Best Privacy Browsers

Privacy isn’t a luxury anymore and online privacy is no exception. Protecting our personal data is a basic need. In our daily usage of websites, software, and apps, it can begin to feel like our screens are mirrors. Everything we do is being watched, tracked, monitored, logged, and then used to market content back to us.  

Switching to one of the best privacy browsers is an easy way to take back control. If you’re ready to trade the convenience of the browser you know for ones that might give you more peace of mind, here are a few that do a good job of keeping your activity private to you.

Brave

The Brave browser blocks ads and trackers from the jump. It upgrades connections to HTTPS (the secure version of HTTP) when possible and offers the option of using Tor for extra anonymity when in private mode. 

Like Chrome, it’s built on Chromium, so you’ll find the functionality familiar but with faster loading times because there aren’t any tackers to include. For a great speed and privacy combo, Brave is a great option. 

Firefox

You might be familiar with Mozilla’s Firefox browser, which is open-source, meaning that anyone can take a peek under the hood to see what it’s doing with our data. As a default, Firefox blocks known trackers and lets you control your privacy settings. With extensions like uBlock Origin, you can further layer your approach to privacy protections. On mobile Firefox Focus keeps your online presence squeaky clean and deletes everything once you close the browser. 

Tor Browser

If you’re someone who desires an intense level of privacy, Tor could be your best choice. Perfect for investigative journalists, activists, and anyone who need s to hide their tracks, Tor routes traffic by bouncing it across servers within the network to hide a user’s location and online activities. So, while the privacy payoff is significant, these particular methods of maintaining privacy means that Tor is one of the slower (possibly slowest) browsers on this list. Consider saving it for special tasks and not for any innocuous uses like an everyday Netflix binge watch.

DuckDuckGo 

A privacy-first browser with a recognizable search engine, DuckDuckGo is often reserved for mobile use. Automatically erasing search histories, blocking third-party trackers, and forcing secure connections, DuckDuckGo features a “Fire Button” to erase your session like an escape hatch. Simple and reliable, this browser is great for on the go. 

Safari (With a Few Tweaks)

While Safari might not be known as a privacy leader, if you’re otherwise embedded in Apple’s general ecosystem, you might rely on it as a default. If this is the case, there are improvements you can make to increase privacy protections. Specifically, turn on the option to prevent cross-site tracking as well as block third-party apps. If you have iCloud+ you can also use Private Relay to mask your IP while online. While this might not be the best privacy browser, it’s a good place to start to stay safe and secure online.