---
title: "Brave"
category: "Web browsers"
tagline: "A Chromium-based browser that blocks ads and trackers out of the box."
source: "Flathub"
package: "com.brave.Browser"
replaces: ["Google Chrome", "Microsoft Edge"]
website: "https://brave.com/"
code: "https://github.com/brave/brave-browser"
---

## What it is

Brave is a web browser built on Chromium with privacy features added on top. Its built-in Shields block ads, trackers and fingerprinting by default, and it includes a private window that routes through Tor, its own search engine, and an optional AI assistant.

Because it's Chromium underneath, Chrome extensions install from the Chrome Web Store and sites built for Chrome work as expected.

## Why it's here

- **Blocking without setup.** Ads and trackers are blocked from the first page you open.
- **Chrome-compatible.** Web apps, video calls and extensions behave as they do in Chrome.
- **Tor when you need it.** A private window with Tor is one menu item away.

## On CoreDesktop

CoreDesktop installs Brave as a Flatpak from Flathub. Open it from the app grid. Helium is CoreDesktop's default browser; to make Brave the default instead, pick it in **Settings › Apps › Default Apps**.

The sandboxed AI agents can't read your Brave profile. `update` keeps Brave current along with your other Flatpaks.