Protect your privacy with the top secure browsers that block trackers and keep your online activity safe from prying eyes.
Online privacy is an important issue for everyone, and the most serious personal privacy issues arise while browsing the internet.
Why? Because online marketers of all stripes want to monetize you by tracking your browsing history, cookies, IP address, and device-specific identifiers.
The best private browsers prevent these activities, making your online life a little more private. SpyIdea has been covering browsers since the start of the web, so we know how to help you pick the best one for privacy.
Below, we tested and reviewed your top secure browsers. The advantages of using a private and secure browser, the workings of online tracking, and other privacy protection options are covered in more detail below.
Why Should I Worry?
The majority of people don’t give much thought to the type of browser they use. It’s simple to assume that the default browser that comes with a laptop or smartphone, such as Microsoft Edge or Safari, is the best or only choice. That is untrue, though, as there are numerous alternative browsers available.
Since your browser is the primary interface you use to access the majority of the internet, it manages a significant volume of private information. Because that data is so valuable, you should also make sure that you are using top secure browsers.
So, what is the value of your data? Well, a lot to marketers and advertising agencies! Even before we consider hackers, browser companies can profit from selling your browsing information to outside parties.
Anyone who isn’t using a top secure browser is always vulnerable to fraudsters, and that type of exposure of personal information can be very harmful.
It’s crucial that your browser can protect your security and privacy.
Is Incognito Mode Browsing Safe?
Private browsers differ from and are superior to a standard browser’s so-called incognito or private browsing mode in certain aspects.
These modes merely erase browsing history from a session, preventing subsequent browser users from seeing the websites you have visited.
Although you can delete your browsing history, cookies, and passwords when you end the private session, the mode does not stop websites from tracking you. Mozilla provides a useful list of common misconceptions regarding private browsing mode.
Top Secure Browsers for Privacy in 2025: Best Private Browsers
1. Firefox
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Firefox is compatible with Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Firefox is a lightweight, quick, and easy browser to use. It is the only popular open-source browser, and the community has thoroughly reviewed and studied its code. So, you can be certain that there aren’t any shady widgets concealed within.
Firefox is also extremely safe. Like other significant market participants, it provides a private browsing mode with anti-fingerprinting, pop-up blocking, malware and phishing protection, and tracking features.
You can easily take advantage of its many customization options, but make sure to turn off the telemetry feature, which provides Mozilla with information about your performance and usage. To make using Firefox safer, there is also a remarkable selection of security-focused add-ons available.
Firefox has features like startup profiling, Telemetry, and Pocket that may worry privacy-conscious users. You can, however, turn them off by adjusting the settings.
2. Epic
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Epic is compatible with Windows and macOS.
The Epic browser is built on the idea that all privacy settings should be enabled by default. In addition to blocking cookies, advertisements, and data-tracking web analytics systems, it will immediately send “Do Not Track” requests and use DuckDuckGo for search. You can alter the browser’s settings to make it more convenient at the price of your security and privacy.
Epic takes this strategy seriously and delivers on its promise of “extreme privacy” by removing plug-ins, auto-syncing, spell-check, and auto-fill, among many other features that are either inaccessible or turned off by default.
Additionally, your browsing history, login credentials, databases, and other information are not stored. It does not save links for autosuggestion when you type in an address, nor does it cache your browsing history.
RTC calls, which could expose your IP address, are also blocked by the browser. It’s crucial to keep your IP address secure because it can reveal details about your device and location.
Additionally, Epic can prioritize SSL connections automatically and perform proxy searches through its servers. It also keeps track of how many cookies it has blocked and who attempted to send them, making the privacy benefits quantifiable.
Epic’s reliance on Chromium code and lack of public open-source status are its sole disadvantages. Since Google developed the Chromium source code, there is no assurance that it will always be independent.
3. Tor Browser
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: The Tor browser works with Windows, Linux, and macOS.
