Best VPNs to use with Brave Browser in 2023
Using Brave? Level up your privacy with these VPNs

- Enhances Brave’s privacy features by concealing your actual IP address behind an anonymous address
- Proprietary protocol, NordLynx, offers fast speeds for Brave
- Offers a browser extension especially designed for use with Brave

- Offers a browser extension especially designed for use with Brave
- Cleanweb features offers additional ad blockers
- Split-tunneling built into the Brave extension lets you connect to the VPN at the same time you’re using the regular internet

- Lightning quick speeds when working in the Brave browser
- Choice of protocols and encryption levels lets you customize your Brave experience
- Highly-rated extension for Brave
We assume you’re here because you are using — or are planning to use — the Brave browser. And if that’s the case, it’s safe to assume that you care about your privacy. After all, Brave is known for its many privacy features that prevent websites and advertisers from following your footsteps across the web.
Even as Brave is designed to protect your digital fingerprint, a virtual private network (VPN) privatizes your browsing from your internet service provider. For instance, your internet service provider (ISP) can still track most of what you do online even when you browse with Brave. So if you’re ready to take your privacy to the next level, read on as we highlight the best VPNs to use with Brave out of the dozens we’ve tested. But first, here are some of our criteria.
Features We Looked For
Brave extension | Yes |
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Speed | Speed loss of below 40% |
Logging policy | Zero logs |
VPN protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
List of the Best VPNs for the Brave Browser
- NordVPN - Best Encryption and VPN Protocols
- Surfshark - Best Brave Browser Extension
- Private Internet Access VPN - Best Speeds
The Best Brave Browser VPNs Compared
System |
NordVPN
|
Surfshark
|
Private Internet Access VPN
|
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Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
Ratings | 9.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.4/10 |
Monthly Subscription Costs | $3.99-$11.99 | $2.49-$12.95 | $2.19-$11.99 |
Subscription Lengths | 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years | 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years | 1 month, 6 months, or 2 years |
Encryption Type | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM | AES-256 |
VPN Protocols | OpenVPN, NordLynx | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
Kill Switch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Split Tunneling | Windows and Androids only | Yes | Yes |
Netflix Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
IP Addresses | Static | Dynamic and static | Dynamic |
Brave Browser Extension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Read Review | NordVPN Review | Surfshark Review | Private Internet Access VPN Review |
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1. NordVPN
It’s no coincidence that NordVPN is also our No. 1 overall pick in our list of the best VPNs. Much like Brave, nobody protects privacy better than this Panama-based VPN, especially if we look at the technology it uses. NordVPN is an innovator and front-runner of the latest VPN and encryption protocols. In a world full of continually evolving privacy threats, you’ll want NordVPN and Brave working for you.
What We Like
- Latest encryption technology in AES-256-GCM
- Panama-based company with a no-logs policy
- Offers NordLynx, a WireGuard-based proprietary protocol
- Well-built Brave browser extension
What We Don’t Like
- Good speeds but could be improved
- Priced a bit higher than the competition
- No split tunneling on iOS and macOS devices
- Customer support can be hard to reach
NordVPN connected Latest Encryption Technology
You might have heard of the terms “military-grade encryption” and “bank-level encryption.” They usually refer to AES-256 encryption, which is what the U.S. government uses to encrypt its best-kept secrets.1 NordVPN actually takes things up a notch by adding Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) to its encryption operation. Now, we won’t get into the nitty-gritty of this operation, but to sum it up, adding GCM streamlines the encryption process and makes it much more secure. In fact, some VPNs claim that AES-128-GCM, which is lower than AES-256-GCM, provides the same level of security as the standard AES-256.2 Since NordVPN uses AES-256-GCM, it’s practically impregnable. That would complement Brave’s privacy features well.
Proprietary VPN Protocol
Another important technology in regards to VPNs is the VPN protocol, which is what VPNs use to create the secure tunnel through which your traffic is routed. NordVPN offers the widely-available OpenVPN, but in addition, it built its own VPN protocol named NordLynx. When we tested NordLynx with Brave, we found it to be lightweight and fast. It’s also secure, since it’s based on the WireGuard protocol. It rivals OpenVPN in terms of speed and security, so it’s nothing but top-notch.
