Brave Browser for iOS Updates App to Remove Reward Features That Violated App Store Rules

The developers behind the Brave browser today announced some changes for the iOS version of Brave, which are being implemented to comply with Apple's App Store rules.

brave browser rewards
A new version of the Brave browser being released today for the iPhone and the iPad removes features that allowed people to earn rewards for browsing and to tip creators. Brave has a system that allows those using the browser to earn money for viewing ads, which can then be given to preferred content creators.

Brave Rewards is built on the Basic Attention Token (BAT) and is a new way to value attention, connecting users, content creators, and advertisers. Users are rewarded in BAT with 70% of the ad revenue share of the privacy-preserving ads they opt into viewing, and they can support content creators they love by rewarding them with BAT. There are currently over 985,000 Brave verified content creators.

With the release of iOS 14, Apple told Brave that the Brave Rewards system was not compliant with ‌App Store‌ guidelines 3.1.1 and 3.2.2. The 3.1.1 rule prevents apps from giving a tip to a person unless what's provided is purchased through in-app purchases, while the 3.2.2 rule prevents "tasks for cash." Brave's developers say that this guideline is aimed at preventing apps from asking users to give 5 star ratings in return for points, and that Apple has likened the opt-in viewing of Brave Ads as tasks for cash.

Though there is no path for earning rewards from viewing Brave ads on iOS going forward, Brave says that it hopes that users will continue to opt in as Brave still plans to provide creators with monthly donations.

Brave's developers are "disappointed" with the update, but say that Brave users can continue to enjoy the "same fast and privacy-preserving iOS browser they know." These changes will not apply to the desktop version of the app or the Android versions.

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

ozzymo Avatar
66 months ago
App Store guideline 3.1.1: No tip can be given to anyone unless its purchased through IAP as we want our 30% cut
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ozzymo Avatar
66 months ago

So Apple doesn't want internet sites to monetize via tracking (which is good for privacy), and they won't allow monetization using Brave on iOS either (??). Seems like a non-tracking-supported internet should be something Apple either allows to happen or actively encourages. I don't get it.
Apple doesn't care about any of that. They only care that they're not getting their 30% cut
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ozzymo Avatar
66 months ago

I don't like the idea of a privacy browser with adware built in that can be enabled with a switch flick. It's a positive change imo.
Adware is something sneaky that is on your system without your knowledge. Brave tells you up front hey if you want to enroll in this program and view ads you can earn a little revenue and gift it to a creator or whoever. I didn't want to and chose to decline the program and never saw an ad. I don't think it's adware if they tell you up front and give you a choice.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bsamcash Avatar
66 months ago

I found Brave, on both desktop and mobile, very spammy with its cryptocurrency ads via notifications. Took a dislike to it as a result.
You can turn all of that off. I did and I cannot praise the experience enough.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
greenbreadmmm Avatar
66 months ago

How is the app destroyed? If it can’t survive unless it is able to violate App Store rules, that doesn’t say much about the app, in my opinion.

A browser supposedly geared towards privacy wanting to pay people to view ads seems rather hypocritical to me.
The entire Brave/Bat ecosystem is built around rewarding the user for ads (they choose to view) and paying content creators (Like MacRumors) for their offerings. So if Apple decides late in the game that it is no longer allowed to do that...it destroys the point of Brave browsing, as well as the appeal of the app.

How you got to "if it can't survive unless it violates apples TOS" is beyond a stretch and disingenuous of the timeline we are on. Apple changed the rules mid game and you somehow blame brave?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
connormw Avatar
66 months ago

So Apple doesn't want internet sites to monetize via tracking (which is good for privacy), and they won't allow monetization using Brave on iOS either (??). Seems like a non-tracking-supported internet should be something Apple either allows to happen or actively encourages. I don't get it.
They're fine with monetization, so long as it goes through the App Store. Ya know, even if no money is actually passing from the consumer to the app developer.

Pretty soon Apple is going to want users to remit a portion of their Farmville earnings.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)