Offline Protocol vs Briar
Briar is an open-source secure messenger for Android, with a desktop beta, that syncs messages directly over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, or over Tor when the internet is up. Since July 2026 the project is in maintenance mode, making only essential security updates and bug fixes. It is a finished app, not an SDK. Offline Protocol is a mesh SDK you build into your own iOS and Android app, with multi-hop relay, MLS group encryption, and device identity.
Covers itPartly, or with conditionsNot part of the product Taken from each product's own documentation. The detailed table below carries the specifics.
The specifics
| Capability | Offline Protocol | Briar |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | SDK you build into your own app | Secure messaging app |
| Platforms | iOS and Android through React Native, with early native Swift and Android packages and a preview Flutter plugin; Rust; Python on PyPI; Java on Maven Central; Ruby on RubyGems; a C API; an experimental browser build | Android; desktop beta for Linux, Windows, and macOS |
| Transports | BLE mesh, internet relay, and Nostr or Reticulum through infrastructure you provide | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and memory cards; Tor when the internet is up; Briar Mailbox for contacts who are offline |
| Relay | Up to 8 hops with ack, retry, deduplication | Direct sync between contacts |
| Encryption and identity | MLS (RFC 9420), Ed25519 OfflineID | End-to-end encrypted between contacts |
| Status | In active development; current release v0.31.0 | Maintenance mode since July 2026: essential security updates and bug fixes |
| Licensing and cost | Mesh SDK free under AGPL-3.0, including in production. Closed-source and App Store apps need the commercial license; contact us for pricing. Hosted services from $0 (Free), $99 a month (Pro), $499 a month (Scale). Local mesh traffic is never metered. Pricing | Free and open source under GPL-3.0. briarproject.org |
How they differ
Briar (briarproject.org) is a messenger built for people who need to communicate when the internet is down or watched. It syncs directly between contacts over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and over Tor when there is internet, and Briar Mailbox holds messages for contacts who are offline. It runs on Android, with a desktop beta for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and it is free under GPL-3.0.
On July 9, 2026 the Briar project announced maintenance mode: it is still active, but for now it is making only essential security updates and bug fixes. Briar is distributed as an app, so building your own product on it means working from the app's source.
Offline Protocol is a mesh SDK for teams building their own app. It runs on iOS and Android through React Native, relays across up to 8 hops so phones out of direct range still reach each other, and encrypts every session and group with MLS (RFC 9420). It adds an Ed25519 identity per device, replicated documents, and service discovery.
When to choose each
Choose Briar if you need a finished, open-source secure messenger on Android today and its maintenance-mode updates fit your plans. Choose Offline Protocol if you are building your own app, need iOS as well as Android, or need multi-hop relay, MLS group encryption, and shared documents inside your product.
Choose Briar when
You need a finished, open-source private messenger now, your users are on Android or desktop, and Tor as the internet path fits your threat model.
Choose Offline Protocol when
You are building a product rather than choosing an app: you need iOS and Android, relay beyond direct range, MLS group encryption, device identity, and replicated documents from one open-source SDK.
See how the mesh carries messages in offline messaging, or the security model.
Offline Protocol vs Briar FAQ
Is Briar still maintained?
Briar announced maintenance mode on July 9, 2026. The project says it is still active but, for now, is making only essential security updates and bug fixes. Read the Briar announcement.
Is there a Briar alternative for developers?
Briar is a finished app, so there is no package for adding its networking to your own product. Offline Protocol is a mesh SDK for iOS and Android: a Bluetooth LE mesh with up to 8 hops, MLS (RFC 9420) group encryption, Ed25519 device identity, and replicated documents, installed from npm.
Does Briar work on iPhone?
Briar's download pages offer Android, plus a desktop beta for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and no iOS app. Offline Protocol runs on iOS and Android through React Native.
How do licensing and cost compare with Briar?
The Offline Protocol mesh SDK is free under AGPL-3.0-only, including in production, and local mesh traffic is never metered on any plan. Closed-source apps and apps distributed through the Apple App Store need the commercial license, which has no published price, so contact us for pricing. Hosted services are optional and run on Free ($0), Pro ($99 a month), Scale ($499 a month), and Enterprise plans. Briar is free and open source under GPL-3.0. See briarproject.org.
