Is Brave VPN Free? Full Breakdown of Plans, Features & Alternatives (2026)

Quick Answer: Is Brave VPN Free?

No. Brave VPN (officially called Brave Firewall + VPN) is a paid subscription that costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year. There is a 7-day free trial, but no permanent free tier.

The Brave browser itself is free and includes built-in ad blocking (Brave Shields) and a private Tor window. But the VPN is a separate, paid add-on powered by Guardian.

If you searched "is Brave VPN free" hoping for a zero-cost VPN baked into Brave, the short answer is: the browser is free, but the VPN is not.

What Is Brave VPN (Powered by Guardian)?

Brave partnered with Guardian, a privacy-focused security company, to build a VPN directly into the Brave browser. Rather than installing a separate VPN app, you activate the VPN from inside Brave's settings.

However, there is an important distinction to understand. Brave VPN is not the same as these free Brave privacy features:

• Brave Shields -- Blocks ads, trackers, and fingerprinting. Free, enabled by default.
• Tor Window -- Routes traffic through the Tor network for anonymous browsing. Free, built into Brave.
• HTTPS Everywhere -- Automatically upgrades connections to HTTPS. Free.

Brave Firewall + VPN goes further by encrypting all network traffic on your device (not just Brave browser traffic) and routing it through Guardian's servers. It also includes a firewall component that blocks trackers and unwanted connections at the network level across all your apps.

Pricing & Plans

Brave keeps its pricing simple with two options:

	Monthly	Annual
Price	$9.99/month	$99.99/year ($8.33/month)
Free trial	7 days	7 days
Devices	Up to 10	Up to 10
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Refund	Cancel anytime	Cancel anytime
Servers	300+ in 40+ countries	300+ in 40+ countries

At $9.99/month, Brave VPN sits at the higher end of the VPN market. For context, NordVPN's 2-year plan comes out to roughly $3.39/month, and Surfshark's long-term plan drops below $2.50/month. You are paying a premium for the convenience of having VPN functionality built directly into your browser.

Features: What's Included?

WireGuard Protocol

Brave VPN uses WireGuard as its primary tunneling protocol. WireGuard is widely regarded as the fastest and most modern VPN protocol available. It offers strong encryption with lower overhead compared to older protocols like OpenVPN, which translates to faster speeds and better battery life on mobile devices.

Full Device Protection

Unlike a browser extension that only protects traffic within the browser, Brave VPN encrypts all traffic on your device. This means every app, game, and background process is routed through the VPN tunnel -- not just web browsing in Brave.

IKEv2 Fallback

If WireGuard is unavailable or blocked on a particular network, Brave VPN falls back to IKEv2/IPsec. This is a solid backup protocol, though it is not as fast as WireGuard. Having a fallback ensures you stay connected in restrictive network environments.

No-Log Policy

Guardian, the company powering the VPN infrastructure, maintains a strict no-log policy. Brave states it cannot link VPN usage to any individual user. No browsing logs, no connection timestamps, no bandwidth records. Guardian does not use cookies in connection with the VPN service either.

Brave Firewall Integration

The "Firewall" part of "Brave Firewall + VPN" is not just marketing. The service includes network-level filtering that blocks trackers, ads, and malicious connections across all apps on your device. Think of it as Brave Shields, but for your entire phone or computer instead of just the browser.

Limitations

Despite the decent feature set, Brave VPN has several notable drawbacks compared to dedicated VPN providers.

No Linux Support (Yet)

Brave VPN currently works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Linux support is listed as "coming soon," but there is no confirmed release date. If you run Linux as your daily driver, Brave VPN is not an option right now.

Limited Server Network

With 300+ servers across 40+ countries, Brave VPN's network is small compared to established providers. NordVPN offers 7,000+ servers in 118+ countries. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries. A smaller network means fewer options for bypassing geo-restrictions and potentially more congested servers during peak hours.

No Streaming Optimization

Brave VPN does not specifically optimize for streaming. There are no dedicated streaming servers, and there is no guarantee it will unblock Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, or other platforms. Dedicated VPN providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN invest heavily in maintaining access to streaming libraries.

No Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets you route some apps through the VPN while others use your regular connection. Brave VPN does not offer this feature. Dedicated providers like NordVPN and Surfshark include it on most platforms.

No Advanced Security Features

Brave VPN lacks features that have become standard among top-tier VPN providers, including double VPN (multi-hop), RAM-only servers, private DNS, dedicated IP options, and obfuscated servers for use in censorship-heavy countries.

Price Is High for What You Get

At $9.99/month, Brave VPN is more expensive than NordVPN ($3.39/month on a 2-year plan), Surfshark ($2.49/month on a 2-year plan), and even ExpressVPN on longer commitments. You get fewer features and fewer servers for a higher price.

