Ghostery Private Browser and Brave - a comparison

Understanding Online Privacy

The browser you use is your first line of defense in maintaining online privacy. A good browser is not just about accessing websites; it's about doing so safely and without leaving a trail of personal data behind.

Selecting a privacy-centric browser is crucial. The right browser plays a key role in safeguarding your digital identity against trackers, ads, and other invasive elements that threaten your online security.

What is the Ghostery Browser?

Originally released in 2009 as a browser extension, Ghostery has carved out a niche for itself with a strong emphasis on privacy. Now, we also developed a browser to help you navigate the web privately, with our extension built in.

Ghostery Private Browser currently offers robust tracker blocking, private search engine, and an ad-free browsing experience right out of the box. This focus on privacy is complemented by a clean and intuitive user interface, making it accessible even for those who might not be tech-savvy.

How to use the Ghostery Private Browser?

You can download and install Ghostery on your Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS device. When you first launch it, the browser automatically blocks ads and trackers.

Go to the Ghostery Private Browser page and click on the Download button to download the Ghostery Browser. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Ghostery on your device. Once installed, you can launch Ghostery and start browsing the web with privacy and ad blocking features.

Ghostery Browser allows you to import your data from other web browsers on desktop. You can also use Firefox extensions, as our browser is built on Firefox.

What is the Brave Browser?

Brave was launched in 2018 as a free, open-source web browser focused on privacy. Brave uses the same browser engine as Chrome (Chromium) with certain changes, while also blocking third-party ads and trackers. Brave's built-in ad blocker prevents tracking and saves mobile data and battery life.

How to use the Brave Browser?

Users can download and install Brave on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS devices. When you first launch it, Brave automatically blocks ads and trackers.

Brave's built-in Rewards program lets you earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT), allowing users to earn cryptocurrency for viewing privacy-respecting ads. These BAT can be used to support your favorite content creators. The built-in Brave Wallet lets you store and manage your cryptocurrency assets without a separate extension. (If you prefer not to have this, then you can disable privacy-preserving ads and crypto-related features in the settings.)

To sync your Brave search browser data (bookmarks, history, passwords, etc.) across devices, sign in to your Brave account and enable the sync feature. Brave also supports the same extensions as Chrome.

Ghostery and Brave: Feature Comparison

Privacy and Security Features

Brave makes a slew of advanced privacy protections built into the browser, whereas Ghostery makes modifications to Firefox's Gecko engine for an optimal user experience. Ghostery and Brave upgrade insecure connections to HTTPS, and both browsers do a great job of blocking third-party ads and trackers.

Both browsers utilize their own search engines:

• Ghostery Private Search does not log searches or sell personal data. The search engine provides unbiased results without tracking users or showing targeted ads. Ghostery Private Search finds and reports trackers before you visit a site, and disables private sponsored links automatically for Contributors. However, the service only supports text results currently.
• Brave, on the other hand, utilizes its own Brave search engine as the default search experience, which delivers results from its own independent index. Brave Search's commitment to privacy, independence, and innovation sets it apart. As far as a Brave search engine review, it provides an unbiased and uncensored alternative to traditional search engines. Brave offers a premium service to see search results ad-free.

For the browser itself, Ghostery gives users the most optimal experience by default.

However, Brave allows you to set your protection settings to Aggressive in order to also block first-party ads and trackers at `brave://settings/shields`. Advanced users will also welcome Brave's ability to enable more ad block filter lists at `brave://settings/shields/filters`.

Performance and Efficiency

Ghostery boasts fast page loads, attributing much of this efficiency to blocking unnecessary content and tweaks to the Gecko browser engine, which is the same browser engine that Firefox uses. Brave private browser aims to be faster than traditional browsers.

In terms of performance, Ghostery and Brave are both lightweight and efficient browsers. They manage resources effectively, resulting in fast page load times and minimal data consumption. These browsers not only enhance privacy but also improve the overall speed and performance of your browsing experience by blocking unwanted content like cross-site cookies and fingerprinting.

User Experience and Customizability

Ghostery offers an ad-free web browsing experience. Brave, on the other hand, gives users the choice to enable notification ads from Brave Rewards.

The user interfaces of both browsers are designed with simplicity in mind, but they cater to different user bases. Ghostery offers a more traditional, straightforward interface with easy-to-access privacy controls. There are some options to block and unblock specific trackers for advanced users.

Brave, on the other hand, integrates its unique features into its UI, making it slightly more complex but also more appealing to users who enjoy customization. Brave recently incorporated Brave Talk and Leo AI into its sidebar, which work great if your friends or colleagues also use this browser. It also incorporates a paid Brave browser VPN.

Both provide a seamless browsing experience, but the choice between them might come down to personal preference regarding interface complexity and feature accessibility.

What are the pros & cons of Brave Browser?

Pros

• Blocks ads and trackers, and includes several privacy enhancements not featured in Chrome.
• Users can earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) by opting into viewing privacy-respecting ads.
• Offers a private browsing mode with Tor for enhanced anonymity.

Cons

• Some websites may not function properly, even when disabling tracking protection (shields).

What are the pros & cons of Ghostery Private Browser?

Pros

• Blocks ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups.
• Intuitive design making it easy to use.
• Builds upon an open-source web browser (Firefox).
• Focuses on providing an ad-free browsing experience without monetization through ads.

Cons

• Built-in search engine lacks features of its competitors.

Beyond the Browser: Additional Steps for Ensuring Digital Privacy

While choosing the right browser is essential, it's only part of the privacy solution. For those looking to further enhance their digital security, incorporating a VPN and using private search engines can provide additional layers of protection. These tools help shield your online activities and personal data from prying eyes, regardless of the browser used.

Always think twice before sharing personal information such as your address, phone number, or date of birth, especially on websites that do not need this information to provide their service. This also applies to the permissions you grant apps on your mobile devices.

Also, adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see your posts, your profile information, and whether your profile is public or private. Be mindful of what you post, as sharing locations, personal routines, or even photos can inadvertently reveal a lot about your personal life.

Summary

Both ad free web browsers protect your privacy well but offer different features and levels of customization. Ghostery doesn't get in your way and features the best experience out-of-the-box, letting you search the web freely. Brave appeals to advanced users with its many features that you can customize.

Both the Ghostery and Brave search engines aim to provide an independent search platform that gives reliable results and keeps your data private, unlike most other browsers that use Google.

At the end of the day, pick the browser that best matches how you use the internet. Whichever you choose, rest assured you're browsing safer and smarter than most.

As always, get in touch with our team if you have any questions.