I've been happy with Brave for a while. It's fast, blocks ads and trackers, and gives me a cleaner browsing experience. But I've always wished it did a few things differently.

Recently, I started using another privacy-focused browser that keeps the things I like about Brave while adding a few thoughtful touches that make browsing feel simpler and less cluttered.

After using it for a while, I started wondering if I'd finally found a browser that's perfect for me.

Brave does most things right, but I wanted more

Why I started looking beyond Brave

Brave is still one of the easiest browsers to recommend if you want a cleaner, more private web experience.

Its built-in Shields block ads, trackers, fingerprinting, and cross-site cookies without requiring a pile of extensions, and it gives me control over how aggressive those protections are.

But after using Brave for a while, I wanted a browser that was a little more stripped back. I didn't need another browser trying to turn itself into an entire ecosystem with search, rewards, AI, VPNs, and other extras.

I wanted something focused on browsing well, blocking the stuff I don't want, and giving me control over what happens to my data.

That's what caught my attention about Helium. It's also Chromium-based, supports Chrome extensions, and is open source, but its approach is minimal.

For me, that combination was worth trying. I knew I liked what Brave did. I wanted to see if I could get the same basic experience without as much around it.

I could make the browser fit my workflow

I wasn't stuck with one layout

Helium gives me more control over the way the browser looks and behaves. It provides four layouts: a classic option, a compact version, a vertical tab layout, and a dynamic layout that adapts based on the number of open tabs.

I can also customize the toolbar, use split view, group tabs, and switch to Frameless mode when I want almost nothing between me and the page.

If I'm working with lots of tabs, vertical tabs make more sense to me. If I'm reading something, I can strip the interface back. It means I can change the interface depending on what I'm doing rather than being stuck with one layout.

Helium takes a lot of the junk out of browsing

I didn't realize how much clutter I was ignoring

One of the first things I noticed with Helium was how much less I had to deal with while browsing. It blocks ads, trackers, cookie banners, and third-party cookies by default, along with protections against fingerprinting.

Helium includes uBlock Origin as a built-in feature, so I don't have to install an ad blocker separately. uBlock Origin is specifically designed to block ads, trackers, pop-ups, and other unwanted content.

I don't have to install a bunch of extensions or spend time tweaking settings before a website feels usable. Its ad blocker has no paid allowlist, so advertisers can't pay to have their ads get through.

That means I can open a page and get to what I came for without first closing a cookie prompt, dismissing an ad, or scrolling past a pile of distractions.

I wanted a browser without all the extras

I didn't want it to become another platform

Unlike Brave, which has grown into a full-featured privacy ecosystem, Helium keeps the focus on the browser.

It doesn't come with its own search engine, AI assistant, crypto wallet, rewards program, VPN, or video-calling service.

It emphasizes the browser's features, including built-in ad and tracker blocking, support for Chromium extensions, and a simplified interface.

That appealed to me because I don't use most of the extra features Brave built into the browser. Brave has its own Search, Leo AI assistant, Wallet, Rewards, VPN, and Talk, alongside its excellent Shields protection.

I can see why some users would want all of that in one place. However, I already have a search engine, password manager, and other tools I like, so I don't need all those bundled together.

There are a few things you should know before switching

It isn't perfect yet

Helium is still a relatively young desktop browser, and I noticed a few things before making it my everyday choice.

The biggest one is sync. Helium doesn't support syncing browser data between devices, so bookmarks, tabs, history, and other browser data aren't automatically kept in sync.

There's also no mobile version. Helium is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, so if you regularly switch between your computer and phone, you won't get the same seamless experience across devices.

The other big limitation is DRM. Helium doesn't support Widevine, which means some streaming services and other DRM-protected content may not work. This is because of Google's licensing restrictions around Widevine.

There's no built-in password manager either, although that's a deliberate choice by the developers. They recommend using a dedicated password manager and its extension instead.

None of these are deal-breakers for me, but they're worth knowing before you replace Brave. Helium gets a lot right, but if you rely heavily on browser sync, mobile browsing, or DRM-protected streaming, Brave is probably the better choice.

I'm choosing Helium over Brave

Helium gives me the privacy protections I wanted, gets rid of a lot of the clutter I don't want to see, and lets me customize the interface without trying to turn the browser into a whole collection of services.

Despite Helium still being in beta, my experience has been surprisingly uneventful. I haven't run into crashes or any major bugs that have made me regret using it.

Brave is still an excellent browser, and I understand why someone would prefer its more mature feature set, cross-device sync, and mobile apps. But I don't use most of the extras Brave offers, and I don't really miss them when I'm using Helium.