The best private browsers, tested

Chrome is convenient, fast, and compatible with almost every website. But if online privacy matters to you, it’s worth considering what happens behind the scenes, including how your browser handles tracking, and who controls the technology it runs on.

Five alternatives offer different approaches: Brave, Vivaldi, Firefox, Librewolf, and Zen. Some prioritize blocking trackers, others focus on independence from Google, and a few make privacy-conscious browsing easier without requiring much adjustment.

To compare them, we scored each across three categories: 

1. Independence from Google,
2. Fingerprinting protection, and
3. Everyday usability.

Each is scored out of 10, for a maximum total of 30.

How independent are they from Google?

A browser’s underlying engine affects how it works, how websites behave, and who develops its core technology. Chromium is the open-source project behind Google Chrome and several alternatives. Firefox uses Mozilla’s Gecko engine, which provides an independent foundation.

The results

• Brave: 4/10. Brave uses Chromium. It adds its own privacy protections, but still relies on technology developed within Google’s browser ecosystem.
• Vivaldi: 4/10. Vivaldi also uses Chromium. Its extensive customization options set it apart, but its underlying engine has the same connection to Google.
• Firefox: 7/10. Firefox uses Gecko, giving it technical independence from Chromium. However, Mozilla has historically received substantial revenue from Google for default search placement, creating a financial dependency.
• LibreWolf: 9/10. Built on Firefox, LibreWolf removes telemetry and applies privacy-focused changes while retaining Gecko’s independent foundations.
• Zen: 9/10. Zen also builds on Firefox and reduces telemetry. It offers a different interface without adopting Chromium.

Winners: LibreWolf and Zen, tied at 9/10. Both combine an independent browser engine with privacy-focused changes. Firefox is another option if you prefer something more established.

Which offers the best fingerprinting protection?

Cookies aren’t the only way websites can recognize you. Browser fingerprinting combines characteristics such as your screen resolution, installed fonts, and browser configuration to create a profile that may help identify you across visits.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Cover Your Tracks(nytt vindu) tool lets you test how your browser appears to trackers. It’s a useful starting point, although no single test captures every fingerprinting technique.

The results

• Brave: 10/10. Brave comes out on top thanks to fingerprint randomization, which changes certain browser characteristics to make it harder to link activity across visits.
• LibreWolf: 8/10. Its privacy-focused defaults and tracking protections offer a strong level of defence against common tracking methods.
• Firefox: 5/10. Firefox includes fingerprinting protections, but its score in this comparison falls short of Brave and LibreWolf. Mozilla continues to develop these protections, so results can change between versions.
• Zen: 5/10. Zen benefits from Firefox’s foundations, but may lag behind Firefox’s newest privacy protections as the project develops.
• Vivaldi: 5/10. Despite using Chromium, Vivaldi scores lowest in this category, falling well behind Brave’s approach to fingerprint randomization.

Winner: Brave, at 10/10. Its fingerprint randomization makes it the strongest performer in this comparison. Still, fingerprinting protection doesn’t guarantee anonymity, and results depend on the browser version and test conditions.

Which is the easiest to use?

Privacy settings only help if you can live with them. A browser that repeatedly breaks websites or clears your preferences may become frustrating, while one that works much like your current browser can make switching easier.

The results

• Firefox: 9/10. Firefox handles most everyday tasks well. Some websites optimized for Chrome can occasionally behave differently.
• Brave: 9/10. Its familiar interface, Chromium compatibility, and built-in privacy features make it a relatively straightforward switch for Chrome users.
• Vivaldi: 8/10. Vivaldi offers extensive customization and encrypted bookmark synchronization. The range of settings can take time to learn, but it suits people who like controlling their browser experience.
• Zen: 8/10. Sidebar tabs and Spaces provide a distinctive way to organize browsing. As a younger project, Zen can still have occasional rough edges.
• LibreWolf: 5/10. Its defaults can clear browsing data when you close the browser, which may mean logging into websites again. You can adjust some settings, but doing so involves trade-offs.

Winners: Firefox and Brave, tied at 9/10. Both combine strong everyday usability with relatively few compromises. 

Which browser wins?

Brave takes the top spot, thanks largely to its fingerprinting protection and ease of use. LibreWolf is a strong alternative if you’re willing to trade convenience for privacy, while Firefox offers a comfortable middle ground. Zen brings a fresh look to Firefox, and Vivaldi is for people who like to tinker.

Which browser should you choose?

Choose Brave for the strongest overall balance. It combines excellent fingerprinting protection with a familiar browsing experience, although its Chromium foundation makes it less independent from Google.

Choose LibreWolf if privacy comes first. Its privacy-focused defaults and independent engine are appealing, provided you’re comfortable with extra friction.

Choose Firefox for everyday flexibility. It offers a balance of independence and usability, while Zen is worth considering if you want Firefox’s foundations with a different interface.

Choose Vivaldi if you value customization.

There’s no universal winner for every person or threat model. Pick the browser that fits your priorities, keep it updated, and test its protections rather than relying on its reputation alone.