Briar
Briar is a messaging app that sends private messages directly between phones, using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Tor instead of company servers. It is meant for people who need secure communication in sensitive situations, and it can work without internet access.
Description written from the project's own page; checked by AI.
Screenshots1
From Briar's own page. Click one to see it full size.
Listed in1
The jobs it does, and the closed apps it replaces
Messaging
Replaces partlyInstead of WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, iMessage · Android only; for sensitive situations
What's missing
Things people miss in Briar. Upvote what matters to you; it helps its team decide.
Facts
LicenseGPL-3.0-or-later
Runs onWindows · Mac · Linux · Android
KindApp
Hosted oncode.briarproject.org
ActivityChanged within the last year
Something wrong?
Wrong devices, a wrong description, or it isn't really open source? A mod reviews every suggestion.
What we couldn't confirm5
- The license name and whether it is OSI-approved
- Whether group chats are supported beyond the forums mentioned in the README
- Whether calls or voice messages are supported
- Current Android version requirements
- Whether the README's 'maintenance mode' note (July 9, 2026) affects ongoing development