Brave
Privacy-focused, Chromium-based web browser with ad and tracker blocking on by default.
Brave Referral Code & Link
No referral code or link is currently available for Brave.
Quick Summary
Brave is a web browser built on the same Chromium engine as Chrome, but with built-in ad and tracker blocking enabled by default, plus an optional crypto-based rewards system for viewing privacy-respecting ads — aimed at users who want Chrome's broad compatibility and familiar interface with meaningfully more privacy out of the box, rather than needing to manually install and configure separate ad-blocking and tracker-blocking extensions. Because it shares Chromium's underlying engine, the vast majority of Chrome extensions and web compatibility carry over directly, removing the usual tradeoff between privacy and ecosystem compatibility that some other privacy browsers face.
Brave at a Glance
| Category | Web Browsers |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free |
| Starting price | $0 (free plan available) |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Editorial rating | ★ 4.1 / 5 |
| Best for | Privacy-focused, Chromium-based web browser with ad and tracker blocking on by default. |
| Community votes | 17 |
Pros
- Built-in ad and tracker blocking out of the box, with no extension needed, unlike Chrome which requires manual setup for equivalent privacy
- Chromium-based architecture means most Chrome extensions still work, avoiding the ecosystem compatibility tradeoff some other privacy browsers face
- Noticeably faster page loads on ad-heavy sites since ads and trackers are blocked before they load, reducing bandwidth and rendering overhead
- Built-in Tor mode for private browsing tabs offers an additional privacy layer beyond standard private/incognito browsing
- Completely free with no paid tier gating any privacy or blocking functionality
Cons
- Built-in crypto rewards feature (Basic Attention Token) is unnecessary and can feel confusing or off-putting for users who just want a straightforward private browser
- Some sites that rely heavily on ads for revenue may display imperfectly or break without manual allowlisting of that specific site
- Smaller market share than Chrome or Edge means slightly less day-one compatibility testing from some web developers, though this is rarely a practical issue given the shared Chromium engine
- Privacy-focused defaults occasionally require manual adjustment for sites that depend on tracking-adjacent functionality (some login flows, embedded widgets)
Brave Pricing Plans
Official pricing as published by Brave. Verify current rates before purchasing.
Brave’s core bet is that most users actually want stronger privacy protection by default, but find manually researching, installing, and configuring separate ad-blocking and tracker-blocking extensions to be enough friction that they simply never do it — so Brave builds that protection directly into the browser from first launch.
Privacy Without Sacrificing Compatibility
What distinguishes Brave from some other privacy-focused browsers is that it doesn’t ask users to trade away ecosystem compatibility for privacy. Because it’s built on the same Chromium engine that powers Chrome and Edge, the vast majority of websites render identically and most Chrome extensions install and work without modification — removing a common practical barrier that’s kept privacy-conscious users on Chrome despite caring about tracking.
Meaningful Performance Benefits
Blocking ads and trackers isn’t purely a privacy feature — it also has real, measurable performance benefits, since the browser isn’t downloading and rendering ad content, tracking scripts, and associated network requests in the background. On ad-heavy websites particularly, this can produce noticeably faster page loads than an unprotected browsing experience, which is a tangible day-to-day benefit beyond the more abstract privacy argument.
Built-In Tor Private Browsing
Beyond standard private/incognito tabs, which most browsers offer, Brave includes an optional private browsing mode that routes traffic through the Tor network for meaningfully stronger anonymity — a feature most mainstream browsers don’t build in natively, typically requiring a dedicated separate browser like Tor Browser to access that level of protection.
The Crypto Rewards Feature
Brave’s Basic Attention Token rewards program — letting users opt into viewing privacy-respecting ads in exchange for cryptocurrency — is the browser’s most divisive feature. It’s entirely optional and doesn’t need to be engaged with to benefit from Brave’s core ad-blocking and privacy protections, but its presence and crypto-adjacent framing can feel unnecessary or confusing to users who simply want a straightforward private browsing experience without any cryptocurrency element involved.
Pricing
Brave is completely free with no paid tier.
