Brave Origin launches as a $60 stripped-down web browser with no AI, rewards, or VPN

Brave has launched Brave Origin, presenting a stripped-down version of its flagship web browser for users seeking a minimal and privacy-centered experience. This newly released product removes advanced and business-supporting features found in the main browser, such as the Brave Leo AI assistant, Brave News, playlists, rewards, speed reader, usage metrics, crash logs, Brave Talk, Tor, Brave VPN, Brave Wallet, the Wayback Machine, and the Web Discovery Project.

Despite this stripped-down approach, Brave Origin retains privacy essentials including the ad blocker, Brave Shields, and will continue to receive regular software updates, Chromium security patches, and privacy improvements. Brave positions this edition as an option for those wishing to avoid revenue-generating functionalities and unnecessary extras.

While users can opt for Brave Origin as either a separate app download or as an upgrade to their current Brave browser installation, both access routes require a $60 one-time purchase that unlocks both modes. An exception is made for Linux users, who receive Brave Origin entirely free of charge. It is worth noting that, apart from updates to Brave Shields, future feature add-ons introduced to the mainline browser will not be made available on Brave Origin, to keep its minimalistic approach.