What it does
Brave Search offers an independent web index, search filters and AI-assisted answers. Its privacy notice describes de-identified query retention, optional usage metrics and controls for local results.
Brave Search works in browsers beyond Brave and uses its own index. Goggles can change ranking, while usage metrics and anonymous local results have their own controls.
The privacy notice says ordinary query text is retained in de-identified form with contextual data, without linking it to an individual, device or IP address. Ask Brave is a separate workflow: conversations use a device-stored encryption key and are removed after 24 hours of inactivity; sharing can keep one available for up to seven days. Choose between those workflows with their different retention in mind.
Strengths
- The search service uses an independent web index.
- Local-result and usage-metric controls are documented.
- Goggles allow alternative result-ranking rules.
Watch out for
- The privacy notice describes retention of de-identified query text.
- AI conversations have a separate processing and retention workflow.
Best for
- People who want an independent search index and visible privacy settings
Sources
- What is Brave Search? | Brave (Oct 26, 2026)
- Brave Search privacy notice | Brave Search (Oct 26, 2026)