Galosha

Free, private voice and video calls for family and friends

In many countries around the world, governments restrict their citizens' access to secure communication tools. Popular messaging apps get blocked, voice calls are monitored, and VPN services are throttled. Families separated by borders lose the simple ability to hear each other's voice.

Galosha was built for exactly this situation. It is a free calling app that helps people stay connected even when the usual channels are cut off.

How it works

Galosha uses a peer-to-peer architecture powered by Jitsi, an established open-source video conferencing platform. Your voice travels directly between devices, routed through the nearest available media server for the best call quality. The system automatically selects regional relay nodes so that calls work reliably even under heavy network restrictions.

To make a call, you just need a short shared code. Enter it on both sides and you are connected. The Android app adds a familiar phone-like experience with a contact list and incoming call notifications.

Privacy by design

Galosha does not require an account, an email address, or a real name. There is nothing to hack, leak, or hand over, because there is nothing stored.

No registration — the web version works without any sign-up at all. The Android app uses only a phone number for your contact list, with no verification.
No message history — in-call text chat is erased the moment the session ends.
No central server storing your calls — audio and video flow through relay nodes but are never recorded.
Anonymous identities — users appear as randomly generated animal names (e.g. "Brave Owl" or "Quiet Fox") instead of real names.
End-to-end encryption — communication is encrypted so that even the relay servers cannot listen in.

No scam, no catch

Galosha is a non-commercial project. There are no ads, no subscriptions, no data collection, and no investors to answer to. It is built and maintained by a single developer as a tool for people who need it.

The entire calling infrastructure runs on open-source software (Jitsi Meet). The architecture is transparent: there is no "trust us" — the system is designed so that there is simply nothing to exploit.

Available platforms

Android app — full-featured with contacts, incoming calls, and push notifications. Distributed as an APK (not on Google Play to avoid restrictions in certain countries).
Web (voice only) — works in any browser, no installation needed. Good for a quick call from a computer.

Try the web version right now — no download, no sign-up:

Open Galosha Web

Who is this for

Galosha is for anyone who needs a reliable, private way to talk to family and friends — especially when living in or calling to authoritarian countries that restrict citizens' rights to secure communication. It was designed with elderly and non-technical users in mind: no complex settings, no confusing interfaces, just a simple call.