Skip to content
StepStep
DownloadFeaturesCompareBlogRoadmap

STEP VS BRAVE

Step vs Brave Browser

Both built on Chromium. Both care about privacy. But the bets are different: Brave reinvented the ad model. Step reinvented the memory model.

Brave is the privacy-first Chromium fork. Built-in ad and tracker blocking, optional crypto rewards, Tor mode. It's a strong product if your primary problem is ads and tracking. Step shares the privacy commitment but tackles a different problem: what happens to your work when you close the browser. We're not a Brave alternative for ad blocking, install uBlock Origin and you're set. We're a different bet on what the browser should remember.

Side by side

Engine

StepChromium
BraveChromium

Ad blocking

StepVia uBlock Origin (extension)
BraveBuilt-in

Tracker blocking

StepVia extension
BraveBuilt-in

Tor mode

StepNot a feature
BraveBuilt-in private window with Tor

Crypto rewards

StepNone
BraveOptional BAT rewards

Persistent Spaces

StepYes, with full state restore
BraveTab groups, no Space concept

Tab persistence

StepTabs, groups, splits, scroll, annotations restored
BraveTabs restored, scroll lost

Annotations

StepNative Marginalia layer
BraveNot built-in

Navigation graph

StepStep Trail records exploration
BraveLinear history

Cross-page search

StepGraph Find across the entire Space
BraveCmd+F on current page

Telemetry

StepZero browsing telemetry
BraveAnonymous usage telemetry, opt-out available

Cloud sync

StepLocal-first, no cross-device sync
BraveSync via Brave account

Platform

StepmacOS
BravemacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

Where Brave wins

  • Brave's ad and tracker blocking are built into the browser. Step requires an extension.
  • Brave runs on every platform including mobile. Step doesn't.
  • Brave has Tor mode for anonymous browsing.
  • Brave's BAT rewards system pays you for opted-in privacy-preserving ads.

Where Step wins

  • Step preserves your browsing context across sessions. Brave doesn't change the persistence model from Chromium upstream.
  • Step's sidebar and Spaces are designed for serious knowledge work.
  • Native annotations and full-text history search are core features in Step, not extensions.
  • Step is local-first by default with zero browsing telemetry. No account, no sync.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Step if

  • You want a browser organized around how you think, not just one that blocks ads.
  • You research seriously and need persistent Spaces.
  • You're on macOS and want a premium native experience.
  • You're happy installing uBlock Origin yourself.

Pick Brave if

  • Built-in ad and tracker blocking matters more to you than persistence.
  • You want crypto rewards.
  • You need cross-platform availability including mobile.
  • Tor mode is part of your threat model.

Frequently asked

Can I use uBlock Origin in Step?
Yes. Install it from the Chrome Web Store inside Step. It works exactly like in Chrome or Brave.
Does Step have a built-in ad blocker?
Not yet. Native ad blocking is on the roadmap, but our short-term focus is shipping the persistence and context features that make Step distinctive.
Does Step support cryptocurrency or BAT?
No. Step doesn't include any crypto or rewards system. We're focused on the browsing experience itself.

More comparisons

Step vs Arc Browser

Arc rebuilt the window manager around your tabs. Step rebuilt the memory layer around your work. Here is how the two compare.

Step vs Dia Browser

Dia bet on AI in the URL bar. Step bet on memory in the browser. Two completely different answers to the same question: what should the next browser do?

Step vs Zen Browser

Zen is the most beautiful Firefox fork ever shipped. Step is a Chromium fork built around persistence. Different engines, different bets.

Step vs the other browsers.