Brave
Chromium-based web browser with built-in ad and tracker blocking, plus its own search engine.
HN commenters like Brave for its built-in ad blocking1234, for being a Chromium browser that just works across devices5678 and for Brave Search's independent index.91011 The most common complaint is crypto and promotional cruft that has to be turned off1213141516, followed by distrust of the company itself.171819
Why people recommend it
Brave Search · 3
Commenters call Brave Search a strong free Google alternative with its own index and a good UI.
“Brave search is the best alternative to Google.”
“So many people sleep on Brave search. I agree, it's like Google from 08.”
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“If you just want a free search engine, Brave is probably the best index.”
Built-in adblock · 3
The built-in blocker reduces or removes the need for separate ad-blocking extensions, including on mobile.
“Why anyone still uses vanilla Chrome for personal use is beyond me while brave exists and is actively maintained.”
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“Bonus points for having Brave browser with built-in adblock”
Just works · 3
Switchers say migration was quick and the browser stays out of the way.
“I switched to Brave, migrated in a few minutes literally and feel much better.”
“Switched to Brave a while ago and everything works as it should”
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“Brave just works, I can use it on all my devices, OSes”
Chromium compatibility · 3
Users value having Chromium under the hood with uBlock Origin, vertical tabs and containers available.
“I use Brave. I want Chromium under the hood.”
“I've been using Brave for years and its great.”
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“Now that Brave has proper containers, I’m running out of reasons to miss Firefox”
Security · 3
Commenters cite Shields, fast security updates and trust in Chromium's security on Android.
“I've been using Brave for years and its great.”
“Brave has a 1 day SLA for releasing the update itself after a security fix gets published”
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“I use Brave. I want Chromium under the hood.”
Speed · 3
Some find it faster and less bloated than Chrome or Firefox.
“slowly Brave became my default browser over time due to its adblocking abilities and general speed.”
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“a browser that doesn't suck, is fast and has built in ad blocker, fingerprinting blocker and BS blocker”
Caveats and dissent
Crypto cruft · 3
Wallet, BAT and crypto promotions are pushed on users and need disabling.
“slowly Brave became my default browser over time due to its adblocking abilities and general speed.”
“why pick one that's filled with crypto ads?”
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“the path they're taking with crypto and add-on bloat just feels ickier than most of its competition including Chrome.”
Company trust · 3
Some commenters distrust the company or its founder and avoid it entirely.
“Every time I see mention of "Brave" I'm reminded that Brendan left Mozilla because of his contributions to anti-gay rights causes”
“But its obvious that these guys are semi shady and they will show sooner or later.”
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“Do not use Brave for anything. Not now, now then, not ever.”
Adblock gaps · 2
Some say the built-in blocker misses YouTube ads or trails uBlock Origin at cosmetic filtering.
“Brave's ad block is pretty ineffectual by itself. For example it doesn't block youtube adverts.”
“I would suggest staying away from Brave.”
Forced autoupdates · 1
One long-time user quit because autoupdates cannot be turned off.
“stopped when they absolutely refused to even consider letting people turn off autoupdates”
Performance, builds · 1
One user measured it slower than Firefox and Chromium and noted non-reproducible builds.
“I would suggest staying away from Brave.”
Search speed · 1
Brave Search is described as slower than Google.
“Been using Brave Search now for a while including its Brave AI and aside of sporadic times I never needed Google”
Often compared with
10 moved from Firefox to Brave
2 moved from Brave to FirefoxChrome31 comments mention both
5 moved from Chrome to Brave
1 moved from Kagi to Brave
1 moved from Safari to Brave
1 moved from Vivaldi to Brave
3 moved from Brave to Orion
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- I switched to Brave 16 mentions
- Ask HN: What are the viable alternatives to DuckDuckGo? 11 mentions
- Google Has Removed MV2 Extensions from the Chrome Web Store, Including UBO 7 mentions
- Hang on to Your Firefox 4 mentions
- Google Chrome is killing all uBlock Origin bypasses, Edge, Opera to follow 4 mentions
- Search engines alternatives now that Google isn't Google anymore 4 mentions
Also written as Brave Search. Data: brave.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 51
“I use Brave.”
“I switched to Brave, migrated in a few minutes literally and feel much better.”
“i use brave, chrome for google stuff, firefox if i need a third browser”
“I use Brave and see no reason why would anyone chose differently.”
“I use Brave and never had a kneed for AdGuard”
“I use Firefox, edge, brave across these devices.”
“I use Brave and 1Password.”
“Switched to Brave a while ago and everything works as it should”
“I use Brave. All good and don't see any reason to switch”
“I used to use Brave and it had no issues on YT.”
“I am a tab power user, in Brave I had 370 tabs “open”.”
“That + Brave and I'm pretty much ad free.”
“I use Brave, and it's great”
“watch yt on Brave”
“Brave (Browser, but the extensions are mine)”
“Brave search is the best alternative to Google.”
“Brave is good, no doubt.”
“the version of Brave that I use doesn't collect telemetry or serve ads because I paid for it”
“They are built around creating a user-centric browser, and need to monetize.”
“Every time I see mention of "Brave" I'm reminded that Brendan left Mozilla because of his contributions to anti-gay rights causes”
“Brave is my daily driver.”
“A few features of Brave that I find special and useful”
“stopped when they absolutely refused to even consider letting people turn off autoupdates”
“Brave: Crypto nonsense, all kinds of advertising for their crap everywhere”
“Main reason I keep using Brave is its "good enfough."”
“Those work now? That's impressive.”
“Brave gets far too much hate on this site and is actually the best browser made today”
“Never do I use brave ever because one incident I forgot about”
“Does it do anything beyond ad-blocking over chrome?”
“I've been enjoying Brave for a long time”
“slowly Brave became my default browser over time due to its adblocking abilities and general speed.”
“Brave just works, I can use it on all my devices, OSes”
“I use Brave only to stream web radio while in the kitchen.”
“Brave has a 1 day SLA for releasing the update itself after a security fix gets published”
“Bonus points for having Brave browser with built-in adblock”
“Highly recommend you use Brave Browser and avoid all this nastiness.”
“Been using Brave Search now for a while including its Brave AI and aside of sporadic times I never needed Google”
“using both Firefox and Brave”
“Brave is also a valid choice on Mobile because of the better adblocking.”
“Brave is beating GrapheneOS on update timeliness”
“So the closest thing for me (Chrome minus Google) was Brave.”
“why pick one that's filled with crypto ads?”
“the path they're taking with crypto and add-on bloat just feels ickier than most of its competition including Chrome.”
“I love it as a browser.”
“I use Brave. I want Chromium under the hood.”
“Brave's builtin adblocker is pretty great as well.”
“Do not use Brave for anything. Not now, now then, not ever.”
“If you just want a free search engine, Brave is probably the best index.”
“I have been using Brave Search since its launch and it has been great in my experience.”
“Why anyone still uses vanilla Chrome for personal use is beyond me while brave exists and is actively maintained.”
“But its obvious that these guys are semi shady and they will show sooner or later.”