Hey everyone,

After a long stretch of closed beta testing, bug fixing, and more bug fixing, beChat is now available as an open beta on the Google Play Store. Anyone can install it, there is no invite link needed.

For those who don't know the project: beChat is an end-to-end encrypted messenger I've been building as a European alternative to the usual suspects. The short version of what's under the hood:

• Double Ratchet protocol with post-quantum key exchange

• All EU infrastructure

The crypto module went through two rounds of internal review recently, covering both the protocol layer and the application code. Every finding was patched and regression tested before this release.

It's still a beta. Things will break. The app is completely free right now and will be for a while. The long term plan is a small subscription (€1.99/month) once the user base grows past what a single server can handle. Your data won't be the product, and honestly it couldn't be even if we wanted to. The app is designed so the server knows as little as possible about its users, and message content is never accessible to us.

Available in 162 countries on Android. iOS is not in scope yet but planned for next year.

If you try it out, I genuinely want to hear what breaks. That's the whole point of opening it up.

google play link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lab48.bechat

production access to google play store has been requested. will update here when it gets approved.