The most well-known privacy-focused browser is probably Tor. It has built-in hidden relay servers that prevent unwanted eavesdropping, pre-configured security features, and USB flash drive compatibility.
To avoid fingerprinting, among other things, Tor is a great option. One Tor browser will look exactly like another as long as you use the default settings, avoid installing any extra add-ons, and maintain the window size at its default size (not full-screen).
Additionally, Tor automatically deletes your browsing history and cookies and protects you from tracking.
Tor encrypts your online activity three times for three separate nodes, each of which is run by volunteers and is decentralized. The entire message cannot be accessed in any of them since each node only removes a specific layer of encryption.
It’s also challenging to shut down or intercept internet traffic because a single company doesn’t control the system. However, the connection speed is very slow because of this complex process. For security and privacy reasons, the vast majority of plug-ins are not supported.
Is the Tor browser the safest one? Tor, however, puts privacy before security. It blocks plug-ins by design and lacks anti-malware software. Additionally, you should exercise caution when adjusting its settings because you might jeopardize its privacy. Only experienced users should alter some of Tor’s settings.
4. Brave
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows are all compatible with Brave.
Brave is a powerful privacy browser built on the Chromium platform that was released not long ago. With a built-in ad-blocker, password manager, tracking protection, script blocker, and one-click anti-fingerprinting functionality, it’s lightweight but packed with features.
Your connection can be automatically upgraded to a more secure HTTPS by the Brave browser. Additionally, make sure you have a VPN and an HTTPS connection if you want even more privacy and security when using the internet.
Nowadays, Brave is compatible with most Chrome extensions. Although this greatly improves the browser’s functionality and convenience, users should still be cautious and use extensions that protect their privacy and security.
More wary users might not trust Brave’s Chromium base, despite the fact that it is open-source and ostensibly de-Googled. Brave’s advertising platform is controversial as well because it displays advertisements that benefit the browser rather than those hosted by the websites you visit.
Users can voluntarily donate money to the publishers they value most, though, because the system operates on an opt-in basis.
Update: Recently, it was discovered that Brave was making money by using their affiliate links to complete the URLs of specific cryptocurrency websites automatically. This was discovered by a Twitter user who attempted to visit binance.us, which Brave had filled with their affiliate link. Brave was able to earn commissions for each visit made through the link. Although there was no actual serious privacy violation, this calls into question the browser’s transparency. As a result, we have deducted one star from the rating.
5. Waterfox
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows are all compatible with Waterfox.
The most widely used alternative browser built on top of the open-source Firefox code is most likely Waterfox. It was created to fully utilize 64-bit Windows systems at a time when Mozilla only provided a 32-bit version.
Compared to Firefox, Waterfox prioritizes privacy more. It protects against tracking and eliminates many of Firefox’s privacy-degrading features, including startup profiling, data collection, telemetry, and Pocket. Additionally, it can remove all online data from your computer without the need for additional software.
Nevertheless, Waterfox may not be the most secure browser because it is not updated as often as Firefox. Additionally, Google SafeBrowsing is used to process its webpage data, though you have the option to disable it if you so choose.
6. Vivaldi
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Vivaldi works with Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Vivaldi, a Chromium-based browser, is widely regarded as an excellent privacy browser due to its incredibly customizable interface and abundance of privacy features.
Users can select their preferred search engine and a variety of other privacy and security options with Vivaldi. For instance, you can change the default search engines for both regular and private browsing modes, as well as the security settings for each respective search engine.
Also, by default, Vivaldi disables the Idle API, preventing websites from requesting authorization to use it. The contentious API may be misused for tracking behavior and may give keyloggers opportunities.
Vivaldi has an integrated ad-blocker to help websites load more quickly and a built-in translator in the side panel for fast translations in 108 languages, making it a peaceful browsing experience.
You can double-stack tabs on tablets and smartphones with Vivaldi for even greater organization. It’s quite cool.
Additionally, you can download a backup encryption key from Vivaldi to recover your browser data in the event that you forget your encryption password. You can use the ‘Sync Settings’ to do this.
