Private by default
Messages are meant for the people in the conversation, not the company carrying them.
iris chat
Secure private messaging
A free, open-source, end-to-end encrypted messenger. No phone number, email, or sign-up. Nearby over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Works nearby without internet
Talk to nearby devices over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi without internet. Availability depends on your devices and permissions.
No registration required
Your identity is created on your device. No provider account, phone number, or email required.
When phone numbers, accounts, or the internet get in the way.
When you want to choose your servers
Use the message servers you want, including your own. Your identity stays yours when you switch.
When the network is unreliable
Nearby mode keeps short-range conversations possible in basements, events, travel, and outages.
When a program needs to reach you
People, agents, scripts, and local devices can send iris chat messages without a platform account or API key.
Get iris chat.
Command line interface.
Let scripts, agents, and local devices send messages you receive in iris chat. No platform account or API key needed.
Pre-built
Fast setup for Mac and Linux.
Cargo
Build from source with Rust.
FAQ
How is Iris Chat different from White Noise / Marmot?
Both Iris Chat and White Noise offer end-to-end encrypted messaging over Nostr. White Noise uses Marmot, based on Messaging Layer Security (MLS). Iris uses Nostr Double Ratchet, with group messages delivered inside separate encrypted envelopes for each recipient.
The main tradeoff is coordination. Iris group senders can refresh their keys independently; Marmot coordinates key and membership changes through shared group state. Both still need to deliver membership updates and the keys needed to read messages.
Read the full protocol comparison · White Noise
Reviewed
Compare Iris Chat, White Noise, Signal, Matrix, Session, Telegram, and Keet →