Alternatives to Briar
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Briar
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Briar.
Cwtch
Metadata-resistant messaging over Tor with no central servers.
Cwtch also runs over Tor with no central servers or accounts, and adds Windows and macOS, but it needs an internet connection rather than Bluetooth or local Wi-Fi.
Jami
A fully peer-to-peer communication platform with no servers relaying your data and no personal information needed to sign up.
Jami is also peer to peer with no account details required, and adds calls and video conferences, but it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux rather than Android.
Sideband
Messaging client for Reticulum networks over radio or IP.
Sideband also works without internet, over Reticulum radio or IP links, with store-and-forward delivery so both parties need not be online, but usually needs radio hardware.
Session
An encrypted messenger with no phone number and no account, routed through an onion network.
Session also needs no phone number and uses onion routing, runs on desktop and iOS too, but relies on service nodes and internet access.
SimpleX Chat
A messenger with no user identifiers at all, not even a random one, so there is no account to correlate.
SimpleX Chat has no user identifiers and runs on all major platforms, but delivers through relay servers over the internet instead of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Berty
An open-source peer-to-peer messenger that works without central servers and can operate offline.
Berty is also serverless and designed to work offline, adds iOS alongside Android, but its developers say it is not yet ready for high-risk use.
Ricochet Refresh
An anonymous peer-to-peer instant messenger that connects contacts directly over Tor onion services.
Ricochet Refresh also connects contacts directly over Tor with no server, but it is desktop only with no mobile apps and cannot use Bluetooth.
Quiet
A peer-to-peer team chat app that syncs messages between members' devices over Tor, with no server.
Quiet syncs team chat between members' devices over Tor with desktop and Android apps, but it is unaudited beta software lacking features such as DMs.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Briar as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Chitchatter
A peer-to-peer chat app in the browser that is serverless, decentralized and ephemeral.
Briar is an open-source peer-to-peer messenger for Android and Linux that can work over Bluetooth or local Wi-Fi without internet, though it is in maintenance mode.
Keet
A peer-to-peer chat app for encrypted messages, audio and video calls, and file transfers.
Briar is open-source peer-to-peer messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor for Android and Linux, but lacks calls and is in maintenance mode.
qTox
A desktop client for the encrypted peer-to-peer Tox protocol with chat, calls and file transfer.
Briar offers peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor on Linux and Android, but it is in maintenance mode and lacks calls.
RetroShare
A decentralized, encrypted friend-to-friend network for chat, mail, forums, channels and file sharing.
Briar offers peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor without internet, but is in maintenance mode and runs on Linux and Android.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Signal
An end-to-end encrypted messenger for calls and chats on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, run by a nonprofit.
Delta Chat
A messenger that sends over email, so anyone with an address can be reached without installing it.
Threema
Swiss encrypted messenger that works without a phone number or email.
Molly
A security-hardened fork of Signal for Android with an encrypted local database and Tor support.
