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Briar

Private messaging app that syncs directly between devices and can work over Tor, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi

Open Source Alternative to
Repository activity
  • Stars636
  • Forks82
  • Open Issues1
License

Other

Languages
  • Java
  • Kotlin
  • HTML
Briar screenshot

About Briar

Briar is a messaging app for activists, journalists, and anyone who needs a safe way to communicate. It does not rely on a central server, so messages sync directly between users' devices instead of through a hosted service.

When the Internet is down, Briar can sync over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, keeping information flowing in a crisis. When the Internet is available, it can sync over the Tor network to help protect users and their relationships from surveillance.

Because there is no central account or phone number, the contact list and message history live only on the devices that hold them. Briar also publishes reproducible builds so the published APK can be checked against its public source code.

Key features

  • Direct device-to-device message sync without a central server
  • Sync over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi when the Internet is unavailable
  • Sync over Tor to resist surveillance when online
  • Messages and contacts stored only on your own devices
  • Reproducible builds you can verify against the source

Details

First released
2020
Platforms
Android
Sync
Tor · Bluetooth · Wi-Fi
Deployment
offline-first
Reproducibility
Reproducible builds for the APK
Servers
None · messages sync device to device