Briar vs Chatmail Relay
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Briar | Chatmail Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 800 | ★ 484 |
| First released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Signal, WhatsApp | WhatsApp, Signal |
What are Briar and Chatmail Relay?
Briar
Briar is a messaging app designed for activists, journalists, and anyone who needs censorship-resistant communication. Messages sync directly between devices over Tor, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth without central servers.
- Works without internet
- Tor-based message routing
- No central servers
- Censorship resistant
Chatmail Relay
A minimal, opinionated mail server configuration optimized to act as a relay for Delta Chat clients, providing instant, encrypted messaging over standard email. It is provisioned automatically for low-maintenance operation.
- Email-based messaging
- Automatic provisioning
- End-to-end encryption
- Low maintenance
Briar vs Chatmail Relay: key differences
Briar is written in Java, while Chatmail Relay is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Briar versus MPL-2.0 for Chatmail Relay. Briar is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Chatmail Relay. Briar is the more established project (first released 2018), while Chatmail Relay arrived in 2023. Chatmail Relay lists first-class Docker deployment; Briar does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Briar if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Chatmail Relay if…
- Uses open email standards
- Hard to censor
Watch out for
- Requires mail server knowledge
- Newer project
Frequently asked questions
Is Briar or Chatmail Relay better?
Neither is universally better. Briar has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Briar and Chatmail Relay free and open-source?
Yes. Briar is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Chatmail Relay under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Briar and Chatmail Relay with Docker?
Briar: check the project docs for container support. Chatmail Relay: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Briar or Chatmail Relay?
Briar has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Chatmail Relay. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.