Ranked 3 of 7 in best web browsers
Open source on the Chromium base, with ads and trackers blocked on every site and built-in search and AI. Brave Origin needs a purchase, and the bundled search and VPN add scope beyond a browser.
Best for Ad blocking on desktop and mobile without extra setup
About Brave
Brave runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Its Shields block third-party ads and trackers, and the company says this makes pages load faster. Brave Search, a VPN and an AI assistant named Ask Brave are part of the wider product.
Brave's browser code is public under the MPL-2.0 license on GitHub, and the browser is built on Chromium. Brave Origin is a premium edition that requires a purchase, so most people install the free browser. The browser is the main product here, while Brave Search and the VPN are separate services that sit alongside it.
Key features
- Open source, MPL-2.0 licensed
- Shields for ads and trackers
- Brave Search
- Ask Brave AI assistant
- Built-in VPN service
Strengths
- Open source under the MPL-2.0 license
- Blocks third-party ads and trackers on every site
- Runs on five platforms including Linux
Limits
- Brave Origin premium edition needs a purchase
- Bundled search and AI features add scope beyond a browser
Where Brave ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Web browsers | 3 of 7 | 90.0 | Ad blocking on desktop and mobile without extra setup |
Alternatives to Brave
All 6 alternatives
FirefoxMozilla's open-source browser with tracker blocking and tab groups
Google ChromeGoogle's Chromium-based browser with Google account sync
SafariApple's built-in browser for macOS, iOS and iPadOS
Microsoft EdgeChromium-based browser from Microsoft with Copilot and sleeping tabs
VivaldiCustomizable Chromium browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader
LibreWolfCommunity-maintained Firefox fork focused on privacy and security
Questions about Brave
- Is Brave free?
- Brave can be used without paying: Free and open source; Brave Origin is a premium edition that needs a purchase. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Brave open source?
- Yes. Brave publishes its source code under the MPL-2.0 license.
- Which platforms does Brave support?
- Brave is available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
- What is Brave best for?
- Ad blocking on desktop and mobile without extra setup. In our ranking of web browsers it is number 3 of 7 with a score of 90.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Brave?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge.