Who Should Use Brave
Privacy-conscious users wanting Chrome-level compatibility get the clearest value from Brave’s built-in protection without sacrificing extension or website compatibility. Users frustrated with manually configuring separate privacy extensions benefit from Brave’s protective defaults requiring zero setup. Users who want a simple browser without any crypto-adjacent features can simply ignore the optional rewards program entirely without it affecting core functionality.
Verdict
Brave successfully delivers on its core promise — meaningfully stronger privacy and ad-blocking by default, without the usual compatibility tradeoffs that come with switching away from Chrome’s ecosystem. The optional crypto rewards feature is a genuine point of friction for some users’ first impression, but it’s entirely possible to ignore it completely while still getting full value from Brave’s privacy and performance benefits.
Overall rating: 4.1 / 5
Free & open-source alternatives
Looking for a free alternative to Brave? Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox are available at no licensing cost .
Best Alternatives to Brave
2 alternatives listed. Looking for a Brave alternative? Here are the top options our community recommends, ranked by popularity and editorial score.
Quick comparison: Brave vs Microsoft Edge
| Feature | Brave | Microsoft Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Editorial rating | ★ 4.1 / 5 | ★ 3.9 / 5 |
| Community votes | 17 | 14 |
Microsoft's Chromium-based browser, pre-installed on Windows with built-in Copilot AI integration.
A privacy-focused, open-source browser independent of the major ad-tech companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Brave, answered by our editorial team.
- Is Brave free?
- Yes, Brave is completely free with no paid tier; its ad-blocking and privacy features are available to everyone by default, with the optional crypto rewards program being entirely opt-in rather than required.
- Does Brave block ads by default?
- Yes — unlike Chrome or Firefox, which require installing a separate ad-blocking extension for equivalent protection, Brave blocks most ads and trackers out of the box from the very first launch, with no configuration required.
- Can Brave use Chrome extensions?
- Yes — since Brave is built on the Chromium engine, most extensions from the Chrome Web Store are directly compatible with Brave, meaning switching browsers doesn't require giving up an existing extension setup.
- What is Brave's crypto rewards feature?
- Brave includes an optional, opt-in rewards system where users can choose to view privacy-respecting ads in exchange for Basic Attention Token (BAT), a cryptocurrency — this feature is entirely optional and doesn't need to be used to get Brave's core privacy and ad-blocking benefits.
- Is Brave faster than Chrome?
- Often yes, particularly on ad-heavy websites, since blocking ads and trackers before they load reduces the amount of content the browser needs to download and render, which can meaningfully speed up page load times compared to an unblocked browsing experience.
- Does Brave have a private browsing mode?
- Yes, beyond standard private/incognito tabs, Brave offers a private browsing mode that routes traffic through the Tor network for an additional layer of privacy, a feature most mainstream browsers don't offer natively.
- Will websites work normally in Brave?
- The vast majority of websites work identically to Chrome given the shared Chromium engine, though some ad-revenue-dependent sites may occasionally display imperfectly until the user manually allowlists that specific site through Brave's shield settings.
- Is there a free or open-source alternative to Brave?
- Yes. Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox are a free alternative to Brave that cover most of the same core use cases at no licensing cost. See our full comparison below for feature-by-feature differences before switching.
- What is a referral bonus on Kreemhunt?
- A referral bonus is an incentive — like bonus credit, a discount, or extra features — that a software vendor offers when someone signs up through a referral link or code instead of going to the product directly. Kreemhunt tracks which of the tools we cover currently have an active referral arrangement, like Brave, so you don't have to hunt for one yourself.
- Does Brave currently have a referral code or link?
- Not at the moment. Kreemhunt doesn't have a tracked referral code or link for Brave right now — this page will update automatically if one becomes available, so it's worth checking back before you sign up.
- Does using a referral link cost me anything extra?
- No. Using a referral link or code to sign up for Brave costs the same as signing up directly — in most cases referral programs are designed so the new user gets a bonus and the referrer gets a reward, with no markup passed on to you.
- How do I claim Brave's referral bonus?
- There's no active referral bonus for Brave tracked on Kreemhunt right now. Once one becomes available, it'll appear in the referral box on this page along with instructions for claiming it.
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