7. FreeNet
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux (cross-platform) are all compatible with Freenet.
Ian Clarke, a computer scientist, created the peer-to-peer platform Freenet. Its decentralized network and encryption make it a good choice for communication that is resistant to censorship.
Additionally, it has free software to protect privacy. It operates similarly to the Tor browser, with its own Freenet network that contains content that can only be accessed by this browser.
You can use Freenet to share files anonymously as well. Multiple Freenet network nodes store data, which is divided into smaller units. To protect anonymity, the request passes through fewer intermediary nodes, which results in slower upload and download speeds.
Additionally, it supports Darknet and OpenNet connections. OpenNet functions similarly to the Darknet. The distinction lies in the fact that connections are formed between random users who have enabled the OpenNet function, as opposed to those who are acquainted.
Freenet is only available for Freesites hosted on its network. They are limited to holding static content due to their slower bandwidth.
Freenet is therefore more of a sophisticated anti-surveillance solution, which may be too complicated for the typical user.
8. Puffin
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Puffin works with iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS.
One well-known and reliable private browser is Puffin. It differs from certain other browsers in the way that it renders webpages.
In a traditional browser, the user submits a request (clicking to view a webpage, for instance) and a server provides the requested data in the form of a code file. The user is then presented with a page after the browser renders that code.
Puffin takes a slightly different approach. Since Puffin is a cloud-based browser, the webpages are rendered in Puffin’s cloud space rather than requiring your browser to fetch and render data directly from the website’s servers.
Puffin makes it simpler to defend yourself against malware by cutting off your connection to the internet.
9. Safari
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: iOS and macOS are both compatible with Safari.
Safari performs well when it comes to protecting your online safety. A password generator, anti-fingerprinting tools, machine learning-based security, and a private browsing mode that automatically uses DuckDuckGo are among the few small but helpful features that are included.
Additionally, it runs your tabs in different sandboxes, which helps guard against malicious code that could access your personal information or harm the entire browser.
Nevertheless, Safari’s parent company, Apple, has been found to be gathering browsing history even when users are using private browsing. This feature is not entirely dependable as a result.
Although Safari uses the open-source WebKit framework, this is only for rendering purposes. Because Safari’s remaining components are closed-source, you are unable to view their code or what might be hidden within.
The NSA’s PRISM program, which gathered communications from US internet companies, also involved Apple. This raises yet another concern about the privacy of their products.
10. Chromium
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android can all run Chromium.
Although Chromium has ties to Google, the tech giant has no say over how other people use Chromium’s open-source code, so it isn’t always impacted by the way the company collects data.
Additionally, Chromium is a less well-designed browser, and personalizing and optimizing it will require a significant amount of manual labor. It will also take more time for you to become familiar with its features, learn about the latest updates, and research its risks.
Chromium updates more frequently than any other platform; a new version is released every day. Although the updates must be manually installed, end users must exercise caution to maintain maximum security. This is excellent for fixing vulnerabilities as soon as they appear.
Additionally, a large number of malicious Chromium-based browsers can be found online. They could infect you with malware, steal your browsing information, and bombard you with intrusive pop-ups and redirects.
11. Chrome
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Chrome works on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Google Chrome offers a convenient, well-liked, and useful solution for safe web browsing. Additionally, the company is good in this area because it continuously updates its security features. Its privacy is lacking, though. It is well known that Google Chrome collects user data, tracks users, and violates their privacy.
Profiles of users for ad targeting are one of its main revenue streams. Such a company is not likely to produce a very private browser.
Furthermore, it isn’t open-source, so we can’t tell if or how Google might be tracking its users. Chromium, an open-source browser, is the foundation of Chrome.
In order to find out if Chrome is the most secure browser, you can explore its intricate privacy settings and select from a variety of browser extensions.
Additionally, not all extensions can be trusted, so you will need to invest a significant amount of time in researching them to ensure their security.
