Brave and Firefox are two of the most popular browsers in the world right now. Both are geared towards users who prefer open-source browsers with a focus on privacy.

Firefox came out around two decades ago. Brave, on the other hand, is relatively new; it was released in November 2019. However, it's shot up in popularity due to its increased focus on blocking trackers.

So, which of these two browsers should you use? Let's take a look at Brave and Firefox in more detail.

Brave and Firefox's Security Features

The first thing to consider is security. Firefox offers dual layer security, starting with Standard Enhanced Tracking Protection, which blocks website and social media trackers by default.

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It also blocks crypto mining scripts, fingerprinters, and any other tracking cookies. The browser comes with three different modes you can choose from, which lets you tweak the level of tracking protection.

Brave, on the other hand, automatically blocks ads, fingerprinters, and trackers by default. It even goes a step further by blocking ads on websites too.

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It also offers automatic HTTPS connection upgrades, so your data is always encrypted. This option is available on Firefox via an extension, but not natively. Brave also shows basic stats like the number of trackers it has blocked on the home screen as well as on websites.

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Both browsers also have a private browsing mode, which is essentially the same as Chrome's Incognito Mode. In this mode, neither browser tracks your browsing history, or saves any cookies. However, your browsing activity could still be visible to your ISP.

When it comes to security, both browsers have some pretty impressive features. But, Brave just takes the lead with more privacy options built-in.

Related: Ways You Can Be Tracked While Incognito or Private Browsing

Performance Comparison Between Brave and Firefox

Before we get started with a performance comparison, it's important to understand that Brave and Firefox are built on different engines.

Brave is built on Chromium, the open-source project that's used by several other browsers, including Chrome and Vivaldi. Firefox, on the other hand, uses the Gecko rendering engine, which it rebuilt from the ground up in 2017.

While both of these browsers are super fast, Brave stills feels faster and snappier than Firefox. Websites load faster, primarily because Brave blocks ads by default on all websites. If you were to install an extension to block trackers on Firefox, you can expect speeds to slow down even further.

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More importantly, Firefox is considerably more resource-intensive. It uses significantly more CPU resources than Brave, even though Brave uses a series of tracker blockers and comes pre-installed with multiple add-ons.

This is possible due to pre-caching. Brave simply stores caches of websites that you visit, thus restoring them quickly when you visit the site again. Plus, with no trackers or ads to load, Brave works much faster than Firefox.

Related: The Best Firefox Extensions for Tab Management

Firefox drains more battery than Brave, owing to its heavier build. The test results will vary even more if you have installed extensions to further optimize your browsing experience. In general, Firefox consumes five percent more battery for the same tasks.

Brave vs. Firefox: Which One Syncs Better Across Platforms?

Nowadays, most users prefer syncing their browsing history across multiple browsers. It allows them to use the in-built password manager in their browser, and also move browsing from one device to another.

Both Firefox and Brave allow users to synchronize settings across multiple platforms. With Firefox, you will have to create a Firefox account first.

When you log in with your Firefox account on the desktop or mobile app, it will automatically sync your data. Connecting another device with Firefox is fairly easy, too.

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Just click on the hamburger icon in the top-right, and click on your account. Then, select Connect another device. It will show you a QR code. Open Firefox on the device you want to sync, and select Turn on Sync.

Brave also supports cross-platform syncing. It lets you start a Sync Chain. Just click on the hamburger menu in the browser on the top-right, and select Sync.

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You can select the type of device you want to connect to, and then scan a QR code. Or, if you are connecting to Brave on another computer, you can just type in the Sync Code.

All synced devices will show up once they are connected. You can decide whether to add or remove a specific device if you want.

Brave and Firefox - Features and Extensions

Both Brave and Firefox are great browsers, and come with a host of features. Both of them offer the following:

  • Blocking autoplay videos
  • Browsing in tabs
  • A password manager
  • Various search engine choices
  • Automatic form filling
  • Spell checking
  • Reader mode
  • Bookmark manager

However, Firefox also owns two additional features: an in-browser screenshot tool as well as text-to-speed functionality.

But that's kind of a moot point, as Brave lets you download any extension you want that's available on the Chrome Web Store. This includes themes, wallpapers, and a host of extensions to improve your browsing experience.

Brave also has its own Rewards program in lieu of traditional website advertising. Once you join the Brave Rewards program, you will start earning Basic Attention Tokens. These can be redeemed for normal currency too.

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Brave does also run ads, but it pays 70 percent of the ad revenue to its patrons. This is a great way to support content creators. Firefox, on the other hand, doesn't offer any such program.

Brave vs. Firefox: Which One's the Better Browser?

If privacy is your main concern, both Brave and Firefox do a stellar job of protecting it. However, if you want a browser that's lightning fast and takes performance seriously, Brave definitely gets the nod.

Despite being built on Chromium, it doesn't hog computer resources, and it loads websites blazingly fast. It's certainly one of the best browser options out there, which is why it's so popular!

If privacy is your main concern, there are even more privacy-focuses browsers available, even though Brave already does an impressive job.