Chats, channels & DMs

Every conversation in BridgeApp is a chat. There are three kinds, and the only real difference between them is who’s in the room and how open it is. Once you know which is which, you’ll always reach for the right one.

Channels

A channel is a shared space built around a topic, a team, or a project — think #design, #q3-launch, or #general. Channels are the backbone of team communication because they keep related conversation in one findable place instead of scattered across private messages.

Channels come in two flavors:

• Public — visible to everyone in the workspace. Anyone can find it, read it, and join. Great for anything the wider team might care about.
• Private — invite-only. Only the people who’ve been added can see it or its history. Use these for sensitive or focused work.

Tip

Default to public channels. When conversations are open, people can find answers without having to ask, and new teammates can catch up on their own. Save private channels for the things that genuinely need to be closed.

Start a channel

1. Click New Chat (or the compose button) and choose Channel.
2. Give it a clear, lowercase name like marketing or bug-triage.
3. Choose public or private.
4. Optionally add a short description so people know what belongs here.
5. Invite the first members and start the conversation.

Direct messages

A direct message (DM) is a private one-on-one conversation between you and one other person. It’s the digital equivalent of a quiet word at someone’s desk — no audience, no topic, just the two of you.

To start one, click New Chat, choose Direct message, and pick the person.

Group chats

A group chat is a direct conversation with a few people at once — sometimes called a group DM. It’s perfect for a small, informal huddle that doesn’t need its own channel: three people coordinating a lunch, or a quick cross-team question.

To start one, click New Chat, choose Group, and add everyone you want included.

Group chats vs. channels

A group chat is lightweight and ad-hoc — there’s no name, topic, or public discoverability. If a group chat keeps growing or you find yourself wishing others could find it, that’s a sign it should be a channel.

Conversations can cross workspace boundaries

Here’s something genuinely useful: a direct or group chat doesn’t require everyone to be in the same workspace. You can have a direct conversation with someone from another company’s BridgeApp workspace, which makes cross-organization collaboration as simple as messaging a colleague.

Channels, by contrast, live inside a single workspace.

Choosing the right one

Situation	Use
A topic the team will return to	Public channel
Sensitive or focused team work	Private channel
A private word with one person	Direct message
A quick huddle with a few people	Group chat
Talking with someone at another company	Direct or group chat

Related

• Writing messages
• Threads & replies
• Voice & video calls
• Invite your team