Browsers
Brave Browser privacy rating
Chromium-based browser with built-in ad, tracker and fingerprinting protection through Brave Shields.
Summary
Brave Browser scores 73 out of 100 (grade C) on the browsers criteria. It meets 4 of 8 criteria: open source, blocks trackers by default, fingerprinting protection and timely security updates. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and no calls to big-tech services. It does not meet independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 73 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
- Yes
-
Partial
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
Privacy-Preserving Product Analytics are on by default and can be turned off. No third-party analytics.
-
Partial
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Brave Ads, including New Tab Page ads, can appear by default and can be turned off. Ad matching happens on the device.
-
No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit is published.
-
Yes
Blocks trackers by default Weight 3 of 3
Are third-party trackers blocked by default, without installing extensions?
Brave Shields blocks trackers and ads by default.
-
Yes
Fingerprinting protection Weight 2 of 3
Does the browser defend against fingerprinting by default?
Randomizes fingerprinting data by default.
-
Partial
No calls to big-tech services Weight 2 of 3
Does the browser work without background connections to Google, Microsoft or Apple services?
Google Safe Browsing is proxied on desktop, but on Android requests reach Google directly. It can be turned off.
-
Yes
Timely security updates Weight 3 of 3
Are security fixes from the upstream engine shipped quickly and automatically?
Chromium security fixes ship within days and install automatically.