Browser Comparison
Brave vs Firefox: Complete 2026 Comparison
Two privacy-focused browsers with fundamentally different approaches. Chromium vs Gecko, native ad blocking vs extensions, BAT rewards vs non-profit mission. Updated .
Brave
v1.88.35 (Chromium)
Firefox
v147 (Gecko)
Quick Verdict
Both are excellent privacy-focused browsers, but they serve different philosophies. Choose Brave if you want aggressive out-of-the-box ad blocking, Chrome extension compatibility, crypto rewards, and Manifest V3 immunity. Choose Firefox if you value browser engine diversity (non-Chromium), container tabs for isolated browsing, extensive customization, and supporting a non-profit mission.
Brave Wins For:
Ad blocking, speed, Chrome extensions, crypto/Web3, Manifest V3 immunity
Firefox Wins For:
Engine diversity, container tabs, customization, about:config, non-profit backing
Basic Information
| Specification |
Brave
|
Firefox
|
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Brave Software, Inc. | Mozilla Foundation / Mozilla Corp. |
| Initial Release | January 2016 | November 2004 |
| Rendering Engine | Chromium/Blink | Gecko (independent) |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Open Source | Yes (MPL 2.0) | Yes (MPL 2.0) |
| Business Model | BAT ads, premium subscriptions, wallet fees | Google search deal (~95% of revenue) |
| Organization Type | For-profit corporation | Non-profit foundation |
Privacy & Security
| Feature |
Brave
|
Firefox
|
|---|---|---|
|
Built-in Ad Blocking
Native ability to block advertisements |
Brave Shields
Native C++/Rust, blocks by default |
Extensions Only
ETP blocks trackers, not ads |
|
Tracker Blocking
Cross-site tracking prevention |
Aggressive (Shields)
Blocks bounce tracking, URL params, ephemeral storage |
Strong (ETP)
Uses Disconnect list, 3 protection levels |
|
Fingerprint Protection
Prevents browser fingerprinting |
Farbling (Randomization)
Per-session, per-site seed values |
Phase 2 Protections
65% to 20% uniqueness reduction |
|
Cookie Isolation
Preventing cross-site cookie tracking |
Ephemeral Storage
Auto-deletes on site close |
Total Cookie Protection
Separate cookie jar per site |
|
Container Tabs
Isolated browsing contexts |
Uses profiles instead | Multi-Account Containers |
|
Private Browsing with Tor
Access to onion routing |
Built-in | Separate Tor Browser |
|
Telemetry Collection
Data sent to servers |
Opt-in only (P3A)
Privacy-preserving analytics |
On by default
Can disable in settings |
|
Windows Recall Protection
Blocking screenshot capture |
Blocks by default (v1.81+) | Supported (private browsing) |
Ad Blocking & Manifest V3 Impact
What is Manifest V3?
Manifest V3 is Google's new extension platform that limits the webRequest API used by ad blockers. Chrome users saw uBlock Origin deprecated in June 2025. Both Brave and Firefox have taken measures to protect ad blocking capabilities.
| Aspect |
Brave
|
Firefox
|
|---|---|---|
| MV3 Impact |
Unaffected
Native blocking bypasses extension APIs |
Minimal
Maintains full MV2 + webRequest API |
| Blocking Method |
C++/Rust Native
Browser core level, not extension |
Extension-based
ETP + uBlock Origin recommended |
| MV2 Support |
Maintained
AdGuard, NoScript, uBlock, uMatrix |
No deprecation plans
Full webRequest API in MV2 & MV3 |
| uBlock Origin | Works fully | Works fully |
| Filter Lists |
Multiple built-in
EasyList, EasyPrivacy, regional |
Via extensions
Disconnect list for ETP |
Key takeaway: Both browsers protect users from Manifest V3 restrictions. Brave's approach is more seamless (works without any setup), while Firefox requires installing uBlock Origin but offers the same protection level.
Performance Benchmarks
Speedometer 3.0 Score (Higher = Better)
Memory Usage (10 Tabs)
| Metric |
Brave
|
Firefox
|
Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedometer 3.0 | 37.6 (M3 Pro) | 34.8 (M3 Pro) | Brave |
| Page Load Speed | 21% faster than Chrome | Comparable to Chrome | Brave |
| RAM Efficiency | 40% less than Firefox | 700-900MB (10-20 tabs) | Brave |
| Heavy Sessions (20+ tabs) | Efficient with Shields | Can use half of Chrome's memory | Tie |
| Battery (Android) | 557.68 mAh (most efficient) | ~580 mAh | Brave |
| Real-world Tasks (WebXPRT) | ~318 | 322 | Firefox |
Benchmarks from 2025-2026 testing on MacBook M3 Pro and Android devices. Brave's performance advantage comes primarily from native ad blocking reducing network requests and DOM complexity.