Double VPN
The Brave browser offers the option to open a window with Tor connectivity, which provides double privacy. First, it’s the privacy features that come with the Brave browser, and second, the privacy and anonymity the Tor network provides. In the same manner, NordVPN offers the option to enable Double VPN. In simple terms, Double VPN connects you to two VPN servers, so there’s double the encryption and privacy as well. It’s not a feature everybody needs, but if you’re ever in a situation where absolute privacy and anonymity is necessary, partnering up Brave and NordVPN’s Double VPN can help.
Tip: Double VPN serves an important purpose in highly restrictive countries that censor, track, and surveil their citizens’ internet activities. It’s also a crucial feature to journalists and whistleblowers.
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2. Surfshark
A much newer VPN company compared to NordVPN, Surfshark has made a name for itself through its well-designed, intuitive, and efficient VPN apps. We liked its apps so much that they made our list of the best VPNs for Android, best VPNs for Macs, and top VPNs for Windows. We’ve had the same pleasant experience when we tested Surfshark’s Brave extension, which is largely the reason that Surfshark is on this list.
What We Like
- CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware
- Automatically blocks and rejects cookie pop-ups when browsing
- Split tunneling built into the Brave extension
- WebRTC leak blocking
What We Like
- Uses static IP addresses by default, which are easier to track
- No phone support
- Takes a bit longer to connect than other VPNs
- No option to manually select VPN protocol
Surfshark Connected CleanWeb
Not that we don’t trust Brave’s ability to block ads and trackers, but with so-called “supercookies” and other modern methods of tracking these days, it doesn’t hurt to have an extra layer of protection. Surfshark’s Brave extension offers exactly that with the CleanWeb feature. In addition to ads and trackers, Surfshark blocks malware-infected websites. So while Brave protected our online privacy, Surfshark’s protection extended to our device. Not to mention, the Surfshark One add-on ($1.49 per month) included antivirus software, so Surfshark provides digital security through and through.
WebRTC Leak Blocking
As secure as Brave may be, it still allows the use of WebRTC. WebRTC is a browser feature, which, although useful, can be used by websites to find out its users’ IP addresses and locations. That extends to users who use unsecured VPNs. With Surfshark, though, we didn’t worry about WebRTC leaks, as the Brave extension blocks websites from using WebRTC to collect IP addresses and location data. It’s one of those little features that made a huge difference when we tested Surfshark.
FYI: Brave is built around Chromium, much like Chrome and Edge. That’s why Chrome extensions work on Brave as well.
Built-In Split Tunneling
Another feature that made our Surfshark user-experience much more pleasant was the built-in split tunneling. Right from the Surfshark extension, the Bypasser feature allowed us to exclude certain websites from our VPN connection. For instance, we added our bank’s online portal to the sites that bypass Surfshark since it blocks VPN IP addresses. By doing so, we didn’t have to turn off Surfshark whenever we had to check our online bank accounts. Again, it’s the little things.
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3. Private Internet Access VPN
Our third pick is Private Internet Access, a secure, no-logs VPN based closer to home — in Denver. Reliability is the name of the game for this VPN. We saw incredibly fast speeds, whether we were using the Windows app or the Brave extension. And when it came to security, we had lots of options. In addition to its VPN service, Private Internet Access also provides proxy servers, several VPN protocols, and different encryption standards.
What We Like
- Highly customizable connection settings
- Apps have good ratings
- Good speeds for streaming, downloads, and online gaming
- Quickly adopts and integrates new VPN technologies
What We Don’t Like
- Our customer support experience wasn’t always stellar
- Based in the U.S., under the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes alliance
- Split tunneling is not available on iPhones
- Low price but long subscriptions
Private Internet Access Connected Speed on Brave
Private Internet Access’ claim that it’s the fastest VPN has some truth to it. It may not be the absolute fastest, but it is indeed very fast. We tested both its Windows app and Brave extension, and on average, we got download speeds of about 40 Mbps from our 50 Mbps internet plan. The speed drop was about 20 percent, which is one of the lowest among the VPNs we tried. On top of that, PIA was reliable. The good speeds didn’t come and go, which is exactly what we want in a VPN.
