Brave browser hits 100 million users as privacy push gains momentum

Brave100m

Brave has quietly crossed a milestone that many browsers simply never reach. You see, the company confirmed that as of September 30, its browser now has 101 million monthly active users worldwide across desktop and mobile! That’s crazy impressive, folks.

CEO and co-founder Brendan Eich framed the moment as more than a raw growth statistic. He said 100 million users “constitute a movement for a better Web that puts users first,” adding that Brave has kept privacy protections at the center of everything from its browser to its search engine and ad system. That user-first message seems to resonate at a time when browser choice is under renewed scrutiny, especially in Europe, where iOS changes under the Digital Markets Act gave Brave an installation boost.

ALSO READ: Ask Brave merges AI chat with traditional search

Brave also shared updated figures for its independent Brave Search platform. The engine is now handling nearly 20 billion queries per year, with daily traffic topping 50 million. About 15 million of those daily queries are already served with AI-generated answers, and the new “Ask Brave” experience integrates conversational results directly into the search flow. Importantly, Brave noted that almost 8 percent of Brave Search queries come from outside browsers like Chrome, proving its reach goes beyond its own app.

The company continues to position its browser as a “privacy super app.” Built-in Brave Shields block ads, trackers, and fingerprinting without requiring extensions, while extras like Brave VPN and Brave Wallet give users additional tools for privacy and Web3. Its AI assistant, Brave Leo, can run on multiple third-party or local models, with chat history stored only on the user’s device. Unlike most AI integrations, Brave says Leo doesn’t retain or share chats for training.

For business, Brave has found traction with its ad platform, which it says lets brands reach audiences unreachable elsewhere while still protecting privacy. Big names including Amazon, Ford, and eBay have run campaigns through Brave Ads. Its Brave Search API has also become a data source for AI companies, and its premium offerings such as Brave VPN are seeing tens of thousands of paying subscribers.

Crossing 100 million users puts Brave into a small club. Most people online still default to Chrome, Safari, or Edge, but Brave’s steady growth suggests that many are tired of trading privacy for convenience. Whether its AI push can drive the next wave of adoption remains to be seen, but for now, Brave has built real momentum without compromising its core message.

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Brian Fagioli

Technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz

Brian Fagioli is a technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz. A former BetaNews writer, he has spent over a decade covering Linux, hardware, software, cybersecurity, and AI with a no nonsense approach for real nerds.

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