BiP - Messenger Video Call for iPhone

I switched to BiP after WhatsApp’s privacy update made me nervous. Not because I was paranoid, but because I didn’t like the idea of my messages being shared with Facebook. So I looked for something that felt more private without sacrificing basic features. BiP showed up on a few Reddit threads as a low-key option - not flashy, not huge, but promising. After trying it for a couple weeks, I can say it does what it promises: clean messaging, decent video calls, and some neat little extras.

The good stuff

First off, the disappearing messages feature actually works. You can set it so messages vanish after 24 hours or even sooner. That’s a nice touch if you’re chatting about something sensitive or just don’t want your chat history cluttering up your phone. I used it for quick group plans with friends - we’d send a meme, make a plan, and boom, gone. No trace left. Also, the built-in translator isn’t perfect, but it’s handy when texting someone in another language. I once sent a “Hey, let’s grab tacos” to a friend in Japan, and the translation came back mostly legible. Close enough for casual chats. And the stickers? They’re goofy but fun. Not as polished as WhatsApp’s, but they add personality to conversations. The app also supports group video calls with up to ten people - I tested it with my sister and three cousins during a birthday call, and the audio held up fine, no major lag.

The not-so-good

But it’s not flawless. The biggest issue? It feels underdeveloped compared to apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. There’s no file-sharing beyond photos, videos, and documents - no PDFs or spreadsheets. And the translator fails sometimes. I once typed “I’ll be there in 10 minutes” and got “I will come in 10 minutes” - close, but awkward. Also, the backup encryption only kicks in if you turn it on. If you don’t, messages get deleted automatically, which is cool for privacy but could be annoying if you accidentally skip turning it on. And honestly, the user base is tiny. I’ve never had anyone reach out to me from outside my immediate circle. If you’re looking for an app with a lot of users, this isn’t it.

Bottom line

If you're tired of WhatsApp’s data policies and want a simple, private messaging app with disappearing messages and basic video calls, BiP - Messenger Video Call for iPhone for iPhone is worth a download. It’s free, it works, and it doesn’t feel like a surveillance tool. Just don’t expect it to replace your main communication app unless you’re okay with a smaller community. For privacy-first chatters, it’s a solid side option.