What is Brave?
Brave is a Chromium-based web browser that blocks third-party ads, trackers and cross-site cookies by default rather than through extensions, and upgrades pages to HTTPS where it can. It ships an independent search engine, an optional Firewall + VPN subscription, and an optional Rewards programme that pays viewers of first-party ads in BAT. The browser itself is free and Brave's own client code is published under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. It suits people who want ad and tracker blocking switched on out of the box and are content to keep Brave's own defaults rather than configuring a browser by hand.
Verified product facts
- Type
- web browserEditorially reviewed
- Platform
- macOS
- Pricing
- Open sourceDeveloper-stated
- Open source
- Yes
- Developer
- Brave SoftwareDeveloper-stated
- Relationship to Nuanyue
- Third-party product — not published by NuanyueEditorially reviewed
- Licence
- MPL-2.0
- Current version
- 1.96.61.0Developer-stated
- Official website
- brave.com/
Last updated . Facts marked developer-stated come from the developer and are not independently confirmed; editorially reviewed marks a Nuanyue judgement.
Key features
What Brave does at a glance.
Blocks third-party ads and trackers
On every site by default, with no extension to install
Blocks cookie-consent pop-ups and upgrades pages to HTTPS where possible
Shields protection against tracking and browser fingerprinting
Built-in Firewall + VPN available as a subscription covering the whole device
Brave Search, an independent index
Does not profile users
Optional Brave Rewards programme paying BAT
For viewing first-party ads
Built on the open-source Chromium engine
With client code under MPL-2.0
What you can use Brave for
- Browsing with ad and tracker blocking enabled without installing extensions
- Importing bookmarks from another browser and keeping the same browsing habits
- Encrypting all device traffic through the optional Firewall + VPN subscription
Who is Brave for?
- Mac users who want privacy protection switched on by default rather than configured by hand
- People willing to use Brave's own defaults and search engine instead of adding blockers to Chrome
Who is Brave not for?
- Anyone who wants to inspect every part of the browser — Brave bundles its own services and an optional Rewards programme
- Users who want no paid add-ons at all — the VPN and the Origin variant are separate purchases
Limitations
- Brave Origin, the paid variant that removes Rewards, News, VPN and Wallet, costs a one-time $59.99
- The Firewall + VPN is a subscription sold separately from the browser
- Apple Silicon support is not stated in the sources Nuanyue tracks
Strengths and trade-offs
What Brave does well, and what to weigh before choosing it. Points marked developer-stated come from the developer’s own material and have not been independently confirmed.
Strengths
- Blocks third-party ads, trackers and cookie-consent pop-ups by default, without extensions.Developer-stated
- Client code is published under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 on GitHub.
- Includes Brave Search, an independent search engine that does not profile users.Developer-stated
- Built on the open-source Chromium engine, so it shares Chrome's rendering engine.Derived
Trade-offs
- The Firewall + VPN is a separate subscription rather than part of the free browser.
- Brave Origin, a paid variant that removes Rewards, News, VPN and Wallet, costs a one-time $59.99.
- Rewards and Wallet are bundled with the browser; users who do not want them cannot remove them.Editorially reviewed
First-use experience
What the app asks of you when you set it up. Only established facts appear here; anything we could not confirm is left out rather than guessed at.
- Installation
- Direct download from brave.com; a .dmg installer is published for macOS.
- First launch Developer-stated
- No account is required; bookmarks and settings can be imported from another browser during setup.
- System integration Developer-stated
- Can be set as the default browser and import favourites from the previous browser.
What it does
Brave is a Chromium browser, so it looks and behaves much like Chrome, but its defaults differ: third-party ads, trackers and cross-site cookies are blocked before the page renders, and cookie-consent banners are hidden rather than answered. Because those requests never load, Brave states that pages arrive three to six times faster than in a browser without blocking.
How it is funded
Two features sit outside the free browser. Brave Firewall + VPN encrypts traffic for the whole device, not just the browser, and is sold as a subscription covering up to five devices. Brave Origin is the opposite trade: a one-time $59.99 purchase that removes Rewards, News, VPN, Wallet and Web3 domains for users who want only the privacy features.
The browser’s optional Rewards programme works differently again. Users who choose to see first-party ads earn BAT, a digital token they can keep or tip to publishers. It is off unless the user turns it on.
Questions about Brave
Is Brave free?
Yes. The browser is free to download and use. The Firewall + VPN and Brave Talk Premium are separate subscriptions, and Brave Origin is a one-time $59.99 purchase.
Is Brave open source?
Yes. It is built on the open-source Chromium core and Brave's own client code is released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
Does Brave block YouTube ads?
Yes. Brave states that it blocks on-page, pre-roll, mid-roll and end-card ads on video sites such as YouTube.Developer-stated
Does Brave run on macOS?
Yes. Brave is published for macOS alongside Windows, Linux, Android and iOS.
Alternatives to Brave
Apps that could replace this one — the same job, a different trade-off.
Firefox
Mozilla's open-source browser with its own engine.
Both are cross-platform browsers positioned on privacy, but Firefox runs on its own Gecko engine rather than Chromium.
Similar apps
Related in purpose, but not a straight swap.
Arc
Workspace-style browser, now in maintenance mode.
Both are Chromium-based Mac browsers that rework the standard layout; Brave keeps a conventional toolbar while Arc replaces tabs with a sidebar.
Tor Browser
Anonymity browser that relays traffic through the Tor network.
Both aim to reduce tracking while browsing, but Tor Browser routes traffic through the Tor network while Brave blocks trackers locally.
Links
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the sources below. Last updated .
- Brave — official websiteGrade B
- Brave Software — developer websiteGrade B
- Brave — source repositoryGrade D
