Briar doesn’t rely on a central server: messages are synchronized directly between the users’ devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Online sync via the Tor network is possible, too. Protecting users from surveillance.
Reviewed by Marcus Holmberg
Briar
briarproject.org 4 ratings so far*
Rate Briar: No account needed
Threat level
Targeted
A targeted-tier tool. Built for a real, capable adversary. Overkill for everyone below. Threat levels
Our take
Syncing directly between devices over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with Tor as an option when online, makes Briar the one messenger that keeps working when the network is cut. That same design makes it impractical for everyday distant chat, since both people often need to be present or reachable in awkward ways. Indispensable for activists and anyone planning for blackouts; not your default app for texting friends across town.
GitHub at a glance
briar/briar
Stars
694
+3 this week
Last commit
2d ago
healthy
Stars, last 102d
Website at a glance
briarproject.org
C score 50
Basic website security headers
Graded by Mozilla HTTP Observatory, tested 1d ago
Inspect this site yourself
Measures the security configuration of the tool's own website, not the privacy of the product itself. A strong tool can still score low here.
Briar alternatives
Signal Similar look and feel of WhatsApp and other commonly used messaging apps, makes switching easy. Signal requires your phone number as an personal identifier.
Delta Chat Delta Chat doesn't have their own servers but uses the most massive and diverse open messaging system ever: the existing e-mail server network. Chat with anyone if you know…
Brave Talk The person creating the call requires to use Brave Browser, but the participants can join from any browser.
Jitsi Meet Desktop version downloads can be found here .
Stoat Open source, self-hostable Discord alternative, formerly Revolt. Built for communities that want off Discord, but it is not end-to-end encrypted.
iMessage Apple's built-in messenger. End-to-end encrypted between Apple devices.
* Average ratings will show on this page once the threshold of 5 ratings is reached.