Briar is built for the moment the network turns hostile. With a connection it syncs between devices over Tor. With no connection it can still sync directly over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with no servers and no phone number involved. It’s open source and has been independently audited. It asks a lot in return. There’s no iOS app and none on the roadmap. The desktop client is still beta. And because everything is peer-to-peer, your messages land when two devices are actually connected rather than the instant you hit send. For activists or anyone under heavy censorship, it’s worth considering, alongside bitchat.
Briar
Peer-to-peer messaging over Tor that even works with no internet.
briarproject.org
FreeOpen SourceE2E EncryptedWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid
Pricing Free and open source, funded by grants and donations.
Strengths
- Works offline over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with no internet needed
- Peer-to-peer over Tor, with no servers and no phone number
- Open source and independently audited
Considerations
- No iOS app, and the desktop client is still beta
- Messages sync when devices connect, not always instantly
Listed in Messaging
