Ukrainian competitor to Telegram: Bridge messenger with «panic button» and encryption

Last year, Ukraine began to actively discuss the idea of blocking Telegram. With such statements Various high-ranking officials spoke at the event. It seems that if the messenger will really be blockedUkrainians will be offered a domestic alternative. A group of IT specialists from Lviv has developed the Bridge messenger.

Bridge can compete with such popular messengers as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal. It works even at ultra-low Internet speeds, thanks to efficient data compression and rational use of traffic (reducing the number and size of messages). Currently, the WebSocket protocol is used to connect to the server. The company plans to implement its own TCP-based protocol.

Bridge is positioned not as just a messenger but as a secure and functional social platform. It has a recommendation feed, a widget system, and advanced features. The app offers a user-friendly interface adapted for Ukrainian users.

The developers of Bridge include the following features:

• «Panic button» to instantly delete all data;
• end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for data protection;
• Temporary accounts that can be created without entering personal data — ideal for anonymous communication;
• advanced automation for business without third-party tools.

The Bridge messenger is being developed by a team of four IT professionals from Lviv. They work on the project in their spare time and support it at their own expense. Since the start of the messenger development, the team has invested more than 2000 working hours in the project, with a total cost of $85 thousand.

Bridge’s monetization includes several areas: premium and business subscriptions that provide access to advanced features of the messenger. The developers have also created ready-made automation systems for companies that are integrated directly into the platform and an affiliate advertising system.

The idea for the messenger emerged in the summer of 2024 during power outages and communication problems due to weak internet. On October 29, the developers launched the first version of Bridge. More than 5000 users took part in the beta test. The beta test is still ongoing. You can join the test on the project’s official website bridgemsg.com.

The full release of Bridge is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.

Source: dev.ua