With the rise in popularity of game streaming, the popularity of game broadcasting software has skyrocketed. While there are a lot of game broadcasting and streaming software out there, most are either paid or aren’t that great. But, the open-source community has the answer to this.
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free and feature-rich open-source live streaming and recording software popular among the masses. In this article, let’s look at how to install OBS Studio on Linux.
Install OBS Studio On Ubuntu Linux
Installing OBS Studio on Ubuntu is pretty easy and straightforward. All you need to do is:
1. First, we need to install FFmpeg. For starters, FFmpeg consists of a large collection of libraries and programs to handle video, audio, and other multimedia files. To install FFmpeg, open the command prompt, enter the following command, and hit enter.
sudo apt install ffmpeg
2. Now, it’s time to add the obs repository.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
3. Finally, install OBS Studio using the command.
sudo apt install obs-studio
Install OBS Studio On Arch/Arch-Based Distributions
The easiest way to install OBS Studio on Arch is by using the default package manager Pacman.
sudo pacman -S obs-studio
Install OBS Studio On Fedora
1. You’ll need to download the latest version of rpmfusion-free-release-stable from this link.
2. Install rpmfusion-free-release-stable using the following command.
sudo rpm -Uvh rpmfusion-free-release-stable*rpm
3. Finally, install OBS Studio
sudo dnf install obs-studio-libs
Install OBS Studio On CentOS
1. Download the latest nux-desktop-release from this link and install it using the following command.
sudo rpm -Uvh nux-desktop-release*rpm
2. Install OBS Studio
sudo yum install obs-studio
Install OBS Studio Using Snap Store
No matter which Linux distro you’re running, Snap Store is the one-stop solution for all your software needs. Downloading and installing Snap Store is also pretty easy.
2. Scroll all the way down to find the “Install Snap Store on Your Linux Distribution” section.
3. From the distros list, find the distro that you’re running and click on it. For example, here’s how you can enable snap and install the Snap store on Linux.
4. The next thing that you’ll see is installation instructions for installing Snap Store on your PC. Make sure you follow each of them.
5. After the installation’s complete, find the Snap Store app in your apps list and launch it.
6. Search for OBS Studio in the search box.
7. Click on the install button to install it.
That said, not every piece of software is made perfect, and snaps are by no means perfect as they do have some heavy caveats.
Do you want us to compare Snap with other package managers? Let us know in the comments section below.
Having trouble installing OBS Studio? Drop a comment below.
EndeavourOS ended 2020 with the launch of a new EndeavourOS ARM ISO and regular desktop version 2020.09.19 release.
Starting the new year 2021, Bryan Poerwoatmodjo (aka Bryanpwo), founder and project leader at EndeavourOS, has announced February Snapshot EndeavourOS 2021.02.03.
EndeavourOS 2021.02.03: What’s New?
EndeavourOS 2021.02.03
The latest v2020.09.19 ISO features the updated version of general packages such as Linux Kernel 5.10.11.arch1-1, Mesa 20.3.4-1, Nvidia 460.39-2, Firefox 85.0-1, and Calamares 3.2.34-10.
Additionally, it has also added several new features. For instance, a new theme and setup for i3 window manager (WM), only one new universal wallpaper for all desktop environments and WM, and Alacrity as one of the supported terminals for native apps.
Besides new additions, EndeavourOS 2021.02.03 has improved some features on the live environment and updated the offline option, which now installs the latest fully themed Xfce 4.16 desktop.
Here’s a brief list of other key enhancements, new features, and bug fixes EndeavourOS 2021.02.03 includes:
Welcome now ships with Pacdiff to check the changes on config files after an update
Easily configure eos-update-notifier through the Welcome app
The Welcome app now supports Brazillian-Portuguese
UpdateInTerminal tool to check and update the system when eos-update-notifier is turned off
eos-sendlog to send any text file (from standard input) to the internet for others to see
eos-pkginfo to read more information about a package
Removed Reflector-auto as Reflector offers this feature by default
reflector-bash-completion added
During the installation, the user now get added to the sys rfkill wheel users group by default
Installed reordering and adding packages to improve filesystem support on GTK and QT environments
New option in Welcome –pkglist=URL to add additional packages during install using user_pkglist.txt file
Finally, if you want to get hands on the latest EndeavourOS 2021.02.03, grab its ISO image from here.
