Briar Review

Briar is the most privacy-focused private messaging app we’ve tested, but its strict policies make it less useful for most users. Briar is an open-source app intended for use by activists, journalists, political figures or anyone else concerned about surveillance. Briar doesn’t require a central server to sync messages between users, which is great, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of entertainment features or opportunities to chat with new and old friends. We think Briar is an excellent option for the specific use cases described above, but otherwise, we recommend the Editors’ Choice winner Signal because it blends privacy with social media features.

Should you trust Briar?

Briar is a messaging platform that does not rely on a central server. Instead, messages are sent and received online using a direct, encrypted connection between users’ devices. Briar uses the Tor network for user-to-user communication, and the app also works over Bluetooth or local Wi-Fi when the Internet is down. This policy is more secure than a service that relies on a central, cloud-based server to sync and store messages between users’ devices because snoops and other malcontents can potentially intercept your data if it’s all stored on one server or goes through a central server like With Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp.

If you’re offline when you receive a message, it goes to the Briar Mailbox app on a different device. When you come back online, your Briar app loads your missed messages. It’s not the most convenient way to send or receive messages, but it keeps your data off a central server, which is helpful.

Like Sessions, Briar sign-up does not require personal data and screenshots are disabled by default. We think permanently disabling in-app screenshots and screen recording (although this means we’re unable to provide custom screenshots for this review) is a great choice for a privacy-first app like Briar.

Briar doesn’t ask to access your phone’s contacts list, unlike Telegram and WhatsApp. In fact, finding people to chat with is the hardest part of using Briar, but that’s by design. Briar is for people who need maximum privacy and are concerned about high-level surveillance. It is assumed that you will not only already know everyone you are going to chat with but will also be able to connect with them personally. That way, you know you can trust the people you’re talking to, and you can trust that Briar isn’t selling or storing your data.

In our reviews of private messenger apps and other privacy products, we urge you to “follow the money” and see who’s funding them. The Briar Project is run by a board of volunteer contributors consisting of self-described hackers, free software enthusiasts, designers, developers, and free speech activists. In the past, the project has received financial support from organizations such as Small Media Foundations and the Open Internet Tools Project.

Private messaging in Briar

Briar is unusual in that it is limited to only one platform: Android. On the website, the app’s creators say that a similar app is unlikely for iOS users because Apple places strict restrictions on background processes. We found that all background activity required battery optimization settings to be turned off on our testing device, which is not ideal. With this in mind, we tested the Briar using a Samsung A71 5G.

As mentioned, you don’t have to give up any personal data to start using Briar. Just choose a nickname (you can’t change it later, so choose carefully) and create a password You cannot create multiple accounts or identities on Briar and the account is limited to one device only. You can start chatting by adding contacts to your in-app contact list. You can add people by sending a custom link via email or Bluetooth. Both users need to add each other’s link to start chatting. It is much easier to add a person who is physically close to you. Just scan each other’s QR code generated by the app and start chatting.

The app’s user interface design is pretty spartan, but we found it worked after connecting and chatting with another user over the same Wi-Fi connection. Messages received and sent on Briar are similar to instant messages on platforms like WhatsApp or Sessions.

If you are not online at the same time as your contacts, they can send you messages to your Briar mailbox Mailbox is accessible through a separate app in the Google Play Store, and the Briar app retrieves your messages from Mailbox and delivers them to your device the next time you’re online. Instructions on the Briar website recommend installing the app on a separate Android device and setting up your mailbox with the device always connected to power and Wi-Fi to receive messages.

Special features of Briar

Briar does not support video or voice chat. You can add users to your in-app contact list in group chats and create discussion forums for organized or blog posts to broadcast your long thoughts to your contacts. These features require multiple contacts to download and accept the app, which can be a difficult task as Briar is not a “fun” app. There are no opportunities to discover new people to chat with like Telegram and WhatsApp, and the app isn’t built to support traditional social media activities like broadcasting messages to an audience of followers you don’t know personally. Briar is designed for journalists who need to communicate through an incredibly secure and ultra-private app, so if you and your contacts aren’t doing any political organizing or chatting about highly sensitive information, the app might be too locked down for you.

So Briar isn’t the most entertaining app, but it has some features that will interest people concerned about monitoring their conversations. For one, Briar allows users to create a “panic button” mechanism. This means that you can designate a panic button on your phone that will sign you out of Briar, or you can download the panic button app and every time you press and hold it, it deletes Briar from your phone. Check out our guide to preparing your phone for a protest to find out why you should designate a panic button.

Verdict: Briar protects privacy—to a fault

Briar isn’t for everyone, but it’s for anyone who needs to make sure their online conversations stay private We like the Briar function without requiring a central server to sync messages between users. The app is fairly easy to use, and we can see how the privacy settings are helpful for those hoping to avoid surveillance. That said, those looking for video and voice chat, public chat channels, or an easy way to find and add new contacts need look no further than Briar. Instead, we recommend the Editors’ Choice winning signal, which combines powerful privacy options with the chance to discover new friends.