Briar

Briar Project

About this app

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, Wi-Fi or memory cards, keeping the information flowing in a crisis. If the Internet's up, Briar can sync via the Tor network, protecting users and their relationships from surveillance.

The app features private messages, groups and forums as well as blogs. Support for the Tor network is built into the app. Everything you do in Briar is only stored on your device unless you decide to share it with other users.

There are no advertisements and no tracking. The source code of the app is completely open for anyone to inspect and has already been professionally audited. All releases of Briar are reproducible, making it possible to verify that the published source code exactly matches the app published here. Development is done by a small non-profit team.

Privacy policy: https://briarproject.org/privacy

User manual: https://briarproject.org/manual

Source code: https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar

Ratings and reviews

I love this app but the *one* thing I wish it could do is have a way to verify a contact that isn't within Bluetooth distance. I've got friends and family in other states who I don't get to see on the regular or not at all and bc they aren't "verified" makes it a bit... saddening? I guess. Hopefully something happens soon where that can be a possibility. 🤞🏻

Best Offline Messaging app!! The fact you can communicate through Bluetooth only really helps when service is bad in a friend group or on a cruise ship with family. The user interface is easy to use, and you can have multiple messages at once. I love that you can send emoji's and photos by Bluetooth only and or through wifi. It helped my friends and family stay connected during a cruise. I wish they added a walkie-talkie voice note feature but it's great so far.

Might be a limitation with Android but with data turned off I couldn't communicate with nearby contacts without manually pairing on both devices simultaneously. No iOS support so the few people I'd like to bring into the fold are ineligible. Severe battery drain. Subscribing to an RSS dropped my battery 20% in 3 hours. Even without subscriptions in "blog" I'm still losing too much battery for a background app. What good is an offline device if it's dead?

What’s new

* Upgrade Tor to 0.4.9.12