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Beeper is an instant messenger software designed to unify various chat services and protocols into a single application, aiming to be the “best chat app on earth”. Originally developed by Beeper Inc., it was acquired by Automattic, the owner of WordPress.com and the similar cross-platform messaging application Texts, in April 2024 for $125 million, with plans to merge Texts and Beeper under the Beeper brand.

Key Features and Supported Networks

Beeper functions as a “universal inbox,” consolidating communications from multiple services into one unified interface. Users can browse all their chats from a universal inbox or individually from dedicated spaces within the app. The application supports a wide array of chat services, including:

  • WhatsApp
  • Signal
  • Facebook Messenger
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram
  • Discord
  • Telegram
  • Google Chat
  • Google Messages / Android SMS
  • IRC (via Libera Chat)
  • Matrix
  • LinkedIn
  • Skype
  • Slack

Beeper previously supported iMessage, but this functionality was later removed due to unreliable performance caused by Apple’s actions.

Beyond basic messaging, Beeper offers features like:

  • Low priority tab: Allows users to assign conversations and groups to a low priority tab that does not trigger notifications, helping to manage response urgency.
  • Universal search: Users can easily search all their messages across connected networks.
  • User preferences for services: It could potentially allow users to set preferences for which services they prefer (e.g., Signal over WhatsApp), which might help segregate contacts.
  • Send Later (Beeper Plus feature)
  • Reminders (Beeper Plus feature)
  • Incognito Mode (Beeper Plus feature)
  • Voice Note Transcriptions (Beeper Plus feature)
  • Custom App Icons (Beeper Plus feature)

However, users have noted that the Beeper client doesn’t cover all functionality from original apps, sometimes requiring users to open the native app for features like calls or one-time view pictures. There have also been critiques regarding the handling of message deletion, where messages deleted in the original app might still appear in Beeper, or issues with screenshot prevention on Signal not being enforced within Beeper.

Technical Architecture and Evolution

Beeper’s core architecture is heavily based on Matrix, an open, decentralized, and secure chat protocol. Your Beeper username acts as a Matrix account, enabling secure communication with anyone on any Matrix server.

Historically, Beeper aggregated chat accounts by “bridging” other networks into the Matrix network, with software running on Beeper Cloud servers. While this approach provided reliability and smooth syncing, it meant users had to trust Beeper with their access tokens and keys, as messages were bridged into the Matrix account and then served to clients. To address privacy concerns, Beeper has allowed tech-savvy users to self-host these bridges.

A significant development in Beeper’s architecture is the complete overhaul of its Android, iOS, and Desktop applications. The new Android app is a ground-up rewrite, using Jetpack Compose for UI and Room for persistence, resulting in faster builds and a smaller codebase. The foundation for the new Desktop app comes from Texts.com. These rewrites aim for a consistent and beautiful experience across all operating systems, adopting the design language of the new Beeper Android app and incorporating its fast technical architecture.

A key aspect of this rewrite is the migration of connections from the cloud to direct, local connections inside each app, known as “Beeper On-Device”. This means no cloud server is needed to send or receive messages, significantly increasing security and privacy, and likely enabling more reliable connections.

  • A ‘local’ Signal bridge was released in Beeper Android in April 2024, ensuring Signal keys never leave the device and preserving end-to-end encryption.
  • The new iOS and Desktop apps are planned to feature 100% local bridges. Beeper is actively working on bringing local bridges to all Beeper clients and supporting more end-to-end encrypted networks like WhatsApp and iMessage.

Privacy and Security

Privacy and security are central tenets for Beeper. All messages are end-to-end encrypted before being sent, meaning Beeper and Apple cannot see user messages, and encryption keys never leave the user’s device.

