The best secure browsers for privacy in 2024: Expert tested

Brave is a Chromium-based browser that blocks ads, fingerprinting, and ad trackers by default.

Brave has millions of users worldwide. The company's business model relies on privacy-protecting ads that pay publishers and users when users pay attention to ads. Brave is transparent about this revenue stream, wherein users are rewarded in crypto tokens only if they opt into ad viewing.

The company removed Google code from its Chromium to improve user privacy, including some account integration, background sync, and inline extensions. Brave has several privacy-enhancing settings, including blocking third-party ad trackers, upgrading unsecured HTTPS connections, and blocking cookies and fingerprinting. The company says disabling invasive ads and trackers improves loading times on desktop and mobile.

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Brave also has a "Tor mode" that provides anonymized onion network routing. The browser developer offers a VPN and firewall service that protects sessions, even outside the browser, and in April 2024 introduced a "secure" AI-based search engine. From version 1.68, Brave became the first iOS browser to attempt to upgrade all sites to HTTPS by default automatically.

Many users say the browser exceeds expectations, although others find some functionality, such as VPN connectivity, could use improvement. 

Brave also offers a feature called "Off the Record" (OTR) for users who may be victims of intimate partner violence. The browser developer says the feature "aims to help people who need to hide their browsing behavior from others who have access to their computer or phone."

Brave features: Chromium-based | Blocks third-party ad trackers | Private search | Blocks cookies | Incognito windows | Onion routing | VPN | Off the record browsing | AI assistant

When it comes to DuckDuckGo, user privacy comes first. 

The company that offers a privacy-focused search engine and browser is a vocal supporter of consumer privacy rights and now handles millions of user search queries daily.

There is a growing appetite for privacy-focused alternatives to tech giants like Meta and Google. DuckDuckGo's Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge has also proven popular. Its reputation is built on the idea that it does not collect user data but can provide the same search results as those that do.

DuckDuckGo used to be a search engine rather than a full browser, but then released a mobile-friendly browser app followed by a desktop version. The organization's browser provides a private search, website protection and blockers, web encryption, and more.

DuckDuckGo is experimenting with AI-assisted technologies to improve the search experience, including a way to anonymously access GPT models, known as DuckDuckGo AI Chat. Users appreciate the firm's privacy focus, although some complain of censorship -- a concept DuckDuckGo staunchly denies.

DuckDuckGo also offers Privacy Pro, a subscription for $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year) that includes access to a VPN, online personal information removal services, and identity theft restoration. 

DuckDuckGo features: Chrome and Firefox supported | Mobile and desktop private browser | Does not collect user data | AI experiments: DuckDuckGo AI Chat | No search engine query trackers | Data removal and identity restoration services

Firefox is a must-have for individual browser privacy across multiple devices. 

One of Firefox's most important privacy features is enhanced tracking protection. Mozilla has borrowed Tor techniques to block browser fingerprinting, and Firefox's developers are constantly seeking to improve tracking-prevention features.

Firefox is rich with choices to customize the browser for privacy. It blocks social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, tracking in private windows, crypto miners, and fingerprinting scripts. There is also a "strict" mode that might break some sites when trackers are blocked -- but you can allow enhanced tracking protection for trusted sites.

Users enjoy Firefox's privacy focus, but note that it can be a resource hog.

Another option for Firefox fans is Firefox Focus, a privacy-focused browser for iOS and Android that blocks trackers and has a built-in ad blocker. Mozilla continues to work on productivity boosters and improvements to speed and performance.

The company also offers a VPN ($4.99 per month), with the option to connect up to five devices to over 500 servers in 30 countries.

Mozilla Firefox features: Enhanced tracking protection | Firefox Focus for mobile | Strict privacy standards | DNS queries sent to a secure resolver service | Focus on accessibility | Encrypted Client Hello | AI development

Another excellent choice for improving your privacy on the web is the Tor browser, a nonprofit project focused on anonymizing users online.

Its proprietary web browser disguises your IP address and activity by relaying it through a network of servers (nodes) run by volunteers. Bouncing your information around makes tracking exceptionally difficult, which is excellent if you don't want your ISP or anyone else spying on your online activity. 

Tor can be crucial for whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and people avoiding censorship. The Tor browser is also a popular choice for accessing the deep web: A collection of websites and pages that are inaccessible through traditional means, such as typical search engines, in what is known as the "clear" web. 

Also: How to use Tor browser (and why you should)

The Tor browser's default search engine is DuckDuckGo, which will not log or store your search queries.

While it isn't a mainstream choice, the Tor browser is well-regarded for people who don't want to be tracked on the web. The Tor Project updates it frequently, and the browser is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Users applaud the network's uncompromising approach to privacy but note slow speeds and occasional problems with captchas.

Due to the architecture of the Tor network, page loads in the Tor browser can be slower, and some sites might not work well. Nonetheless, the Tor browser is a privacy-preserving browser worthy of your consideration.

The Tor browser features: High levels of security and anonymization | Onion routing | DuckDuckGo integration | Access to websites outside the clear web | Blocks trackers, cookies | Fingerprint resistance

Not to be confused with the Tor browser, the Mullvad Browser is marketed as the "Tor Browser without the Tor network." The Tor Project team built the browser, which is distributed by Mullvad, a respected Swedish virtual private network provider. 

The browse emulates the Tor network by creating a similar fingerprint for all users, improving anonymity. Furthermore, the browser comes with a private mode out of the box, blocks tracking and cookies, and prevents online functions used to extract information from visitors, such as device identifiers.

The Mullvad Browser is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, or as a Firefox extension.

You can use the browser as a standalone product or combine it with Mullvad VPN. Users have generally given positive reviews, although you may find yourself signing up for the VPN for the best setup -- and it's not the cheapest on the market.

Mullvad was subject to a search warrant by the National Operations Department (NOA) of the Swedish Police in 2023. Mullvad staff said that sinc customer data did not exist, law enforcement was left with nothing (and no customer information).

Mullvad Browser features: Fingerprint masking approach | Removes online identifiers | Private mode enabled by default | Blocks trackers and cookies | Extension available | VPN available | Defense against AI-guided Traffic Analysis (DAITA)