- Brave prioritizes privacy and performance, with advanced blockers and aggressive protections enabled by default.
- Vivaldi focuses on extreme customization and numerous integrated tools, in exchange for a slight increase in resource consumption.
- Both offer VPN options, but Brave integrates a more powerful paid service, while Vivaldi provides easy access to Proton VPN with a free version.
- Both outperform mainstream browsers in privacy, but Brave is generally considered more secure while Vivaldi stands out for its versatility and productivity.
If you've been using Chrome for years without giving it much thought, and you've suddenly developed a healthy paranoia about privacy, security, and performance , you're not alone. Many people are now discovering that Google's browser is, in practice, a massive data-collecting machine disguised as a web browser app.
At that point, names like Brave, Vivaldi, Firefox, Tor, and even browsers with integrated VPNs started appearing, and the confusion was considerable. Among all these options, Brave and Vivaldi stand out as very serious alternatives for those who want to escape the Google ecosystem without sacrificing speed, convenience, and advanced features.
Both Brave and Vivaldi have carved out a niche among users seeking more control over their data and less ad tracking . Both are based on Chromium, so they'll feel familiar if you're coming from Chrome, but their philosophies differ considerably from Google's browser.
On the one hand, Brave goes all out for privacy by default and performance . Right out of the box, it comes with ad blockers, protection against trackers, third-party cookies, and browser fingerprinting enabled without you having to do anything. Its idea is clear: open, browse, and no one can easily track you.
Vivaldi, on the other hand, also takes privacy very seriously, but it's in a different league: that of extreme customization and integrated tools . The browser is almost a "catch-all" where you can adjust every last visual and functional detail, organize tabs to your liking, use side panels, split the screen, and take advantage of features that in other browsers depend on extensions.
Choosing between Brave and Vivaldi comes down to deciding whether you prefer a browser that does almost everything for you in terms of blocking and security from the very beginning, or whether you want a hyper-configurable working environment, full of features, although with slightly higher resource consumption.
Performance and resource consumption: speed versus complexity
One of the main reasons to abandon Chrome is that it becomes a RAM hog over time. In this respect, Brave usually performs better than Vivaldi, especially on mid-range or older computers.
Brave blocks a large number of scripts, trackers, and intrusive ads from the start. This not only improves privacy but also reduces the browser's workload and speeds up page loading . Fewer elements to load mean lighter websites, which is especially noticeable on sites heavy on advertising or with many third-party resources.
This minimalist approach is also reflected in the interface. Brave opts for a very clean design, similar to Chrome, so the learning curve is practically nonexistent for those coming from Google's browser. Fewer frills, fewer panels, fewer extra layers on top of Chromium.
Vivaldi, on the other hand, carries the weight of everything it offers. The number of customization options, side panels, split views, integrated email client, calendar, notes, and other productivity tools mean the browser consumes slightly more memory and CPU than Brave . Even so, it remains significantly lower than Chrome's typical resource consumption in many scenarios.
This means that if your top priority is lightweight performance and having a browser that flies even on a modest laptop, Brave is usually a more efficient choice . However, if you use a machine with ample resources and love having everything integrated into the browser, Vivaldi's slightly higher resource consumption might not be an issue.
Ad blocking, tracker blocking, and fingerprint protection
In terms of active privacy, the biggest difference lies in the level of protection each browser offers right out of the box. Brave is configured from the factory to be very aggressive in blocking ads and trackers, while Vivaldi offers a more basic solution that sometimes requires manual adjustments.
Brave integrates its "Shields" protection system, which blocks ads, third-party cookies, tracking scripts, and advanced tracking techniques based on the browser's fingerprint . This protection is enabled by default for all websites, and you can adjust the blocking level site by site if something stops working.
The practical result is that, without installing extensions, you can browse with very little visible advertising, less tracking, and fewer scripts running in the background. Furthermore, Brave allows you to open tabs with integrated Tor mode, adding an extra layer of anonymity within the browser itself, albeit with the typical speed penalty associated with Tor.
Vivaldi also includes an ad and tracker blocker, but in many cases you'll need to tweak the settings to get the most out of it . By default, it protects against the most obvious threats, but many users say it's not as effective as Brave, especially on platforms like YouTube and websites with aggressive advertising.
In terms of tracking, Vivaldi positions itself as a browser that doesn't collect user data or sell user information, and offers enhanced private browsing modes that delete cookies and session data. However, some advanced users scrutinize it more closely because it uses services like Google DNS in certain configurations, which generates some distrust among those who want to minimize any connection with Google.
VPN and security extras: Brave Firewall + VPN vs. Proton integration
Another area where Brave and Vivaldi differ is in VPN and network privacy. Both can help you encrypt traffic and partially hide your IP address , but they do so differently and with different business models.
Brave offers a paid firewall and VPN service integrated directly into the browser. This solution allows you to protect your connection on up to 10 devices simultaneously , applying robust encryption and filtering unwanted traffic. It's a tool designed for those who want more than a simple browser proxy and are willing to pay a monthly fee of approximately $9,99.
