Brave Browser 1.96.59 for Windows

Brave Browser 1.96.59 for Windows gives you Brave Software's free and open-source privacy-focused web browser, and you can download it from brave.com. Brave is built on Chromium and blocks ads and trackers out of the box, so pages load without most of the clutter.

Who Brave is for

Brave was created by Brendan Eich and first released on 20 January 2016. It appeals first of all to people who are tired of ads and tracking but do not want to hunt for extensions and tweak settings. Out of the box it hides most ads, cookie trackers and fingerprinting scripts, which also makes pages lighter on slow connections and laptop batteries. It suits anyone moving from Google Chrome who wants a familiar interface and support for Chrome extensions, since both browsers share the Chromium base. Privacy-minded users also appreciate that these protections apply everywhere, not only in private windows. If you rely on websites that refuse to work with blockers, or you prefer a browser with fewer built-in extras, you may find yourself switching Brave's shields off for some sites.

What you should know first

• The current browser version is 1.96.59, released on 24 September 2026; the small Windows installer downloads it and keeps it up to date.
• The installer is small, about 1.21 MB according to catalogue data, and needs an internet connection.
• Brave's source code is released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

How to install Brave on Windows

1. Open the official Brave download page.
2. Download the installer and run it.
3. Wait while it fetches the browser and completes setup.
4. Import bookmarks and passwords from your old browser if you wish.

Release notes for every version are published on brave.com/latest, and the code is on GitHub.

Requirements

Brave supports current 64-bit and 32-bit x86 systems and ARM, and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. A recent, updated Windows installation is enough.

Switching from another browser

During setup Brave offers to import bookmarks, saved passwords and history from Chrome, Edge or Firefox, so the move takes minutes. Your Chrome extensions can be reinstalled from the Chrome Web Store. Give the default shield settings a week; most people find they rarely need to change them, and you can always relax them for a single site.

Safety

Download only from brave.com. Look-alike sites that offer "Brave with extra rewards" are scams. Check the shield settings: the default level is a good balance, while the aggressive level can break some sites.

Price

The browser is free. Optional paid services, such as a VPN, are sold separately and are not required.

Pros and cons

• Pro: ad and tracker blocking without extensions.
• Pro: works with Chrome extensions.
• Con: crypto and rewards features feel out of place to some users.
• Con: some sites need shields turned off.

Alternatives

Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, LibreWolf and Mullvad Browser are Windows browsers in the same category, with different takes on privacy.