The image comes with both offline installer for installing fully themed Xfce and online installer that provides a choice of eight Desktop Environments Xfce, MATE, LXQt, Cinnamon, Plasma, GNOME, Budgie, Deepin, and Window Manager i3-WM.
Bollywood releases the highest number of movies per year among all the entertainment industries across the world. So it isn’t a surprise that the majority of Indians are movie buffs. While many of us prefer watching movies in theaters and television, others watch Hindi movies online. However, not all of them are legal as they offer pirated content or torrents that stream Bollywood movies illegally.
I know that downloading pirated movies seem like a convenient option for many, but such activities can attract a penalty. Besides, you always risk malware attacks while attempting to stream or download Hindi movies for free from such websites. This is why I have compiled a list of the best sites to watch Bollywood movies online for free and legally in 2021.
Best Sites to Watch Bollywood Movies Online Free
No.
Website
Availability
1.
Hotstar
Free with ads
2.
Voot
Free with ads
3.
SonyLiv
Free with ads
4.
MX Player
Free with ads
5.
Zee5
Free with ads
6.
YouTube
Free with ads
7.
Airtel Xtream
Free for Airtel Users
8.
BigFlix
Free trial
9.
JioCinema
Free for Jio Users
10.
Eros Now
Free trial
11.
Spuul
Free with ads
12.
Hungama Movies
Free trial
13.
YuppFlix
Free trial
14.
Amazon Prime Video
Free trial
Before moving ahead and taking a look at these services in detail, do take a look at our other lists where you can watch some more awesome movies, TV series, and songs for free to get your daily dose of entertainment.
Hotstar is a boon for all movie enthusiasts who’d like to watch Bollywood movies online for free. And the best part is that you don’t even need to sign up to watch the content here and all of it is completely legal. Just look for the thumbnails that don’t have ‘Premium’ written on it — they are free. The collection movies are amazing with a lot of recently released movies in it.
Apart from free Hindi movies, you can also watch films in 8 different languages without signing up. There are separate sections for watching TV series, sports, and news as well. The TV series section has content from 30 channels mostly owned by Star India. In case you are a sports buff, you can watch live sports including cricket, football, tennis, etc.
To get an uninterrupted, ad-free experience, you can buy a Hotstar Premium account subscription at a fee of Rs. 999/yr or Rs. 199/month.
Why use Hotstar?
Largest collection of online Hindi movies for free
Voot is undoubtedly one of the best free Hindi movie streaming sites in 2021 that not only offer Hindi movies but Kannad, Telugu, Bengali and English as well. It is part of Viacom 18 Digital Ventures so you can rest assured that the website is completely legal. Here, you can stream a huge collection of both old and new Hindi movies online for free such as Bajirao Mastani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Cocktail, Ghajini, etc.
To find and watch all free Hindi movies at one place for online streaming, click on the movies section and scroll down to the section that says “Movie Mania: Watch For Free.” The search option is also efficient and lets you find movies quickly. Apart from Bollywood movies online, you can watch TV shows, news and short films that can be streamed on your smartphone, PC, tablet, and Fire TV. All content on Voot is available for free and is supported by ads. You just have to sign up on the website to watch Indian movies online free.
SonyLiv is a Sony-owned video streaming service that contains the content of the library of more than a dozen TV channels in India. This site to watch Hindi movies online contains free as well as premium content. The website’s interface is pretty clean and the paid content is clearly labeled premium (denoted by a crown symbol) to help you sort which of them are free Bollywood movies online and which ones are paid.
