Do any FReepers use the Brave or Opera web browsers? Feedback wanted!

Me | 7/17/2023 | Paul R.

[Paul R.]

My last computer question here on FR generated a lot of furor and only limited useful information (mostly positive comments regarding the Firefox browser.) But I'd like more info (feedback) from FReepers who may have used Brave or Opera, for comparison, as I got none in my prior thread. Pro's and cons from hopefully extensive use would be great to receive! In online articles, Brave seems particularly well thought of from a privacy and security standpoint, without going to the extremes (and more limited functionality) of TOR.

[zeugma]

Been using Brave for a while now. I like it.

[zeugma]

Meant to say as well, that I wish FR accepted donations from Brave.

[thinden]

marking comments on browser + ad block

thanx jay

[e_castillo]

I use brave for Android and pc. Installed the first version and never went back.

[Dr. Sivana]

I use Brave. It chokes on some web sites that require pop ups enabled, so I have Firefox as my alternate. FR is pretty bare bones. Brave sails on that.

[Falconspeed]

I use Brave daily and it is great. I also use Protonmail VPN.

[upchuck]

I have used Brave for many years. Combined with Ad Block (NOT Ad Block Plus) and Ghostery, it provides a solid computing base for my Win 7 Pro machine. I’m on the Internet several hours a day.

No complaints from me.

FWIW, other browsers I have used and have experience with: (Fast Peak) SlimJet, Opera, Internet Explorer (haven’t used Edge (IE’s replacement) for two reasons: I tend to stay away from MSFT’s products and I tried Edge on my machine just for grins and didn’t like it), Firefox Portable (used this for awhile), Chrome and Pale Moon. None of these, IMHO, provided a good replacement for Brave.

[Organic Panic]

I use Brave for the adblocking. It has done the best. I don’t trust any of them for privacy.

If you REALLY want privacy set up a TOR browser and VPN.

If you just need to browse and skip ads on youtube and other websites I use Brave. They are as liberal as they come and their search results show it.

[upchuck]

Use the Ctrl + Shift + o for the Bookmark Manager.

[JoeVortex]

I was a long time satisfied Firefox user until I got wind of how ultra woke the company was and started looking around for an alternative.

I gave Brave a shot after learning about their emphasis on privacy. I noticed immediately that Brave was faster than Firefox. Brave also has its own search engine which uses its own index and does not track your search history.

I am very happy with Brave. It is based on the public domain Chromium engine so all Chrome addons should work.

I believe there were a few web pages that I had to disable Brave Shields (ad blocking) to work. This can be handled on a case by case basis.

I also have Brave installed on my iPhone and am happy with it.

My two cents: Don’t make yourself nuts. It is easy to install multiple browsers on the same machine. They should coexist without problem. You will just need to designate one as your default. Install Brave and give it a go for a few weeks.

Notes:

1) I am not a gamer. Just email, web browsing, streaming podcasts and an occasional Zoom video conference. All work fine.

2) My OS is Windows 10.

[Bonemaker]

Thanks. I’m on a tablet.

[Paul R.]

I’m a bit confused on one point: Does Brave have a free VPN or is it subscription only?

[Paul R.]

So, Brave does not come with a VPN?

[Paul R.]

Opera has an excellent built-in VPN for hiding your IP address.

Brave's VPN is only by subscription, right?

[Paul R.]

Is Protonmail VPN run from Brave, or separately? (One can tell I’m no expert when it comes to VPN’s.)

[steve86]

“Google (aka Verizon)” makes no sense.

[Paul R.]

I believe there were a few web pages that I had to disable Brave Shields (ad blocking) to work.

Seems to be a common observation

This can be handled on a case by case basis.

So, once one "un-Shields" a website, does Brave remember that, or does the site have to be unblocked every time one goes back to it?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You can do it either way.

Add the website to a list you want unshielded always (if you trust it) or just do it once. Either is simple.

[Texas Fossil]

Google owns Verizon (cell phone company) and it owns the Android operating system.

Google is the Godzilla of data collection. Which I hate.

[linMcHlp]

Subscription