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Sideband vs Briar: catalog facts
Sideband	Briar
Free The open-source application is available without a license fee.	Free Free and open source under the GPL.
macOS, Linux, Android	Linux, Android
Messages travel over radio links with no internet or cellular service Store-and-forward delivery, so both parties need not be online at once	Works with no internet at all, over Bluetooth or local Wi-Fi No central server and no phone number or email needed
Requires a Reticulum network, and usually radio hardware, to be useful Small project with a niche user base	Currently in maintenance mode, with limited new development Both devices must be online at the same time to exchange messages
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.