In today’s world, using a VPN has become essential for keeping our online activities safe and private. It’s like a secure tunnel for your internet connection, making it harder for others to see what you’re doing online or snatch your data.
There are so many VPN options out there promising to keep your browsing safe and give you the freedom to access all sorts of content from anywhere.
But have you come across Brave VPN yet?
This review is going to cover everything you need to know about Brave VPN, so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Get ready to learn more as we take a closer look.
Brave VPN – A Quick Overview
Brave Software Inc. is known for its privacy-focused browser, the Brave Browser. Now, they have added a VPN service to their list of products.
The success of the browser is no-hidden-secret, and Brave VPN seems to be following the same path.
The reason we use VPN is to keep our online activities private and secure. And for that, we need a service that is reliable, fast, and most importantly, trustworthy!
That said, the Brave Software CEO, Brendan Eich is the same man who co-founded Mozilla. So, one thing we can expect from Brave VPN is its credibility.
Some Security Features of Brave VPN
Let’s talk about security features, after all, this is what matters the most. Here are some of the key security features Brave offers:
AES-256 bit Encryption
Brave VPN utilizes AES-356-bit encryption, which is widely accepted by trusted professionals throughout the world. This encryption enables the user’s data to be under complete protection while using the VPN without any threat of data leakage.
Firewall
Where as many VPNs only provide a secure browsing experience, Brave adds an extra layer of protection with its built-in firewall. It blocks any unauthorized access to your device and stops malicious websites or applications from infecting your system.
The best part is that the firewall works in coordination with the VPN, i.e., enabling one feature will result in the activation of both at the same time.
Further, It is functional in most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and IOS, except Linux.
Wireguard Protocol
Brave VPN uses the Wireguard protocol to make your connection secure. It is the fastest, and most reliable protocol utilized by many popular VPNs out there. The use of cryptographic algorithms in the Wireguard protocol makes it secure enough to protect your online activities.
IP/DNS Leak Protection
VPN’s main purpose is to protect your IP and DNS addresses from leaking. Brave VPN uses a combination of IPv4, IPv6, WebRTC and DNS leak protection to ensure that your identity remains anonymous while using the service. However, it doesn’t provide a kill switch feature, which we may see added in the future.
Also Read: Is OMEN Gaming Hub Good Enough?
Some Essential Features Missing in Brave VPN
In spite of all the above-mentioned features, Brave VPN lacks certain essential privacy features that make its efficiency somehow questionable.
Kill Switch
Most of the VPNs provide a kill switch feature, that immediately cuts off the internet connection in case your VPN gets disconnected. This ensures that your IP address is not exposed even for a second.
Unfortunately, Brave VPN does not offer this feature yet. So, if you are concerned about keeping your online activities completely private and secure, then this may be a downside for you.
Split Tunneling
Split Tunneling is a feature that allows you to choose which apps or websites use the VPN and which don’t. It’s especially useful if you only want certain applications to go through the VPN while others use your regular internet connection.
Brave VPN does not have this feature, so all your online activities will go through the VPN server by default.
Very Limited VPN Locations
VPN location is essential if you want to access geo-restricted content from a specific country. Currently, Brave VPN have a very limited number of servers, only 14+ in a few countries. Compared to other VPN services on the market, this is a very small number.
However, considering that Brave VPN is relatively new and still expanding its network, we can hope for more locations to be added soon.
No Customized DNS Settings
Some users may prefer to use their own DNS settings for added security. However, Brave VPN does not offer this option as of now.
No Dedicated or Static IP
Brave VPN does not offer the option of a dedicated IP address, which can be useful for certain situations where you need a fixed IP.
Is Brave VPN Good for Streaming?
Brave VPN functions mainly focus on privacy and security. While reviewing its function, we came to know that it is a decent option for streaming. We haven’t found any major issues when testing streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
We have checked through different streaming platforms and locations. We didn’t experience any buffering or lagging issues.
However, some of the reviews I’ve read online suggest otherwise, with some users reporting slow speeds and difficulties in accessing geo-restricted content. This could potentially be due to various factors such as their internet connection, server location, or even the specific streaming service they were trying to access.
Gaming via Brave VPN: Is It a Good Option?
Brave VPN has good speed and encryption, which are essential for gaming, but it lacks around 80% of the things that gamers would look for in a VPN.
For instance, there’s no split tunneling feature to bypass the VPN connection for certain games or applications. Also, there is no dedicated IP option available.
Moreover, Brave VPN doesn’t allow port forwarding, which can be useful for gaming.
To top it off, the limited server locations may not have good latency for a smooth gaming experience.
Overall, Brave VPN may not be the best option for gamers, but it can still provide a decent experience if you just want to play casually or for fun.
Related: Can You Use VPN to Buy Steam Game Cheaper?
Speed Analysis
When talking about how fast Brave VPN is, it’s decent for what most people need.
But, it’s important to know it offers a speed of 500 Mbps. This might seem like a lot, but when you think about how much you’re paying for it, it’s not as impressive.
There are actually some VPNs you can use for free that give you speeds of 1Gbps.
And if you look at ExpressVPN, they’re offering a whopping 10Gbps.
So, in comparison, Brave VPN’s speed is decent but not the best deal you can get for your money.
Price Analysis: Is it Affordable?
When looking at the cost, Brave VPN has two main pricing options: you can pay $9.99 every month or get a bit of a break by paying $99.99 for a whole year upfront. Also, there’s a chance to try it out first with a 7-day free trial to see if it’s right for you.
But when you stack it up against other VPNs out there, Brave’s price tag feels a bit steep, especially the annual plan.
For example, NordVPN offers a year’s basic service for just $68.85, which is a significant saving.
Even ExpressVPN, known for its top-notch service, comes in at $99.95 per year, which is almost the same as Brave in terms of simplicity but with more features.
This comparison makes it clear that while Brave VPN has its strengths, cost-effectiveness might not be one of them, particularly for the annual subscription.
Our Verdict
Despite all the lacking features, the integration of Brave VPN with the Brave browser makes it convenient for its users. That said, you don’t have to download a separate app to use Brave VPN. Instead, you can access it directly through the browser on your mobile or desktop device. This is great for people already using the Brave browser as their default choice.
However, we faced a major issue when using the same subscription on mobile. We bought the VPN for our desktop, and when we tried to use it on our mobile, we couldn’t log in. There was a restore option that didn’t work. So, we ended up buying another subscription for the mobile.
Maybe customer support can help fix this issue, but it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed and improved upon.
In terms of value for money, Brave VPN may not be the best option compared to other VPN services offering similar features at a lower price.
Speaking of features, Brave VPN has a lot of potential to grow and improve. It’s still relatively new, so we can expect more features and server locations to be added in the future.
But for now, we don’t recommend Brave VPN, as it needs some major improvements.
There are a lot of better and more affordable options available in the market.
Ultimately the decision depends on you and your specific needs.
