Does Brave have a VPN? Yes, here’s what you need to know

Does Brave have a VPN? Yes, the Brave browser has a built-in, premium subscription service called Brave Firewall + VPN. It is a paid feature that provides system-wide protection for your entire device, not just the browser.

This guide covers its features, cost, how to get the 7-day free trial, and how it compares to Brave’s other free privacy tools like Tor windows.

1. Does Brave have a VPN? Brave VPN + Firewall explained

Yes, Brave has a premium, paid service called Brave Firewall + VPN. This service is a full security tool integrated into the browser.

It provides system-wide protection. This means it encrypts all internet traffic from every application on your device.

From my perspective, this system-wide protection is a significant practical benefit. It addresses a common problem I have seen and even experienced: you turn on a browser-only VPN and carelessly forget that other apps are still unprotected. I have had instances where a background cloud-sync tool or messaging app was still using my real IP address.

The service is powered by Guardian and includes a strict no-logs policy, as well as essential features like DNS leak protection. This policy means Brave does not record your user activity or browsing history. The built-in firewall also adds a layer of security by blocking tracking scripts and trackers before they can load, which works across all your apps.

2. Brave VPN price and free trial

The Brave Firewall + VPN service is not free. It is a premium subscription that you can try with a 7-day free trial.

To sign up for the trial, you will need to create a Brave account. The service has two payment options:

• Monthly plan: $9.99 per month
• Annual plan: $99.99 per year

One cross-platform subscription covers up to 10 devices, including both desktop and mobile platforms. You can manage your payment method and subscription through the Brave account portal.

3. How to get and activate the Brave VPN

You can activate the VPN directly from the Brave browser on both desktop and mobile.

3.1. Step-by-step setup on desktop (Windows and macOS)

Follow these steps to activate the VPN on your Windows or macOS computer:

1. Open the Brave browser on your computer.
2. Click the “VPN” icon located in the top-right corner of the address bar.
3. Select the “Start free trial” button.
4. You will be prompted to create or log in to your Brave account.
5. Once subscribed, follow the prompts to download and install the system-wide client.
6. Log in with your user credentials to activate the protection.

3.2. Step-by-step setup on mobile (iOS and Android)

To get the VPN on your phone or tablet, follow this process:

1. Open the Brave app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (…) and select “Brave VPN”.
3. Choose to start your free trial.
4. Your subscription will be managed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
5. Follow the prompts to install the VPN profile on your device.
6. You can then toggle the VPN “On” or “Off” from the Brave menu.

4. Brave VPN vs. Brave’s free Tor Windows

Brave offers two distinct privacy features, and it is important not to confuse them. The paid VPN and the free Tor Windows serve very different purposes.

4.1. What is the “Private Window with Tor” feature?

The “Private Window with Tor” is a free feature built into the Brave desktop browser. It opens a private window that routes your browser traffic through the anonymous Tor network. This provides a high level of anonymity for your browsing session.

4.2. Key differences: VPN vs. Tor for privacy and speed

These two tools work in very different ways. Here is a simple comparison:

• Brave VPN:
  • Protects your entire device (all apps).
  • Hides your IP address from your internet service providers and websites.
  • Uses fast, direct encryption (one hop).
  • Is ideal for daily use, data protection, and securing public Wi-Fi.
• Tor Window:
  • Protects only your Brave browser traffic in that window.
  • Provides anonymity by routing traffic through three random relays.
  • Results in much slower connection speeds than a VPN due to the multi-hop routing.
  • May cause some websites to load slowly or block you.

The speed difference in my own tests was significant. The Brave VPN connection was fast enough for me to stream video, showing only minor buffering at the start. In contrast, the Tor window was noticeably slow, with even simple news websites taking several seconds longer to load. This confirms they are not interchangeable for daily browsing.

4.3. Which one should you use (and when)?

The choice between the VPN and a Tor window depends entirely on your specific goal. They are both privacy tools, but they are not interchangeable. I use both, but for completely different situations.

When to use the Brave VPN (For daily privacy)

Think of the Brave VPN as your full-time, “always-on” security detail. It is a tool for privacy (hiding what you do).

• Securing public Wi-Fi: I use this constantly at coffee shops, airports, and hotels. It encrypts all my data to protect passwords and banking info.
• At-home privacy: It is also useful at home to stop your internet service provider (ISP) from logging your activity or throttling your speed.
• Daily use: Because it is fast, it is the correct choice for streaming, gaming, and protecting all your apps (system-wide).

When to use the Tor Window (For high anonymity)

Think of the Tor Window as a temporary disguise for anonymity (hiding who you are). It is for specific, short-term tasks.

• Sensitive tasks: Use this when you must hide your identity from the website you are visiting (e.g., a journalist conducting sensitive research).
• What it is not for: In my tests, it is far too slow for streaming or even daily browsing. It is a specialized tool, not an everyday one.
• Key limitation: Remember, it only protects the activity in that single browser window. It does not protect your email client, messaging apps, or any other app on your device.

5. Brave’s built-in VPN vs. third-party VPN extensions

You can still install third-party VPN extensions in the Brave browser. However, as a security writer, I am extremely skeptical of free VPN extensions. I have analyzed many that are simply “honeypots” for collecting and selling user data.

A browser extension only protects the traffic inside that browser. The fact that Brave’s VPN is a paid, system-wide, no-logs service gives me much more confidence. It is a real security tool, not a data-harvesting gimmick.

6. FAQs about Brave’s VPN

Here are answers to other common questions about the Brave Firewall + VPN service.

7. Conclusion

So, does Brave have a VPN? Yes, it offers the Brave Firewall + VPN as a premium, system-wide service that is a powerful addition for privacy-focused users.

• Brave’s VPN is a paid subscription that covers up to 10 devices.
• It encrypts all internet traffic on your device, not just the browser.
• It is different from and more comprehensive than the free Tor Window feature.

As someone who uses Brave for its ad-blocking, adding the VPN feels like a natural extension for protecting all my other apps, especially when using public Wi-Fi at a cafe. The integration makes it simple to manage all my privacy tools in one place.

For more guides on digital security, explore Privacy & Security Basics section at Safelyo.