Briar.
By Michael Rogers and the Briar core team
Briar is a free Android messenger for conversations that do not depend on one company's server. Michael Rogers started the project, and the Android app syncs directly between devices over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or through Tor when the internet is available. Messages stay on the phone. The download page points to Google Play, F-Droid and an APK from the project site.
The F7 Insight
Most messengers fail quietly when the network does. Briar is worth discovering because the nearby Bluetooth and Wi-Fi path is part of the product, not an emergency afterthought.
A closer look.
- 01
Exchange peer-to-peer messages and use forums without a central server.
- 02
Sync over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi offline, or over Tor when the internet is up.
- 03
Store messages on the device with end-to-end encryption.
- 04
Install the Android app from Google Play, the project's F-Droid page, or its APK.
- 05
Read the project copyright notice: Briar is free software under the GNU GPL.
Sources & credits
Verified against the sources below. Features, pricing, and availability may change; check the creator’s current information before installing or buying.
- Official homepage: peer-to-peer messaging, Tor, Bluetooth and Wi-FiChecked 16 Oct 2026
- Official Android download page for Play, F-Droid and APKChecked 16 Oct 2026
- Core team page naming Michael Rogers as the project founderChecked 16 Oct 2026
- Free-software grant and CC BY 4.0 for other website contentChecked 16 Oct 2026
- Full Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license textChecked 16 Oct 2026
- Official website logo used unmodifiedChecked 16 Oct 2026
Artwork acknowledgments
Briar circular logo from the official website. Website content is © 2024 Sublime Software Ltd under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, as stated on the copyright page. Image used unmodified.