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Cybersecurity · head to head

Brave Browser vs Ghostery

Brave Browser logo

Brave Browser

Cybersecurity

Secure, fast & private web browser with adblocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ghostery logo

Ghostery

Browser Extensions

Block ads and stop trackers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Brave Browser brave Firewall + VPN features require paid subscription; Ghostery database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current
  • They diverge on capability: Brave Browser covers Built-in ad blocker, Ghostery covers Ad blocking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brave Browser and Ghostery actually diverge.

Attributes where Brave Browser and Ghostery differ
AttributeBrave BrowserGhostery
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSFirefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera
CategoryCybersecurityBrowser Extensions
Founded20152009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Brave Browser

  • Built-in ad blocker
  • Cryptocurrency wallet
  • Brave Rewards (BAT)
  • Tor private browsing
  • HTTPS everywhere
  • Script blocking
  • Fingerprinting protection
  • Basic Attention Token (BAT)

Only in Ghostery

  • Ad blocking
  • Privacy dashboard
  • Enhanced anti-tracking
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support
  • Opera support

Both cover

  • Tracker blocking

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Brave Browser

  • Private web browsing with ad blockingnot Ghostery
  • Encrypted search via Brave Searchnot Ghostery
  • Privacy-focused web navigation without trackingnot Ghostery
  • AI-powered answers via Ask Bravenot Ghostery

Ghostery

  • Blocking ads and sponsored content before they loadnot Brave Browser
  • Preventing tracker profiling by replacing identifying data with random valuesnot Brave Browser
  • Automatically rejecting non-essential cookie consentnot Brave Browser
  • Seeing which companies track a given site through WhoTracks.Menot Brave Browser

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Brave Browser

  • Brave Firewall + VPN features require paid subscription
  • Brave Talk Premium is subscription-based, not included in free tier
  • Brave Rewards programme is optional and requires user participation

Ghostery

  • Database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current
  • Some sites break functionality when trackers are aggressively blocked

Pricing, plan by plan

Brave Browser

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Brave Browser review.

Ghostery

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Ghostery review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Brave Browser if

  • You need built-in ad blocker.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
  • You also want cryptocurrency wallet.
Brave Browser review

Choose Ghostery if

  • You need ad blocking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera.
  • You also want privacy dashboard.
Ghostery review

Questions people ask

Is Brave Browser or Ghostery better?
Neither clearly leads. Brave Browser starts at Free and Ghostery at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brave Browser or Ghostery?
Brave Browser starts at Free and Ghostery at Free.
Does Brave Browser or Ghostery run on more platforms?
Brave Browser runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. Ghostery runs on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera.
Can I use Brave Browser for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Brave Browser best used for?
Brave Browser is most often used for private web browsing with ad blocking, encrypted search via brave search, privacy-focused web navigation without tracking, ai-powered answers via ask brave. Of those, private web browsing with ad blocking and encrypted search via brave search are not what Ghostery is typically brought in for.
What can Brave Browser do that Ghostery cannot?
Brave Browser covers Built-in ad blocker, Cryptocurrency wallet, Brave Rewards (BAT), Tor private browsing. Ghostery covers Ad blocking, Privacy dashboard, Enhanced anti-tracking, Chrome support. Both handle Tracker blocking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Brave Browser: Is Brave Browser completely free?

Yes. The Brave Browser itself is completely free for desktop, Android, and iOS. All core features including ad blocking, privacy protections, and tracker blocking are included at no cost.

Source
Ghostery: Is Ghostery completely free?

Yes. Ghostery is a free ad blocking browser extension that you can install without paying a subscription. All of Ghostery's features are completely free to use, including ad blocking, tracker blocking, and cookie consent banner handling.

Source
Brave Browser: Does Brave offer any paid features?

Yes. Brave offers subscription-based features including Brave Firewall + VPN (protecting every app on your entire device across up to 5 devices) and Brave Talk Premium, though specific pricing is not listed on the main page.

Source
Ghostery: What browsers does Ghostery support?

Ghostery is available for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Edge and Safari as a browser extension.

Source
Brave Browser: Can I earn money using Brave?

Yes. Brave Rewards is an optional program that allows users to earn BAT tokens by viewing privacy-protecting ads. Tokens earned can be stored securely in Brave Wallet.

Source
Ghostery: What data does Ghostery collect?

Ghostery collects no personal information, ensuring your privacy remains protected while using the extension.

Source
Brave Browser: Can I use Brave Search without a subscription?

Yes. Brave Search is free at search.brave.com and does not require a subscription.

Source
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