Internet & WiFi

Beginner

4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

Brave Browser: Browse the Web With More Privacy

Brave is a free browser that blocks ads and trackers automatically. Here is what it does differently, how to install it, and when it makes sense to use it.

At a Glance

Download and install Brave

~21s

Go to brave.com in your current browser. Click the "Download Brave" button. The website will automatically detect whether you are on Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android and show you the correct download. On Windows or Mac, run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts — installation takes about two minutes. On iPhone or Android, it will direct you to the App Store or Google Play.

Import your bookmarks from Chrome or Edge

~28s

When you first open Brave, it may ask if you want to import your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords from another browser. Click "Import Bookmarks and Settings," choose your previous browser from the list (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.), select what to import, and click "Import." Your saved websites and passwords will transfer over so you do not start from scratch.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If the import prompt does not appear, go to Menu (three horizontal lines, top right) > Bookmarks > Import Bookmarks and Settings.

Understand the Brave Shields

~23s

Every time you visit a website, Brave shows a small lion icon (called "Shields") next to the address bar with a number showing how many trackers and ads were blocked on that page. Click the lion icon to see the breakdown. By default, Shields blocks ads, cross-site trackers, and some annoying cookie banners. You can lower the Shield level for a specific site if something is not working correctly.

Browse normally — Brave does the work

~22s

For everyday browsing, Brave works exactly like Chrome. Type in the address bar to go to websites or search the web (Brave uses Google as its default search engine, which you can change in settings). Open tabs with Ctrl + T (Windows/Linux) or Command + T (Mac). Save favorites with the star icon. Everything you are used to from other browsers works the same way.

Try Private Window with Tor (optional)

~32s

Brave offers a special "Private Window with Tor" option — this is a more advanced privacy mode that hides your internet activity more thoroughly by routing your connection through a network called Tor. This is NOT needed for everyday browsing, but can be useful if you have a specific need for strong anonymity. Access it under Menu > New Private Window with Tor.

Warning

Private browsing in any browser (including Brave's standard Private window) does not make you completely anonymous. It mainly stops your browser from saving local history. For stronger privacy online, consider a reputable VPN service as well.

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Brave is a free web browser — an alternative to Chrome, Firefox, or Edge — that is built with privacy as its top priority. The main difference you notice right away is that Brave automatically blocks ads and website trackers without any extra setup. This means web pages often load faster, and fewer companies are collecting data about what you browse.

Most websites use invisible "trackers" — small pieces of code that follow you from site to site and build a profile of your interests to show you targeted ads. When you visit a news site, for example, there may be dozens of trackers running in the background that you never see. Brave blocks these by default.

Brave is based on the same technology as Chrome (called Chromium). So it works with almost all websites and supports Chrome extensions. If you know how to use Chrome, Brave will feel very familiar.

Brave is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android — and it is free. You do not need to pay anything to use the privacy features. Brave does offer an optional paid product called "Brave VPN," but the basic browser requires no payment.

One feature some users find interesting is Brave Rewards — an optional program where Brave shows you a small number of privacy-friendly ads (with your permission) and pays you a small amount of cryptocurrency called BAT (Basic Attention Token) for viewing them. This is entirely opt-in and has nothing to do with your regular browsing if you do not enable it.

Brave is a good choice for anyone who wants more control over their online privacy without having to configure anything.

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