Over the years, the internet has increasingly become a popular and integral part of our daily lives. It’s almost evident that someone has to switch on their internet every day. They could be checking their email or sending one, logging in to their social media spaces, or using a search engine to find answers.
You can only perform all these activities with a browser that can meet all your needs. The truth is most people have already narrowed it down to a browser of their choice. However, Brave and Vivaldi are some new options that might make you reconsider your options.
Whether you’re a new user or a dissatisfied user of other browsers, the information herein is valuable for everyone, with no doubt that Google Chrome is one of the popular web browsers accounting for more than half of all web traffic.
While Brave and Vivaldi are relatively new inventions with a rapidly growing user base, some internet users will give anything to have their privacy safeguarded when browsing the internet. Their primary option would be using a browser that can prohibit tracking and has various anonymous options.
For other users, speed is a vital aspect when picking a browser. They’d prefer one with various customization options or a high-performing browser.
This article will introduce and give an in-depth analysis of two of the most potent browsers: Brave and Vivaldi, to help you determine which is better.
Brave vs Vivaldi: Background
Brave
The Brave browser was developed by CTO Brian Bondy and CEO Brendan Eich (JavaScript developer and co-founder of the Mozilla project). Ever since the development and launch of Brave in early 2016, it has recorded over 10 million downloads and 5.5 million active users.
In addition, Brave’s active users are steadily rising. Moreover, Brave shares a lot of similarities with Chrome since it’s based on Google’s open-source Chromium project, including access to its library extension.
But the Brave browser has unique advantages that contribute to its rising popularity. One of the distinct advantages is the quickness of the browser, which is a time-saver over time.
However, Brave prides itself on its exclusive focus on privacy. This factor remains one of the most significant selling points of this browser. Without a doubt, everyone should worry and cherish their online privacy.
The ongoing tracking of websites on their users is alarming. Besides, the tech giants like Facebook and Google have a vast amount of personalized data of their customers, which is worrisome to most of their users.
Therefore, if a lack of online privacy is a huge concern for you, don’t hesitate to embrace Brave. It is a good development browser for privacy as it has a default system to block ads and trackers.
Moreover, Brave has privacy tabs options to ensure you’re safe when on the internet. So, Brave is one of the most incredible privacy-focused browsers because of these and other powerful features.
Explore some of the best alternatives to Brave.
Vivaldi
Vivaldi has had a similar growth rate to Brace in recent years. Stephenson von Tetzchner is the founder of Vivaldi Technologies and the co-founder and former CEO of Opera Software. In April 2016, the browser was first launched.
What makes this browser different from Brave is its licensing. Vivaldi is licensed as proprietary freeware, while Brave is a free and open-source browser. Also, the browser has over 1.2 million monthly active users.
Anyone can use the Vivaldi browser even though its first and most vital target is former Opera users and technically-minded users. It came to bridge the gap for the Opera users after the transition from a Presto layout engine to a Chromium-based browser. This transition resulted in the loss of many of the browser’s iconic features.
Vivaldi is a Chromium-based browser with various proprietary changes. It aims to revive and improve the presto-Opera features. Moreover, this browser has various other features and customization choices that make it distinct and stand out from the rest.
Innovation and customization of features are one of the browser’s unique and greatest selling points. After the shutdown of My Opera by Opera Software in March 2014, the founders thought it best to develop a virtual community to replace My Opera.
However, Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner was against this idea of creating Vivaldi as a virtual community with a discussion forum, blogging capabilities, and other valuable web services for registered users.
Although Vivaldi is considered a niche browser by some users, its features and interface appeal to almost anyone who tries to use it.
Initially, the browser was frustrating since it didn’t have a mobile version. However, in September 2019, the browser released an Android version of the browser.
Find out how good Vivaldi is when put against the likes of Firefox.
Brave vs Vivaldi: Interface and Layout
Brave
I know so many people are attracted and make their primary decision on how appealing the interface of a browser is to their eyes. When using the Brave browser you’ll notice the time being shown to the right.
Besides, the browser gives you information on the amount of advertising and trackers blocked, saved browser time, and HTTPS requests. One of the noticeable features on the Brave design is its emphasis on speed and privacy.
