Brave vs Chrome: It Depends on Use

Where each one runs

Brave says you can download Brave for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, or Windows. Chrome says you can set Chrome as the default browser on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android. Chrome 139's release notes say that stable release applies to Android, ChromeOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Ads, trackers, and cookies

Brave says third-party ad and tracker blocking is on for every page, with no extra download. It also says Brave blocks cross-site cookies by default and randomizes fingerprinting by default. The homepage adds that Global Privacy Control is on by default, and that Brave upgrades pages to HTTPS when it can. Shields can be turned off for one site.

Chrome describes extensions, Safe Browsing, a Privacy Guide, and Enhanced Safe Browsing that you turn on. Chrome says third-party cookies are blocked by default in Incognito, and that in regular browsing you choose Allow or Block. It does not say regular browsing blocks them by default.

Sync

Brave says Sync is encrypted on each device, covers history, bookmarks, and other profile data between desktop and mobile, and does not use Google's servers. Brave's features include bookmarks, passwords, and tabs. Chrome says a Google Account brings bookmarks, passwords, and more to your devices, and that signing in to Chrome is optional even if you use Gmail. It says Chrome history can personalize other Google products if you turn on Web & App Activity and sync that history.

Extensions and Manifest V3

Brave's 2 June 2025 guide says Chrome Web Store extensions install in Brave with Add to Brave. It says Brave will keep supporting some Manifest V2 extensions, and that Manifest V3 extensions work in Brave the way they work in Chrome. Brave also says Shields replaces an extension ad blocker.

Chrome's Manifest V3 doc says version 3 moves the background page to service workers, stops remotely hosted code, and replaces the blocking webRequest API with declarativeNetRequest. Chrome's timeline, updated 9 September 2026, says that on 24 July 2025 Chrome 138 disabled Manifest V2 extensions for every user, and that users cannot turn them back on. It says those extensions stop working on Chrome 139 and later. It also says that on 31 August 2026 the remaining Manifest V2 extensions were removed from the Chrome Web Store. Installs already on Chrome 138 or earlier can keep running, but they cannot be updated or reinstalled. Chrome says you add extensions from the Chrome Web Store on desktop.

Rewards

Brave says BAT, the Basic Attention Token, is optional. Opt in and you can view Brave Private Ads and earn BAT, then keep it, tip a publisher, or store it in Brave Wallet. Brave also lists gift cards and crypto as redeem options. The browser is free without Rewards. Brave Firewall + VPN is separate: Brave says one subscription covers up to 5 devices on Android, iOS, and desktop.

Speed, as the vendor states it

Brave's homepage FAQ says the browser is 3x faster than Google Chrome. The same homepage also says websites load 3x-6x faster. Those two sentences are both Brave's. Neither speed figure is picked, and neither figure is a lab result. Chrome names Energy Saver and Memory Saver. It does not publish a speed multiple against Brave.

Who should pick which

Pick Brave if the thing you want is ads and trackers blocked before you install anything, with an optional BAT program and sync that Brave says never reaches Google. Pick Chrome if you want a Google Account to carry bookmarks and passwords, and you want extensions under the Manifest V3 rules Google now enforces. The 2026 browser roundup is the wider list. Chrome vs Firefox and Firefox vs Safari are the other live browser head-to-heads. Chrome vs Safari is the Apple matchup.