Brave Browser Review 2026: Chrome Speed Without the Tracking

Short answer: Brave is the easiest privacy upgrade for Chrome users. It's built on Chromium, so websites and Chrome extensions work the same, but it blocks ads and trackers by default, randomizes fingerprinting data and upgrades connections to HTTPS. Pages often load faster because there's less to download. Brave also bundles extras — crypto wallet, Rewards, Leo AI, VPN — which some people find cluttered; all can be turned off.

Brave at a glance

Brave Shields

Shields are the core feature and are on by default:

• Ad and tracker blocking using filter lists similar to uBlock Origin — and because it's built into the browser, it isn't affected by Chrome's Manifest V3 extension limits.
• Fingerprinting protection that randomizes certain browser values per site.
• HTTPS upgrades for every connection that supports it.
• Cookie controls that block cross-site tracking cookies.

You can adjust Shields per site if something breaks.

Brave's new-tab page shows how many trackers and ads Shields has blocked.

The extras (and how to switch them off)

Recommended settings after installing

1. Shields → Trackers & ads blocking: keep "Standard"; switch to "Aggressive" if you don't mind occasional site breakage.
2. Shields → Block fingerprinting: keep on (default).
3. Privacy and security → WebRTC IP handling: choose "Disable non-proxied UDP" if you use a VPN, so your real IP isn't exposed.
4. Search engine: keep Brave Search, or switch to DuckDuckGo or Startpage.
5. Sync: if you use Brave on several devices, Brave Sync uses a sync chain code rather than an account — store it in your password manager.
6. Password saving: turn off the built-in password manager if you use a dedicated one, to avoid duplicates.
7. Turn off extras you don't want (Rewards, Wallet, Leo, News) as shown in the table above.

Switching from Chrome

Brave can import bookmarks, history, saved passwords and extensions from Chrome during setup (Settings → Get started → Import bookmarks and settings). Most Chrome extensions install directly from the Chrome Web Store. Because Shields already blocks ads and trackers, you can usually remove separate ad-blocking extensions.

Privacy history worth knowing

In 2020 Brave was criticized for autocompleting certain crypto-exchange URLs with its affiliate referral code; it apologized and removed the behavior. It has since focused on transparency about its business model. Brave remains among the most private mainstream browsers by default in independent comparisons.

Brave vs. alternatives

• Chrome: same engine, no built-in blocking, more data collection by Google.
• Firefox: independent engine, full uBlock Origin support, more customizable; needs an extension for comparable blocking.
• DuckDuckGo browser: simpler, strong on mobile, fewer features.
• Tor Browser: for anonymity, not everyday speed.

Verdict

Brave delivers strong privacy protection out of the box without giving up Chrome compatibility. Switch off the extras you don't want and it's simply a faster, more private Chrome.

Frequently asked questions

Is Brave safe?

Yes. It's built on Chromium with regular security updates and adds privacy protections on top.

Is Brave faster than Chrome?

Often, because blocking ads and trackers reduces what pages load. On ad-free pages they're similar.

Can I use Chrome extensions in Brave?

Yes, most Chrome Web Store extensions work.

Sources

• Brave, Shields help
• Brave, Privacy updates and fingerprinting protection
• Brave, Browser privacy policy