Brave Browser Features | Brave (2024)

Shields

Shields are the core feature that sets Brave apart from other browsers. Shields offer default, built-in protection, blocking ads, trackers, fingerprinting, cookies, and more. You can easily customize your Shields settings, or enjoy out-of-the-box protection.

Learn more about Shields

Adjust Shields settings at brave://settings/shields

Brave Search

The fastest growing search engine since Bing, built on a fully independent index of the Web. Private and user-first, Brave Search doesn’t track you, your queries, or your clicks.

Learn more about Brave Search

Try Brave Search now

Rewards / BAT

Opt in to earn BAT rewards for viewing privacy-preserving ads in Brave. Use BAT to support creators, or redeem for gift cards, crypto, and more.

Learn more about Brave Rewards

Start earning now at brave://rewards/

Wallet

A self-custody crypto wallet—and passport to Web3—built with the security of Brave. Browser-native, no extensions required.

Learn more about Brave Wallet

Create your wallet account at brave://wallet/

Firewall + VPN

Protect every app, on every device, even outside the Brave browser. Available across desktop, Android, and iOS.

Learn more about Brave Firewall + VPN

To get started, click “VPN” in the address bar (desktop) or tap Settings > VPN (mobile)

Talk

Unlimited, private video calls built right into your browser—no extra downloads, no tracking.

Learn more about Brave Talk

Start a free Talk call now

News

A home page news feed that’s customizable, private, and free from tracking.

Learn more about Brave News

To get started, open a new tab in Brave and scroll/swipe up

Playlist

Make playlists of the content you love, right in your browser. Playback anytime, anywhere—even offline.

Learn more about Playlist

On iOS, just visit a video/audio webpage and tap Brave Browser Features | Brave (1)

And so much more

Extra privacy & security

Customize your browsing experience

  • Sidebar

    Easy access to your favorite sites, reading list, bookmarks, and other Brave features.

    Learn more about Sidebar.

  • Sync

    Encrypt and sync your Brave bookmarks, passwords, tabs, and more across devices.

    Learn more about Sync.

  • Vertical tabs

    An efficient way to organize your tabs (plus pinning, grouping, and other tools).

    Learn more about vertical tabs.

  • Extensions

    Brave is compatible with extensions (even those that rely on MV2) in the Chrome Web Store.

    Learn more.

Accessibility & functionality tools

Brave also does everything else you’d expect a modern browser to do—like autofill, store your passwords securely in its built-in password manager, and make it easy to switch from your current browser with its import tools.

Learn more about all the great things the Brave browser does.

I'm a seasoned tech enthusiast with extensive knowledge in web browsers, privacy-focused tools, and emerging technologies. Having closely followed the developments in the digital landscape, I can confidently share insights into the core features that set Brave apart from other browsers.

Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

  1. Shields:

    • Shields are the cornerstone of Brave's distinctiveness, providing default, built-in protection.
    • They block ads, trackers, fingerprinting, cookies, and more.
    • Customizable Shields settings allow users to tailor their protection or enjoy out-of-the-box security.
  2. Brave Search:

    • Brave Search is highlighted as the fastest-growing search engine, independent of other major search engines like Bing.
    • It ensures privacy by not tracking user queries or clicks.
  3. Brave Rewards / BAT (Basic Attention Token):

    • Users can opt-in to earn BAT rewards for viewing privacy-preserving ads within Brave.
    • BAT can be used to support content creators or redeemed for gift cards and cryptocurrencies.
  4. Brave Wallet:

    • Brave Wallet is a self-custody crypto wallet and a gateway to Web3.
    • Browser-native and requires no extensions for added security.
  5. Firewall + VPN:

    • Offers protection for every app on every device, extending beyond the Brave browser.
    • Available on desktop, Android, and iOS.
  6. Brave Talk:

    • Unlimited, private video calls built into the browser with no additional downloads or tracking.
  7. Brave News:

    • A customizable, private, and tracking-free news feed accessible from the browser's new tab.
  8. Playlist:

    • Allows users to create playlists of favorite content directly within the browser for offline playback.
  9. Extra Privacy & Security Features:

    • Private Tor windows for IP address proxying.
    • Fingerprint randomization to appear different to each site.
    • Cookie consent blocking and a Mobile Privacy Hub to visualize blocked ads and trackers.
  10. Customization and Browsing Experience:

    • Sidebar for easy access to favorite sites, reading list, bookmarks, and other features.
    • Sync for encrypting and syncing bookmarks, passwords, tabs, etc., across devices.
    • Vertical tabs for efficient organization.
    • Compatibility with extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
  11. Accessibility & Functionality Tools:

    • Built-in webpage translation with privacy protection (Brave Translate).
    • Speedreader for decluttered, focused reading.
    • Wayback Machine integration to find archived versions of webpages.
    • IPFS integration for resolving IPFS URIs directly in the browser.
  12. Additional Browser Features:

    • Autofill, a secure built-in password manager, and easy import tools for switching from other browsers.

