# Chat Local

> Chat Local is a free offline messaging app for iPhone that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking to send encrypted text messages without internet, WiFi, or cell service. No account, no servers, no tracking. Built for festivals, camping, emergencies, travel, and anywhere connectivity fails.

## What It Does

Chat Local lets you send and receive text messages to nearby people using only Bluetooth. Messages are encrypted with AES-256-GCM and travel directly between phones with no internet required. Messages can hop through multiple devices (mesh relay with TTL=5) to extend range beyond direct Bluetooth distance (~100 meters).

## Key Features

- Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking (no internet/WiFi/cell required)
- AES-256-GCM encryption on all messages by default
- Optional password-protected end-to-end encryption (Pro)
- No account, email, phone number, or personal data required
- Nearby conversation discovery with message preview
- Messages relay through intermediate devices (mesh networking)
- Custom binary protocol (50-60% smaller than JSON alternatives)
- Works in airplane mode (Bluetooth only)
- 100% serverless — messages stored only on-device
- Profanity filter with customizable settings
- Custom themes and per-user color coding (Pro)
- User and device blocking (Pro)
- Notification keywords for filtered alerts (Pro)

## Pricing

- Free: Unlimited messaging, default encryption, 2 conversations, 20 message history
- Pro: $1.99/week, $4.99/month, or $24.99/year — unlimited conversations, 500+ history, password encryption, themes, blocking, faster messaging

## Who It's For

- Festival and concert goers (when cell towers are overwhelmed)
- Hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts (no cell coverage areas)
- Emergency preparedness and disaster communication
- International travelers (no roaming charges needed)
- Privacy-focused users (no servers, no tracking, no metadata)
- Rural and remote communities (limited cell infrastructure)
- Schools and campuses (dead zones, emergency lockdowns)
- Search and rescue teams (infrastructure-denied environments)
- Cruise and flight passengers (no expensive onboard WiFi needed)

## How It Compares

Unlike Bridgefy: AES-256-GCM encryption on all messages by default, custom binary protocol, nearby conversation discovery
Unlike Briar: No technical setup needed, consumer-friendly UX, iOS native
Unlike Meshtastic: No additional hardware required, works with just iPhones
Unlike goTenna: Software-only solution, no hardware purchase needed

## Technical Details

- Platform: iOS (iPhone)
- Protocol: Yama Wire Protocol (YWP) v1 — custom binary, 12-byte header, CRC-16 checksums
- Encryption: AES-256-GCM with PBKDF2 key derivation (100,000 iterations)
- Bluetooth: BLE with dual Central/Peripheral mode
- MTU: Auto-negotiated (185-512 bytes), automatic message chunking
- Mesh: TTL-based forwarding (default 5 hops), UUID deduplication
- Storage: Local only (Capacitor Storage), no cloud sync

## Links

- [Homepage](https://chatlocal.solutionflare.com/)
- [Support & FAQ](https://chatlocal.solutionflare.com/support.html)
- [Download on App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chat-local-offline-messaging/id6758320647)
- [Privacy Policy](https://legal.chatlocal.solutionflare.com/privacy-policy.html)
- [Terms of Service](https://legal.chatlocal.solutionflare.com/terms.html)

## Contact

- Support: chatlocal-support@solutionflare.com
- Feature Requests: chatlocal-feature@solutionflare.com
- Bug Reports: chatlocal-bug@solutionflare.com
- Publisher: SolutionFlare (https://solutionflare.com)