Briar vs Signal (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Signal grades higher than Briar: 3.2 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Signal 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 Signal if
- Fits if you want private messaging with friends, family or a small group
- Works for people who want no ads and no tracking
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need a workplace tool, as it has no channels, roles or admin console
- Not for you if you want a desktop app on its own, since it needs linking from a phone
- Too light for support, because no paid or business tier is listed
- Watch out: no integrations or bots are listed, so it will not plug into your other tools
How we grade them
| 3.0GPABriarVery good | 3.2GPASignalVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source with no paid plan, a program anyone can download. Donations only. | AFree outright with no ads or trackers, paid for by grants and donations. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree for good, no account, no ads, nothing locked behind a payment. | AThe whole app is free, with no cap and no paid tier to be pushed toward. |
| 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. | CText, voice, files, group chats and calls. For a team-chat tool it has no channels, roles or admin controls. |
| 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 you install it and start texting 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. | BiOS, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux. No web app, and desktop depends on a linked phone. |
| Best for | messaging that works without a server or internet | private one-to-one and group messaging |
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 Signal. 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. Signal has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
Signal 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 Signal 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
- Briar is open source, according to its own site.
- Signal also covers video calls.
At a glance
| Briar | Signal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Signal Technology Foundation |
| Price read from | briarproject.org | signal.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
Signal
- Built as a personal messenger: the pages describe no admin console, roles, channels or workspace controls.
- The desktop apps work only after Signal is installed and linked from a phone.
- No paid plan or business support tier is listed; the app is funded by donations.
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.
Signal
- End-to-end encryption by default
- Signal says every message and call is end-to-end encrypted using the open source Signal Protocol, with no optional secure mode.
- Text, voice and files
- Send text, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs and files over the phone's data connection instead of SMS or MMS.
- Voice and video calls
- Make voice and video calls to other Signal users with no long-distance charges.
- Group chats
- Group chats keep family, friends or coworkers in one conversation.
- Desktop apps
- Apps for Mac, Windows and Linux; Signal must first be installed on a phone before a desktop app can be used.
- No ads or tracking
- Signal says it carries no ads, no affiliate marketers and no tracking, and cannot be acquired by a major tech company.
Plans
Briar
Free$0
Free and open source. No paid plans; the project accepts donations and grants.
Signal
Free$0
The whole app is free, with no ads or trackers; development is funded by grants and donations.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Briar or Signal?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Briar and Signal are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Briar or Signal?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Briar and Signal have a free plan.
Which platforms do Briar and Signal run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Signal 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.