The content on this Bollywood movie website is further divided into Trending, Drama, Hindi, South Indian, Romantic, Comedy, Action, etc. Moreover, to watch the free content, you don’t even need to sign up. The website also offers a premium account that lets you unlock even more content by paying Rs 99/month. If you choose to pay Rs 499, you get to enjoy Hindi movies online for 1 year.
Why SonyLiv?
Simple interface, no sign up needed
Added benefit of sports if you choose premium
4. MX Player
You might be familiar with MX Player as it is a popular media player that lets you play movies, videos and songs on it. But many of you might not be aware that MX Player is also one of the best sites to watch Hindi movies online for free. What’s even more, it lets you stream latest Hindi movies online without even signing up! These days you rarely find a site in 2021 that lets you access its free contents without registering and MX Player seems to be one such valuable website for watching Bollywood movies for free.
MX Player also offers English movies dubbed in Hindi. Some of the popular dubbed movies you’d find is Train To Busan, Ninja Turtles, The Mechanic. And some of the popular Bollywood Hindi you can stream here are Golmaal, Judwaa, Apaharan, etc.
Why MX Player?
Watch latest Hindi movies online for free without signing up
If you are looking for a website to watch Hindi movies online free without signup, Zee5 is one of the best. It has a large collection of movies where many of them are completely free. You just have to look for thumbnails without the “Premium” label in it. Alternatively, you can access all the free Hindi movies from this page.
Zee5 offers a collection of both old and new superhit movies like Tanu Weds Manu, Omkaara, Golmaal, etc. Apart from Hindi, the site offers movies in other regional languages too. You can also watch TV shows, news and other short videos on the website. The site is pretty neat and offers good streaming speed even at low internet connections.
If you are interested in buying a premium membership, Zee5 offers plans starting from INR 49 to INR 999.
Why use Zee5?
Clean interface and well-cataloged
Offers both old and new Bollywood movies
Requires no sign-up
6. YouTube
While there are many channels on YouTube that let you watch Hindi movies online for free, a majority of them are doing it illegally. There are only a couple of YouTube channels that stream their copyrighted Bollywood movies for free and legally:
Rajshri Production Films is a well-known name in Bollywood that brought superhit movies like Hum Saath Saath Hain. The channel mostly offers the old Hindi films made by them but they are still worth watching. It also features clippings of the best Bollywood movie scenes and music videos online.
Shemaroo Movies is another YouTube channel to watch Hindi movies online for free and legally in 2021. Just like Rajshri Productions, this channel lets you stream their copyrighted movies free of cost. You can watch full-length Bollywood movies online like Amar Akbar Anthony and Bhagam Bhaag, to name a few.
Goldmines Telefilms is a good YouTube channel to watch Hindi movies online in HD quality. It hosts a good collection of blockbuster movies like China Gate, Josh, Ghatak, Sooryavansham, etc. Besides these you’d also find South Indian movies dubbed in Hindi for free.
With the Airtel Thanks initiative, anyone with an active Airtel connection (Postpaid, Broadband, DTH, Prepaid) can access Airtel Xstream. It offers free Indian movies by bundling different streaming services like Amazon Prime. To get even more content, there’s an option of Xstream Premium subscription that brings along the whole catalog of TV shows and Indian movies.
The free Hindi movie service currently offers Bollywood movies online like Manmarziyaan, Kahaani, Badlapur, Golmaal, Housefull, Aligarh, Krrish, etc. Apart from free Hindi movies, you get content in other languages as well. As it’s a service from a telecom operator, you also have the option to stream free Bollywood movies on its mobile app.
Bigflix is a movie on-demand service by Reliance BIG Entertainment where you can watch Bollywood movies legally in 2021. However, the site isn’t completely free and lets you watch movies and videos on a free trial basis for one month. You can buy a monthly subscription for unlimited movies or choose to pay per movie. There are thousands of movies available in various regional Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and Tamil. The content can be streamed on PCs, tablets, phones, etc.
For ad-free HD content, you can buy a premium subscription at Rs. 50/mo or a yearly subscription of Rs. 500.
