Both FireChat and Briar are messaging apps designed to work without an internet connection by using mesh networking, which lets phones talk directly to each other via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. While they share the same goal, they work in very different ways and have different reputations for security.

FireChat was famous for its use in the 2014 Hong Kong #Occupy protests because it allowed anyone in a crowd to jump into a public chatroom.

Briar is much more restrictive; you generally only chat with people you’ve already added as contacts, making it feel more like a secure version of WhatsApp for emergencies.

Security & Encryption: FireChat was often criticized for lacking encryption, meaning your messages could be intercepted by anyone nearby.

Briar was built for security from the ground up, using end-to-end encryption and the Tor network when internet is available to hide who you’re talking to.

The “Store and Forward” Feature: Briar has a “whisper” style feature where an encrypted message can be carried by other phones through a crowd until it gets close enough to the recipient to deliver—even if they weren’t in your original range.

Which one should you use? 🤔

Since FireChat is no longer maintained by its original developers, Briar is the standard choice for offline, secure communication. It is widely recommended for use during internet shutdowns or natural disasters. You can download the latest version from the official Briar website or through F-Droid.