Access to Geo-Restricted Content
Since PIA was fast, we tested it further by streaming from our favorite streaming platforms — Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, etc. In the process, we found out that it’s also a great VPN for unblocking geo-restricted content. From watching our favorite Rowan Atkinson comedies on Netflix U.K. to catching up on the latest anime episodes on Crunchyroll Japan, we had no problem streaming as long as we connected to Private Internet Access.
Customizable Connection Settings
Entertainment purposes aside, we found Private Internet Access to be very customizable. For starters, PIA offers several VPN protocols to choose from. There’s WireGuard and OpenVPN for well-balanced security and speed, and IPSec (both LT2P and IKEv2) for speed prioritization. It also lets you choose the encryption standard — AES-256 for maximum security and AES-128 for better speeds. And lastly, Private Internet Access offers the option to create a proxy network, which you can use to either change your IP address without encryption, or create a multi-hop VPN by using it alongside the VPN.
Criteria for Choosing Brave Browser VPNs
And that’s it for our list of tried and tested VPNs for the Brave browser, but before we end this review, we’ll touch on our selection process. You see, we believe that there is no one-size-fits-all VPN. While NordVPN, Surfshark, and Private Internet Access impressed us the most, they might not be the best Brave browser VPNs for everybody. So if you want to research and test VPNs yourself, consider this a condensed guide to choosing the best Brave browser VPN. If you want a more detailed walk-through, check out our complete VPN guide here.
Security Is the Number One Priority
Despite the fact that all VPNs do the same things at their core — they encrypt your traffic and hide your IP address by creating a VPN tunnel — not all VPNs are created equal. There are a number of key factors to look at when choosing the most secure VPNs. These include:
- Encryption: A VPN must provide a high level of encryption in order to protect your data, so only go with a VPN that has at least AES-128 encryption. In our book, though, AES-256 is the gold standard.
- VPN protocol: We know it can be hard to understand the technical terms that VPNs use when describing their VPN protocols, so here’s a cheat sheet, if you will. OpenVPN and WireGuard are regarded to be the most secure VPN protocols, as well as most proprietary protocols built around them. On the other hand, IPSec, either L2TP or IKEv2, provides lower security, but good speeds and reliability.
- Leak protection: There are several ways through which your IP address can be leaked even if you’re using a VPN, including WebRTC and DNS leaks. Before committing to a VPN brand, put it through a WebRTC and DNS leak test first. There are lots of online tools that detect these kinds of leaks for free. Be sure to use Brave when performing these tests, so you can see how the VPN does with the specific browser you’re using.
Privacy Is Just as Important
Although security comes first, privacy should be a high priority as well. Here’s why: When you use a VPN, your traffic becomes encrypted, preventing ISPs, the government, or anyone spying on your network from seeing what you do online. However, the VPN has the key to that encryption. If you choose a VPN with no regards to your privacy, your data might end up being sold to advertisers. We assume you wouldn’t like that since you use Brave. Here are the things you should consider when choosing a privacy-friendly VPN.
- Logging policy: Reading a VPN company’s privacy policy goes a long way. There, you’ll see exactly what types of data about you that they collect. A no-logs VPN often means that it doesn’t record browsing data and IP addresses, even though they might collect other types of anonymized or non-personal data. The general rule of thumb is that the less data they collect, the better.
- Legal obligations: Some VPNs have legal obligations to submit customer data to the government or a court when subpoenaed. These are the VPNs based in Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes countries, which include the U.S. If a VPN is under the jurisdiction of any of these international alliances, you’ll have to make sure that they only collect the bare minimum amount of data. The less they know about you, the less they could be forced to share.
- Data retention: Most VPNs collect data, either personal data like name and email or payment information, which is necessary for the creation and maintenance of accounts. Not all of them, though, delete that information after you unsubscribe. Again, you can find a company’s data retention policy on its privacy policy, so give that a good read.
Performance Matters
The security and privacy a VPN provides won’t mean a thing if the VPN causes your internet activities to halt. You’ll just end up not using it, which is worse than having a low-security VPN. It’s crucial, then, to find the perfect balance between speed and security.
