Why I left Chrome, Firefox, and Samsung Internet for Brave

I have tried almost every popular Android browser, but no matter which browser I chose, there was always something missing which ultimately prompted me to try another browser. Chrome integrates seamlessly with Android, but it also feels useless without extension support, ad blocking, and strong privacy features.

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

Ultimately that frustration pushed me towards Brave. I went in with fairly low expectations, but Brave offered the most complete package out of every browser I’ve tried.

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

Brave also blocks intrusive scripts that slow down websites and clutter pages with popups, autoplay videos, and other irritants. This makes browsing cleaner than some other browsers. It also offers protection against fingerprinting, an advanced form of tracking that identifies your device based on browser settings, screen resolution, and hardware configuration.

The best part is that all of these privacy features are pre-enabled in Brave, so there’s no need to dig through menus to set everything up. Plus, Brave offers plenty of options for those who want even tighter privacy controls.

I also like how transparent the browser is about everything it blocks. On any website, I can tap the Brave Shields icon to see how many trackers, ads, scripts, and other elements were stopped. Most importantly, Brave itself does not collect any personal data – something the company proudly states official website.

Unlike Firefox or Samsung Internet, Brave does not support extensions on Android. Initially, I thought this would be a dealbreaker because I have always relied on add-ons to improve my browsing experience. But the surprising thing is that I never really missed them. And the main reason for this is that many of the features I usually install through third-party add-ons are already built directly into Brave.

The biggest example is ad blocking. This is one of the first extensions I install on any browser, but with Brave, there’s no need. Now, as someone who works for sites that rely on ads, I completely understand why they matter. But I also hate when some sites take things too far by covering half the screen with banners or interrupting every few seconds. Thankfully, Brave strikes a good balance. This lets me whitelist the sites I want to support while also avoiding the worst types of intrusive ads elsewhere.

Brave also includes features like Force Dark Mode, which is useful during late-night browsing sessions. This is again something that requires an extension in a browser like Firefox. Brave also ships with its own built-in firewall and VPN service, though it requires a paid subscription. Personally, I don’t use it, but it’s nice to know the option exists.

Having these features built-in means I still get most of the functionality I want without the risks 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 is ad blocking. I don’t have to worry about unskippable ads or those sponsored banners when watching YouTube. The brave overcomes all that on his own. It also supports background play, so I can start a video, lock the screen, and the audio keeps playing. It’s perfect for podcasts, music, or long-form videos where I’m mostly listening rather than actively watching the screen. There is also support for picture-in-picture mode. This lets me keep a small floating video window open while scrolling social media, replying to messages, or using 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 distracting elements like members-only videos, and even remove the Shorts tab altogether.

Beyond all the headline-worthy features, the Brave is packed with little tools that made me love it even more. For example, I like how Brave lets me completely customize the main menu. If there are options I never touch, like Translate, Brave VPN, or Brave News, I can simply hide them. Another small but useful feature is “Copy Clean Link.” Modern URLs are often filled with tracking parameters and unnecessary junk appended to the end of links. With this option, Brave removes all that 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 the Leo AI is useful for summarizing webpages, 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 distant cloud server.

Performance is another area where the Brave impresses. According to Brave’s own testing, it can load pages up to three times faster than many popular competitors. And yes, in everyday use, it feels fast. Finally, Brave is also open-source. This may not be a big deal to everyone, but I’m one who likes to use open-source apps whenever possible, so this is a big plus for me.

Of course, this doesn’t 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 drawback. But despite these flaws, Brave is the closest we can get to a perfect browser experience on Android. It’s faster than Chrome, more privacy-focused than Firefox, and offers better features than Samsung Internet.

Because of that, I’m no longer switching between browsers at this point, and I hope it stays that way.