Generally, Brave follows the tried and tested design of browsers such as:
- Tabs at the top
- Enough room for bookmarks
- Address bar below
At the bottom of the browser, you’ll find various handy shortcuts for settings and bookmarks.
Also Read: Brave vs Opera
Vivaldi
The Vivaldi User Interface is adaptable and more vivid. You’ll love the reinvention of how the tabs and browser components work done by the development team.
For instance, the layout has a flexible sidebar for the users to create quick shortcuts to different sites, view histories, and write notes.
Vivaldi features a superior user interface, making it stand out from the Brave browser since it’s more adaptable and offers many shortcuts. Moreover, this browser is exceptional and valuable as it allows users to take notes and screenshots straight from the browser.
Brave vs Vivaldi: Privacy and Security
Brave
Security and privacy are a primary concern for Brave and Vivaldi. As mentioned above, Brave has the option of preventing third parties from collecting and selling user data to advertisers.
Moreover, Brave has a script option that every time you activate it will also block all javascript. Depending on your internet usage you may decide to disable it or enable the script. Its aggressiveness may bring trouble with the loading of certain websites, however other users may find it valuable.
Brave offers two alternatives for its Private Window mode. You can decide to use DuckDuckGo which is a privacy-focused search engine that never collects users’ personal data. Besides, the browser doesn’t even come with an advertising model.
Tor is another alternative that users can leverage. Tor works by bouncing your network data around different IP addresses all over the globe to hide your location and identity. However, it’s dependent on your use case.
Although using a standalone Tor browser is a different experience from using Brave on Tor, it does provide an additional layer of security to its users.
Interesting Comparison: Brave vs Edge
Vivaldi
On the other hand, Vivaldi includes a Do Not Track option, which requests other websites not to track you – even though we can all agree that most of these websites will simply reject these requests and track you. As much as it’s annoying, it’s also true.
Unlike the Chrome browser, Vivaldi doesn’t collect or sell its users’ data to other third parties. However, it does little to prevent other websites and apps from accessing your personal data.
It uses Google DNS together with antimalware security and anti-phishing for security even though it isn’t enough.
When you compare these two browsers, Brave is more powerful in its privacy and security services.
Interesting Comparison: Vivaldi vs Opera
Brave vs Vivaldi: Customizations
Brave
With the Brave browser, you can customize how a web page or site loads and what will happen when it loads. The browser allows you to prevent some features and codes to load such as social media buttons and adverts.
However, Brave gives little to no customization options for its User Interface.
Also Read: Brave vs DuckDuckGo
Vivaldi
Vivaldi excels with the customization aspect, it offers a next-level experience. You can decide to keep track of all open web pages by repositioning the tabs to show on both sides of the browser or at the bottom of the screen.
This feature is also applicable to the address bar as well. As discussed earlier the panel with shortcuts and notes can be positioned to the right side of the browser.
You can move anything around when using the Vivaldi browser which is such a cool feature if you ask me.
When using the browser to read articles, Vivaldi has a reader mode that allows you to change the type, size, and color. Besides, this browser allows you to choose where to save screenshots, whether under the same header or a different folder, by editing Webpages found in Settings. Isn’t that an amazing addon?
Check Out: Best Browsers For Cryptocurrency
Brave vs Vivaldi: Blocking Ads
Brave
Brave excels in the ad-blocking feature. You don’t need an addon when using this browser as it automatically filters advertisements for you. When you open a new tab you will see a display of the number of ads blocked for you.
Since ads are blocked from this browser, you will experience faster loading on all pages since it uses less data. Besides saving your time and data, you also save money.
But the Brave browser has an icon in the URL bar that you can use to choose whether or not to allow advertisements. Besides, you also decide which websites can display your ads while browsing.
When compared to other browsers, Brave stands out as it gives its users more control over ads. Also, what makes Brave ad’s strategy interesting is its reward system. Any user that chooses to enable adverts gets a 70% reward of the revenue generated by the ads.
You will receive the reward in the form of a cryptocurrency called a Basic Attention Token (BAT). Users can either turn the crypto into dollars or tip their favorite publications or websites.
