Is Brave Safe? Everything You Need to Know Before Switching
Brave has earned a reputation as a leading privacy-focused browser, with built-in tools that promise to block ads, trackers, and other forms of online surveillance. But is it safe to use?
In this article, we’ll look at Brave’s features and explain how they work, whether they’re safe, and how Brave compares to other popular browsers.
Is Brave Browser Safe? Quick Overview
Brave is one of the safest browsers out there. It offers strong privacy protections that reduce how much of your online activity is exposed right out of the box. That said, no browser is perfect, and like everything, Brave comes with its own list of pros and cons:
Brave Browser Pros and Cons | |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Strong built-in privacy protections (ads, trackers, cookies, fingerprinting) | ❌ Tor mode offers limited anonymity vs. Tor Browser |
| ✅ Private Search & AI features with no tracking (Brave Search, Leo) | ❌ Less personalized search results may be less relevant |
| ✅ Fast and lightweight due to fewer scripts and trackers | ❌ Aggressive ad and tracker blocking may cause some sites to display incorrectly |
| ✅ No default data collection or browsing history logging | ❌ Limited extension support on mobile |
| ✅ Integrated tools: crypto wallet, Tor browsing, video calls, VPN (paid add-on) | ❌ VPN lacks advanced features (kill switch, large server selection) |
| ✅ Cross-platform sync support (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android) | ❌ Crypto tools may feel unnecessary or intrusive for some users |
Brave Browser: Key Features
Brave offers a range of built-in features that give you control over privacy, security, usability, and more. Here’s a quick look at its most important features:
| Feature | What It Does |
| Brave Shields | Blocks ads, trackers, cookies, and fingerprinting automatically, using SugarCoat technology to replace tracking scripts with safe code. |
| Fingerprinting protection | Makes your browser harder to identify and track across websites. |
| Forgetful browsing | Deletes site data and cookies as soon as you close the tab. |
| HTTPS upgrades | Attempts to upgrade all connections to HTTPS. If unavailable, it warns the user before allowing a connection. |
| Private browsing with Tor | Adds anonymity by routing your traffic through the Tor network. |
| Decentralized web support | Lets you access peer-to-peer sites, including IPFS and .eth domains, without needing extra tools. |
| Off The Record (OTR) | Hides visits to sensitive websites from your browsing history and blocks cookies and trackers to protect privacy on shared devices. |
| Brave Search | A search engine that doesn’t collect or use your search data. |
| Brave Leo | A privacy-friendly AI assistant that summarizes pages and answers questions. |
| VPN + Firewall (Paid add-on) | Encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address; allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections. Powered by an independent third-party provider. |
ℹ️ Note: If you need a VPN for Brave, consider Private Internet Access. It’s an affordable, fully featured VPN with a global server network spanning 91 countries, and it offers unlimited simultaneous device connections.
Brave Shields
What it is: Shields is Brave’s built-in system for blocking ads, trackers, cookies, fingerprinting, and unsecure connections. It also includes advanced protections like its SugarCoat feature, which replaces tracking scripts with safe alternatives, and optional site data clearing.
How it works: Shields is enabled by default and applies to all connections unless specified in the settings. You can adjust:
- Trackers & ads blocking: Choose between Standard or Aggressive levels.
- Cookie control: Block all, block third-party, or allow all.
- Script blocking: Optional toggle to block all scripts on a page.
Why it matters: Shields minimizes tracking and profiling while keeping pages functional. Since it’s built into the browser, it reduces the need for third-party privacy extensions.
Does it work? Yes. Brave blocks most ads and trackers, although some users have reported that it breaks some sites or causes them display incorrectly.
Fingerprinting Protection
What it is: A tool that makes it harder for websites to track you using unique details about your browser or device.
How it works: Brave randomizes or hides data like installed fonts, screen resolution, and browser settings to prevent “fingerprinting” – a tactic that identifies users by capturing details about their device.
Why it matters: Even with cookies disabled, fingerprinting can identify you with alarming accuracy. Brave’s protection helps protect your privacy as you navigate the web.
Does it work? Yes, although fingerprinting is notoriously hard to block completely. Brave’s layered defense offers some of the best browser-level protection available.
Forgetful Browsing
What it does: Clears cookies, storage, and other site data automatically when you close the corresponding tab.
How it works: You enable it per site using the “Forget me when I close this site” option in the Shields panel. Brave wipes that site’s data as soon as the tab is closed without affecting your other tabs or browser session.
Why it matters: It applies site-specific auto-wipe rules in normal browsing mode. Great for privacy without needing to manually clear data or remember to use private browsing mode.
