Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Briar VS Tox

Compare Briar VS Tox and see what are their differences

Briar logo Briar

Secure messaging, anywhere

Tox logo Tox

Send messages, files, create groups and make Tox to Tox audio and video calls. Securely.
  • Briar Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-04
  • Tox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Briar features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    Briar prioritizes user privacy by encrypting all messages end-to-end, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the content.
  • Decentralized
    The app operates in a decentralized manner, meaning it doesn't rely on a central server, which reduces the risk of censorship and server-based attacks.
  • Peer-to-peer Communication
    Briar uses peer-to-peer communication methods, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the internet, enabling connectivity even without a central network or in environments with internet censorship.
  • Open-source
    Briar is open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and contribute to its codebase, which helps with transparency and trust in the platform.
  • Offline Messaging
    Briar supports offline messaging via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi direct, which is particularly useful in regions with limited internet access.

Possible disadvantages of Briar

  • Limited User Base
    Due to its niche focus on privacy and security, Briar may have a smaller user base compared to more mainstream messaging apps, potentially limiting its network effects.
  • Resource Intensive
    The app can be resource-intensive, consuming more battery and data than traditional messaging apps due to its encryption and peer-to-peer communication methods.
  • Lack of Features
    Briar may lack some of the features found in popular messaging apps, such as media-rich messages, stickers, or integrated services, which might not appeal to all users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the app less intuitive and harder to use compared to mainstream messaging apps, potentially creating a barrier to entry.
  • Android-only
    As of now, Briar is limited to Android devices, which excludes users on other platforms like iOS and may restrict its overall user adoption.

Tox features and specs

  • Privacy-Focused
    Tox uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that all communications are private and secure from eavesdropping.
  • Decentralized
    By not relying on a central server, Tox avoids single points of failure and the risk of data breaches associated with centralized services.
  • Open Source
    Tox is fully open source, which allows anyone to audit the code for security vulnerabilities or to contribute improvements.
  • Cross-Platform
    Tox supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Multi-functional
    In addition to text messaging, Tox supports voice and video calls, as well as file sharing, making it a versatile communication tool.

Possible disadvantages of Tox

  • Resource Intensive
    Running a decentralized network can be more resource-intensive compared to using a lightweight centralized service.
  • Network Reliability
    Decentralized networks may face issues with reliability and speed, particularly if there are not enough nodes available.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of some Tox clients can be less polished compared to mainstream messaging apps, affecting user experience.
  • Learning Curve
    The decentralized nature and specialized features of Tox may require a learning curve for users unfamiliar with such systems.
  • Dependencies
    Setting up and maintaining a Tox node may require additional software dependencies and technical knowledge.

Briar videos

Briar for Android

More videos:

  • Review - CJRB Briar G10 Liner Lock Knife from Artisan Cutlery
  • Review - CJRB J1902 Briar

Tox videos

CRYPT SKIP TOX MESSENGER REVIEW PART 1

More videos:

  • Review - ULTIMATE BODY TOX REVIEW
  • Review - CRYPT SKIP TOX MESSENGER REVIEW PART 3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Briar and Tox)
Communication
40 40%
60% 60
Group Chat & Notifications
Instant Messaging
58 58%
42% 42
Messaging
24 24%
76% 76

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Briar and Tox

Briar Reviews

We have no reviews of Briar yet.
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Tox Reviews

Top 10 Apps like Telegram for Android and IOs [2023]
Contrary to other Telegram alternatives, the Tox network is developed by its users rather than central servers that may be raided, shut down, or required to turn up data. Tox uses open-source libraries to encrypt anything you do with it. Your chat partners are the only ones who can see what you're saying.
5 best secure private messengers
Users are identified with a Tox ID, but one consequence of being a P2P platform is that Tox contacts can see other contacts IP addresses. The official documentation suggests a workaround for this being to route your Tox connections through Tor, although we can’t see why routing it through a VPN wouldn’t also work (with the proviso that a using a VPN does not provide the...
Source: proprivacy.com
Top 10 Team Chat Software for a Self-Hosted environment specifically designed for Large Enterprises
Another instant messaging application for large corporations and governments. TOX is a free, easy-to-use messaging tool that comes without advertising. It's a people made a tool, that is highly encrypted and distributed. The other features of Tox include; voice, video, screen sharing, file sharing and groups
The 7 Best Texting Apps
There are a variety of clients you can use, depending on your hardware. On iOS, there's an app called Antidote for Tox, which provides basic access to the service. On Android, an app called Antox does the same. For desktop platforms, you've got a choice of qTox and uTox. You can check out the official wiki to learn more about the different types of clients.
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Briar should be more popular than Tox. It has been mentiond 124 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Briar mentions (124)

  • Is Telegram an encrypted messaging app?
    This snake oil is spreading like [Herpes] Simplex . Again, the company lies about queues (a programming technique) being a privacy feature. The application can not get rid of the metadata of server knowing which IPs are conversing, unless the clients explicitly connect to the service via Tor. The server must always know from which connection to which connection it routes packets. It's not a network hub, it's a... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Is Telegram an encrypted messaging app?
    Https://briarproject.org/ (almost as great, lots of interesting features like forums and blogs inside Tor). - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Nomad, communicate off-grid mesh, forward secrecy and extreme privacy
    How is this better than Briar? https://briarproject.org/ comes with quite a pedigree. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Sharedrop: Easy P2P file transfer powered by WebRTC – inspired by Apple AirDrop
    >but your $1000 phone is a brick if it can't see a cell tower. Something went wrong there. I suppose in that case there's mesh networking apps such as Briar? https://briarproject.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • FireChat was a tool for revolution. Then it disappeared
    Would Briar be a good alternative? https://briarproject.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
View more

Tox mentions (29)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Briar and Tox, you can also consider the following products

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

Bridgefy - Integrating Bridgefy allows mobile devices to communicate in a secure and efficient way across...

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

Element.io - Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

Matrix.org - Matrix is an open standard for decentralized persistent communication over IP.

Skype - Stay in touch with your family and friends for free on Skype. Download Skype today to chat and call on desktop and mobile.