Brave VPN vs Dedicated VPNs

Here is how Brave VPN stacks up against the most popular VPN services in 2026:

Feature	Brave VPN	NordVPN	ProtonVPN Free	Surfshark
Monthly price	$9.99	$3.39 (2yr)	Free	$2.49 (2yr)
Servers	300+	7,000+	200+	3,200+
Countries	40+	118+	5	100+
Simultaneous devices	10	10	1	Unlimited
Streaming unblock	Limited	Excellent	No	Excellent
Split tunneling	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kill switch	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Protocol	WireGuard, IKEv2	NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2	WireGuard, OpenVPN	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Platforms	Win, Mac, iOS, Android	Win, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers	Win, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux	Win, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
Double VPN	No	Yes	Yes (Secure Core)	Yes (MultiHop)
No-log audit	No public audit	Yes (Deloitte)	Yes	Yes

The comparison makes the value gap clear. NordVPN offers significantly more features, servers, and platform support at roughly one-third the price on a long-term plan — grab a NordVPN coupon to lock in the best deal. ProtonVPN's free tier offers unlimited data with no cost at all, though with limitations on speed and server access. Surfshark is another strong alternative at under $2.50/month.

Free Alternatives Worth Considering

If you landed on this article looking for a free VPN solution, here are legitimate options that actually cost nothing.

ProtonVPN Free (Unlimited Data, No Ads)

ProtonVPN is the only reputable VPN with a free tier that offers unlimited data. The catch: you are limited to servers in 5 countries, speeds are capped, and you can only connect 1 device at a time. There is no streaming support on the free plan. But for basic privacy protection and encrypted browsing, it is the best free option available. No ads, no data selling, backed by Swiss privacy law.

Brave's Built-in Privacy Tools (Free, Not a VPN)

If your main goal is blocking trackers and ads rather than hiding your IP address, Brave's free features might be enough. Brave Shields blocks third-party ads and trackers by default, and the built-in Tor window gives you anonymous browsing when needed. This is not a VPN replacement, but it covers the privacy needs of many casual users.

Windscribe Free (10 GB/Month)

Windscribe offers a free tier with 10 GB of monthly data and access to servers in 10+ countries. That is enough for occasional use -- checking email on public Wi-Fi, for example -- but not enough for daily browsing. Windscribe also includes a built-in ad blocker called R.O.B.E.R.T.

Should You Pay for Brave VPN?

For most people, no. Brave VPN is a decent VPN with solid fundamentals (WireGuard, no-logs, full device protection), but the pricing does not match the feature set. At $9.99/month, you are paying a premium for browser integration that frankly does not justify the cost gap.

Here is who might benefit from Brave VPN:

• Brave loyalists who want everything inside one app and do not care about price.
• Non-technical users who find installing a separate VPN app confusing and prefer a one-click solution in their browser.

For everyone else, a dedicated VPN is the better investment. NordVPN gives you triple the server network, streaming access, advanced security features, and platform support for Linux and routers -- all at one-third the cost on a 2-year plan. If budget is the priority, Surfshark offers unlimited devices and strong performance at under $2.50/month.

If you primarily use a VPN on your phone, check our Best VPN for Mobile ranking. For maximum privacy, see our Best VPN for Privacy guide. And if you just want basic privacy without paying anything, ProtonVPN's free tier or Brave's own Shields feature will serve you well.

FAQ

Is there a free version of Brave VPN?

No. Brave VPN does not have a free tier. There is a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, but after that you must pay $9.99/month or $99.99/year to continue using it.

Is Brave browser itself free?

Yes. The Brave browser, including Brave Shields (ad/tracker blocking), the Tor private window, and HTTPS upgrades, is completely free. Only the VPN add-on requires a subscription.

Does Brave VPN work on desktop?

Yes. As of 2025, Brave VPN supports Windows and macOS in addition to iOS and Android. Linux support has been announced but not yet released.

Is Brave VPN good for streaming?

Not particularly. Brave VPN does not have dedicated streaming servers and is not optimized for unblocking geo-restricted content. If streaming is a priority, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are better choices.

How does Brave VPN compare to NordVPN?

NordVPN is significantly cheaper on long-term plans ($3.39/month vs $9.99/month), has 7,000+ servers vs Brave's 300+, supports more platforms including Linux, and offers advanced features like double VPN and streaming optimization. Brave VPN's only advantage is browser integration.

Can I use Brave VPN on multiple devices?

Yes. One Brave VPN subscription covers up to 10 devices, but each device must have the Brave browser installed.

Is Brave VPN safe?

Brave VPN is powered by Guardian, which maintains a no-log policy and uses WireGuard encryption. It is safe for general use. However, unlike NordVPN and ProtonVPN, Brave VPN has not undergone a publicly available independent security audit.