Just like Airtel Xstream, JioCinema is another free online Hindi movie streaming app from a telecom giant. So, if you’re a Reliance Jio user, you are already a subscriber of a movie streaming service. It goes without saying that JioCinema also has a smartphone app that lets you enjoy the entertainment on the go.
This site to watch Bollywood movies online is well designed but I found it hard to list all the Hindi movies in one place. However, the movie collection is apparently better as compared to Xstream. You get to watch films like Andhadhun, Drishyam, Stree Pyar Ka Panchnama, Singham, Luka Chhuppi, etc., for free.
Eros Now is one of the free online Hindi movies sites where you can stream Indian movies online on a free trial of 14 days. It is a completely free website with a clean interface. You won’t be interrupted by any ads while watching Bollywood movies online for free on Eros Now. Here, you can search for movies made by your favorite Bollywood actors or producers. Apart from mainstream Hindi movies, you’d also find regional content, TV shows, and music on this site.
The video quality is good enough offers decent streaming speeds. Eros Now can be accessed on several platforms and devices, like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Android, iOS, and PC.
You can opt for its premium service at Rs 49/mo, Rs 79/quarter, and Rs 399/year.
Spuul is another good site to watch Hindi movies online free in 2021. The website has a clean interface with a dark mode which is visually appealing. While many of the movies of fall under the premium segment under which you can choose to pay Rs.99 per/mo to watch new Bollywood movies online.
But for those who are looking to watch Indian movies for free might find it a little difficult to find free movies from the search box. But don’t worry, you can simply click on this link to visit the catalog of free Hindi movies directly.
You can watch the first 10 minutes of a film for free at Hungama Movies after which it offers you an option to subscribe and play the entire movie. It also offers a 30 day trial period to users but currently, this option is available to app users only. During this period you can watch Hindi movies online free or download it for offline viewing.
The collection of Bollywood movies online on Hungama is quite rich ranging from classics to recently released movies. Besides movies, the site also hosts 3.5+ million songs that can be streamed at HD quality. For an ad-free unlimited experience, you can opt for their paid plans.
The premium subscription for unlimited movies and videos starts at Rs. 199/mo. There are other combo plans as well that you can check out on the website.
YuppFlix has a really good collection of online Hindi movies as well as English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada films. The service is provided by Yupp TV which provides live TV channel services in India and abroad. It also has a mobile app for Android and iOS where you can watch Indian movies for free in 2021.
YuppFlix offers 14 days free trial for all countries except Malaysia and the Middle East where they provide only 3 days of free trial. If you are interested in buying the premium subscription, you can do so at Rs. 500/mo. One YuppFlix subscription can be availed on 1 web browser, 4 smart TVs and 2 smartphones.
Why use YuppFlix?
Support multiple devices including Roku and Android TV
Now that we have mentioned Netflix, let’s talk about its rival as well — Amazon Prime Video. It is a cheaper option and they host more content in comparison to Netflix. You can find the latest Bollywood movies online here like Raazi and stand up comedy by Indian artists too. Just like Netflix, it offers home-grown content too.
It offers a 30-day free trial option where you can watch unlimited Bollywood movies for free. After that, you can avail of annual subscription of Amazon Prime Video at a fee of Rs. 129/mo and Rs. 999/yr.
Bonus: On buying Amazon Prime subscription, you also get access to free Prime Delivery and Prime Music service by Amazon
Why use Amazon Prime Video?
Recently released movies, songs, and videos
Amazon Prime Delivery and Prime Music as a bonus
Free Hindi Movie Sites FAQs
How can I watch Hindi movies online for free?
Hotstar, Voot, MX Player, SonyLiv are some the best free online Bollywood movie streaming sites. You can also refer to the list of free sites to watch Hindi movie online mentioned in this article.
What are the top Bollywood movies of 2021?
The 5 highest-grossing Hindi movies of 2021, till now, are Tanhaji, Baaghi 3, Street Dancer 3D, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, and Malang.
Can I watch the latest releases for free on mobile?
