# Brave review

A free, open-source Chromium-based browser with built-in ad and tracker blocking, plus an optional $9.99/month VPN.

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 15, 2026.

> **Brave** is a free web browser built on the open-source Chromium engine, with its own client code released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 so security researchers can audit it directly. It blocks ads, trackers, and third-party cookies by default, with no extensions required to get baseline privacy protection.

Brave bundles several privacy and productivity tools most browsers require add-ons for: a built-in ad/tracker blocker, script blocking, fingerprint randomization, a native crypto wallet, and Brave Talk for video calls. Its default search engine, Brave Search, runs on an independent index rather than reselling Google or Bing results. Brave Rewards is an opt-in program that pays BAT tokens to users who choose to view privacy-preserving ads, which the company can then convert to support content creators. The core browser is free across desktop and mobile; Brave VPN and Brave Talk Premium are separate paid subscriptions layered on top.

## Facts

- Website: https://brave.com
- Pricing: Free tier · paid from $9.99/mo (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
- License: Open source
- Platforms: web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android
- Best for: privacy-conscious users who want built-in ad and tracker blocking plus an optional device-wide VPN without installing separate browser extensions
- Standout feature: Ships with ad and tracker blocking, script blocking, and fingerprint randomization built in and on by default, with no extensions needed to match what competitors require several add-ons to replicate.
- Biggest weakness: Brave Rewards' opt-in BAT-token ad program has drawn criticism from users who find its ad-serving and crypto-wallet defaults confusing to disable, and the VPN/Firewall add-on requires a separate $9.99/month subscription rather than being bundled free.
- Categories: [Web browsers](https://findalternative.to/categories/browsers)

## Pricing snapshot

| Plan | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Browser | $0/mo | Free on all platforms; includes built-in ad/tracker blocking, Brave Search default, and the built-in crypto wallet. |
| Brave Firewall + VPN | $9.99/mo | Encrypts all device traffic (not just browser traffic) across up to 10 devices, 300+ servers in 40+ regions; $99.99/year if billed annually; 7-day free trial. |

## Pros and cons

- Pro: Blocks ads and trackers by default with no extensions required to set up.
- Pro: Client code is open source (MPL-2.0) and independently auditable.
- Pro: Built-in Brave Search runs on an independent index rather than reselling another engine's results.
- Pro: Available on every major desktop and mobile platform with nearly 160 languages supported.
- Con: Brave Rewards' opt-in BAT-token ad program confuses some users about what's on by default versus optional.
- Con: Brave VPN is a separate $9.99/month subscription, not bundled free with the browser.
- Con: Built on Chromium, so it inherits Google's engine-level decisions and roadmap even while blocking Google's tracking.
- Con: Some sites misidentify Brave's fingerprint randomization as bot activity, occasionally breaking site functionality.

## AI summary

- Brave the browser is free on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Brave Firewall + VPN costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year and covers up to 10 devices.
- Brave's client code is open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
- Brave blocks ads and trackers by default with no extensions required.
- Brave Search, the browser's default search engine, runs on an independent index.
- Best for: privacy-conscious users who want built-in ad and tracker blocking without installing separate browser extensions
- Pricing: Browser free on all platforms; optional Brave VPN $9.99/month or $99.99/year for up to 10 devices.
- Top alternatives: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, DuckDuckGo, Opera
- Limitation: Brave Rewards' opt-in BAT-token ad program confuses some users about what's on by default.
- Limitation: VPN is a separate paid subscription, not bundled free with the browser.
- Limitation: Built on Chromium, inheriting Google's underlying engine decisions.

## Alternatives

5 vetted alternatives to Brave: https://findalternative.to/brave — top picks: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge

## Comparisons

- https://findalternative.to/compare/arc-vs-brave
- https://findalternative.to/compare/brave-vs-google-chrome

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