Does it work? Yes, it works as intended. Brave clears all site data the moment you close the tab.
Brave Search
What it is: Brave’s independent search engine, built on its own index. It doesn’t rely on Google or Bing.
How it works: It processes your queries without logging or tracking them, and it doesn’t personalize results based on your history or behavior. Some results pages also include a built-in AI-generated summary created by third-party large language models, which Brave self-hosts to protect your privacy.
Why it matters: It gives you access to high-quality search results without giving away your data in return.
Does it work? Yes. It provides relevant results with minimal ads, which are targeted by search term only – not by your profile or behavior.
HTTPS-Only Mode
What it is: A feature that forces websites to load securely using HTTPS encryption.
How it works: Brave automatically upgrades connections to HTTPS when available. If a site doesn’t support it, Brave shows a warning before it allows you to load the unencrypted version.
Why it matters: It helps protect data like passwords, messages, and payment info from being exposed on insecure networks.
Does it work? Yes. It’s on by default. Almost all major websites support HTTPS, so the upgrade is seamless.
Decentralized Web Support
What it is: A system that lets you access decentralized websites that aren’t part of the traditional web and its DNS system.
How it works: Brave supports IPFS (a decentralized protocol for storing and sharing files) and blockchain domains like .eth. Sites on these networks are distributed across many computers instead of a single server, making them more resilient and harder to block or remove.
Why it matters: It gives you access to a more censorship-resistant and resilient web and supports the vision of a user-owned internet.
Does it work? Yes. But since only a small part of the web is decentralized today, you’ll only notice it if you actively explore that space. For most people, it’s more of a future-ready feature.
Tor Integration
What it is: A built-in option within Brave that allows you to browse over the Tor network without installing the Tor Browser.
How it works: Brave routes your traffic through the Tor network, hiding your IP address from sites you visit. You can enable it via “New Private Window with Tor” or the Shields menu.
Why it matters: Tor significantly enhances your privacy and anonymity online. It encrypts your data to hide your browsing activity from third parties, including your ISP.
Does it work? Yes, but it offers less anonymity than the Tor Browser, which enforces stronger fingerprinting protections and stops websites from linking your activity across different sites. It’s great for casual privacy, but not ideal when you need high-stakes privacy.
💡 Expert Tip: While Tor goes a long way to protect your privacy, its decentralized nature carries the risk that nodes can sometimes be operated by snoops and cybercriminals. Using a VPN with Tor gives you the extra protection you need and also stops your ISP or network operator from seeing that you’re using Tor.
Off The Record (OTR) Mode
What it is: A private browsing mode designed to leave no local traces; more discreet than regular Incognito windows.
How it works: Certain sites can label themselves as sensitive. When you visit them, Brave asks if you want to open them in OTR mode, which prevents history, cookies, or session data from being stored.
Why it matters: It allows you to avoid leaving traces of sensitive activity on shared devices.
Does it work? Yes. OTR tabs are clearly marked and secure, and they fully erase all local traces after use in our tests.
Brave Leo (AI Assistant)
What it is: An AI assistant built into Brave’s sidebar for page summaries, questions, and other on-page help. If you upgrade to a paid plan, you can choose advanced models like LLaMA 2 (by Meta) or Claude (by Anthropic).
How it works: Leo handles your prompts on your device by default, so nothing leaves your browser. If you use a cloud model, Brave hides your IP and strips identifying info before sending your request. The server processes it, sends the answer back, and deletes everything right after, so nothing is saved or tracked.
Why it matters: Unlike many AI tools, Leo doesn’t collect or share your data, making it a rare privacy-first option for everyday AI help.
Does it work? Yes. It’s lightweight, responsive, and respectful of your privacy.
Brave VPN + Firewall (Paid Add-On)
What it is: A premium add-on that encrypts all internet traffic on your device, not just in Brave. This service combines a VPN with a firewall that blocks trackers and malware at the network level.
How it works: The VPN routes traffic through a secure server, hiding your IP address and securing your traffic. The firewall component blocks malicious connections and tracking attempts before they reach your device.
Pricing and features: Brave’s VPN + Firewall is priced similarly to (or higher than) many top VPN providers. The firewall blocks trackers and ads. The VPN has servers in 40 regions, a kill switch (limited to iOS), and a no-logs policy, but it doesn’t offer split tunneling.
Why it matters: It masks your location and prevents third parties such as your ISP and online trackers from monitoring your activity. This is especially useful on public Wi-Fi, where a lack of reliable security can expose your personal information.
Does it work? Yes, it works as advertised, but it’s only available on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows platforms.
