Briar vs Chanty

Briar is free messaging software for communication that does not depend on a central server. Messages synchronize directly between users’ devices. Without Internet access, synchronization can use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or memory cards; with Internet access, Briar can use the Tor network. It provides private messaging, public forums and blogs. The maker says device communications are end-to-end encrypted, contact lists are encrypted on each device, and messages remain stored locally instead of in the cloud. Briar Mailbox can deliver messages securely when users are online at different times. Android distribution includes Google Play, F-Droid and direct APK download. Briar Desktop is available for Linux, Windows and macOS. Desktop lacks Android features including RSS feeds, disappearing messages, nearby contact adding, Bluetooth, removable-drive connections and Tor bridges. The maker’s July 9, 2026 update places Briar in maintenance mode, with essential security updates and bug fixes planned. Reported longstanding issues include high battery use, unreliable Android background operation, no account backup or file attachments, and difficult contact adding and offline communication.

Chanty is a team chat and collaboration tool that combines messaging, tasks, and calls. Teams can create tasks or turn messages into them, assign and filter work, set due dates, and use a Kanban board. Messaging includes mentions, pinned messages, code snippets, threads, searchable history, reactions, file sharing, and an in-app media player. Audio and video calls support screen sharing, up to 1,000 video participants, and up to 49 videos on screen. Chanty lists channels, guest access, and unlimited message history. It offers apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, plus web access. The free plan is billed forever and allows up to five team members, 20GB of team storage, 10 integrations, and one guest user. Business is listed at $4 a month billed monthly; the pricing note also says paid plans start at $3/user/mo on annual billing. Integrations include tools such as Zapier, Google Drive, Dropbox, GitHub, Trello, and Jira. Chanty lists security measures including TLS 1.2 or higher and file encryption.