Brave unveils Search Ads in key markets

Brave has announced the official launch of its Search Ads in key markets, following an 18-month pilot phase that garnered positive feedback from initial partners. The privacy-focused ad platform is now available to major brands including Amazon Ads Sponsored Products, Dell, Fubo, Insurify, Shutterstock, and Thumbtack.

By April 2024, a third of the top search advertisers in the U.S. by media spend have either begun testing or fully transitioned to Brave Search Ads campaigns, the company said. 89% of customers who started using Brave Search Ads since the beginning of the year have continued their campaigns into subsequent months.

Brave Search, accessible globally at search.brave.com and the default search engine in the Brave browser, has seen rapid growth, now boasting over 65 million monthly active users and handling over 10 billion annual queries. Brave Search Ads present a valuable opportunity to reach highly qualified audiences that are typically difficult to engage through traditional channels.

Jean-Paul Schmetz, Head of Search Ads at Brave, expressed gratitude towards the partners who contributed to the development of Brave Search Ads. He emphasized that the platform’s design, driven by user privacy and effective advertising, has the potential to challenge Google’s dominance in the search advertising market. Schmetz encourages global advertisers to explore Brave Search Ads, offering an initial free trial to demonstrate the platform’s benefits before committing to paid campaigns.

Brave Search has gained traction among users disillusioned with the quality of search results from Google and Bing, and those concerned about data privacy. By prioritizing user experience and maintaining an independent search index—the only one apart from Google and Bing in the Western Hemisphere—Brave offers a fresh, user-first perspective. The platform features several tools, such as Code LLM for code-related queries, Goggles for custom result filters, and an AI-powered answer engine that delivers detailed, cited responses.

Brands in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany can now access Brave Search Ads on a managed service basis. Prospective advertisers must meet a minimum threshold of eligible ad impressions in their target regions. Typically, these brands have strong paid search (SEM/PPC) operations and view Brave Search Ads as a crucial part of their performance marketing strategy.

Brave offers up to 14 days of complimentary advertising on Brave Search for eligible brands, allowing them to assess the Return On Ad Spend (ROAS) before starting paid campaigns. Ads are sold on a cost-per-click basis, with rates negotiated prior to campaign launches. Brands can verify their eligibility and learn more about Brave Search Ads at https://ads.brave.com/register/search or by contacting adsales@brave.com.