However, the architecture using Matrix bridges for some services meant “end-to-bridge encryption,” where end-to-end encryption was broken at the bridge, requiring trust in Beeper’s servers. The shift to local bridges addresses this, with Beeper Mini (for iMessage) and the new local Signal bridge offering direct connections where encryption keys remain on the user’s device. With Beeper On-Device, your Beeper app connects directly to messaging networks, providing end-to-end encryption for all networks that support it.

In comparison to Texts (before the merger), Texts generally optimized for privacy by not storing chat copies on its servers, requiring syncing from scratch when switching devices. Beeper Cloud, in contrast, did store copies for instant chat restoration. With the introduction of Beeper On-Device, Beeper is moving towards a model where conversations remain local on the user’s device, enhancing privacy.

User Experience and UI

Initial feedback on the new Beeper Android app has been positive regarding its design, described as “beautifully designed” and a “huge step forward”. Users often find Beeper’s interface more modern and user-friendly compared to Texts, with comfortable spacing and muted pastel backdrops for legibility.

Despite the positive design feedback, users have raised concerns about the new Beeper app lacking “basic chat app UI elements” that were present in the old app or are standard in other messaging apps. These include:

  • Media handling: Inability to crop, annotate, or view media attachments before sending, and difficulty scrolling through media.
  • Reply functionality: Issues with replying to specific messages in a thread, leading to confusion about who the user is replying to, especially across different platforms or Beeper apps.
  • Mentions: The inability to tag or mention users in chats.
  • Contact display: Non-standard font for initials in contact images and tiny, easily overlooked contact names in group chats, making it difficult to scan and track who is speaking.
  • Notifications: Some iOS users have reported issues with Beeper notifications not working consistently.

A Beeper developer acknowledges awareness of media issues and states that while there’s “a lot to build,” the app provides value even without all features completed. However, some users feel these omissions significantly hinder the app’s convenience.

Business Model and Pricing

Beeper is currently free for its core service. However, it has plans for a “pro subscription” in the future. In July 2025, Beeper introduced Beeper Plus for $9.99/month, offering premium features like multiple accounts per network, scheduled messages, reminders, incognito mode, voice note transcriptions, and custom app icons. A Beeper Plus Plus tier for $49.99/month provides unlimited accounts. Existing early users receive some features at no cost or indefinitely as a token of gratitude.

Controversies and Challenges with iMessage

Beeper gained significant attention with the release of Beeper Mini in December 2023, an Android app designed to send messages through Apple’s iMessage service. This app was marketed to enable Android users to communicate with iOS users via blue chat bubbles, overcoming Apple’s restriction of Android users to SMS (green bubbles). Beeper Mini achieved this by reverse-engineering the iMessage protocol and connecting directly to Apple servers without requiring a Mac relay or an Apple ID.

However, Apple repeatedly blocked Beeper Mini, leading Beeper to issue multiple updates to circumvent these blocks. Ultimately, Beeper Mini was discontinued in 2024, with Beeper stating it would cease the “cat and mouse” game with Apple. This ongoing conflict prompted the United States Department of Justice to initiate an antitrust investigation into Apple’s blocking of Beeper Mini. The core of the issue, as highlighted by the DOJ, is Apple’s alleged practice of undermining cross-platform messaging to reinforce its smartphone monopoly, intentionally degrading quality, privacy, and security for its users by limiting third-party app integration with SMS and other features.

Public Knowledge, a consumer rights group, met with the FCC to discuss the legal implications of Apple’s actions, arguing that Apple’s blocking of Beeper Mini might violate Title II interconnection requirements and the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) due to the reduced accessibility of SMS compared to iMessage.

Outlook

Beeper’s roadmap for 2024 indicates a strong focus on completing the rewrite of its Desktop and iOS apps, with the first versions expected for testing later in the year. The company is seeking alpha testers to help identify bugs. The core strategy is to move towards a full on-device connection model for all chat networks, prioritizing user privacy and security by eliminating the need for cloud servers to handle messages. This shift, combined with the new premium subscription tiers, positions Beeper for continued evolution in the universal messaging space.