Why did I give up Chrome, Firefox and Samsung Internet for Brave?

I almost tried every popular Android browser there, but no matter which one I chose, there was always something missing that eventually made me try another one. Chrome integrates seamlessly with Android, but it also feels barebones without extension support, ad blocking, and stronger privacy features.

Firefox sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. It offers extensions, privacy controls, and lots of customization, but lacks basic conveniences like tab groups and a bookmark manager. Samsung Internet was the closest to being my default browser, but its desktop version is still a work in progress and makes device syncing more complicated than it needs to be.

This frustration finally pushed me towards him Brave. I went in with fairly low expectations, but Brave offered the most complete package of any browser I’ve tried.

If there was one thing that convinced me to give Brave a try, it was the constant praise for its privacy features in countless Reddit threads. And as it turns out, the browser really lives up to the hype. For starters, Brave blocks trackers and third-party cookies on websites. This means I no longer have to search for a product once and then worry about seeing ads for it all over the place online.

Brave also blocks intrusive scripts that slow down websites and clutter pages with pop-ups, autoplay videos and other nuisances. It makes browsing feel cleaner compared to some other browsers. It even offers fingerprint protection, an advanced form of tracking that identifies your device based on browser settings, screen resolution and hardware configuration.

The best part is that all these privacy features are already enabled in Brave, so you don’t have to dig through menus to set everything up. Meanwhile, Brave offers plenty of options for anyone who wants even tighter privacy controls.

I also like that the browser is transparent about everything it blocks. On any website, I can click on the Brave Shields icon to see how many trackers, ads, scripts, and other elements have been blocked. Best of all, Brave itself doesn’t collect any personal data — something the company is proud to point out official website.

Unlike Firefox or Samsung Internet, Brave does not support it Extensions on Android. At first I thought this would be a bargain because I’ve always relied on add-ons to enhance my browsing experience. But surprisingly, I never missed them. This is mainly because many of the features I’ll be installing via third-party add-ons are already built directly into Brave.

The biggest example is ad blocking. It’s one of the first extensions I install in any browser, but with Brave there’s no need for it. Now, as someone who works on ad-based sites, I fully understand why they are important. But I also hate how some sites push things too far by covering half the screen with banners or cutting out every few seconds. Thankfully, Brave strikes a good balance. This allows me to whitelist the sites I want to support, while avoiding the worst intrusive ads elsewhere.

Brave also includes features like Force Dark Mode, which comes in handy during late-night browsing sessions. Again, this is something that requires an extension in browsers like Firefox. Brave even ships with its own built-in firewall and VPN service, though a paid subscription is required. I personally don’t use it, but it’s nice to know you have the option.

Having these features means I still get most of the functionality I want without the risk of third-party extensions. I don’t have to worry about questionable permissions, poorly maintained extensions, or tools collecting data in the background.

The most obvious one is ad blocking. I don’t have to worry about obtrusive ads or sponsored banners while watching YouTube. Brave removes all of this automatically. It also supports background playback, so I can start a video, lock the screen, and continue playing the audio. It’s perfect for podcasts, music or long-form videos where I’m listening to more than actively looking at a screen. There is even support for picture-in-picture mode. This allows me to keep a small floating video window open while I scroll through social media, reply to messages, or use other apps.

But my favorite part of watching YouTube on Brave is the level of control it gives me. I can block content recommendations, hide distractions like members-only videos, and even remove the Shorts tab entirely.

Aside from all the title-worthy features, Brave is packed with smaller tools that made me love it even more. For example, I like that Brave allows me to fully customize the main menu. If there are options I’ve never touched, like Translate, Brave VPN, or Brave News, I can just hide them. Another small but useful feature is “Copy Clean Link”. Modern URLs are often full of tracking parameters and unnecessary garbage appended to the end of links. With this option, Brave removes all of these before copying the URL.

Brave also includes its own AI assistant called Leo AI. I’m not a fan of apps that push AI into everything, but Leo AI is handy for summarizing web pages, asking quick questions, and analyzing files on my phone. The best part is that Brave stores all chat history locally on my phone, not on a remote cloud server.

Performance is another area Where Brave impresses. According to Brave’s own testing, it can load pages three times faster than many popular competitors. Yes, it feels fast in daily use. Finally, Brave is also open source. This might not be a big deal for everyone, but I’m someone who prefers to use open source software whenever possible, so this is a big plus for me.

Of course, all this does not mean that Brave is a perfect browser. Personally, I’m not a fan of its crypto-related features, and yes, the lack of extension support is still a big letdown. But despite these shortcomings, Brave is the closest thing I’ve found to a full browser experience on Android. It’s faster than Chrome, more privacy-focused than Firefox, and packs better features than Samsung Web.

So I don’t hop between browsers anymore and I hope it stays that way.