For added security and privacy, you might want to use a VPN browser extension with Chrome if you do choose to use it.
12. Opera
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐
- Device Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux are all compatible with Opera.
Opera, a Chromium-based operating system, provides several security features to improve the security of your online experience, including script blocking and protection against malware and fraud. Additionally, it provides updates every four or five weeks.
Even though Opera has a built-in VPN, we always advise against using free VPN services. You might experience a slower and less secure experience if you’re not using a premium option. Overall, though, Opera appears to be a sensible option for certain customers.
13. Microsoft Edge
- SpyIdea rating (out of 5): ⭐
- Device Compatibility: Windows, Windows Mobile, iOS, Android, and Xbox One are all compatible with Edge.
Edge has superseded Internet Explorer. It does little, though, to restore its former dominance on the internet. Edge is only updated twice a year, which is absurd given how quickly malware, scams, and methods for violating privacy and security are developing.
Edge truly falls behind since the majority of contemporary browsers only receive updates once or twice a month.
Although they are fairly basic, Edge still has some useful features. You can use Edge to send “Do Not Track” requests and block pop-ups.
Additionally, it operates within a sandbox, which reduces the possibility that malicious websites could impact users by containing processes inside the browser itself.
Its restricted support for extensions is inconvenient, but it also reduces the likelihood of installing malicious extensions. Microsoft recently released the much-anticipated tracking protection feature as well.
It does not, however, meet the criteria for being a great browser for privacy because it receives few updates and lacks sophisticated privacy and security features.
Furthermore, since both of Microsoft’s browsers are closed-source, it is impossible to predict what kinds of surveillance widgets might be present.
How Cookies and Fingerprinting Track You Online
At the moment, digital fingerprinting and cookies are the two main techniques used for online tracking. Websites can track your activities using either approach, but they function differently.
Cookies: How They Track You
Websites use cookies, which are tiny data files stored in your browser, to keep track of your previous login credentials and other site activities, like when you have items in your online shopping cart. They are necessary to improve the usability of the web.
Third-party cookies—those that are unrelated to the website you are viewing and are dropped into your browser by another party (usually Google, Facebook, or an advertising service)—raise privacy concerns. Then, other websites that have access to that information can see your internet history.
Digital Fingerprinting: How It Works
The process of using web page headers and JavaScript to create a profile of you according to your system configuration is called “digital fingerprinting.”
Your browser’s fingerprint may contain information about your operating system, installed fonts, time zone, language, plug-ins, screen resolution, and other settings. You may still be fingerprinted by websites even if you disable third-party cookies.
Google has announced that it intends to discontinue support for third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, but it keeps delaying the date; the most recent announcement moved it from 2023 to 2024.
Why Fingerprinting is More Concerning Than Cookies
In terms of privacy, cookies are not as problematic as fingerprinting. Even though you can remove cookies whenever you want, you can’t avoid your digital footprint unless you switch devices or use a browser that hides information. Brave is the only web browser that provides the ability to generate fingerprint information at random.
Tracking via URL Strings
Another issue is that when you copy a web address, some websites add a long string of characters. You are identified by those characters as well. A browser extension known as ClearURLs can aid in preventing this type of tracking.
What Is Global Privacy Control?
Global Privacy Control is a new privacy feature in browsers (GPC). Although most extensions have access to all of your browsing data, I dislike them. This feature is available through extensions and is built into browsers.
GPC is comparable to Mozilla’s well-meaning Do Not Track campaign from ten years ago, which was killed by Google’s discouraging Chrome implementation but eventually made it into the W3C web browser standard.
Contrarily, GPC is gaining legal support from measures like the California Consumer Protection Act, which may help it outperform Do Not Track. Brave, DuckDuckGO, and Firefox already support GPC, and it will likely be added to more as required by law.
