Brave VPN is a VPN service integrated directly into the Brave browser ecosystem, operated under US jurisdiction. Unlike standalone VPN products, Brave VPN is tied to the Brave browser and its subscription infrastructure, which shapes how installation works across different platforms. This guide covers what to expect when setting up Brave VPN on each major platform.
Windows
Brave VPN on Windows is accessed through the Brave browser itself. You will need to download and install the Brave browser from brave.com if you have not already done so. Once installed, the VPN option appears within the browser's menu. Subscribing to Brave Firewall + VPN through the browser interface is required before the VPN functionality becomes active. On Windows, the VPN operates at the system level, meaning it routes traffic from all applications on the device, not just the browser. A system-level network extension is installed as part of the activation process.
Mac
Setup on macOS follows a similar path to Windows. Install the Brave browser, navigate to the VPN section within the browser menu, and complete the subscription process. macOS will prompt you to allow a VPN configuration profile to be added to your system network settings. You will need to approve this in your Mac's System Settings under VPN profiles. Once approved, the VPN covers device-wide traffic rather than browser traffic alone.
iOS
On iPhone and iPad, Brave VPN is available through the Brave browser app, downloadable from the Apple App Store. After opening the app, the Firewall + VPN option is accessible from the browser's main menu. Purchasing the subscription on iOS is handled through Apple's in-app purchase system. iOS will request permission to add a VPN configuration to the device, which you must allow for the service to function. The iOS implementation also includes a firewall component that can block trackers and malicious connections across all apps on the device.
Android
Android users can download the Brave browser from the Google Play Store. The VPN feature is accessible within the browser application similarly to iOS. Subscription management on Android goes through Google Play billing. The VPN profile is added to the device's network settings upon activation, and unlike the iOS version, the firewall feature available on iOS is not offered on Android due to platform restrictions.
Linux
Brave VPN does not offer a dedicated standalone Linux client or direct Linux browser integration for the VPN feature at this time. Linux users who require a VPN would need to consider alternative providers. The Brave browser is available on Linux, but the VPN subscription feature is not accessible through the Linux version of the browser in the same way it is on other platforms.
Amazon Fire Stick
Brave VPN does not provide an app for Amazon Fire Stick or Fire TV devices. There is no Fire OS application available, and sideloading would not be a supported or straightforward path given the service's tight integration with the Brave browser. Users looking for VPN coverage on Fire Stick devices would need to look at providers with dedicated Fire TV applications.
Router
Brave VPN does not publish support for manual router configuration. The service does not provide WireGuard or OpenVPN credentials for use with third-party router firmware such as DD-WRT or OpenWrt. Because Brave VPN is delivered through its browser ecosystem rather than as a traditional VPN service with open protocol credentials, router-level setup is not a supported use case at this time.
Summary
Brave VPN's setup process is straightforward on the platforms it supports, particularly Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, where installation is handled through the Brave browser interface. However, its platform coverage is notably limited. Linux support is absent, and there is no path to configure the service on routers or streaming devices. Users who need VPN coverage across a wide range of devices or operating systems may find Brave VPN's ecosystem-dependent approach restrictive.