Firefox and Brave both are free, open-source, and modern browsers. In January 2016, Brave Software Inc founded by Brian Bondy and Brenden Eich launched a browser called Brave to compete with Chrome, Mozilla, and Opera.
Brave is a browser that is relatively new to the scene compared to other popular browsers. This post will compare the browsers ( Firefox Vs Brave ) in five aspects that matter most for any browser: security, usefulness or utility, portability, privacy, and other features with the Firefox browser.
- Security
- Utility (Usefulness)
- Portability (How well they work on different devices)
- Privacy
- Other Features
The current version of Brave is Version 1.32.113 based on Chromium: 96.0.4664.45 while Chrome’s latest version is Version 96.0.4664.45.
| Feature | Firefox | Brave |
|---|
| Developer | Mozilla Foundation | Brave Software Inc. |
| Main Focus | Privacy and Customization | Privacy and Speed with built-in Ad Blocking |
| Privacy | Strong privacy controls with tracking protection; open-source | Strong privacy focus with built-in ad and tracker blocking |
| Ad Blocking | Requires additional extensions like uBlock Origin | Built-in ad blocker that blocks ads and trackers by default |
| Speed | Moderate, depends on add-ons and usage | Faster than Firefox, thanks to built-in blocking of ads and trackers |
| Search Engine | Default: Google or Mozilla’s Firefox Search | Default: Brave Search or DuckDuckGo, customizable |
| Sync Across Devices | Syncs bookmarks, history, and tabs across devices using Firefox Sync | Syncs data across devices without cloud storage using Brave Sync |
| Extensions/Add-ons | Extensive library of extensions via Firefox Add-ons | Supports most Chrome extensions from Chrome Web Store |
| User Interface (UI) | Traditional, highly customizable with themes and add-ons | Minimalist and clean interface with easy customization options |
| Built-in Crypto Wallet | No | Yes, Brave Wallet for cryptocurrency payments |
| Rewards Program | No | Yes, Brave Rewards system that pays users in BAT (Basic Attention Token) for viewing privacy-respecting ads |
| Private Browsing | Firefox Private Browsing blocks trackers but doesn’t include Tor | Brave Private Browsing mode can integrate Tor for extra anonymity |
| Open Source | Fully open-source, with regular updates | Fully open-source, but some proprietary integrations like Brave Rewards |
| Mobile Experience | Firefox for Android/iOS supports many features, including add-ons | Brave for Android/iOS also includes ad-blocking and sync features, faster experience |
| Customization | Extensive, allows deep customization through themes, add-ons, and settings | Moderate, fewer customization options than Firefox but still customizable |
| Memory Usage | Efficient, though can get heavier with multiple extensions | Lower memory usage due to blocking ads and trackers |
| Security | Strong security with features like HTTPS-Only mode and regular updates | Strong security focus with built-in HTTPS upgrades and ad/tracker blocking |
| Support for Web Standards | Excellent, supports the latest web standards and protocols | Excellent, built on Chromium so supports Chrome-based web standards |
| Developer Tools | Comprehensive built-in developer tools for web development | Chromium-based developer tools, comparable to Chrome’s dev tools |
| Community Support | Large, active community with frequent updates and user forums | Growing, active community, especially among privacy enthusiasts |
| Best For | Users who prefer customization and control over browsing | Users who prioritize privacy, speed, and built-in ad/tracker blocking |
Security Regarding Firefox Vs Brave
Like so many others, the Brave browser is built on Google’s open-source Chromium code ( which was started by Google as an experimental project open for all to contribute). The open-source allows anybody, like the Opera and the Edge browsers, to see and copy the source code and customize it accordingly.
However, it does not mean all Chromium-based browsers are identical or open-source, though they have some common features as the core is common.
By focusing on privacy — particularly by blocking trackers, scripts, and publicity by default Brave differentiates itself from other Chromium browsers. So when you use the Brave browser, the areas of a website where you usually display ads are blank.
In some instances, pages don’t load properly. This means either choosing a different browser or switching ‘Shields Up’ to ‘Shields Down,’ which disables the protection of confidentiality and security.
