How do browser fingerprinting tests compare Brave, Firefox, and Tor in 2026 (detailed results from PrivacyTests.org)?
Executive summary
Brave leads PrivacyTests.org's 2025/2026 desktop rankings, scoring 143 of ~156 privacy checks, ahead of Mullvad , LibreWolf and Tor on the test-suite results reported by reviewers and PrivacyTests.org itself [1] [2] [3]. Firefox performs better than mainstream Chromium-based browsers but trails the hardened and privacy-first builds; PrivacyTests.org and other reviewers note Firefox needs configuration to approach Brave/Mullvad/LibreWolf levels [1] [4].
1. Why PrivacyTests.org rankings matter — what the tests cover and their limit
PrivacyTests.org runs an automated battery of open-source checks that probe trackers, partitioning, fingerprinting surfaces and other privacy features across browsers; reviewers cite the site as a leading independent measure of browser privacy and list a roughly 156-item test surface used for comparisons [3] [1]. That breadth gives a granular, comparative view — but it’s an automated lab snapshot: different browser versions, OSes, hardware and extensions change fingerprints in the real world, and the site’s published results reflect specific builds and test criteria rather than comprehensive anonymity guarantees [2] [3].
2. Brave — top scorer for everyday privacy and fingerprinting resistance
Brave scored highest on the PrivacyTests.org list with 143 passes and also impressed independent reviewers and the EFF’s Cover Your Tracks tool by often producing a “randomized fingerprint” and strong anti-tracking results, making it the practical leader for everyday browsing privacy [1] [5]. The project has actively closed gaps such as state partitioning and added defenses like fingerprint randomization and a Private Window with Tor option, which reviewers credit for balancing usability and protection [2] [6] [4]. That combination explains why multiple outlets recommend Brave as the best day-to-day privacy browser in 2026 [7] [5].
3. Tor Browser — the gold standard for anonymity, but lower on PrivacyTests.org
Tor remains the strongest choice for network-level anonymity because it routes traffic through three relays, hiding IP addresses and offering a deliberately uniform fingerprinting surface — reported as producing under 10 bits of identifying data in at least one review — yet Tor scored 132 on PrivacyTests.org, behind Brave, Mullvad and LibreWolf [8] [1]. The gap reflects Tor’s trade-offs: exceptional network anonymity and deliberately constrained features to keep users homogenous, but practical frictions — speed, site breakage, and differences between the Tor threat model and everyday browser protections measured by PrivacyTests.org — that influence numeric test outcomes [8] [1].
4. Firefox — capable with configuration but not top-ranked in the suite
Firefox’s built-in protections such as Enhanced Tracking Protection and Resist Fingerprinting reduce exposed characteristics and have adopted techniques inspired by Tor (like Total Cookie Protection), but out-of-the-box Firefox passes fewer PrivacyTests.org checks than Brave, Mullvad and LibreWolf; reviewers emphasize that proper configuration is necessary to narrow that gap [1] [4] [2]. The browser’s choices reflect Mozilla’s balancing of compatibility and privacy — stronger settings can break sites, and that tension is explicitly documented by Mozilla and observed in test reports [1].
5. Interpreting the gaps: different philosophies, marketing and practical trade-offs
The raw PrivacyTests.org scores reflect divergent design philosophies: Brave and Mullvad/LibreWolf prioritize aggressive fingerprint defenses and partitioning; Tor sacrifices convenience for uniformity and anonymity; Firefox balances compatibility and privacy policy trade-offs [2] [1] [8]. Readers should also note potential agendas — vendor messaging (Brave’s usability/privacy positioning), advocacy sites’ preference for Tor’s threat model, and reviewers’ emphasis on practical use — all shape how results are framed [7] [8] [5]. PrivacyTests.org provides apples-to-apples technical checks, but ultimate choice depends on threat model: daily anti-tracking and fingerprint randomization (Brave/Mullvad/LibreWolf) versus latency-tolerant, high-anonymity needs (Tor) or a configurable mainstream option (Firefox) [1] [8] [4].
6. Bottom line and unresolved questions
PrivacyTests.org’s detailed suite places Brave at the top for combined test coverage in late 2025/early 2026, with Tor scoring lower on that specific automated list despite its superior network anonymity and Firefox trailing unless hardened through configuration [1] [2] [8]. The tests are valuable for comparative signals, but they are not a substitute for real-world threat modeling: variations in OS, extensions, VPNs, and site behavior — and the evolving fingerprinting arms race — mean users must match browser choice to the specific privacy threat they face [3] [1].