Official Brave F-Droid repository now available

Brave for Android is now available as an F-Droid repository. This new officially-supported repository allows users of the F-Droid client to install the browser and receive automatic updates without requiring the Google Play app to be installed.

As we are a user-first privacy-focused browser, we understand that many users are seeking an alternative to the Big Tech app stores with all of the tracking and restrictions that come with them. We are excited to make our app available on a decentralized and account-free platform. These builds are identical to the ones available via Google Play.

If you are using an Android device without the Google Play Store, or if you just want to try an alternative way to download the browser you love, give it a try and let us know what you think.

Is the F-Droid version of Brave any different from the one on Google Play?

No. Both are built on Brave’s infrastructure from the same source code.

Why is Brave using a third-party repository instead of listing in the main F-Droid repository?

Just like with our official Linux packages, we maintain our own repository as a way for users to integrate Brave onto their operating systems while ensuring that updates are delivered promptly to users and that only fully-supported versions of Brave are available through these repositories.

Repositories like F-Droid, Debian, and Ubuntu that have their own inclusion policies and/or release cadence are free to distribute the Brave Browser under our Open Source license, but we do not at this time have the resources available to support them directly.

Can I still find the Brave Android app on the Google Play Store?

Yes, the Brave Android app is available on Google Play Store in addition to Brave’s F-Droid version.

Can anyone download the Brave app from the F-droid repository, or is any technical expertise required?

Installing Brave for Android through our F-Droid repository requires a few more steps, but anyone can follow our official instructions.

Can I use premium features such as Brave VPN + Firewall, Brave Leo or Brave Rewards without a Google account?

No. At the moment, these features require a Google account on Android.