Briar review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Briar is a free messaging app that fits people who want encrypted conversations and refuse to pay a subscription. Priced at free with open source code and contact lists held on the user's own device, it suits Android and Desktop users willing to give up backups and file attachments.
Key facts
- Best for
- End-to-end encrypted messaging with no paid tier.
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- No paid tier, app is free; missing features include account backup and file attachments (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Android, Desktop (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- No message content or metadata collected; website visit logs deleted after seven days, plus optional feedback and crash reports (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Sublime Software Ltd (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2011 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- briarproject.org
Secure email
- Free plan limits
- No paid tier, app is free; missing features include account backup and file attachments (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- End-to-end encryption
- All communication between devices is end-to-end encrypted; each user's contact list is encrypted and stored on her own device (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Sublime Software Ltd (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2011 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Priced at free, so there is no entry fee and no renewal to plan for.
- Running since 2011 under Sublime Software Ltd, it is a long standing project rather than a new arrival.
Cons
- Availability is limited to Android and Desktop, narrower than the cross platform messengers readers may compare.
- Support runs on email and community only, so there is no phone line or live chat to escalate to.
Who it suits
- People who want encrypted messaging without a subscription
- Users on Android and Desktop who accept a thin feature set in exchange for a free price
- Open source supporters who want their contact list kept on their own device
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need account backup or file attachments, who should look at Posteo, which has no free plan
- People who want phone or live chat support, who should weigh EasyOptOuts or Surfshark, both without a free plan
What it does well
Briar has no paid tier, so the free plan limits are about missing features rather than caps: account backup and file attachments are not included. Availability is narrow as well, with the app running on Android and Desktop rather than every device family. The result suits readers who want a small, simple app and accept a thin feature set.
How Briar compares
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 8.5
8.8 vs 9.5
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 9.3
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
What does Briar cost at signup and at renewal?+
Briar costs free for everyone, and there is no paid tier to move up to. Nothing is billed, so entry and renewal are the same figure. Services that bill around €49.95 in a first year have no such step here.
Which devices can I use Briar on?+
Briar runs on Android and Desktop, and no other device families are listed. That is narrower than the cross platform messengers it is compared with, though the team is reachable on email and community. No paid tier would unlock extra device support later.
Is there a free plan, and what does it leave out?+
Yes, there is a free plan at free, and it is the only one. Because no paid tier exists, the limits are about missing features rather than caps: account backup and file attachments are not included. Readers who need attachments should look at Posteo, which has no free plan.
Who is behind Briar and how long has it run?+
Briar is published by Sublime Software Ltd and dates back to 2011, and the app is open source. The code is public, so the encryption and contact storage design can be read rather than taken on trust. For a messaging tool, that transparency is the main thing to weigh.
Who is Briar for?+
Briar fits people who want encrypted conversations without a subscription, and who use Android and Desktop. It does not suit readers who need account backup, file attachments or live chat support. Posteo and Surfshark have no free plan, so both are paid routes to a different feature set.
How do I get help with Briar?+
Support runs on email and community only, so there is no phone line or live chat to escalate to. Email and community cover most questions. For comparison, 95.4% of the tools on the site offer a help centre, which Briar does not list.
Sources
- briarproject.org/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“started the development of Briar Desktop to bring Briar to non-Android platforms”
- briarproject.org/copyright checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Legal entity, Pricing model
“Briar is free software. You can redistribute and modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License.”
- briarproject.org/download-briar checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Open source, Support channels
“All our software is open source”
- briarproject.org/how-it-works checked September 26, 2026
Backs: End-to-end encryption
“All communication between devices is encrypted end-to-end, protecting the content from eavesdropping or tampering.”
- briarproject.org/news/2026-maintenance-mode checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan limits
“missing features like account backup and file attachments”
- briarproject.org/privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Logging policy
“We do not have access to the content or metadata of your communications via the Briar app.”
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briar_(software) checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Briar's core protocol, threat model, development process, and user experience design began development in 2011 by Michael Rogers and Eleanor Saitta.”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price from.