photos, and play a game together.
Coming soon to the App Store iPhone & iPad · English & Portuguese · one-time purchase · no subscriptionWhy it exists
Made for when you can’t get seats together
Airlines can’t always seat families next to each other, and phones have to go into airplane mode. Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi are normally allowed to stay switched on once you’re airborne — OffGrid Messenger uses exactly those radios to let your family message row to row, without the plane’s Wi‑Fi and without a signal of any kind.
Set it up on everyone’s device before you leave. It works the moment you’re all in range, with nothing to configure at the other end.
Always follow the airline’s and crew’s instructions about device use on board. OffGrid Messenger never uses the cellular network, but airline policy is the final word on what you may switch on and when.
It is just as useful anywhere else a signal doesn’t reach: campsites, cruise ships, basements, subways, festivals, remote trails — anywhere your group is close by but disconnected.
How it works
Four steps, once
- Install it on both devices Everyone in your group installs OffGrid Messenger before you travel — while you still have a connection to the App Store.
- Find each other nearby The app discovers other nearby devices running it, using the same kind of direct Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi link that powers AirDrop.
- Verify in person Tap the other device in Discover, then scan their QR code while you’re together. That one scan is what turns a nearby device into a contact — only verified contacts can message you.
- Chat, with or without a signal Send text and photos one-to-one or in groups. Messages queue automatically if someone drifts out of range and deliver as soon as they’re back.
One setup tip worth following: leave the Wi‑Fi radio switched on on every device, even with no network to join and no internet. It lets the devices use a direct Wi‑Fi link instead of Bluetooth alone, which is noticeably more reliable once three or more people are chatting — and it costs you nothing in airplane mode.
Something to do together
Not just messages — games too
Once you’ve verified a contact, play a quick game right in the chat. Easy to pick up for any age, no accounts and no internet needed, just like the rest of the app — a simple way to pass the time with family and friends when you’re sitting nearby but disconnected: on a long flight, at a campsite, or anywhere else a signal can’t reach.
Nobody has to already know the game: each board shows the rules right underneath it, in a couple of lines. Accept an invitation to something you’ve never played and you can still start playing straight away.
Connect Four
The classic four-in-a-row, on a 7×6 board.
Dots and Boxes
Claim the most boxes on a 5×5 grid — a pen-and-paper favorite, no pen or paper required.
Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe
Tic-tac-toe with a twist: nine small boards nested inside one big one.
Private by design
There is no server to trust
OffGrid Messenger has no backend. There is no account to create, nothing to sign in to, and no company inbox your messages pass through — because there is no company inbox. Messages travel only over the encrypted local link between your devices, and never through a server belonging to us or anyone else.
No account, ever
No sign-up, no email, no phone number. Your identity is a key pair generated on your own device.
Verified contacts only
Every contact is verified in person, by scanning their QR code, before a chat can start.
You choose your visibility
Be visible to everyone nearby, visible only to people you’ve already verified, or invisible until you scan someone in.
Encrypted, direct link
Messages and photos travel over an encrypted device-to-device connection, with no server in between. Your keys are generated on device and never uploaded.
Nothing is collected
No analytics, no tracking, no advertising identifiers, no location access. See the privacy policy.
Minimal discovery data
Nearby advertising reveals as little as possible — no chat names, no contact lists, no group membership.
Features
Built for groups, not just pairs
Group chats
Create a group from your verified contacts. Everyone sees who sent what.
Delivery status
Per-message status, so you know what actually got through and what is still waiting.
Photo sharing
Send photos alongside text, over the same direct encrypted connection.
Automatic queueing
Out of range? Messages wait and send themselves the moment the device is reachable again.
Ready on launch
No pairing ritual every time. Open the app and your verified contacts are already there.
Receiving is always free
Reading and receiving incoming messages never requires a purchase, at any time.
English and Portuguese
The whole app follows your device language, in either language — nothing to switch on.
Pricing
Try it free, then buy it once
OffGrid Messenger is free for 72 hours with unlimited sending. After the trial, a single one-time purchase unlocks unlimited messaging for good — no subscription and no recurring charge. Receiving and reading incoming messages stays free at all times; the purchase unlocks sending once your trial ends.
| Free trial | 72 hours from first launch, unlimited sending |
|---|---|
| Full unlock | One-time purchase, €1.99 reference price — regional pricing set by the App Store |
| Subscription | None |
| Restore | Available any time from the app, using the same Apple Account |
Questions
Frequently asked
Does it really work with no internet at all?
Yes. Messages between paired devices are delivered over a direct Bluetooth / local Wi‑Fi link. The app does not require, and cannot use, a cellular or Wi‑Fi internet connection to deliver them. An internet connection is only needed to install the app and to make or restore the in-app purchase, both of which go through Apple.
How far apart can we be?
Range depends heavily on the environment and is broadly comparable to Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi range — typically tens of metres in the open, less through walls or in a crowded cabin. It is designed for people who are nearby, not across town.
Do I need a phone number or an account?
No. There is no sign-up, no phone number and no login anywhere in the app.
Why does it ask me to turn Wi‑Fi on if there’s no network?
Because the Wi‑Fi radio and a Wi‑Fi network are different things. With the radio on, two devices can open a direct Wi‑Fi link to each other — no network to join, no internet, no data used. That link is noticeably more reliable than Bluetooth on its own, especially once three or more people are chatting. In airplane mode you can switch Wi‑Fi back on without leaving airplane mode, and the app is better for it.
Does the other person need the app too?
Yes — both devices need OffGrid Messenger installed. Install it on everyone’s device before you travel, while you still have a connection.
Can strangers message me?
Only people you have verified in person can chat with you, and new installs default to showing you only to contacts you have already verified. You can change how visible you are at any time in Settings.
Is it a mesh network — will messages hop through other people’s phones?
No. Messages are delivered directly between the two devices in the conversation. There is no multi-hop relaying through third-party devices.
How is my conversation protected?
Two things protect it. First, there is nowhere for it to leak to: messages go straight from one device to the other over a local link that is encrypted by Apple’s device-to-device networking, and never touch a server. Second, only contacts you have verified in person can reach you at all. Group messages carry an extra layer on top, encrypted with a group key that only the members of that group hold and that never leaves your devices in the clear.
We describe this as an encrypted direct link rather than as “end-to-end encryption”, because in one-to-one chats the confidentiality of the message body rests on that transport link rather than on a separate layer of encryption applied by the app itself.
Can we play games too?
Yes — once you’ve verified a contact, you can play Connect Four, Dots and Boxes, or Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe with them right from the chat. Each board shows its rules underneath, so you can accept a game you’ve never played before. Easy for any age, and works with the same no-signal connection as everything else.
What language is the app in?
English and Portuguese. The app follows whatever language your device is set to — there is nothing to choose.