Note: If you need a VPN for Brave, PIA VPN is a feature-rich and good-value option. It provides a large server network spanning 90+ countries, offers advanced features like split tunneling, and works with streaming platforms. It also includes MACE – a built-in network-level ad, tracker, and malware blocker. You can download one of its native apps for major devices or install its Chrome VPN extension, which works seamlessly with Brave.
Brave’s Power User Features
In addition to the core tools, Brave also includes a range of built-in privacy and security features that give you even more control and customization options.
- Debouncing (bounce tracking protection): Bypasses hidden “redirect” links that advertisers use to track your browsing.
- De-AMP and content requests bypass: Skips Google AMP pages and blocks extra site requests that could track you.
- URL tracking filter: Strips tracking codes from web addresses to reduce profiling.
- Script blocking: Blocks potentially harmful scripts from running in the background.
- No data logs policy: Brave doesn’t collect or sell your browsing data.
- Wayback Machine integration: Substitutes archived pages when websites are down or missing.
- Brave Rewards: Lets you earn tokens by viewing private, non-tracking ads.
- Brave Talk: Private, browser-based video calls powered by Jitsi.
- Brave Wallet: Secure, built-in crypto wallet for managing tokens and NFTs.
- Built-in password manager: Saves and auto-fills passwords.
- Brave Sync: Syncs bookmarks, settings, and more across devices without using a central server.
How Is Brave Browser Different from Other Browsers?
If you’re considering switching but haven’t decided if Brave is right for you yet, here’s a side-by-side comparison to see how it stacks up against some of the big names out there, both in privacy and everyday usability.
Brave vs. Google Chrome
Chrome offers strong security, fast performance, and seamless access to Google services. But it doesn’t block ads or trackers by default, collects usage data, and requires extensions for privacy features like HTTPS upgrades or fingerprinting protection.
Brave includes built-in protections and collects minimal data but lacks Google ecosystem integration and may feel feature-heavy if you’re more used to Chrome’s ecosystem.
Pick Chrome if: you want deep Google integration and a familiar experience.
Pick Brave if: you want strong privacy without relying on extensions.
Brave vs. Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is almost as privacy-heavy as Brave, with features like enhanced tracking protection and total cookie protection. However, many of these features require manual setup.
Brave offers strong privacy tools out of the box, including HTTPS upgrades and fingerprinting defense. It’s less customizable than Firefox but simpler for users who want privacy without messing around with settings.
Pick Firefox if: you want customizable privacy and granular control.
Pick Brave if: you want solid privacy features already set up.
Brave vs. Microsoft Edge
Edge includes some basic tracking prevention and security tools like SmartScreen (protects you from malicious downloads). But it collects telemetry data by default, including browsing and usage stats. It doesn’t block ads and offers no fingerprint protection.
Brave offers most of the privacy features Edge doesn’t have but lacks integration with Microsoft services.
Pick Edge if: you use Microsoft services or work in a Windows-based setup.
Pick Brave if: you want to actively avoid sharing data with Microsoft and other third parties.
Brave vs. Safari
Safari uses features like intelligent tracking prevention and on-device search processing to reduce tracking within Apple’s ecosystem. However, it doesn’t block ads, lacks fingerprinting protection, and can’t access decentralized or Tor-based content.
Brave offers stronger default protections and cross-platform usability but lacks Safari’s system-level optimization on Apple devices.
Pick Safari if: you use Apple devices and care about system efficiency.
Pick Brave if: you want stronger privacy on Apple and non-Apple devices.
FAQ
Yes, with features like a built-in ad and tracking blocker, fingerprinting randomization, and private search, Brave is one of the best browsers for online security and privacy on any platform.
No browser is 100% safe, but Brave is definitely one of the safest options. It blocks intrusive ads and trackers, implements HTTPS Everywhere, and offers protection against malicious websites. It also offers Tor integration so you can add more anonymity to your online traffic and disguise your IP address.
No, Brave isn’t a Chinese browser. It’s a US-based company that operates under US law, with headquarters in San Francisco, California. The company was co-founded by Brendan Eich (also co-creator of Firefox, a browser renowned for strong privacy protections) and Brian Bondy.
One disadvantage of Brave browser is its limited extension support compared to other popular browsers, like Chrome and Firefox. The good news is many security features are already built into the Brave browser, so the lack of extensions isn’t a huge issue, at least not for privacy or security.
Most commenters on Reddit praise Brave’s privacy features, often singling out its ad-blocking and tracker-blocking capabilities, and the majority compare it favorably to other mainstream browsers. Other discussions raise concerns about Brave’s long-term sustainability, since its reliance on Google’s Chromium project could affect its ability to uphold strict privacy standards.