Why look for an alternative to Brave?
- Crypto/AI extras add clutter
- Tor windows are slow
- VPN costs $9.99/month
Price we recorded for Brave: Free · VPN $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Plan: free. 5 of the 5 alternatives offered a free plan or trial when we checked (uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, Ghostery, Pi-hole, AdGuard DNS).
The 5 best Brave alternatives
Ranked by SpiceRadar score (weighted average of five criteria: content, quality, value, usability, trust). Only services we have reviewed are listed. Our method →
1. uBlock Origin 9.1/10
uBlock Origin is the free, open-source content blocker that wipes ads, trackers, malicious domains and pop-ups from tube sites. Full power on Firefox; Chrome users get uBO Lite. Latest release 1.75.0 (Sep 2026).
Best for The first thing to install before browsing free adult sites · Price Free (open source)
Versus Brave: Scored 9.1/10, 0.7 points above Brave on our grid. Like Brave, you can start without paying.
- Free and open source (GPL-3.0)
- Blocks ads, trackers and pop-ups
- Full version not in current Chrome/Safari
2. Privacy Badger 8.4/10
Privacy Badger is a free, open-source extension from the EFF that learns which third parties track you across sites and blocks them, sends Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track, and detects canvas fingerprinting. It's a privacy tool, not a full ad blocker.
Best for Set-and-forget tracker protection from a nonprofit, alongside an ad blocker · Price Free
Versus Brave: Same score as Brave (8.4/10): the difference is in how you use it. Like Brave, you can start without paying.
- Free, open source, from the EFF
- Learns trackers automatically
- Not a full ad blocker
3. Ghostery 8.2/10
Ghostery is a free, open-source extension that blocks ads, pop-ups, YouTube video ads and trackers, auto-rejects cookie banners (Never-Consent) and runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera and Brave, desktop and mobile.
Best for A free, easy blocker for cleaner adult browsing on every device · Price Free · optional contributions from $1.99/month
Versus Brave: Scored 8.2/10, 0.2 points below Brave: pick it for a specific use rather than for the score. Like Brave, you can start without paying.
- Free and open source
- Blocks ads, pop-ups and YouTube ads
- Doesn't hide your IP
4. Pi-hole 8.2/10
Pi-hole is free, open-source software that turns a Raspberry Pi, old PC, VM or NAS into an ad-blocking DNS server for your whole network — apps and smart TVs included — with a detailed dashboard. It needs some technical setup.
Best for Network-wide ad and tracker blocking at home, for tech-curious users · Price Free (open source, donations)
Versus Brave: Scored 8.2/10, 0.2 points below Brave: pick it for a specific use rather than for the score. Like Brave, you can start without paying.
- Free and open source
- Protects every device, apps and smart TVs included
- Needs an always-on machine and setup
5. AdGuard DNS 8.2/10
AdGuard DNS blocks ads, trackers and malicious domains at the DNS level on every device — phones, smart TVs, routers — with no install. Free for 5 devices; Personal €11.90/year + VAT on sale (regular €26.45), with encrypted DNS and parental control.
Best for Network-wide blocking on phones, TVs and the whole household, without a server · Price Free · Personal €26.45/year + VAT (€11.90 on sale until 1 Nov 2026)
Versus Brave: Scored 8.2/10, 0.2 points below Brave: pick it for a specific use rather than for the score. Like Brave, you can start without paying.
- Every device, no install
- Free plan for 5 devices
- Can't block same-domain ads
Brave vs its alternatives at a glance
| Service | Score | Recorded price | Free / trial | Payment | French |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave (baseline) | 8.4/10 | Free · VPN $9.99/month or $99.99/year | Yes | — | — |
| uBlock Origin | 9.1/10 | Free (open source) | Yes | — | — |
| Privacy Badger | 8.4/10 | Free | Yes | — | — |
| Ghostery | 8.2/10 | Free · optional contributions from $1.99/month | Yes | — | — |
| Pi-hole | 8.2/10 | Free (open source, donations) | Yes | — | — |
| AdGuard DNS | 8.2/10 | Free · Personal €26.45/year + VAT (€11.90 on sale until 1 Nov 2026) | Yes | — | — |
“—”: not published or not recorded when we checked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Brave?
By our score, uBlock Origin (9.1/10), especially for the first thing to install before browsing free adult sites. Next come Privacy Badger (8.4), Ghostery (8.2), Pi-hole (8.2).
Is there a free alternative to Brave?
When we checked, uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, Ghostery, Pi-hole, AdGuard DNS offered a free plan or trial. Terms change often: confirm on the official site.
How is this ranking built?
Only from our own reviews: a provisional editorial score on five weighted criteria, with prices and terms taken from official pages. Affiliate links never change the score or the order.