I think a lot of people still use "private browsing" and "online privacy" as if they mean the same thing.
They don't.
Opening an Incognito or Private window is useful, especially when you're using a shared computer or don't want a particular session saved in your normal browsing history.
But it doesn't make you anonymous.
Websites can still see your IP address, recognize characteristics of your browser and device, and collect information about your activity. Depending on the network you're using, your ISP, employer, school, or network administrator may also be able to observe network activity.
So what actually makes a difference?
Start with the browser
For everyday browsing, privacy-focused browsers such as Brave and Firefox offer more protection against trackers and third-party cookies than simply opening a private window.
Tor Browser takes a different approach and is better suited to situations where anonymity is a higher priority than speed or convenience.
There isn't really one "best" private browser. It depends on what you're trying to protect.
How Incognito and Private Browsing Work
Every major browser has a private browsing mode. Chrome calls it Incognito, Edge calls it InPrivate, while Firefox and Safari use Private Browsing.
A private window creates a temporary browsing session. When the private window is closed, the browser normally removes local records such as browsing history, session cookies, and form data.
Downloads and bookmarks usually remain because they are deliberate actions rather than temporary browsing records.
Private browsing is useful when you're using a shared computer, testing a website without existing cookies, or simply don't want a particular browsing session saved to the device.
Don't forget browser fingerprinting
Cookies aren't the only way websites can recognize a browser.
Things such as screen resolution, fonts, timezone, language, WebGL, Canvas, and other browser characteristics can contribute to a browser fingerprint.
This is one reason why clearing cookies doesn't necessarily give you a completely fresh browser identity.
For users who care about stronger privacy or need separate browsing environments, fingerprint protection can be worth considering alongside traditional tracker blocking.
A VPN solves a different problem
A VPN can hide your normal IP address from the websites you visit and encrypt the connection between your device and the VPN server.
But it doesn't replace browser privacy.
A simple way to think about it is:
VPN = network layer
Privacy browser = browser layer
They address different parts of the privacy problem.
What about multiple accounts?
This is where private browsing becomes less useful.
A private window is temporary. Once the session ends, the environment isn't designed to preserve its cookies, login sessions, and browser data.
If you're managing several legitimate accounts for different clients, brands, stores, or projects, constantly opening private windows can become inconvenient.
Persistent isolated browser profiles are a different approach.
Each profile can maintain its own cookies, local storage, login sessions, browser settings, and other data. That makes it easier to keep different working environments separate over time.
I've found this distinction particularly useful when thinking about multi-account workflows.
It's not really about “hiding” an account. It's about keeping different browser environments organized and independent.
Where BitBrowser fits in
For users who need persistent profile separation, BitBrowser takes the isolated-profile approach a step further.
Each browser profile can have its own configurable browser fingerprint, cookies, local storage, and proxy settings. Profiles can then be managed separately rather than mixing everything into one browser environment.
It can be useful for agencies, e-commerce teams, social media managers, and researchers who need to work with multiple authorized accounts or testing environments.
The free plan also includes 10 profiles, which is enough to try the workflow without immediately committing to a paid plan.
The bigger picture
For me, the most useful takeaway is that privacy isn't a single browser setting.
Private browsing helps with local privacy.
Tracker blocking helps reduce online tracking.
Anti-fingerprinting can reduce browser-based identification.
A VPN addresses network-level privacy.
Isolated profiles help with separating persistent browser environments and legitimate accounts.
Once you separate these goals, choosing the right tools becomes much easier.
I also put together a more detailed comparison of private browsers, including Brave, Firefox, Tor, Chrome, and Safari, along with VPNs, fingerprinting, and isolated browser profiles:
https://www.bitbrowser.net/blog/best-private-browsers-for-privacy
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