KouChat

KouChat is an open-source chat application for Android that lets people communicate and transfer files over the same WiFi network. It is serverless, so conversations between connected KouChat users do not depend on an Internet connection or a central server. The application is intended for local networks in places such as homes, workplaces, and coffee shops. It does not make users visible across the Internet or through a cellular network.

Users can participate in a group chat with everyone connected to the local network or start a private chat with a specific user. Each person can choose a nickname, and the group conversation can have its own topic. KouChat also shows who is currently writing, helping participants follow activity in the conversation.

The application supports sending and receiving files between users on the network. It provides rich notifications, an away mode for times when a user does not want to be disturbed, and color choices for personal messages and information messages. Messages can be written in any language supported by Unicode.

KouChat is listed in the Internet & Browsers category because it provides local network communication and file transfer on an Android device. Its operation depends on the local network supporting the multicast technology it uses, and some devices may have unreliable network access when the screen is off. MirrorNest distributes the official Android build directly from its own storage and scans it for malware before publishing it. This gives users a catalog copy of the open-source application while keeping the distribution tied to the official build.