Brave Origin has started appearing in the Nightly and Beta builds of the browser. This new variant strips out several features completely. It removes Rewards, Wallet, the VPN, and Leo AI. On Linux it comes free of charge. Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS users will have to pay a one-time fee of $59.99.
The current versions showing up are 1.91.33 in Nightly and 1.90.102 in Beta. Both run on Chromium 147. These builds mark the first real progress on Origin beyond the initial announcement. Keep in mind they are still pre-release versions, so a full stable launch remains some time away.
When you install it, a welcome screen greets you with: “Thanks for installing Brave Origin, a version of the browser for users who don’t need all the features that support Brave as a business, but still want the privacy that only Brave offers.”
That line got called out in Reddit’s r/browsers thread as a bit passive-aggressive. Brave co-founder Brian Bondy responded directly in the comments, saying he’d asked the team to tweak the wording before stable release.
I’ve asked we tweak this wording before we release it so that it doesn’t sound as passive aggressive but still conveys the message. I think the wording missed the mark.
From the project documents on GitHub, Origin comes in two different forms. One is a fully separate build where the business-oriented features are never even compiled into the program. They simply do not exist in that version.
The other serves as an upgrade option for current Brave users. It relies on admin and group policies to disable those features. The big practical difference is that the separate build skips updates for anything that got removed. The policy approach still gives users some flexibility to choose which pieces they want to keep active.
The decision to make Origin free on Linux makes a lot of sense. As Brian Bondy explained, the open-source nature of Linux means package maintainers could build it themselves regardless. Charging for it there would be difficult to enforce. Plus, offering it at no cost lets Brave tap into a group of technically skilled users who can help spot bugs early on. That strategy benefits everyone in the long run.
The $59.99 one-time price on other platforms has sparked mixed reactions. Some people view it as a reasonable exchange for a browser that avoids monetizing your data and attention. Others argue it feels like a tough sell when plenty of capable free browsers are already available.
This idea is not entirely new territory for Brave. Earlier in January, CEO Brendan Eich had to step in after some Reddit discussions created confusion about what Origin would mean for regular users. He made it clear that the standard Brave browser would stay exactly the same and nothing was being locked behind a paywall.
Right now, anyone curious can try Origin through the Nightly channel. According to Brave’s release schedule, the stable version should arrive as part of the 1.91 series.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1463 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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