Briar review (2026): is it any good?
Serverless encrypted messaging that syncs over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Briar report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for messaging that works without a server or internet
Briar syncs messages straight between devices over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so there is no server to block. But the team says it is in maintenance mode, with no account backup, no file attachments and heavy battery use on Android. If you need an iPhone app or a tool that is still gaining features, look elsewhere.
Who Briar is for
- 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
Who Briar is not for
- 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
Why Briar gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source with no paid plan, a program anyone can download. Donations only.
- AFree plan and trialFree for good, no account, no ads, nothing locked behind a payment.
- CFeaturesPrivate 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.
- CEase of useNo rating on record. You add each contact in person or by link, and the desktop version is still labelled beta.
- BPlatforms and integrationsAndroid plus Windows, Mac and Linux desktop (beta). No iPhone version, no web version and no integrations.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from The Briar Project's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Briar? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/briar#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/briar.svg" alt="Briar: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Briar stands among team communication apps
Briar's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 60 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 60 of 75) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Briar has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 76 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Briar’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 58 of 75, level with 17
- AFree plan and trialAbove 60 of 75, level with 15
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 75, level with 61
- CEase of useAbove 11 of 75, level with 46
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 9 of 75, level with 41
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 team communication apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Briar, or make your own?
Keep it
Briar is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 60 of the 75 other team communication apps we grade.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android that stay in step with each other.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
What this rests on. Briar’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Briar?
Briar is a free, open-source messaging app built for activists and journalists. It has no central server: messages sync directly between devices over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and are stored on each device. It offers private messages, forums and blogs. The project says it is in maintenance mode.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Briar pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Briar is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Free and open source. No paid plans; the project accepts donations and grants. |
Read from briarproject.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Briar before you buy.
Briar alternatives
- Briar vs Jami
Free
- Briar vs Signal
Free
- Briar vs Matrix
Free
Common questions
Does Briar have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Briar is listed for Android, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Briar open source?
Yes. Briar is open source, according to its own site.
Is Briar end-to-end encrypted?
Briar describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Does Briar work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.