Brave is gaining significant traction on desktop with its unique feature of splitting ad revenue with users in the form of cryptocurrency tokens. Although this exciting rewards program hasn't been ported to iOS yet, Brave still offers a more than decent experience on the platform. iPhone With all the bells and whistles of a full-fledged browser.
But is Brave good enough to be worth giving up? safari On your iPhone? Switching browsers isn't a fun task, so let's check how Brave compares to Safari in several aspects and then decide whether or not the switch is necessary.
user interface
Compared to Safari, Brave's user interface is strikingly similar – both browsers display their navigation bars at the bottom of the screen, with similar positions used for the Back and Forward, Share, and Tab Switcher icons.
Brave lets you add a list of favorite sites to new tabs. But unlike safari It will not contain a list of frequently visited sites, which is better from a perspective. Privacy.
However, there are some odd UI elements in Brave. The location of the Brave menu is problematic when you're browsing for a single time. Given that you have to use it often to access Bookmarks your own, the situation safari Having a custom bookmark icon within the navigation bar itself is much better.
Furthermore, Brave features desktop-like tabs, which don't really make sense on a small mobile screen unless you plan to use the browser in landscape mode. Even so, using the tab switcher is much more convenient. However, you can turn it off.
Brave List poses a problem when you browse once
Aside from that, both browsers perform well. But it's hard to deny the fact that Safari's user interface feels more polished and responsive. In contrast, Brave can be a little clunky, which isn't surprising considering it's still relatively new to iOS.
the performance
Brave uses the WKWebView renderer, the same engine that powers Safari. This is due to App Store restrictions that all third-party browsers must adhere to. In fact, this shouldn't be a problem because the WKWebView renderer is very good in terms of performance.
This means that both browsers stand side by side in page loading, scrolling, and so on. If you're looking for a performance boost, you won't find it with Brave, or any third-party browser on iPhone for that matter.
Content blocking
Brave uses what it calls “Shields” not only To block ads , but also to thwart web trackers from following you. Furthermore, it also blocks browser fingerprinting, a sophisticated form of tracking used by some websites.
All it takes to manage these shields is a quick tap on the Brave icon in the upper right corner of the screen. You can also configure what content to block by default by taking a quick dive into the Brave Settings panel.
Aside from local anti-tracking functions, it does not have safari There are no built-in ad blockers. However, you can still rely on third-party content blockers like Adblock Plus or AdGuard to block ads and website trackers instead. However, this can be extremely inconvenient, as you have to start using the content blocker itself whenever you want to manage your preferences.
Brave's built-in method of blocking content is superior, and you can easily disable specific Shields (such as script blocking) in cases where some web elements aren't working.
search engines
When it comes to search engine support, both browsers offer multiple options. With Brave, you can choose between Google and Bing, or a privacy-oriented search engine like DuckDuckGo Or Qwant or StartPage with complete ease.
Additionally, you can also set up a separate search engine when using private mode, which a search engine like DuckDuckGo can do just fine.
Brave's implementation of a quick search engine is better. You can easily search with multiple search engines on the go. After typing your query, tap the relevant icon at the top of the on-screen keyboard to search with a different search engine instead of the default.
Safari also includes Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. However, unlike Brave, switching between them requires a visit to the Settings panel, which is somewhat of a hassle if you plan to change search engines all the time.
Privacy
Safari is completely privacy-oriented with support for third-party content blockers, built-in capabilities to prevent cross-site tracking, and a dedicated private browsing mode.
However, Brave has a feature with integrated content blocking and a full private mode that you can permanently enable.
Brave also lets you add Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode protection if you're worried about others opening the browser and checking your browsing history without your permission.
Data synchronization
If you use multiple devices, syncing your data across them is vital for a seamless browsing experience. Both Brave and Safari are available on macOS, but Brave also supports Windows.
However, here comes a twist – Brave can only sync bookmarks and nothing else. Safari can sync bookmarks with an extension. iCloud To Chrome Or Firefox On Windows. So it doesn't really matter which browser you use on iOS if you have a Windows-based desktop.
But if you're on a Mac, you'll miss out on the full syncing experience of your passwords and other browsing data if you choose Brave over Safari.
Safari wins marginally
Brave is an excellent browser, but it can't beat Safari on iPhone. While it has a built-in content blocker, a larger selection of search engines, and better privacy-focused features, Safari takes the cake with its refined user interface and dedicated data syncing capabilities. And with upcoming features like full dark mode in iOS 13, it's only going to get better.
If you're simply looking for a better browsing experience, there are better browsers out there like Firefox, which in addition to offering a lot of great features, is all about privacy. Extremely.