Almost all VPNs we tested affected our speeds somehow, but some caused less slowdowns than others. Our process for choosing fast VPNs involves testing our current internet speed (without the VPN, that is), immediately followed by testing our speed with the VPN. We then measure the percentage by which the speed dropped. We repeat the process several times and average out the result to minimize external factors such as network congestion, server traffic, etc.
FYI: A number of factors can affect internet and VPN speeds, such as the time of day, amount of traffic from other users, distance to the VPN server, etc. We try to eliminate these factors when we test VPNs, but still, your mileage may vary.
We consider a VPN fast if the average percentage of the speed drop is below 40 percent, both for the upload and the download speed. For reference, a 40-percent drop on a 50 Mbps connection is equal to 30 Mbps (still good for 4K Netflix streaming).3
The App Glues Everything Together
Lastly, don’t discount the importance of the VPN app. When you’re using a VPN for Brave, you interact with the app the most. It’s where you turn the VPN on and off, select a server location, manage your network settings, and more. So before locking in your VPN subscription, be sure to get a feel for the user experience its apps provide. Here are a few factors to consider.
- Supported platforms: Take an inventory of the platforms or operating systems that you might need a VPN for, and check if the VPN supports all those platforms. While most have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, you might have a harder time looking for VPNs that work with Apple TVs (or any other smart TV for that matter), gaming consoles, or even Linux.
- Features: You should also take the app’s features into consideration. For instance, for this review, we tested how each VPN app handles split tunneling on Brave. Some let us set up split tunneling directly on the Brave extension, but others didn’t offer the feature at all. Other features to look out for are kill switches and multi-hop.
- Overall ease of use: Remember, you’ll likely use a VPN app several times a day, whether at home, in the office, or on the go, so it must be easy enough to use so that it doesn’t disrupt your everyday life. We like apps that load quickly, have few or no bugs, and are aesthetically pleasing.
- User reviews: We don’t rely much on user reviews when testing VPN apps because they can be subjective. For instance, Surfshark’s Brave extension got a low 3-star rating on the Brave extension repository despite it being the best extension we’ve tested. However, it’s still a good idea to browse through user reviews to spot potential issues that other real-life users have encountered.
Testing VPNs can be a long and winding process. We know, we’ve been doing it for years. But with this tried and tested guide, you’re most likely to succeed in finding the right Brave browser VPN that’s just right for you.
FAQs
Before you leave, check out these frequently asked questions (and our answers to them) for more information about the best VPNs for Brave.
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Do I need to use a VPN with Brave?
You need to use a VPN with Brave if you want to protect your browsing data from ISP and government tracking. Although Brave does a great job at stopping ads and trackers from tracking your every move online, it doesn’t hide nor encrypt your traffic. That’s the job of a VPN.
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Does Brave have a built-in VPN?
Yes, Brave has a built-in VPN. However, at the moment, it’s only available on iOS devices, with Android support reportedly coming soon.
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Is using a VPN better than using Tor connectivity on Brave?
That depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you want privacy from ISP and government tracking while maintaining good speeds, using a VPN is better than using Tor connectivity on Brave. However, the Tor network provides better anonymity, but with slower speeds. In any case, if you want maximum security and privacy, you can always use a VPN alongside the Tor network. But bear in mind that that pairing will cause your internet speed to drop significantly.
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Do VPNs for Brave block malware?
Not necessarily, but there are VPNs for Brave that block malware-infected websites. If your VPN comes with this feature, we recommend that you turn it on to prevent data-stealing malware (such as keyloggers and Remote Access Trojans) from infecting your device.
govinfo. (2001). Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
govinfo.gov/app/details/GOVPUB-C13-5b70c4f21283f175408d9560480f73b3Private Internet Access. (2022, Apr 6). What's the difference between AES-CBC and AES-GCM?
privateinternetaccess.com/helpdesk/kb/articles/what-s-the-difference-between-aes-cbc-and-aes-gcmNetflix. Internet connection speed recommendations.
help.netflix.com/en/node/306