Brave Search

Brave Search is a privacy-focused search engine from the Brave browser makers. It runs on its own independent web index instead of renting results from Google or Bing. It does not track you, profile you, or log your searches. Results include web, images, news, and video, plus AI-generated answers for many queries. Brave Search is free to use with no account needed. You can use it in any browser, not just Brave. An optional Premium plan removes ads for a small monthly fee.

Key Features

1. Independent Index

Brave built its own crawler and index from scratch. Its results do not depend on Google or Microsoft data.

2. No Profiling

Brave Search does not track, profile, or store your searches. Everyone sees the same unbiased results for a query.

3. AI Answers

Many searches show an AI-written summary at the top. It pulls key points together so you grasp the answer fast.

4. Goggles

Goggles let you apply custom ranking rules to results. You can boost trusted sites or filter out spammy ones.

5. Image, News, and Video Search

Beyond web pages, Brave Search covers images, news, and videos. Each has its own tab on the results page.

6. Works in Any Browser

Brave Search is a website, not just a browser feature. Set it as default in Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Chrome.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Brave Search used for?

Brave Search is used for private web searching without tracking. It suits anyone who wants Google-quality results with stronger privacy.

How is Brave Search different from DuckDuckGo?

Brave Search uses its own index, while DuckDuckGo mainly serves Bing results with a privacy layer. Brave's independence means its rankings are its own.

What is Brave Search Premium?

Premium is an optional paid upgrade that removes ads from results. The standard search stays free, supported by private, non-tracking ads.

Does Brave Search have AI answers?

Yes. Many queries show an AI-generated summary above the results. You can read the summary or scroll past it to the classic links.

Do I need the Brave browser to use it?

No. Brave Search works at search.brave.com in any modern browser. It is also the default engine inside the Brave browser.

Conclusion

Brave Search is a solid choice for private searching without giving up result quality. Its independent index sets it apart from engines that resell Bing or Google results. It is free with no account, works in any browser, and an optional Premium plan removes ads. Try it as your default for a week and see how it feels.