In summary, Brave Browser stands out not only for its robust privacy features but also for its comprehensive set of tools and functionalities that cater to the modern internet user's needs.

Brave Browser Features | Brave (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of Brave browser? ›

Disadvantages of Using Brave Browser

Limited Extension Support: While Brave supports popular extensions from the Chrome Web Store, its selection may be more limited compared to browsers like Chrome or Firefox. Users who rely heavily on specific extensions may find some functionalities lacking in Brave.

Is Brave browser dodgy? ›

Yes, Brave browser is generally trusted due to its commitment to user privacy, ad-blocking features, and open-source nature.

Is Brave browser a scandal? ›

Brave has taken the false privacy approach similar to other companies (yes Apple, I'm looking at you), they use “privacy“ for marketing but in reality they provide a hypocritical service that “blocks tracking” but instead tracks you and profits from you.

Why is Brave against Chrome? ›

Brave works on all PCs, and performs far better on Windows machines than Chrome does. By blocking ads and trackers, it uses less RAM and CPU, and saves memory.

Is Brave a Chinese browser? ›

Brave Software, Inc. Brave Software's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. As of March 2024, Brave reported more than 73.32 million monthly active users, 26.26 million daily active users and a network of more than 1.6 million content creators.

Which is safer Chrome or Brave? ›

How is Brave more secure than Chrome? The Brave browser provides automatic blocking of cross-site trackers, third-party cookies, fingerprinting, bounce tracking, and certain malware and phishing attempts.

Is Brave safe for banking? ›

Brave is the best browser for banking online. It has built-in security & privacy protections. The source code is open & has been audited.

Is Brave browser safe for banking? ›

Is Brave safe for banking and crypto? Yes, Brave's focus on security makes it suitable for online banking and managing cryptocurrencies. It even comes with a built-in crypto wallet, letting you manage your various currencies straight from the browser.

Does Brave browser sell your data? ›

Brave does not sell users' personal data: not to advertisers, nor to anyone else. Brave operates on the basis of minimizing data flows and storage as a core principle.

Does Google track you on Brave? ›

Google can't track what you search for on Brave, However, Brave's image search is not fully developed and recently, they provide image search results from Google or Bing (the user chooses which to use). So, if you do an image search and choose Google as your source, then you're being tracked.

Does brave search track you? ›

Brave Search doesn't track you, your searches, or your clicks. It's impossible for us to share, sell, or lose your data, because we don't collect it in the first place.

Is it safe to use Google on Brave? ›

The Brave Browser makes use of Google Safe Browsing in order to protect users from malicious sites. It's enabled by default on all platforms, but can be turned off at any time from the browser settings menu.

Why people don t use Brave browser? ›

You know, when I install a browser I expect a nice UI, an up to date engine, some privacy and a few additional features that a vanilla browser doesn't come with.

Which browser is better than Brave? ›

Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to Brave include user data. We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Brave, including Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. Have you used Brave before?

What is the safest browser? ›

Secure Browsers
  • Firefox. Firefox is a robust browser when it comes to both privacy and security. ...
  • Google Chrome. Google Chrome is a very intuitive internet browser. ...
  • Chromium. Google Chromium is the open-source version of Google Chrome for people who want more control over their browser. ...
  • Brave. ...
  • Tor.

Does the Brave browser track you? ›

Our company does not store any record of people's browsing history. We don't write any personal data to the blockchain. The only way a user's data is stored by Brave is if the user has switched on Rewards or Sync.

What is the reputation of Brave browser? ›

4.7-star average rating from 1.7m total ratings, 480k reviews, and 160m total downloads.

Is Brave safe without VPN? ›

And remember: A VPN doesn't protect against cookies, trackers, malware and phishing. To be as safe as possible online, you'll still need additional tools to protect against these threats. Fortunately, Brave has you covered there, too, with protections built right into the browser.

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