How To Install Brave Browser On Ubuntu And Other Debian Based Systems (Via Repo And FlatPak)

As you may know, Brave Browser is a free, modern, cross-platform internet browser based on Chromium. It is very popular due to the fact that it’s fast and blocks unwanted ads and trackers by default. It supports Chrome extensions and this makes it very powerful.

For more information about the Brave products, check out the official blog.

The main features of Brave Browser:

• block unwanted ads and trackers automatically
• it allows users to earn cryptocurrency through the rewards program
• it focuses on user data protection
• has a built-in VPN option

How to Install Brave Browser Stable on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian 12 and other DEB-based systems via Repository:

Update Package List and Install Curl

First, ensure your system is up to date and that curl is installed, as it is required to download Brave’s GPG key.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y curl

Add the Brave GPG Key

To verify the authenticity of Brave packages, you need to download and add the repository’s signing key:

sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg \
https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg

This command saves the key in /usr/share/keyrings/, the recommended location for APT repository keys.

Add the Brave Repository

Next, add the official Brave repository to your APT sources list:

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] \
https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

This command creates the brave-browser-release.list file in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/, enabling your system to install Brave packages.

Update the Package List

After adding the new repository, update the APT index to recognize the newly available Brave packages:

sudo apt update

Install Brave Browser

Now, install Brave Browser with the following command:

sudo apt install -y brave-browser

Optional, how to Uninstall Brave Browser

If you want to remove Brave from your system, follow these steps:

Uninstall Brave Browser

To remove Brave and its associated keyring package, run:

sudo apt remove -y brave-browser brave-keyring

Remove Unused Packages

After removing Brave, it is a good practice to clean up any unnecessary dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove -y

Delete the Brave Repository

To fully remove Brave from your APT sources, delete the repository file:

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

Update the Package List Again

Ensure that your system no longer checks for Brave updates by running:

sudo apt update

How to Install Brave Browser on Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 and Derivative Systems via Flatpak

Flatpak is a universal package management system that allows applications to run in an isolated environment. This ensures better security and compatibility across different Linux distributions.

Flatpak applications are distributed through Flathub, a repository that hosts numerous software packages, including Brave Browser.

To install Brave Browser via Flatpak, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Flatpak and Enable Flathub

If Flatpak is not already installed on your system, install it using the following commands:

sudo apt update  
sudo apt install flatpak  
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo  

Step 2: Install Brave Browser using Flatpak

After installing Flatpak, install Brave Browser from Flathub by running:

flatpak install flathub com.brave.Browser  

Step 3: Launch Brave Browser via Flatpak

Once installed, you can launch Brave Browser using:

flatpak run com.brave.Browser  

Alternatively, you can find it in the Applications Menu.

(Optional) Remove Brave Browser

If you installed Brave Browser via Flatpak and wish to remove it, run:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.brave.Browser  

These instructions allow you to install, run, and remove Brave Browser using Flatpak on Ubuntu and its derivative distributions.

Exploring Various Web Browsers Available For Ubuntu And Derivative Systems

There is a wide range of web browsers available, each offering unique features and user experiences. Here’s an overview of some notable alternatives:

• Mozilla Firefox: An open-source browser known for its commitment to user privacy and extensibility through a wide range of add-ons. Firefox receives regular updates and is praised for its robust performance.
• Waterfox: A variant of Firefox, Waterfox focuses on providing a fast browsing experience while maintaining support for legacy Firefox extensions. It is a popular choice for users looking for a balance between performance and compatibility.
• Midori: A lightweight browser known for its speed and simple interface. Midori is ideal for systems with limited resources and for users who prefer a minimalist browsing experience.
• Vivaldi: Offers a high level of customization, allowing users to modify almost every aspect of the interface and functionality. Vivaldi includes built-in features such as an email client, a notes manager, and support for custom keyboard shortcuts.
• Microsoft Edge: Developed by Microsoft, Edge has evolved significantly, offering seamless integration with Microsoft services and features such as Collections, Immersive Reader, and improved performance.
• Brave Browser: Stands out for its focus on privacy, automatically blocking ads and trackers. Brave also offers a cryptocurrency-based rewards system for users who choose to view ads.
• Opera: A feature-rich browser known for its built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and sidebar integrations for messaging apps. Opera also includes a unique battery saver mode and a customizable start page for enhanced user experience.
• Chromium: The open-source project behind Google Chrome, Chromium provides a fast and secure browsing experience without proprietary Google components. Many browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi, are based on Chromium.