The Internet as a whole is paid for in large part by display ads that retain the actual content that you want to view free of charge. By encouraging Brave users to choose the Brave Reward System that is, in reality, its ad platform, Brave has attempted to upgrade this model.
Once a user has chosen to enter, Brave displays what it calls “privacy ads,” for which you can view and get what it calls Basic Attention Token, known as BATs. From that point on, brave users can choose to expend their BAT on the support of the websites or the individual contributors they love.
It probably depends on your contempt for displaying publicity on the internet, whether this sounds complicated or like a great idea.
The majority of Internet users understand that high-quality content costs money and that revenue generated by advertising is acceptable.
On the other hand, we prefer to keep things simple by using the Firefox browser. Firefox disables default tracking on a large number of third-party trackers, encryptors, and fingerprinting trackers. But Firefox chooses not to block display ads from being displayed outside private browsing mode. This means that unless one of the specifically designed extensions is installed.
Some security features worth emphasizing in Brave include the automatic upgrading of the HTTPS. Both Brave and Firefox allow users to check their Security Statistics at any time with their native password management system.
Brave displays the stats that it blocks when you open a new tab, such as several trackers. Firefox displays comparable information when you view your privacy report, which you can access at any time by clicking the shield in the address bar.
In the end, although the Basic Attention Tokens sales model for Brave is too complex for many users, both Brave and Firefox offer a variety of ways to enjoy their safety and privately-owned browsing.
Utility in Firefox Vs Brave
How quickly pages tend to load on a browser might surprise some Brave new users. These fast load times are that when you block all advertisements on pages, they load much faster. Simply put, it takes less time to load.
Brave is significantly heavier than Firefox in terms of actual RAM usage. Brave comes pre-installed with various features and “add-ons,” which contribute to its increased RAM usage.
On the other hand, Firefox allows you to decide which extensions and add-ons you want to add to your browser.
Brave vs Firefox real-time tests
Firefox vs Brave RAM usage
I tested both with no extra addons and the same website opened in both the browsers and here is the result.
In this comparison of Firefox Vs Brave, you can find out that the Brave is using only 12 MB more physical RAM than Firefox. But the sites opened were Google and Yahoo.
Next, I checked both browsers with YouTube opened, and the same video is played across both browsers, and here is the result.
So in this segment of Firefox Vs Brave, Brave uses more than 30 MB of RAM than Firefox. So as the graphics and other things will increase, the gap between the two browser's RAM utilization will also increase.
This is a small example of Brave Vs Chrome RAM usage when operated under exact same condition. Google uses almost 200 MB more RAM than Brave.
Portability in Firefox Vs Brave
Firefox has supported syncing passwords, extensions, form data, add-ons, and other preferences across multiple devices and operating systems for years. Additionally, the synced data is encrypted to ensure that no one from the outside can access it.
Users can also sign up for a free Firefox account with the Firefox browser. A Firefox account is key for unlocking synchronization across devices, and you benefit from products such as the Firefox Monitor, which monitors and alerts you to any known infringements in your e-mail addresses.
Brave recently added the ability to sync data across the majority of popular operating systems and devices, as well as the ability to sync basic tokens.
Mozilla Firefox vs Brave Data Usage
Using the Brave browser also saves data. If you compare Brave browser vs Firefox, then you will find that Brave uses much less data than Mozilla Firefox. I have been using Brave browser for the last month, and you can see the data saved in the below image.
Brave blocks ads, which saves a lot of data for you.
Privacy In Firefox Vs Brave
Brave has several functions that retain privacy for your browsing. The default adblocker also prevents the tracking of ads and secures unencrypted websites using HTTPS if required.
Brave’s security settings enable you to choose which data to delete when the app is closed, block fingerprinting attempts, and prevent scripts from loading. Brave settings provide many ways to personalize the security you want for your browsing experience.
In December 2018, Brave ultimately migrated to the Chromium codebase, making it easier for users to use their Chrome extensions — but users should be cautious of the data that third-party database extensions collect.
Firefox doesn’t update as often as Google Chrome but updates it at least regularly. As the Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit, its coding volunteers are impressive to constantly ensure that the newest security and browsing capabilities are loaded with Firefox in weeks.
