Brave Software has introduced brave origina paid version of brave browser which removes features related to cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, rewards and other monetization methods. The browser can be downloaded separately or as an upgrade to existing Brave installations.
The single license costs $59.99 and supports up to 10 devices. linux Users can access Brave Origin for free. Brave describes Origin as designed for users who want a simple, privacy-oriented browser without the company’s optional revenue features.
What Brave Origin removes and why some users criticize it
Brave Origin disables several features found in the standard Brave browser, including:
- Brave rewards,
- brave wallet,
- Courageous VPN promotions,
- Brave Leo AI,
- Brave news,
- Brave Talk, sponsored images and other promotional and monetization components.
The browser’s built-in privacy and ad blocking system, Brave Shields, remains fully functional when using Origin.
The release has faced criticism from privacy-conscious users who argue that Brave is charging for removing features that many consider unnecessary additions that shouldn’t have been in the browser to begin with.
One Reddit user said: “My criticism is that Brave started out offering a browser that protected users from the monetization layers of the web.
Over time, the browser itself became another layer of monetization. Now Brave Origin seems to confirm that problem: if you want the simple, privacy-focused version, it becomes a paid product.”
Others have pointed out that many of the features Origin disables can already be disabled in the free Brave browser using enterprise group policies, raising questions about whether Origin offers meaningful technical differences beyond presenting those settings in a simplified interface.
Supporters of the project argue that most users will not manually configure enterprise policies. They see Origin as a more accessible way to get a cleaner browsing experience while also providing a means to financially support the underlying privacy project.
What brave users should consider before paying for Origin
Users looking for a simplified Brave experience have three options: pay $59.99 for Origin, manually configure enterprise group policies in the free version to disable certain features, or switch to an alternative privacy-focused browser like Firefox or LibreWolf.
The core privacy features are the same on both Brave and Origin, but differ in optional Brave services that are enabled by default. Users comfortable with browser settings may find the free version sufficient with manual policy adjustments.
Brave Origin offers a more streamlined process but it comes at a cost. It is now available on the Brave website and Linux users can download it for free.
