Notes 
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 4.7 (7)
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
716
+5 this week
Forks
106
20 watching
Last commit
4d ago
healthy
Star history
Commits, last 26 weeks
14 commits, active 8 of 26 weeks
22 contributors since Jul 2020
Languages
- Java 97.9%
- Kotlin 1.9%
- HTML 0.1%
Updated daily from the GitHub API. Star tracking since Jun 10, 2026.
Website at a glance
briarproject.org
C score 50
Basic website security headers
Graded by Mozilla HTTP Observatory, tested 4d 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
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Jitsi Meet Desktop version downloads can be found here .
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iMessage Apple's built-in messenger. End-to-end encrypted between Apple devices.