Firefox offers a set of security capabilities that every internet user appreciates: phishing and malware protection, websites/web forgery blocking a reported attack, and user warning when they are attempting to install add-ons.
Firefox is relatively lightweight in comparison to its competitors. Firefox has “Content Block,” which allows users to block all browser detections from tracking by time.
Additionally, Firefox enables users to partition their browsers and prevent third-party platforms such as Facebook from tracking their activity outside of Facebook.
But most importantly, Firefox is the only commonly used open-source web browser. Anyone could examine Firefox’s source code, ensuring that the final product is not baked in any outline elements (such as software tracking).
While Mozilla emphasizes its default settings and “strong privacy protection” from the moment [users] install, a reasonably comprehensive list of privacy and security settings can still be customized, including the ability to block cookies, third-party tracking devices, and the level of security desired.
Douglas J. Leith of School of Computer Science and Statistics Trinity College Dublin did research about privacy in 5 web browsers and are Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave, and Microsoft Edge.
He found out that Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge all share data with their backend servers through the search autocomplete feature. But his research found that the only browser which is not sharing the data of the web pages you visit was Brave.
Other features of Firefox Vs Brave
Tabbed browsing, spell checking, incremental search, live bookmarking, a download manager called Smart Bookmarks, private browsing, Google-based location browsing, and an integrated search system that, by default, uses Google in the majority of markets.
Additionally, Firefox provides a web-based development environment in which built-in tools such as the Error Console or the DOM Inspector are used in conjunction with extensions such as Firebug, and Pocket which have been integrated recently.
Firefox Hello was a WebRTC development that, in October 2014, was added to allow Firefox users and other systems to make a video call, with an additional screen and file-sharing feature through the sending of links. In September 2016, Firefox Hello was expected to be deleted.
The BAT is a decentralized open-source ad exchange platform based on Etheria. The “Basic Attention Token”
Brave Software International SEZC has, in an original coin offering on 31 May 2017, sold 1,000,000,000 bats in less than 30 seconds, totaling 156,250 Ethereum (USD35M).
The Company retained an additional 500,000,000 BAT to aid in the platform’s adoption.
The company distributed the first round of its ‘user growth pool’ grants in early December 2017, allocating 300,000 BAT to new users on a first-come, first-served basis.
● Tor (Network Anonymity): Brave offers desktop version support for Tor. Users can switch to Tor-enabled browsing by clicking the hamburger menu in the browser’s top right corner.
● InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), Brave was one of the first web browsers to offer peer-to-peer networking integration in January 2021.
● As of March 2021, Brave supported decentralized domain and Ethereum Name services.
Extensions
To improve productivity and save time we use many ‘Extensions’ for web browsers. While Firefox has its own store for extensions, Brave uses Chrome web store.
So, you will find more extensions in the case of Brave as compared to Mozilla.
For years, Firefox users have been favorite to customize user elements, and themes and the development community has established an extensive library of open-source add-ons and extensions for even better customization and feature.
Features that include powerful screenshots, accessibility features, and Pocket integration when downloaded include resources to enable users to save an article to read on any device later rapidly.
Brave supports the vast array of Google Chrome web store extensions and provides a wide range of in-browser features. The previously mentioned Brave Rewards program varies and browser download supports torrents.
User Base Firefox Vs Brave
Brave browser has 25.4 Million Monthly Active users (February 2021), and Mozilla Firefox has over 200 Million Monthly active users.
Search Engine
Firefox and brave both use Google as their default search engine but Brave has its own search engine that is more focused on privacy protection.
Wrapping Up Firefox Vs Brave
In comparison to the two browsers, Firefox and Brave are both privacy and security sophisticated by default, automatically available from the first time you open it.
Brave’s idea of advertising substitution is a turnaround in the current pay-out ad placement model. But again, some busy users of the Internet probably won’t want to take too much time and attention to manage micropayments on sites.
In general, Brave is a fast and secure browser that will appeal to cryptocurrency users. However, for the vast majority of internet users, Firefox remains the superior and simpler solution.