The Best Browsers for Privacy in 2025 (on an AI-Obsessed Web)

In the past 35 years, web browsers have seen a lot.

Every search, every login, every late-night rabbit hole you fall into goes through them. They know who you are and what you do, even in incognito mode.

And in 2026, they'll see even more.

AI assistants are now baked into many major browsers, just waiting to read pages, summarise content, and interact with what you type. Microsoft Edge has Copilot Mode. Chrome has Gemini. Opera has Opera AI. Firefox offers AI Window.

Used wisely, AI features can be helpful. But they also raise fresh privacy questions. What's sent to cloud servers? What gets logged? Who sees it?

The browser you choose (and how you set it up) matters more than ever.

What makes a browser private in 2025?

How can you make sure that your information and activity isn't being monitored all the time?

Built-in blockers

Some browsers, such as Brave, Mullvad Browser, and Vivaldi will block many ads and trackers without any add-ons or configuration changes, making your browsing habits stay more private.

Limited or optional telemetry

All browsers will keep track of usage to see how people are using their software. Firefox and Brave collect minimal usage data by default, and you can reduce it further in your settings. Mullvad Browser disables most telemetry as standard.

Fingerprinting protection

Modern tracking uses more than just cookies. Screen size, type of device, fonts used, and even typing speed can form a "digital fingerprint" for your usage. Tor Browser, Mullvad Browser, Brave all offer protection, and Firefox can be adjusted to also provide this.

Clear AI settings and transparency

If a browser includes AI tools, the company should provide guidance on what is being collected and where it goes. Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera have published documentation on how to adjust the settings for their AI assistants.

Privacy-First Browsers in 2025

Mullvad Browser — built for strong and consistent privacy

Mullvad Browser was developed by the Tor Project and Mullvad VPN, giving you the security of the Tor Browser without having to use the TOR network.

It's designed to make all users look identical and not to be customised, giving you plenty of anonymity no matter what you choose to browse. History and cookies are cleared automatically when you close the browser, and uBlock Origin and NoScript are pre-installed, immediately blocking trackers, ads, and JavaScript.

This might give you problems with some websites, especially those that require logins, so keep a spare browser on your system just in case.

Firefox — sturdy and reliable non-Chromium browser

Still the most popular non-Chromium browser out there, Firefox has had a few rough weeks recently due to their AI assistant, but due to the pushback, all the AI features will now be opt-in.

You can harden it even further with plenty of extensions available, including ad blockers, tracker removers, and more. There are also settings you can adjust in Firefox itself, such as enhanced tracking protection and the AI assistant features.

A customised Firefox will work nicely with all websites, making it an excellent additional browser when needed.

Brave — Chromium base for convenient and private browsing

Chromium is the open-source base for Chrome browsers, and if there are features you need from Chrome, but don't want all of Google's tracking, Brave is the browser for you. The built-in shields will protect you from all the common annoyances.

You do have to keep an eye on it, as, in the past, versions have been released that focus on cryptocurrency or replace links with affiliate versions, but with a bit of attention, Brave gives you an out-of-the-box private browser that just works.

Safari — built-in privacy for Apple users

Safari, Apple's built-in browser, is ideal for anyone looking for a low-maintenance choice on their Apple products. There's Intelligent Tracking Prevention, giving you on-device machine learning to hide your IP address from known trackers, as well as ad blockers and private browsing available.

It's not the most common browser, and it doesn't give you as much customisation as others, but for a default browser, it's a solid choice.

Tor, Vivaldi, and even more browsers

We can't go through every single browser out there, which makes PrivacyTests.org so helpful. This site looks at the browsers out there, and what they do to protect your privacy, from cookies to ads to queries.

Can't switch your browser? You can still tighten up your privacy

Are you using a specific browser due to particular software, IT policies, or just don't want to switch? Here are a few things you can do to make your browsing a little more private.

Turn off ad personalisation and telemetry

Go through your settings and adjust your privacy settings. You can disable third-party cookies, adjust what's customised for you, and delete your history and cache when you quit the browser.

Disable any AI features you aren't using

If you're not using the AI features in your browser, turn them off. Not only will it help your privacy, it'll also help cut down on the processing power your browser uses.

Use an ad blocker if you can

If you can install an ad-blocker extension, it's always a good choice for added privacy, as well as making the web a little bit easier to read.

Never just "Accept all" when facing a Cookies prompt

Of course, setting up all the automatic blockers means nothing when you just blindly click "Accept all" whenever a window pops up. If you trust the site, you can accept the cookies, but if you are ever in any doubt, feel free to go through it and see what exactly you're opting in to.

By combining a privacy-focused browser and your own diligence, you can make sure that the only things people see about you on the web are what you want them to.