Use Briar on Android during internet blackouts where local Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Tor text syncing is vital. Request early access to Wonek for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch—bringing high-success direct QUIC P2P HD voice/video calls, screen sharing, Push-to-Talk, chunk-resumable large file transfers, ciphertext offline message queuing, CRDT docs, and shared calendars.
| Capability | Wonek (Pre-Release) | Briar |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch Apps | Yes — native iOS, iPadOS, macOS & watchOS | No iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS app (Android + desktop beta only) |
| Voice, Video & Screen Share | 1:1 & group E2EE HD calls, PiP & native screen share | None — text/forum/blog sync only |
| Push-to-Talk (PTT) | 1:1 & group E2EE PTT on iPhone, Mac & Watch | None |
| Async Delivery When Peer Is Offline | Instant delivery on wake via ciphertext-only queue | Requires both peers online simultaneously (unless Briareus mailbox setup) |
| Large File Transfers | Direct QUIC P2P with chunk-level resumption | Small images only over Tor |
| Collaborative Docs & Calendar | Yjs/Yrs CRDT docs + 5-view Shared Calendar | Basic forums/blogs; no calendar or live CRDT docs |
Why iOS Requires Smarter Architecture Than Background Tor Daemons
Briar has never shipped on iPhone largely because iOS suspends persistent background Tor hidden-service daemons to preserve battery life. Wonek works with Apple's architecture instead of fighting it: combining battery-clean wakeups and an opaque ciphertext offline queue with direct QUIC P2P connections the instant a call or transfer begins.
Beyond Text: HD Video, Screen Share, PTT & Multi-GB Files
Where Briar is restricted to text and small images, Wonek supports full 1:1 and group HD video, Opus voice, screen sharing, Push-to-Talk, and chunk-resumable P2P file transfers.
| Technical Dimension | Wonek | Briar |
|---|---|---|
| Transport Layer | QUIC / WebTransport (TLS 1.3) + port-predicted CGNAT P2P | Tor hidden services / local Bluetooth & Wi-Fi |
| Encryption Standard | IETF MLS (RFC 9420) in native Rust core | Bramble cryptographic protocol |
| Mobile Battery Consumption | Optimized for iOS/watchOS power efficiency | Continuous background Tor daemon drains mobile battery |
| Multi-Device Support | Seamless sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac & Watch | Single-device bound identity |
| Strict Firewall Fallback | Automatic latency-measured encrypted relay | Tor bridges |
Multi-Device Freedom Across Your Entire Apple Setup
Link your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch via Noise QR enrollment and keep CRDT documents and shared calendars synced everywhere.
| Scenario | Recommended App | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth mesh texting on Android with zero internet | Briar | Built specifically for local mesh & Tor hidden services on Android |
| Any iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch user | Wonek | Briar has no iOS/watchOS support; Wonek is built natively for Apple |
| Real-time E2EE voice, HD video, PTT & screen sharing | Wonek | Low-latency QUIC P2P media pipeline |
| Messaging friends across time zones without waiting both online | Wonek | Ciphertext-only offline queue delivers even if sender boards a flight |
| Sharing large videos, CRDT docs & team/family calendars | Wonek | Full communication & productivity suite |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Briar work on iPhone?
No—Briar is built for Android (with desktop Linux/Windows/macOS builds) and does not offer an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch app. Wonek is designed natively for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
Do both people have to be online at the same moment to send a text in Wonek?
No. Wonek queues end-to-end encrypted MLS ciphertext when a recipient is offline and delivers it automatically when their device wakes.
Does Wonek drain battery in the background like mesh/Tor apps?
No. Wonek avoids continuous background DHT/Tor polling while still establishing direct QUIC P2P connections for live calls and file transfers.
Related Comparisons & Deep-Dive Guide
Wonek vs Jami: Mobile CGNAT Port-Predicted QUIC P2P & Offline Queue vs OpenDHT
Compare Wonek vs Jami: high-success mobile 4G/5G CGNAT traversal over QUIC, reliable ciphertext offline queuing, MLS groups, Watch PTT, and CRDT docs.
Wonek vs Viber: Clean Ad-Free E2EE Communication & Workspace vs Ad-Heavy Feeds
Compare Wonek vs Rakuten Viber: zero ads or commercial spam feeds, MLS (RFC 9420) E2EE, direct QUIC P2P across CGNAT, resumable large files, and CRDT docs.