diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/initial-scope/init.js b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/initial-scope/init.js
index fc0eb65be166..2be1d55b5782 100644
--- a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/initial-scope/init.js
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/initial-scope/init.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ window.Sentry = Sentry;
 Sentry.init({
   dsn: 'https://public@dsn.ingest.sentry.io/1337',
   release: '0.1',
+  integrations: [Sentry.browserSessionIntegration({ lifecycle: 'route' })],
   initialScope: {
     user: {
       id: '1337',
diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/init.js b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/init.js
index 6452dbf515f9..af2df91a7ceb 100644
--- a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/init.js
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/init.js
@@ -5,5 +5,4 @@ window.Sentry = Sentry;
 Sentry.init({
   dsn: 'https://public@dsn.ingest.sentry.io/1337',
   release: '0.1',
-  integrations: [Sentry.browserSessionIntegration({ lifecycle: 'page' })],
 });
diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/test.ts b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/test.ts
index 869b194031cf..d98c8b377a4c 100644
--- a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/page-lifecycle/test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
   waitForSession,
 } from '../../../utils/helpers';
 
-sentryTest('starts a session on pageload with page lifecycle.', async ({ getLocalTestUrl, page }) => {
+sentryTest('starts a session on pageload with page lifecycle (default).', async ({ getLocalTestUrl, page }) => {
   const url = await getLocalTestUrl({ testDir: __dirname });
 
   const sessionPromise = waitForSession(page, s => !!s.init && s.status === 'ok');
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ sentryTest('starts a session on pageload with page lifecycle.', async ({ getLoca
 });
 
 sentryTest(
-  "doesn't start a new session on pushState navigation with page lifecycle.",
+  "doesn't start a new session on pushState navigation with page lifecycle (default).",
   async ({ getLocalTestUrl, page }) => {
     const url = await getLocalTestUrl({ testDir: __dirname });
 
diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/init.js b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/init.js
index af2df91a7ceb..18ea8864bc65 100644
--- a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/init.js
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/init.js
@@ -5,4 +5,5 @@ window.Sentry = Sentry;
 Sentry.init({
   dsn: 'https://public@dsn.ingest.sentry.io/1337',
   release: '0.1',
+  integrations: [Sentry.browserSessionIntegration({ lifecycle: 'route' })],
 });
diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/test.ts b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/test.ts
index 05f10146f3f5..1985ec71196a 100644
--- a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/test.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/route-lifecycle/test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { sentryTest } from '../../../utils/fixtures';
 import { waitForSession } from '../../../utils/helpers';
 
 sentryTest(
-  'should start new sessions on pushState navigation with route lifecycle (default).',
+  'should start new sessions on pushState navigation with route lifecycle.',
   async ({ getLocalTestUrl, page }) => {
     const url = await getLocalTestUrl({ testDir: __dirname });
 
diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/start-session/init.js b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/start-session/init.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..18ea8864bc65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/start-session/init.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import * as Sentry from '@sentry/browser';
+
+window.Sentry = Sentry;
+
+Sentry.init({
+  dsn: 'https://public@dsn.ingest.sentry.io/1337',
+  release: '0.1',
+  integrations: [Sentry.browserSessionIntegration({ lifecycle: 'route' })],
+});
diff --git a/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/user/init.js b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/user/init.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..18ea8864bc65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev-packages/browser-integration-tests/suites/sessions/user/init.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import * as Sentry from '@sentry/browser';
+
+window.Sentry = Sentry;
+
+Sentry.init({
+  dsn: 'https://public@dsn.ingest.sentry.io/1337',
+  release: '0.1',
+  integrations: [Sentry.browserSessionIntegration({ lifecycle: 'route' })],
+});
diff --git a/packages/browser/src/integrations/browsersession.ts b/packages/browser/src/integrations/browsersession.ts
index 7d339baa42d5..63e2611586f5 100644
--- a/packages/browser/src/integrations/browsersession.ts
+++ b/packages/browser/src/integrations/browsersession.ts
@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@ interface BrowserSessionOptions {
   /**
    * Controls the session lifecycle - when new sessions are created.
    *
-   * - `'route'`: A session is created on page load and on every navigation.
-   *   This is the default behavior.
    * - `'page'`: A session is created once when the page is loaded. Session is not
-   *   updated on navigation. This is useful for webviews or single-page apps where
-   *   URL changes should not trigger new sessions.
+   *   updated on navigation. This is the default behavior.
+   * - `'route'`: A session is created on page load and on every navigation.
    *
-   * @default 'route'
+   * @default 'page'
    */
   lifecycle?: 'route' | 'page';
 }
@@ -25,7 +23,7 @@ interface BrowserSessionOptions {
  * Note: In order for session tracking to work, you need to set up Releases: https://docs.sentry.io/product/releases/
  */
 export const browserSessionIntegration = defineIntegration((options: BrowserSessionOptions = {}) => {
-  const lifecycle = options.lifecycle ?? 'route';
+  const lifecycle = options.lifecycle ?? 'page';
 
   return {
     name: 'BrowserSession',