Users can make these suggestions either manually or automatically. This will allow Brave to reward websites based on the amount of time you spend on them rather than the number of adverts their website displays.
The advantage of this strategy is that it encourages websites and content creators to focus on producing high-quality content rather than advertisements. Brave’s approach to advertising stands out and is unquestionably innovative.
Also Read: Best Browsers For Smart TV
Vivaldi
Vivaldi has an ad-blocking feature but it’s only functional with addons like unlocking Origin and Adblocks. This strategy is similar to most browsers. Moreover, you can use the same extension as Google Chrome uses since it’s built on Chromium.
Unlike Brave, Vivaldi does very little to protect its users from the constant ads from advertisers making the speed slow. Besides, Vivaldi has no reward system like the Brave browser for its users when they allow ads to run.
When you compare these two browsers, Brave definitely stands out with its ad-blocking feature.
Brave vs Vivaldi: Reward Programs
Brave
Being a blockchain-based application, Brave browser is believed to be the next great thing in technology. Let’s take a look at how the Brave browser works.
The only way the Brave browser will display ads it’s when you manually enable the ads to run. However, the browser automatically blocks all of the ads by default.
Therefore, all advertisers are encouraged to sign-up for the Brave Rewards program. Now this benefits the advertisers as they can target Brave users with their adverts.
Besides these adverts showing only five times per hour, as a user you still have the option of opting out from the ads.
Therefore, the revenue collected from the ads is shared between users, the Brave team, and contributors. The contributors in this aspect are the content creators who users at times choose to tip for their effort, time, and resources invested in creating the content.
You can either choose to automate the typing or turn it off completely. This reward program is proudly sponsored by blockchain technology with its native currency BAT (Basic Attention Token).
This strategy is novel and worthwhile for every user who views online adverts.
Unfortunately, Vivaldi and other browsers don’t have this feature. Hence, making the Brave browser outstanding as it’s the only browser working on this unique and revolutionary model.
This rewards program strategy has received a lot of backing from tech giants like Peter Thiel (A co-founder of PayPal and early investor in Facebook). Unfortunately, the Brave Rewards program has only been rolled out in a few countries at the moment.
Vivaldi
Unlike the Brave browser, Vivaldi doesn’t have a Reward program yet. According to the founder, Jon von Tetzchner believes blocking the ads will reduce the ad income for website publishers.
He goes ahead and says you try to picture yourself as the owner of the website you frequent. Naturally, you would want them to continue producing your favorite content. So, the natural thing you’ll do is not to prevent people from earning their bucks.
However, Vivaldi encourages its users to donate to websites and whitelist ads for their trusted websites. You can do this by clicking on the shield browser to allow you to accept adverts and trackers from the site you’re loading.
But the founder of the Vivaldi browser believes that the little contributions that the Brave browser allows are valuable to the content creators.
Jon von Tetzchner says if properly executed, the small amount of payment is not a bad idea. He also suggests that he would prefer a standardized method of implementing this using hard currency.
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Vivaldi vs Brave: Platform
Brave:
The Brave browser mobile app has been available for a longer time compared to Vivaldi’s. This browser is compatible with a variety of operating systems including macOS, Android, Windows, Linus, and iOS.
The Brave browser can only sync bookmarks between devices for now.
Vivaldi
The Vivaldi mobile apps were first available in beta before launching them to the general public. This app has a lot of similarities between desktop and mobile apps due to its intensely skinned version of the Chromium version.
Vivaldi browser is now compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux PCs, Android 5, higher-powered smartphones, tablets, and the recent Chromebooks.
However, you’ll notice that this browser is more powerful than Brave as it can sync data between different platforms. The Vivaldi browser can sync data, open tabs, and history across all other devices signed up online.
It also boasts end-to-end encryption, unlike the Brave browser.
Check Out: Best Browsers For Xbox One
Brave vs Vivaldi: Pros and Cons Analysis
After going through this in-depth analysis of these two browsers, we’ve highlighted the differences and similarities for you. Therefore, it’s prudent to go through their specific strengths and drawbacks.
