Briar vs Jami (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Jami grades higher than Briar: 3.2 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Jami grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Briar
Serverless encrypted messaging that syncs over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Which one is for you
Pick Briar if
- Fits if you need to keep talking when the internet is cut off
- Works for activists and journalists who want messages kept only on their own devices
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use an iPhone, as there is no iOS app
- Not for you if you want new features, because the project says it is in maintenance mode
- Too light for anything file-heavy, with no attachments listed
- Watch out: no account backup, so a lost phone can mean lost chats
- Watch out: Android battery use is high and the desktop apps are beta
Pick Jami if
- Fits if you want private calls and chat without an account on a company server
- Works for a small group on mixed Windows, Mac, Linux and phone devices
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need channels, a directory or an admin console, as none are listed
- Skip it if you want a mature browser version, since the web version is a first preview as of September 2026
- Too light for company rollouts, as it is closer to a messenger than a workspace
- Watch out: the project runs on donations and is a GNU project of Savoir-faire Linux
How we grade them
| 3.0GPABriarVery good | 3.2GPAJamiVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source with no paid plan, a program anyone can download. Donations only. | AFree with no paid plans; the project asks for donations instead. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree for good, no account, no ads, nothing locked behind a payment. | AEntirely free, and the site says there are no limits on file size, accounts or storage. |
| Features | CPrivate chats, forums and blogs, which covers the basics. The team's own list of gaps includes no account backup and no attachments, and it is in maintenance mode. | CChat, group chat, audio and video calls and multiple devices per account. No admin console, directory or channels are listed, which most team chat tools have. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You add each contact in person or by link, and the desktop version is still labelled beta. | BNo rating on record, but it is a program you install and use with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BAndroid plus Windows, Mac and Linux desktop (beta). No iPhone version, no web version and no integrations. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. Only a first preview of a web version, and no integrations listed. |
| Best for | messaging that works without a server or internet | private peer-to-peer calls and chat |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Briar and Jami. How we grade
Price against what you get
Briar has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Jami has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Jami scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other team communication apps on the chart, none scores higher than Briar for less, and none scores higher than Jami for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Jami also covers video calls and file sharing.
At a glance
| Briar | Jami | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | The Briar Project | Savoir-faire Linux |
| Price read from | briarproject.org | jami.net |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Briar
- In July 2026 the team said Briar is in maintenance mode: only essential security updates and bug fixes.
- The team lists missing features such as account backup and file attachments, plus high battery use on Android.
- Briar Desktop for Windows, macOS and Linux is labeled beta; the mobile app is Android only, with no iOS version.
Jami
- The site lists no admin console, directory or team workspace features such as channels; it is closer to a messenger than a team chat suite.
- The vendor lists a first preview of Jami Web as of September 2026, so there is no mature browser version.
- The project is funded by donations and is a GNU project of Savoir-faire Linux.
Key features
Briar
- No central server
- Messages are synchronized directly between users' devices, so there is no server to block or take down.
- Tor, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth sync
- With internet, Briar syncs over Tor. Without it, devices can sync over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or memory cards.
- Private messages, forums and blogs
- Besides one-to-one chat, it offers public forums and blogs, and desktop releases added private groups.
- Local storage
- Messages and the contact list are stored encrypted on the user's own device, not in a cloud.
- Briar Mailbox
- A mailbox delivers messages for people who are online at different times.
Jami
- Instant messaging and group chats
- Text chat with individuals and groups, plus audio and video message recording.
- Audio and video calls
- One-to-one calls with screen sharing and media streaming, including video conferences and rendezvous points that need no third-party hosting.
- Peer-to-peer design
- Jami says it needs no server to relay data between users and uses end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy.
- Multiple devices per account
- Several devices can be linked to one Jami account, and no personal information is required to create it.
- Extension platform and SIP
- A built-in extension platform adds features, and Jami can also act as a SIP client.
Plans
Briar
Free$0
Free and open source. No paid plans; the project accepts donations and grants.
Jami
Free$0
No paid plans. The site says there are no limits on file size, accounts or storage, and asks for donations.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Briar or Jami?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Briar and Jami are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Briar or Jami?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Briar and Jami have a free plan.
Which platforms do Briar and Jami run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Jami lists an iOS app. Both list macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.