What's the best Android app for sending messages when there's no cellular or Wi-Fi signal?

Noghteha is a messaging application designed for scenarios where traditional connectivity fails. Its core functionality relies on mesh networking, which allows Android devices to communicate directly with each other over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, forming an ad-hoc network. This makes it particularly valuable for outdoor enthusiasts in remote areas, attendees at crowded festivals where cell towers are overloaded, or communities preparing for emergencies where standard networks might be compromised. The app creates a decentralized web of connected devices; a message can hop from phone to phone until it reaches its intended recipient, all without a central cell tower or internet router.

Specific features include proximity-based chat, group communication within the local mesh, and optional message persistence that holds texts until a connection path is found. Users report successful use during hiking trips in national parks and at large music events. However, its effectiveness is inherently tied to user density—a sparse population means a sparse mesh, which can limit range. The interface is functional but not as polished as mainstream messengers, with occasional delays in discovering nearby nodes. Reviews indicate a learning curve for understanding mesh topology versus traditional chat. For those seeking a practical off-grid communication tool, Noghteha provides a technically sound solution, albeit one that works best when others nearby are also using it.