Release check — 30 September 2026: this entry now lists 1.96.60 from the publisher’s stable release. The file sizes and SHA-256 values below come from that release’s asset metadata. This is a source check, not an installation test or malware scan.
The publisher notes that this update addresses a sidebar favicon privacy leak in Tor windows and updates Chromium. The browser remains subject to the publisher’s current system requirements.
Brave is a free, open-source web browser from Brave Software. It is built on Chromium, the same open-source engine as Chrome, and it blocks ads and trackers through a built-in feature Brave calls Shields. Version 1.96.60 (Chromium 154.0.8037.93) was published on GitHub on September 30, 2026.
Who it suits
Brave suits people who want ad and tracker blocking without installing an extension, and who are used to how Chromium browsers behave. Brave also offers its own search engine, an AI assistant and a VPN; you can ignore these and use it as a plain browser.
Get the official version
- Windows and Mac: brave.com/download. The same page links to the Microsoft Store listing for Windows.
- Linux: Brave publishes repository instructions at brave.com/linux; .deb and .rpm packages are also attached to each GitHub release.
- Android: Google Play. The GitHub release also carries APK files for people who need them.
- iPhone and iPad: only via the App Store.
Price, subscriptions and ads
The browser is free. Brave sells optional paid services, listed on its site under Premium services, including Brave VPN. Google Play marks the Android listing with “Contains ads” and “In-app purchases”. No account is needed to browse.
System requirements
From Brave’s Help Center: Windows 10 or later; macOS Ventura 13 or later; 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04+, Mint 19+, Debian 10+, openSUSE 15+, Fedora 28+ and Rocky 9+; Android 10 or later; iOS 18 or later.
Verify your download
The files below come from the official GitHub release. On Windows, compare the output of Get-FileHash .\BraveBrowserStandaloneSetup.exe with the SHA-256 listed here. Brave also attaches a .sha256 file and a signed .asc file next to each macOS installer. Copycat “Brave” downloads on unofficial sites are a risk for any popular browser; stay with brave.com, GitHub or the official stores.
Questions
What is the difference between BraveBrowserSetup.exe and the standalone installer?
BraveBrowserSetup.exe is a small online installer that downloads the browser during setup. The standalone installers contain the full browser, which helps on slow or offline machines.
Is Brave open source?
Yes. The browser repository on GitHub is published under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
Can I install Brave with winget?
Yes: winget install Brave.Brave. The manifest downloads the installer from Brave’s GitHub releases.