The advantage of this approach is that if you frequently switch between multiple devices (mobile, laptop, desktop, tablet) , you can use the same subscription and maintain a consistent security policy. The drawback is clear: if you don't want to pay, you won't benefit from this extra layer of protection.
Vivaldi, for its part, relies on a partnership with Proton VPN. In its basic version, you can use Proton for free with unlimited data , which is very appealing to those who don't want to spend money. The downside is that, with the free version, your IP address is randomly assigned and you can't choose a specific country.
If you need finer control, with manual location selection and advanced features, Proton offers paid plans starting at around €7 per month for the standard version. Vivaldi, on the other hand, makes it easy to access a reliable VPN without requiring upfront payment , but premium features still require a separate subscription.
General privacy and data philosophy
Beyond ad blockers and VPNs, it's important to consider each browser's philosophy regarding your data. Brave openly presents itself as a browser with privacy as a core principle . It's open source , builds its own search engine focused on not tracking the user, and has made significant efforts to block digital fingerprints, suspicious redirects, and invasive cookies.
Brave has also faced criticism in the past for controversial decisions, such as issues related to its cryptocurrency rewards system or affiliate link redirects. These incidents generated some distrust within a portion of the community, although the project has since corrected course and maintained a very combative stance against the widespread mass tracking found on the web.
Vivaldi, for its part, was founded by former Opera executives and is positioned as a European browser with a strong focus on user respect . The company emphasizes that it does not collect personally identifiable information, does not create user profiles for advertisers, and allows users to easily configure the deletion of cookies and session data.
In terms of pure security, Vivaldi offers protection against indirect phishing, anti-tracking, and various built-in anti-tracking safeguards. However, because it's based on Chromium and relies on certain external services like Google DNS in some cases, some privacy-conscious users consider it a step below more radical solutions like Brave, Tor, or specialized browsers focused exclusively on maximizing anonymity.
If we focus solely on raw privacy, with all protections enabled by default and minimal customization, Brave is generally considered more secure than Vivaldi . However, if we're talking about a balance between reasonably high privacy, usability, and a host of useful built-in tools, Vivaldi offers a very attractive package.
Customization, design, and integrated productivity
In terms of interface and customization, Vivaldi is practically in a league of its own. This browser is designed for those who want to shape every corner of the window and turn the browser into their digital "command center."
Vivaldi allows you to change the position of tabs (up, down, to the sides), customize colors, themes and backgrounds, adjust the appearance of bars, rearrange buttons, create custom shortcuts and commands , and use side panels to have websites, web apps, social networks, or internal tools at hand.
One of its key features is the ability to split the screen into multiple views within the browser itself, allowing you to view two or more sites simultaneously without relying on the operating system's window organization. For anyone who works comparing information or managing dashboards, this is a real boon.
In addition, it includes integrated productivity tools such as a full email client , a note-taking system with synchronization, in-browser screenshots, a feed reader, and an integrated calendar. Many features that require numerous extensions in other browsers come standard here.
Brave, on the other hand, opts for a much simpler and more familiar interface. Its philosophy is that the browser shouldn't get in the way and shouldn't become a monster overloaded with buttons . Yes, you can install Chrome extensions if you need specific features, but the main focus is on a fast, simple, and security-oriented browser.
Compatibility, extensions and ecosystem
Both Brave and Vivaldi share a common foundation: they are built on Chromium. This means that extensions designed for Google Chrome are compatible with both browsers , a crucial point for anyone who relies on specific plugins in their daily work.
In practice, this means that if you miss any blocking, productivity, or external service integration features, you can easily access the vast catalog of the Chrome Web Store . Neither Brave nor Vivaldi locks you into their own closed ecosystem.
In terms of supported platforms, Brave is available on most common systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS . Vivaldi also provides good coverage for desktop and Android, but it still has one significant limitation: it lacks an official iOS version, which could be a drawback for iPhone and iPad users.
Beyond extensions, Brave's ecosystem includes its own privacy-focused search engine and features like rewards for viewing certain non-intrusive ads—something that may appeal to you more or less depending on your tolerance for that type of model. Vivaldi, on the other hand, focuses more on refining the desktop experience and adding native features to reduce its reliance on third parties.
In both cases, we are talking about browsers that significantly improve the situation compared to Chrome, Edge or Safari in terms of default privacy, security and transparency , although they do not reach the level of anonymity of a Tor Browser or some highly specialized solutions.
If you're looking to maximize privacy and performance without unnecessary hassle, Brave is usually the best option: it blocks more, uses less data, and requires fewer settings . On the other hand, if you value a highly customizable environment with built-in productivity features and an easy-to-use VPN with a free option, Vivaldi is a very powerful browser that also respects your privacy quite well . In both cases, you're making a significant leap forward compared to mainstream browsers focused on exploiting your data.
