Why I left Chrome, Firefox and Samsung Internet for Brave

I have tried almost all popular android browsers out there, but no matter which one I chose, something was always missing which eventually pushed me to try another one. Chrome integrates seamlessly with Android, but it also feels basic without extension support, ad blocking, and more robust privacy features.

Firefox is on the opposite end of the spectrum. It offers extensions, privacy controls, and plenty of customization, but lacks basic amenities like tab groups and a bookmarks manager. Samsung Internet came closest to becoming my default browser, but its desktop version is still a work in progress, making device syncing more complicated than it needs to be.

That frustration finally pushed me towards Brave. I went in with pretty low expectations, but Brave ended up offering the most complete package of all the browsers I tested.

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

Brave also blocks intrusive scripts that slow down websites and clutter pages with pop-ups, auto-playing videos, and other annoyances. This makes for cleaner browsing compared to 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 of these privacy features are pre-enabled in Brave, so there’s no need to dig through menus to set everything up. At the same time, Brave offers plenty of options for anyone who wants even tighter privacy controls.

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

Unlike Firefox or Samsung Internet, Brave does not support extensions on android. Initially, I thought this would be a deal breaker because I have always relied on plugins to improve my browsing experience. But surprisingly, I never missed them. And that’s mainly because many of the features you’d normally install through third-party add-ons are already built right into Brave.

The biggest example is ad blocking. It’s one of the first extensions I install on any browser, but with Brave it’s not necessary. Now, as someone who works for sites that rely on ads, I completely understand why they are important. But I also hate that some sites go too far by covering half the screen with banners or breaking every few seconds. Fortunately, Brave strikes a good balance. It allows me to whitelist the sites I want to support while avoiding the worst types of intrusive advertising 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 comes with its own built-in firewall and VPN service, although it requires a paid subscription. Personally, I don’t use it, but it’s good 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 that collect data in the background.

The most obvious is ad blocking. I don’t have to worry about non-skippable ads or those sponsored banners while watching YouTube. Brave removes all of that automatically. It also supports background playback, so I can start a video, lock the screen, and the audio continues playing. It’s perfect for podcasts, music, or long videos where I’m primarily listening rather than actively looking at the 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 about 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 entirely.

Beyond all the headline-worthy features, Brave is packed with smaller tools that made me love it even more. For example, I like how Brave allows me to 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 often come packed with tracking parameters and unnecessary junk attached to the ends of links. With this option, Brave removes all of that before copying the URL.

Brave also includes its own AI assistant called Leo AI. I’m not a fan of apps that include AI in everything, but Leo AI is useful 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 distant cloud server.

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

Of course, all this doesn’t mean that Brave is a perfect browser. Personally, I’m not a fan of its cryptocurrency-related features and yes, the lack of extension support is still a big mistake. But despite these flaws, Brave is the closest I’ve found to a full 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 jumping between browsers at the moment, and I hope it stays that way.