Many OTT platforms like Hotstar, Zee5, JioCinema, etc., let users access their full/partial movie catalog for free. You can use these apps to watch new regional movies for free on your Android or iOS smartphone.
Do I need a VPN to watch Hindi movies?
If you’re in India and you’re accessing a legal website to stream online content, you don’t need a VPN. However, if you’re outside India, having a VPN can be a lifesaver.
How to get Amazon Prime Video for free?
Airtel and Vodafone keep offering free Amazon Prime subscriptions from time-to-time. If you’re a JioFiber user (new or existing), you can also avail the Rs 999/year subscription without any extra charges.
How to get free Hotstar/Disney+ for Hindi movies?
You can get Hotstar/Disney+ without paying a single penny two ways. There are multiple recharges for Reliance Jio that come bundled with Hotstar plan for 365 days. Amazon is also offering one year free subscription with monthly postpaid Infinity plan of Rs.499 or above.
How to get free Netflix to watch Indian films?
Currently, Vodafone Idea is offering free one-year Netflix and Amazon Prime Video subscriptions with its Rs 1,099/month REDX postpaid plan.
Which is the best Hindi movie download site?
You can download Hindi movies from Hotstar, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on your device to view it later in offline mode.
So these were a few legal sources where you can watch Hindi movies online for free without signing up. Most of the websites on this list are paid services with a free trial period. However, it is always advisable to go for legal paid services instead of illegal websites that come with a risk of malware.
Do let us know which Bollywood movie streaming site for 2021 you liked the most and if I missed any good sources on this list, feel free to add a comment below.
Not long ago, nobody cared about the build quality and safety features of the cars in India. Many people have lost their lives in car accidents due to the low safety standards of their vehicles. However, as the awareness and importance of safety among masses are increasing, drivers are becoming more concerned. For that reason, even automakers are trying to manufacture the safest cars in India.
The modern generation is prioritizing safety features in cars over other offerings. If you are one of them, you have come to the right place as we have listed down some of the safest cars in India. The best part is that all these cars are affordable and within a price range of Rs 10 lakhs.
Here is a list of the safe and affordable cars in India under a budget of Rs 10 lakh.
Note: All the above cars have at least two air bags.
There are a few other cars that are known to have excellent build quality. Still, since their Indian model has not undergone any crash tests, we have not included them here—for example, Ford Ecosport and Toyota Yaris.
1. Mahindra XUV300: Safest Car In India (5/5 GNCAP Rating)
Image: Mahindra
Last year in 2020, Mahindra XUV300 became the safest Indian car as per the rating of the Global NCAP crash test. With a five-star rating for adult occupants and a four-star for child safety, it sits at the top of the list of safest cars in India.
It’s the only Indian vehicle to score four stars for child safety in the Global NCAP test. The automaker provides two airbags, all-four disc brakes, corner braking control, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX/Child Seat Anchors, and a lot more safety features as standard in all its variants.
The 2020 XUV300 is the first car in its segment to have all four disc brakes. Additionally, its top variant has seven airbags, which is also the first in the segment.
The price of this compact SUV starts at Rs 7.95 lakh (ex-showroom).
2. Tata Altroz: Safest Hatchback In India (5/5 GNCAP)
Image: Tata Motors
Due to its build quality and safety features, Tata Altroz has become quite popular among automotive enthusiasts. This hatchback is a premium product of Tata Motors, and also it’s one of the safest cars Tata has produced to date.
Tata Altroz has a five-star Global NCAP safety rating for adult occupants and three stars for child occupants. It’s built on the robust ALFA architecture designed by Tata Motors for maximum safety.
Similar to Mahindra XUV300, Altroz comes equipped with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Corner Stability Control, ISOFIX, and much more as standard across all its variants.
Prices for Tata Altroz start at Rs 5.44 lakh (ex-showroom).
3. Tata Nexon (5/5 GNCAP)
Image: Tata Motors
Here’s the former crown holder of the safest Indian car. Back in 2018, Tata Nexon surprised everyone by scoring five stars in the Global NCAP crash test. We can say that Tata Nexon is one of the cars that drove the movement of safer cars in India.