Brave
Pros
- Prioritization of Privacy and Security: As noted above, Brave prides itself on its strong privacy and security features. It has fingerprint protection, HTTPS on every site, and ad and tracker blocking. The noticeable aspect of this browser is that it gives you the option of allowing the ads as it has a default setting to prevent ads from running. When you use these features, you will experience a more private online life. The privacy tabs and various other options for protecting your privacy make this browser worth using.
- Speed: Because of its ability not to show ads, it’s one of the fastest browsers available. You’ll notice you’re saving a lot of time and data after using the browser for a significant period of time.
- In-built Adblocking: Unlike other browsers, you don’t need an add-on to disable the adverts. Brave comes with an in-built ad blocker. Besides, the browser also disables cookies and tracking from websites. This feature is essential as it prevents websites from phishing personal data from users. Besides, Brave doesn’t save any of its users’ personal information.
- Brave Attention Token: The Brave reward system is creative and mind-blowing. Who wouldn’t want to earn by allowing the ads while browsing? Unlike the other browsers, its users have total control over advertisements. Besides, how wonderful it is that you can decide who earns revenue from the ads you see. Therefore, more content creators will produce high-quality content other than displaying ads on their work.
Also Read: Best Browsers For Low End PC
Cons
- Doesn’t have a Reader View: This is one of the drawbacks. However, you can access it with an extension of the reader view.
- Security Flaws are similar to Chrome: Since Brave is built on Chromium, it shares the same vulnerabilities as the Chrome browser. Unlike Chrome, Brave doesn’t have the same security resources. For instance, occasionally, Chrome will regularly invite hackers to test their browsers for vulnerabilities.
- Qwant is the default Search Engine: Naturally, Qwant is not a primary search engine for most people. But the good news is that you can change it to your preferred search engine.
Vivaldi
Pros
- Most Chrome Addons are Available: Since this browser is built on the Chromium-based browser, it has access to almost all Chrome extensions.
- You can customize keyboards shortcuts: You can edit and add keyboard shortcuts on almost every command when using Vivaldi. This feature makes it easy to perform a single click on your keyboard.
- Notes saving: With the Vivaldi Browser, you can save screenshots and notes from the internet for future reference. Besides, the screenshots and notes have labels that make it more accessible to sort into folders and retrieve them.
- Useful shortcuts: The Vivaldi browser quick commands (accessible through Ctrl+Q) make it easier for you to quickly access history, settings, and bookmarks, among other things.
- Customizable Interface: You will enjoy using Vivaldi as it gives you complete control over where your tabs, bookmarks, and address bar appear.
- Customizable tab behaviors: Vivaldi allows you to arrange your browser tabs in the order that’s pleasing to you. You can either sort them in the order of recently used tabs or how you opened them.
- Has a reader mode: Vivaldi has an in-built reader mode. Besides, this reader mode allows you to modify the color and type of text.
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Cons
- Like the Brave browser and Chrome, Vivaldi also has similar security flaws
- It frequently freezes, unlike the other browsers
- It doesn’t have an in-built ad blocker
Brave vs Vivaldi: Pricing
Brave
Brave is a free web browser. But you would have to put in some money to use the Firewall and VPN premium features. But don’t panic as you only pay for these features.
Let’s take a look at the cost of the Firewall + VPN:
- $9.99 = Monthly subscription
- $99.99 = Annual Subscription
However, the Firewall + VPN feature is only available on iOS. You can use your Apple Pay or debit card if you’re looking to buy it as an in-app purchase.
Besides purchasing the premium feature, funding your Brave wallet is the only other payment option. Funding your wallet will allow you to buy BAT for tipping site owners as an incentive.
Vivaldi
The Vivaldi browser is available for free, adding some innovative tricks without complicating the experience.
Wrapping it Up: Which is Better Brave or Vivaldi
Having Brave and Vivaldi browsers is excellent for most users. You will notice a lot of creativity from the developers of these browsers. Their primary objective is to provide a fantastic experience to their users.
However, you’ll notice a difference in their customization and privacy. If your guilty pleasure is to customize the look and functionality of your browser, then Vivaldi is an excellent browser for you.
But if privacy is your primary concern, then Brave will be the go-to browser for you.
Scott L. Macarthur is a marketing consultant and an online author. He is mostly engaged in providing his expertise to startups and SMBs. He is also an author on TheNextWeb.