Briar icon
Briar icon

Briar

Censorship-resistant peer-to-peer messaging that bypasses centralized servers. Connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Tor, with privacy built-in.

Briar screenshot 1
Briar screenshot 2
+2
Briar screenshot 3

Cost / License

Application type

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Android
  • Flathub
  • F-Droid
Briar alternatives  
137likes
99alternatives
2articles

Features

Properties

  1.  Decentralized
  2.  Privacy focused
  3.  Lightweight

Features

  1.  Works Offline
  2.  End-to-End Encryption
  3.  Mesh network
  4.  Bluetooth Support
  5.  Encrypted Chat
  6. Tor icon  Support for TOR
  7.  Local Network Connection
  8.  Secure Chat
  9.  Peer-To-Peer
  10.  Self Destructing Messages
  11.  No registration required
  12.  No Tracking
  13.  Ad-free
  14.  Dark Mode
  15.  LAN
  16.  Non-cloud solution
  17.  Sync via TOR network
  18.  Distributed

 Tags

Briar News & Activities

Highlights All activities

Recent News

Recent activities

  • L-M rated Briar  
  • Shadow5964 rated Briar  
  • Shadow5964 liked Briar
  • impox_ liked Briar
  • X2Chat icon
    Smssender24 added Briar as alternative to X2Chat
  • Morok icon
    morok added Briar as alternative to Morok
  • MindTheClub icon
    Mindtheclub added Briar as alternative to MindTheClub
  • Btwinus icon
    GRADI added Briar as alternative to Btwinus
  • ETHOS Chat icon
    blainehines added Briar as alternative to ETHOS Chat
  • Nuke331 liked Briar

Comments and Reviews

   
Comment summary: Briar is praised for its strong security features, such as decentralized, open-source, and end-to-end encryption, along with routing via the Tor network. Users appreciate its capability to securely connect without traditional networks, making it ideal for events where Wi-Fi or cell service is unavailable. While highly user-friendly and stable, the app currently lacks support for iOS and incurs high battery usage. A neutral comment questions SMS compatibility, and a negative mention highlights contact addition issues.
Top Positive Comment
Open Source
2

Not only is it private, but also the most user friendly and stable P2P message app I have ever used.

Top Negative Comment
tomyan112
-2

Unable to add contact

brickelt963-altto
1

It’s one of the few apps of this kind that isn’t too complicated to use and that I actually found quite enjoyable. However, the project has gone into ‘maintenance’ mode, thanks to the community’s efforts in persuading the developers not to simply abandon it. Now I’m not quite sure what to make of it.

Jerry-4792
2

Great privacy-focused messaging app that works without internet. Perfect for situations where you need secure communication.

coffee415
1

Briar is indeed very lightweight, fast and secure, connecting users to the TOR network. The best thing about Briar is when you're in the middle of nowhere and you can connect with those around you through Bluetooth.

I took away two stars from Briar due to the media sharing quality.

Duncan Briggs
1

Is Briar compatible with SMS text messaging? In other words, can I send and receive messages to and from phones without Briar installed? The "How it works" webpage doesn't mention SMS.

https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/

brickelt963-altto

In the same way that Signal has chosen to stop supporting two protocols simultaneously – including SMS, which offers little security – Briar, which is already much more focused on privacy and independence, requires the app to be installed on the phones or devices seeking to communicate with one another.

Samenaga
1

It supports hyperlocal communities and long cdistance communications over the Tor network. It features LAN discovery, direct peer-to-peer messages, secure scuttlebutt-like blog posts and forums (group-chat like)

7 of 14 comments

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Official Links

AppStores & Other Links

Download from Google Play Store

What is Briar?

Briar is a messaging app designed for activists, journalists, and anyone else who needs a safe, easy and robust way to communicate. Unlike traditional messaging apps, Briar doesn't rely on a central server - messages are synchronized directly between the users' devices. If the Internet's down, Briar can sync via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, keeping information flowing in a crisis. If the Internet's up, Briar can sync via the Tor network, protecting users and their relationships from surveillance.

Briar Videos

Briar information

Our users have written 14 comments and reviews about Briar, and it has gotten 137 likes

Briar was added to AlternativeTo by bagabaga3523 on and this page was last updated .