According to Global NCAP, Tata Nexon scored five stars and three stars for adult and child occupants, respectively.
As expected from the top-of-the-line safest cars, Tata Nexon has all necessary safety features including dual airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, etc. even in its base variant.
The price of Tata Nexon starts at Rs 7.09 lakh (ex-showroom).
4. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross: Safest SUV In Budget (5/5 ANCAP)
Image: Maruti Suzuki
Among Maruti Suzuki cars, S-Cross is known to have the best build quality. Although the vehicle has not undergone the Global NCAP test, it scored a perfect five-star rating for adult occupants in ASEAN NCAP. Also, it received four stars for child occupants.
In terms of safety and build quality, this SUV is completely out of the league compared to other Maruti cars.
Maruti S-Cross is built on Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) for maximum energy absorption and dispersion of crash energy. As required in a safe car, Maruti provided all necessary safety features in S- Cross. To name a few, it’s equipped with ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, ISOFIX, and much more.
The price of S-Cross starts at Rs 8.39 lakh (ex-showroom).
5. Volkswagen Polo (4/5 GNCAP)
Image: Volkswagen
This German hatchback continues the reputation of European cars in terms of build quality. Apart from its punchy performance, Volkswagen Polo is equally impressive when it comes to safety in cars.
Its body is made up of galvanized steel and enclosed by a laser-welded roof. Furthermore, the automaker has provided dual-airbags and ABS as standard across all its variants.
Since it’s a Volkswagen car, we assume we don’t need to tell you much about its build quality, as everyone is pretty much aware of it. For reference, VW Polo holds a four-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test.
The base model of the VW Polo costs Rs 5.87 lakh (ex-showroom).
6. Tata Tiago/ Tigor: Cheap And One Of The Safest Cars (4/5 GNCAP)
Image: Tata Motors
Tata Tiago is one of the most underrated hatchbacks in the Indian market. Whether it’s performance, features, or ride quality, Tiago provides an amazing blend of them. On top of that, it’s quite affordable too, with prices starting at Rs 4.85 lakh (ex-showroom).
In our previous articles, we have seen multiple times how Tiago saved its passengers in the most brutal accidents. Anyway, both Tiago and the Tigor (sedan version) have an impressive Global NCAP safety rating of four stars for adults and three stars for children.
The automaker claims it to be the safest car in its segment. Furthermore, the hatchback is offered with dual-airbags, ABS with EBD and Corner Stability Control, Speed Alert as standard across all its variants.
7. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (4/5 GNCAP)
Image: Maruti Suzuki
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has shown some promising results in the Global NCAP crash test and made its way to this list. This compact SUV scored four stars for adult occupants and two stars for child safety.
Similar to its sibling S-Cross, it’s built on Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) for a better impact absorbing structure. Apart from this, Maruti Brezza is equipped with ABS with EBD, dual airbags, side-impact protection beam, and ISOFIX, to name a few.
In terms of pricing, the base model of this compact SUV starts at Rs 7.39 lakh (ex-showroom).
8. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (3/5 GNCAP)
If you are looking for an affordable and reliable MPV car, then Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is one of the best options.
Maruti Ertiga holds a three-star safety rating for both adult and child occupants in the Global NCAP crash test, making it eligible for our list.
It’s built on Maruti’s Heartect Platform and equipped with safety features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Assist, ESP and more.
Apart from this, the current model of Ertiga is available in hybrid and CNG options in addition to the conventional petrol engine. The latest variant also looks stylish and there’s ample space inside the cabin, which makes it a suitable family car or simply a good seven-seater option.
Speaking of the price, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will cost you Rs 7.69 lakh (ex-showroom).
Some Other Safe Cars In India
Apart from these cars, few others are known for their excellent build quality. For example, Volkswagen Vento, Ford Ecosport, and Toyota Yaris but since the Indian models of these cars have not undergone any testing, we have not included them.