Features & Tools
| Feature |
Brave
|
Firefox
|
|---|---|---|
| Extension Support | Chrome Web Store (full) | Firefox Add-ons (40%+ users have one) |
| Sync Across Devices | Brave Sync (E2E, no account) | Firefox Sync (E2E, requires account) |
| Vertical Tabs | Yes (since v1.52) | Yes (since v136) |
| Tab Groups | Yes (color-coded) | Yes (AI-assisted) |
| Built-in VPN | $9.99/mo (10 devices) | $4.99-9.99/mo (5 devices) |
| Video Conferencing | Brave Talk (built-in) | No (WebRTC only) |
| Reader Mode | Speedreader | Reader View |
| PDF Viewer | Built-in | Built-in + AI alt-text |
| Password Manager | Built-in (Sync) | Lockwise + breach monitoring |
| Advanced Config | brave://flags | about:config (extensive) |
AI Features Comparison
Brave Leo AI
- Multiple models: Llama 3.1, Claude Haiku/Sonnet/Opus, Qwen 3, DeepSeek R1
- BYOM: Connect GPT-4, Grok, or local models via Ollama
- Multi-tab context: Analyze multiple open tabs at once
- Agentic browsing: Autonomous task execution (experimental)
- TEE verification: Cryptographic privacy proofs for DeepSeek
- Premium: $14.99/month (up to 5 devices)
Firefox AI Runtime
- Local-first: All AI processing on-device via ONNX runtime
- AI tab grouping: MiniLM model suggests groups (~350ms)
- PDF alt-text: Auto-generates image descriptions (180M model)
- AI Window: Sidebar chatbot with third-party providers
- AI kill switch: Single toggle to disable all AI (Q1 2026)
- Free: Included with Firefox, no subscription needed
Key difference: Brave Leo is a full conversational AI assistant with cloud processing, while Firefox AI Runtime focuses on local, privacy-preserving features. Brave offers more power; Firefox offers more control and no data leaves your device.
Web3 & Cryptocurrency
| Feature |
Brave
|
Firefox
|
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Crypto Wallet | Brave Wallet (self-custody) | Extensions only |
| Supported Blockchains |
Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, Cardano + all EVM chains |
N/A |
| Rewards Program | BAT tokens (70% ad revenue share) | None |
| Creator Tipping | 1.5M+ verified creators | Not available |
| NFT Support | Native display & management | Not available |
| IPFS Support | Native gateway | Not available |
Brave is significantly ahead in Web3 integration. Firefox has intentionally avoided cryptocurrency features, focusing on its non-profit mission rather than token economics.
Which Browser Should You Choose?
Ad-free browsing (no setup)
Brave (built-in Shields)
Browser engine diversity
Firefox (Gecko, non-Chromium)
Chrome extensions
Brave (full Web Store support)
Container tabs
Firefox (Multi-Account Containers)
Crypto/Web3 users
Brave (native wallet, BAT rewards)
Deep customization
Firefox (about:config)
Performance & speed
Brave (21% faster pages)
Non-profit support
Firefox (Mozilla Foundation)
Local AI processing
Firefox (AI Runtime, no cloud)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which browser is more private out of the box?
Brave offers stronger default privacy protection with its Shields feature blocking ads, trackers, and fingerprinting without any configuration. Firefox has Enhanced Tracking Protection but requires installing uBlock Origin for ad blocking. Both block fingerprinting, but Brave's "farbling" technique is considered more sophisticated. For maximum privacy without setup, Brave wins. For users who want granular control, Firefox's about:config offers more options.
Why does browser engine matter?
Firefox is the only major browser using an independent engine (Gecko). Brave, Chrome, Edge, and Opera all use Chromium/Blink. Browser engine diversity matters because it prevents any single company (Google) from controlling web standards. If everyone uses Chromium, websites may only be tested on Chromium, breaking on other engines. Supporting Firefox helps maintain a healthier, more competitive web ecosystem.
Can I use Chrome extensions in Firefox?
No, Firefox uses its own extension system (WebExtensions) via addons.mozilla.org. However, many popular Chrome extensions have Firefox equivalents with the same functionality. Brave, being Chromium-based, supports Chrome extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store.
Will uBlock Origin still work after Manifest V3?
Yes, on both browsers. Brave's native ad blocking doesn't use extension APIs at all, so MV3 is irrelevant. Firefox has committed to maintaining the webRequest API that uBlock Origin needs, with no plans to deprecate MV2. Both browsers protect users from Google's restrictions on ad blocking extensions.
What are Firefox container tabs?
Multi-Account Containers is a Firefox feature that lets you isolate websites into color-coded tabs. Each container has its own cookies, sessions, and logins. You can log into multiple accounts on the same site, keep work and personal browsing separate, and prevent Facebook from tracking you on other sites. Brave doesn't have this feature; it uses separate profiles instead, which is less convenient.
Which has better AI features?
Brave Leo is more feature-rich, offering multiple AI models (Claude, Llama, DeepSeek), multi-tab context, and experimental agentic browsing. Firefox AI Runtime prioritizes privacy with on-device processing for features like tab grouping and PDF alt-text. Brave's AI is better for power users who want a capable assistant; Firefox's AI is better for privacy purists who don't want any data leaving their device.
Can I use both browsers?
Absolutely! Many privacy-conscious users run both. A common setup: Use Brave for general browsing (ad-free experience, Chrome extensions, crypto) and Firefox for sensitive activities (containers for banking, supporting engine diversity). Both can sync across your devices independently.
