Brave
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default
Our verdict
Second of our top three browsers
For: People who want ads and trackers blocked by default
Brave is a free, open-source browser built on Chromium for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. Its Shields block third-party ads, trackers, fingerprinting and cookie consent notices by default, Chrome Web Store extensions work, and the Leo AI assistant summarizes pages with no account. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 from about 660,000 ratings. It is second because that is about a sixth as many ratings as Chrome's, and the browser also comes with News, Rewards, a paid VPN and a crypto Wallet: Brave Origin, the version without those or Leo, is a $59.99 one-time purchase on every system except Linux. The VPN is $9.99 a month and Leo AI premium $14.99, each its own subscription.
See all three and how we rankWhat is Brave?
Brave is a free, open-source browser built on Chromium that blocks third-party ads, trackers and fingerprinting by default through a feature called Shields. It includes the Leo AI assistant, Brave Search as the default search engine for most new users, private windows that route through Tor, and an optional crypto wallet and rewards program. Brave Software sells a VPN and premium tiers of Leo, Search and Talk as separate subscriptions.
Brave has a free plan. Paid plans start at $3.00 per month, or $29.99 per year (Search premium). See every plan
Good for
- People who want ads and trackers blocked without installing extensions
- Chrome users who want to keep their Chrome Web Store extensions
- Those who want an AI assistant that works without an account
- Crypto users who want a self-custody wallet built into the browser
Worth knowing
- The VPN is not part of the free browser: it is a subscription at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
- Free access to Leo varies with traffic and usage. Higher rate limits and more models need Leo AI premium at $14.99 per month.
- VPN, Leo, Search and Talk premium are each sold as a separate subscription; the pricing page lists no bundle.
- Brave Origin, the version without Leo, News, Rewards, VPN or Wallet, is a $59.99 one-time purchase on every system except Linux.
Key features
- Shields ad and tracker blocking
- Shields block third-party ads, trackers, fingerprinting and cookie consent notices by default on every site, including video ads on YouTube. The settings can be customized or left alone.
- Leo AI assistant
- Leo summarizes webpages, PDFs and Google Docs, answers questions and drafts text with no account required. Chats are not retained or used for training, and Bring Your Own Model connects local or remote models.
- Brave Search
- The default search engine for most new Brave users serves results from Brave's own independent index of the web, offers AI answers and does not profile the people using it.
- Private Windows with Tor
- Tor integration in private windows proxies the IP address, and fingerprint randomization makes the browser look different to every site on each visit.
- Sync, vertical tabs and extensions
- Bookmarks, passwords and tabs sync encrypted across devices, tabs can be stacked vertically, and Chrome Web Store extensions work, including those that rely on MV2.
- Rewards, Wallet and Talk
- Brave Rewards pays BAT to people who opt in to privacy-preserving ads, Brave Wallet is a self-custody crypto wallet, and Brave Talk runs private video calls in the browser.
Brave pricing
- Starts at
- $3.00 per month, or $29.99 per year (Search premium)
- Free plan
- The browser is free and fully supported, with Shields ad and tracker blocking, sync, Brave Search, Brave Talk and the free tier of Leo, which needs no account and has usage limits that vary with traffic.
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on Brave VPN, Leo AI premium and Talk premium
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full browser with Shields ad and tracker blocking, encrypted sync, the free tier of Leo, Brave Search and Brave Talk video calls. |
| Search premium | $3.00per month, or $29.99 per year | Ad-free Brave Search results and a cleaner view on all results pages. |
| Talk premium | $7.00per month, or $69.99 per year | Video calls with hundreds of people, call recordings, participant muting and passcodes. Includes a 7-day free trial. |
| Brave VPN | $9.99per month, or $99.99 per year | Whole-device VPN for up to 10 devices across desktop, Android and iOS, with speeds up to 500 Mbps. Includes a 7-day free trial. |
| Leo AI premium | $14.99per month, or $149.99 per year | More AI models, higher rate limits and early access to new Leo features. Includes a 7-day free trial. |
| Brave Origin | $59.99one-time purchase | A minimalist version of the browser that can switch off or remove Leo, News, Rewards, VPN, Wallet and other features. Free on Linux. |
Read from brave.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Brave before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountAbout 17% off with yearly billing
Each Brave premium subscription costs about 17% less when paid yearly: Brave VPN is $99.99 a year against $119.88 for twelve months at $9.99, and Leo AI premium is $149.99 against $179.88.
Stated on brave.com
What people say about Brave
4.8
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
660,596 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 7, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Often praised
- Ad blocking that is built in and works from the start is a reason given again and again for choosing it, by reviewers and commenters alike. App Store reviews · Hacker News 1, 2
- Reviewers and commenters describe it as quick, with several saying pages feel faster than in the browser they used before. App Store reviews · Hacker News 1, 2
- Commenters welcome Brave Origin, which they describe as a pared-down edition that leaves out the extras of the standard browser. Hacker News 1, 2, 3
Often criticised
- Even commenters who use it daily say the standard browser arrives cluttered with cryptocurrency features and other extras that they turn off or hide. Hacker News 1, 2, 3
- Reviewers of the iPhone app report websites or video players that do not work until its blocking is switched off, which one gives as the reason for going back to Chrome. App Store reviews
Based on 10 App Store reviews, five of them more than three years old, and about 30 Hacker News comments from one week in September and October 2026, most in a single thread, read Oct 7, 2026. These are themes summarised in our words, not our own verdict. Follow the links to read what was said.
Discussions worth reading
- I switched to BraveHacker News · Sep 28, 2026
Works with
- Chrome Web Store
- Tor
- Wayback Machine
- Google Docs
- Google Sheets
Brave alternatives
- Brave vs Firefox
Free
- Brave vs DuckDuckGo Browser
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
- Brave vs Vivaldi
Free
- Brave vs Opera
Free plan · from $4/mo
Common questions
Is Brave free?
Brave has a free plan. The browser is free and fully supported, with Shields ad and tracker blocking, sync, Brave Search, Brave Talk and the free tier of Leo, which needs no account and has usage limits that vary with traffic. Paid plans start at $3.00 per month, or $29.99 per year (Search premium).
How much does Brave cost?
Brave lists 6 plans. Free: $0. Search premium: $3.00 per month, or $29.99 per year. Talk premium: $7.00 per month, or $69.99 per year. Brave VPN: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. Leo AI premium: $14.99 per month, or $149.99 per year. Brave Origin: $59.99 one-time purchase. Prices were read from brave.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does Brave work on?
Brave is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
Does Brave offer any discounts?
Brave publicly lists the following: About 17% off with yearly billing.
How is Brave rated?
Brave's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 660,596 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Is Brave any good?
We have not tested Brave, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Ad blocking that is built in and works from the start is a reason given again and again for choosing it, by reviewers and commenters alike. Often criticised: Even commenters who use it daily say the standard browser arrives cluttered with cryptocurrency features and other extras that they turn off or hide. The reviews page has every theme with its sources.
Is Brave open source?
Yes. Brave is open source, according to its own site.
What does Brave integrate with?
Brave's listing names Chrome Web Store, Tor, Wayback Machine, Google Docs and Google Sheets. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Brave have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial on Brave VPN, Leo AI premium and Talk premium.
Who makes Brave?
Brave is made by Brave Software, Inc. It dates from 2015.
What are the alternatives to Brave?
The closest alternatives to Brave in our directory are Firefox, DuckDuckGo Browser, Google Chrome, Vivaldi and Opera. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Brave.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.