In addition, if you are willing to spend some more, then check out Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Marazzo. Both hold a four-star safety rating in Global NCAP crash test. However, it’s slightly above the budget we have mentioned above.
Furthermore, what’s more important is to follow traffic rules and drive safely. Otherwise, there’s no point in buying a safe car if you can’t drive it properly. We have seen people losing their lives even in the most reliable cars due to overspeeding and reckless driving.
Anyway, do tell us which is your favourite car among them in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the safest car under Rs 5 lakhs?
With a safety rating of four-stars in Global NCAP, Tata Tiago is the safest car within the budget of Rs 5 lakhs.
Tata Tiago is equipped with features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Corner Stability Control, and Speed Alert as standard across all its variants.
Which is the safest car under Rs 10 lakhs?
Mahindra XUV300 is the safest car you can get in this budget. Also, it holds the highest safety rating on the Global NCAP list of Indian cars.
In the age of frequent internet shutdowns and government-led restrictions, offline messaging apps are gaining traction among users. But there could be any day when you’re left with no internet? What if you’re stranded in a remote location, or worse, the authorities have ordered an internet shutdown?
That’s where offline messaging apps come in handy. Using these apps, you can create a mesh network in remote areas with no cellular connectivity after installing them on multiple devices. That way, the message you send can hop over multiple devices and reach the receiver’s device.
Here’s the list of offline chat apps that don’t require WiFi or even an internet connection.
Important: These apps are meant to work without the internet. But you’ll have to install and configure them in advance in order to use them when in need.
Best Offline Messaging Apps For Android And iOS (2021)
Offline Messaging Apps
What is it offers?
Bridgefy
Short-range Bluetooth communication
Meshenger
Instant texting via QR code scanning
Briar
Texting over WIFi, Bluetooth, Tor
Two Way: Walkie Talkie
Quick one-to-one communication
Rumble
Off-the-grid microblogging
Serval Mesh
Creates mesh network with other devices
1. Bridgefy
The offline messenger Bridgefy uses the phone’s Bluetooth radio to establish a connection with other smartphones running the app. Once set up, the app will let you talk to Bridgefy users within a 300-feet radius from you. However, the recipient needs to be on your contact list.
You can send direct end-to-end encrypted messages to a single person or create a group to talk to multiple people at once. You can use this app to transfer images without an active internet connection. You can use the app without a user account but getting your phone number verified can speed up user discovery.
Bridgefy also comes with a Broadcast mode that lets you send messages to all the users nearby at the same time. This feature also work for the users who are not on your contact list. Bridgefy is the best texting app that works without WiFi or data.
Meshenger is yet another free offline messaging app that can help you out at times when there is no internet. You can use this open-source app for free calling and texting without needing WiFi or data.
You can simply scan each others contact QR-Code and start with free calling or texting. All the private messages are encrypted in this app as well, so no one knows what you’re talking about. The app features a night mode and an option to backup the.
One big downside of this offline texting app is that both parties should be on the same local network. On the bright side, you don’t need to sign up to start with Meshenger.
Like Bridgey, Brair is another free offline chat app without phone number verification for off-the-grid messaging. You just need to enter your name, set a password and you’re ready to send text messages without internet or cellular connectivity.
Briar lets you send messages via the internet but works as a great Bluetooth texting app when required. To add new contacts, you can scan the QR code on another person’s device which eliminates the possibility of an unknown person connecting with you.
It also provides a shareable link to add contacts that are not in your physical vicinity. In addition to messaging, this open source app lets you create forums for asking questions, and create blog posts without leaving the app.
An easy setup process is what you get with this offline communication app that turns your phone into a live walkie-talkie. That’s because the Two Way doesn’t ask for an email account or phone number.
You just need to tune in to a random channel and share that with your friends. After that, simply press and hold the Talk button and say your line when it turns green. The other person has to do the same.
A couple of things you shouldn’t expect here is encryption and privacy. The walkie-talkie communication is open and if anyone coincidentally enters the same channel number on their device, they can listen to your conversations.
