Encrypted messaging
Messages nobody else can read. Not even us.
Text, voice notes, and a live push-to-talk walkie-talkie for your circle — end-to-end encrypted on your phone, the way you'd expect from Signal. No phone number, no account: your circle pairs in person with a QR code, and the server only ever relays sealed data it can't read.
You're on the list — we'll email you the moment BanditKin launches.
No phone number. No account. No readable data on any server.
What you get
A complete messenger for your circle.
Encrypted texts
Message your whole circle or one person — sealed on your device before it leaves.
Voice notes
Record and send — encrypted like everything else, playable when it suits them.
Push-to-Talk walkie-talkie
Hold, talk, release — live voice to your circle, built for the drive and the trail.
No phone number, ever
No account, no email, no number. Your circle pairs in person with a QR code.
On the map, together
Chat lives beside the live map — message someone, or navigate straight to them.
Yours to self-host
Run the relay on your own hardware — even the encrypted metadata stays with you.
Hold to talk. Release. They hear you.
The walkie-talkie works with your whole circle or one member — incoming clips play automatically, and you can tap any clip to replay it. Every clip is end-to-end encrypted, like your texts.
How it compares
Signal-grade privacy, walkie-talkie speed.
We respect the great private messengers. Here's honestly where BanditKin fits.
vs Signal
Signal is a superb general-purpose messenger — and it requires a phone number. BanditKin brings the same end-to-end architecture to your circle with no phone number at all, and puts messages, the live map, and places in one app.
vs disappearing-message apps
Apps like Dust focus on making messages vanish after they're read. BanditKin's focus is that nothing readable ever exists outside your circle in the first place — the server can't leak what it never could read.
vs walkie-talkie apps
Most push-to-talk apps aren't end-to-end encrypted — your voice crosses their servers in a form they can process. BanditKin's walkie-talkie is sealed on your phone like every message, and only your circle can hear it.
FAQ
Private messaging, answered.
Is BanditKin messaging really end-to-end encrypted?
Yes. Texts, voice notes, and push-to-talk audio are encrypted on your device with a key only your circle holds. The key is created on your phone and shared in person by QR code — it never touches the server, and the server only relays sealed data it cannot read.
How does it compare to Signal or Dust?
Signal and Dust are excellent standalone messengers. BanditKin brings the same end-to-end encryption architecture to your circle — messages, voice, the live map, and places in one app — and adds a live push-to-talk walkie-talkie. And unlike most messengers, there's no phone number or account at all: your circle pairs by scanning a QR code in person.
Do I need a phone number?
No. There's no phone number, no email, and no account. Devices and circles are random identifiers, and members join by scanning a QR code in person.
What is Push-to-Talk?
A live walkie-talkie for your circle: hold the button, talk, release — your voice plays on your circle's devices. It's built for driving and hands-busy moments, and it's end-to-end encrypted like everything else.
Can I send photos?
Not today — chat is text and voice: messages, voice notes, and live push-to-talk. If that changes, it will be end-to-end encrypted like everything else.
What does it cost?
Messaging is part of BanditKin — free during early access. Self-hosting is always free. Cloud circles stay free for up to two devices; larger cloud circles will be $4/month at launch — and early users keep everything free.