How to Protect Your Privacy and Block Web Tracking
For your privacy, some browsers go above and beyond. Firefox is developing a behavioral blocking system that notifies you if a website attempts to carry out actions that appear to be fingerprinting, such as attempting to extract your hardware specifications using the HTML Canvas feature.
For instance, block lists are used by Edge and Safari to prevent known fingerprinters. That Firefox experiment eliminates fingerprinters’ identifying information.
Apple’s website claims that the Brave, Avast Secure, and Safari browsers already have features that mask information like “device and browser configuration, and styles and plug-ins you have installed.”
Internet browsers such as Firefox and Edge are also incorporating support for more secure DNS protocols. Web servers use that system of servers to translate text web addresses into their numerical equivalents, which your browser uses.
By default, your ISP’s DNS servers handle this translation, but top secure browsers now use DoH (DNS over HTTPS) to encrypt the connection while also preventing your ISP from forwarding your unfound browsing requests to search providers.
How Do You Know If Someone Is Able to Track You Online?
You can test your browser’s vulnerability to tracking and fingerprinting by visiting the Cover Your Tracks webpage, which is published by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
For testing, it makes use of an actual tracking company, the identity of which it withholds. It almost always means that your browser has a fingerprint, so be ready for that. Please take note that Chrome provides a unique fingerprint and, at most, partial protection.
Among other tools, AmIUnique and Device Info allow you to view your digital fingerprint. The latter includes a section that indicates whether fingerprinting is detected.
“Open-source tests of web browser privacy,” also known as PrivacyTests.org, is a great resource for browser privacy that goes beyond fingerprint tracking. Significant defects in the popular web browsers Chrome, Edge, and Safari are exposed by this test.
If you are forced to use Chrome or another browser without tracking protection, you can aid your privacy by using plug-ins. DuckDuckGo, Decentraleyes, PrivacyBadger, and uBlock Origin are a few notable options.
Note: Please be aware that Google is currently moving Chrome to Manifest V3, a platform that compromises the security of these extensions.
Which One Is the Most Secure for Browsing?
Brave and Tor are the two browsers on this list that provide the best tracking protection. For Brave, but not for any other browser, the EFF’s Cover Your Tracks test showed a randomized fingerprint and strong protection.
Furthermore, Tor is used in Brave’s private window mode, which encrypts your internet traffic by passing it through several proxies. Although AXplorer and Opera come with a handy built-in VPN that protects you from ISP snooping, the top VPN providers can see all of your traffic.
Tor avoids this problem, and a VPN doesn’t hide your browser fingerprint. However, Tor is not without flaws. Lastly, LibreWolf receives some of the highest ratings on PrivacyTests.org, which is worth mentioning.
Like everything else in life, there is no such thing as perfect privacy or security. However, using one of the browsers listed here can at least make it more difficult for organizations to monitor your online activities.
Conclusion
Use browsers that respect your data. Firefox, Epic, and Tor are your best options.
- Firefox has good privacy controls and many ways to adjust your preferences.
- Epic blocks trackers by default and requires no configuration.
- Tor represents the benchmark for maintaining anonymity, facilitating the rerouting of internet traffic through various layers to obscure one’s identity.
Avoid Chrome and Edge—both collect an inordinate amount of data and don’t care about your privacy.
For added security, always use a VPN and add privacy extensions (such as uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger).
FAQs about Top Secure Browsers in 2025
Does the use of Incognito Mode sufficiently ensure online privacy?
Nope. It just hides your browsing from other users on your device. Websites, ISPs, and advertisers can still track you. For true privacy, use a secure browser such as Tor or Epic.
Between speed and privacy, is it better to have Brave or Tor?
Brave is faster, and ads and trackers are blocked by default.
Tor is slower but provides the highest level of privacy due to its encrypted network.
Can I use Chrome extensions such as uBlock for privacy?
Technically, yes—but Chrome is restricting ad blockers with a new update (Manifest V3). If you care about privacy, you’re better served with Firefox or LibreWolf, both of which offer strong extensions without restriction.
