Brave Browser

Category
Utilities

Description of App

The best privacy online

Browse privately. Search privately. And ditch Big Tech.

Stop being followed online

Brave blocks all creepy ads from every website by default. And that thing where ads follow you across the web? Brave blocks that, too.

Online privacy made simple

All the good of ad-blocking, incognito windows, private search, even VPN. All in a single click.

Switch in 60 seconds

Quickly import bookmarks, extensions, even saved passwords. It’s the best of your old browser, only safer. And it only takes a minute to switch.

The new super app

Brave brings truly independent search, free video conferencing, offline playlists, even a customizable news feed. All fully private. All right to your browser super app.

A difference you can see…and feel

No creepy ads & trackers means less stuff (visible or hidden) on every web page you visit. And that means faster page load, better battery life, even mobile data savings.

Version

103.1.40.107

Free or Paid

Free

Version Of macOS App Was Tested On

12.4

Accessibility Comments

Although this app is usable with VoiceOver, there are several issues that make it more difficult to use than other browsers on macOS. Examples of accessibility issues include:

  • VoiceOver focus is unreliable when using the arrow keys to navigate and select text on webpages. Specifically, after using the arrow keys and then navigating to the next heading with VoiceOver commands, attempting to use the arrow keys again often causes VoiceOver focus to move to the area of the page you were previously browsing.
  • Using VoiceOver's "Say all" command is unreliable, with some text being repeated, and other text being skipped. With this issue being in addition to the issue mentioned above when navigating with the arrow keys, the only way to reliably navigate webpages with VoiceOver in Brave is with VO-left and right arrow.
  • The window controls (full screen, minimize, and close) and a single group are the only elements at the top level of the interface, requiring you to interact with two groups before you can access the browser controls. Similar to other browsers on macOS, the content of the webpage is contained in a web content group at the bottom of the main interface group.
  • The initial setup wizard includes several unlabeled buttons, however the main content and controls are properly labeled and accessible.
  • Several buttons on the start page are unlabeled.

Usability

There are some accessibility issues with this app, but it can still be used if you are willing to tolerate these issues and learn how to work around them.

Other Comments

A main benefit of this browser over its competitors is its advanced privacy and security features, as well as its inclusion of features like a video conferencing solution, crypto wallet, and novel web advertising system, all integrated into the browser. While some may appreciate this vast feature set, others may find that it makes the browser feel bloated and cumbersome in everyday use.

Another advantage to Brave is that it is Chromium based, so if you, for example, need to use a Chrome extension but don't want to use Google Chrome, you may be able to use the extension in Brave.

Developer's Twitter Username
@brave

Developer Website

https://brave.com

Link to App on MacUpdate.com

https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/57004/brave

Recommendations

2 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by Jimmy 1 year 4 months ago

Options

Comments

By Pax on Friday, August 25, 2023 - 16:45

it is my default since 2021 or so.
on windows, on macOS, not on IOS because, well, bork.
I can't do it that way.
I will use it on IOS soon, maybe, is there an adblock there, like on other versions?

By Jimmy on Friday, August 25, 2023 - 16:45

Have been using Brave on Windows and Android for quite a long while now, originally for its ad-blocking features, and more and more for the privacy-focused functionalities.
I don't seem to face the missing and skipping blocks of texts in say all mode. For the repositioning issue, I find clicking on a non-interactive element using VO+Space, presumably to synchronise the Caret or Text Cursor (that is the arrow keys to navigate through the webpage's content) does seem to help a lot. But as always, I find moving through the page with arrow keys is a terrible experience compared to their Windows counterpart, much so on Safari, only worse on third-party browsers.
However, I do find Brave to load pages faster, and at times less sluggish than Safari.