Other than that, the app is a simple solution for people who are stuck in natural disaster situations, or trekking in scarcely populated mountains.
The free and open-source app Rumble promotes itself as a completely off-the-grid micro-blogging application for communities. It can be of great use for those who want to avoid a government shutdown or surveillance of the internet.
After establishing a connection over WiFi or Bluetooth, Rumble lets users chat freely and share images without using a cellular network.
The only downside for some users is that the app hasn’t been updated in a while. Still, it efficiently manages to get the job done.
Serval Mesh is another open-source offline chat app that you can use without internet. The app uses Bluetooth and the phone’s Wi-Fi to communicate with other nearby devices.
Once the recipient is connected to you on the mesh network, you can have free calls, free messaging, and share files.
One huge problem with Serval Mesh is that a new version of Several has not been released for the past three years. In other words, the project is no longer maintained by the developers. However, you can still use it for offline messaging.
Download Several Mesh for Android (Link to F-Droid)
So these are some offline messaging apps that can get you through the internet shutdown in India or during a natural disaster. And let’s just not consider only the negatives, you can use these Bluetooth texting apps and walkie-talkie apps when you’re hiking with your friends on a distant mountain.
If you have any suggestions to make, don’t forget to drop your thoughts in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do offline messaging apps work?
The messaging apps that don’t need the internet mostly use Bluetooth and WiFi Direct technologies to send and receive messages between devices.
How Can I Use WhatsApp Offline Messaging?
WhatsApp doesn’t let you communicate without an active internet connection unlike Bridgfy and other off-the-grid chat apps. However, you can still send a message to someone which will be delivered when they get online.
How To Use Facebook Messenger without the internet?
The Facebook Messenger app can also work as the default SMS app on your smartphone. So, in one way, you can use it to send/receive texts without the internet.
Some people like to express themselves through their favorite songs instead of summing up their personality in 101 characters (Yep! that’s the character limit of Facebook bio).
Fortunately, Zuckerberg allows you to add music to your Facebook profile. In fact, you can have multiple songs added to your Facebook profile and can have one song pinned which will then be visible right above your Facebook bio.
While we are talking about music on Facebook, let’s not forget that you can also add music to Facebook stories as well. Because if you have the option of bringing pictures to life, then why not use it?
It is important to note that the songs added to your Facebook profile will be set to public, even if you have restricted your posts to be only seen by your friends.
Open the Facebook app on Android or iOS.
Go to your Facebook profile.
Scroll down to the “What’s on your mind” field. Right under it, you’ll see a “Photos, Avatars, Life Events” tab.
Swipe left on it until you see the Music option and tap on it.
Tap on the + icon at the top right corner of the Facebook Music page.
Search for your favourite song and tap on the “Add” button right next to it to add music to your FB profile.
If you want to pin a song, go back to the Music page and tap on the triple-dot icon right next to your favourite song.
Tap on “Pin to profile”
You will now see your most-liked song right above your Facebook bio. Tap on the triple-dot icon right next to the pinned song if you want to replace the song or unpin it.
If you want to remove music from your Facebook profile, go back to the Facebook Music page > Tap on the triple-dot icon next to the song and tap on “Delete song from profile.”
This feature is only available to Facebook mobile users. In other words, Facebook desktop users can neither add music to their Facebook profile nor can they see what songs are added on someone else’s profile.
How to add music to Facebook stories?
Once you’ve added a song to your Facebook profile. Go to the Facebook Music page > Tap on the triple-dot icon right next to the song > Tap on “Add to Story.”
Another easy way to add music to a Facebook story is by following the steps below —
Tap on the “Create story” card on your Facebook home page
Tap on the Music card
Search for a song and tap on it
Choose a photo from your Gallery or background that will go along with your music story
Tap on “Share to Story”
Unlike music added to a Facebook profile, music stories can be viewed on a desktop.
So, that’s how you can let others know of your favourite songs and express yourself to the fullest. Let us know which song you pinned on your Facebook profile in the comment section below.
