Brave
A Chromium fork with tracker blocking on by default, a bundled VPN, and a crypto sidecar you can mostly ignore.
TL;DR verdict
The most privacy-forward mainstream browser, which is a low bar Brave still clears more clearly than anyone else. Shields work, fingerprint randomisation is real, and the Chromium base means sites load. The Rewards and wallet features are the noise you learn to mute.
What we like
- Tracker and ad blocking is on by default and does not require an extension
- Fingerprint randomisation is applied per session and per site
- Runs on Chromium so site compatibility is close to universal
- Tor windows are a one-click option for occasional stronger anonymity
- Brave Search integrates cleanly and is a defensible Google alternative
Where it falls short
- Ships with a crypto wallet and Rewards system most users will never want
- US jurisdiction and past controversies around affiliate-link injection remain the trust question
- Chromium base means it inherits Google's engine roadmap, for good and ill
- The bundled Brave VPN is fine but not the strongest pick as a standalone product
TL;DR verdict
Brave is the privacy-first browser most people will actually use, because it renders every site their bank and their government portal was tested against. Shields block trackers by default, fingerprinting defences are real, and Tor windows are one click away. The crypto and Rewards features are noise you can turn off in five minutes.
What it does well
Shields is the pitch. Ad blocking, tracker blocking, cross-site cookie blocking and script control ship on by default and are tuned so the average news site loads correctly. Most privacy-focused browsers require an extension stack; Brave does not.
Fingerprint randomisation is applied per site and per session, which is a different strategy from Mullvad Browser's "look like everyone else" approach. It is a weaker anonymity guarantee against a determined adversary and a more forgiving one for daily browsing where sites need to work. For most threat models — trackers, data brokers, ad-tech profilers — it is enough.
Tor windows are the useful escape hatch. One click opens a new window routed through Tor, and Brave is clear in the interface that this is not the same as Tor Browser and does not carry the same anonymity guarantees. As a lightweight tool for opening a link without lighting up your normal profile, it earns its keep.
Brave Search has grown into a legitimate default engine, indexing independently and no longer piggybacking on Bing's index. Combined with the browser's built-in defences, it is the most defensible mainstream Google alternative.
What it doesn't
The trust story is where Brave costs itself points. The company has had public incidents — the 2020 affiliate-link autocomplete rewrite most memorably — that damaged its credibility. The Rewards system, where you can opt in to see privacy-respecting ads in exchange for BAT tokens, is legitimate in the mechanics and off-putting in the marketing. Most users should disable it and never think about it again.
US jurisdiction is what it is. Brave operates under US law and would respond to lawful orders like any US company. That is why the browser is the right tool for tracker and profiler defence, not for state-level adversary defence. That job is Mullvad Browser plus Tor plus a VPN.
Who it's for
Remote workers, parents setting up a family's browser, travellers who need site compatibility to survive whatever airport wifi throws at them. A sensible default for a household that will not install an extension stack but will accept a browser that does the right thing on its own.
Frequently asked
Is Brave actually private, or is that marketing?
The tracker and fingerprint defences are real and independently observable. The trust question is separate. Brave is a US company, past incidents with affiliate-link redirection damaged some of its credibility, and the Rewards system is opt-in but present. As a browser to point a non-technical family member at, it is meaningfully more private than default Chrome.
Should I use Brave's built-in VPN?
If you already pay Brave for something else, sure. As a standalone purchase, Mullvad or Proton are stronger picks. Brave VPN uses Guardian's infrastructure and is fine; it is not the reason to choose Brave.
Can I just turn off the crypto stuff?
Yes. Settings menu, disable Rewards, disable the wallet, remove the Web3 shortcuts from the sidebar. It becomes invisible after that. This should not be necessary but it is.