Alternatives to Opera
Chromium browser with built-in VPN and sidebar apps
Opera ranks #8 of 14 in Browsers, with an Alt Score of 58. It is proprietary, free and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. 8 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
People who want more than a default browser out of the box, including built-in privacy tools, messaging, and AI features without installing separate extensions.
A free VPN (no separate signup), a built-in ad blocker, sidebar access to messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram, and Aria, Opera's built-in AI assistant. Tab Islands group related tabs together, and Opera Flow lets you send files and links between devices without cables or uploads.
Install Opera as your default Chromium-based browser, then toggle on the VPN and ad blocker from the sidebar, open messengers alongside your tabs, and chat with Aria directly in the interface for search, writing, or page summaries.
Why people leave Opera
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Opera compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Browsers checklist | Opera | Vivaldi | Brave | Waterfox | Orion | Firefox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) | ||||||
| Built-in ad blocker | ||||||
| Built-in VPN or proxy | ||||||
| Vertical tabs | ||||||
| Tab groups & workspaces | ||||||
| Extension ecosystem compatibility | ||||||
| Sync (E2E encrypted) | ||||||
| Battery / memory saver mode | ||||||
| Privacy: fingerprinting protection | ||||||
| Telemetry opt-out | ||||||
| Profile containers | ||||||
| Reader mode |
Every fact and feature listed for Opera is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
Download free Opera browsers
https://www.opera.com/computer -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
Download Opera browsers for every operating system - Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chrome OS.
https://www.opera.com/computer -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
The Software, including its sequence, structure, organization, source code and applicable documentation, contains valuable trade secrets and other intellectual property of Opera and its suppliers.
https://www.opera.com/eula/mobile -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
July 7th, 2026
https://blogs.opera.com/desktop/2026/07/opera-134-0-5952-0-developer-update/ -
Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Opera has been based on Chromium since 2013 and we have benefited from the ecosystem as well as actively contributed to it throughout that time.
https://blogs.opera.com/news/2025/01/opera-joins-supporters-of-chromium-based-browsers-open-source-ecosystem/ -
Built-in ad blocker Yes verified 2026-07-11
Opera's free Ad Blocker is built right into the Opera browser for mobile & desktop. It blocks ads and trackers before they fully load, so pages stay clean and load faster.
https://www.opera.com/features/ad-blocker -
Built-in VPN or proxy Yes verified 2026-07-11
A free, no-log browser VPN is built into the Opera browser for mobile and computer.
https://www.opera.com/features/free-vpn -
Vertical tabs Yes verified 2026-07-11
Added search and collapse buttons to the vertical tabs header
https://blogs.opera.com/desktop/2026/07/opera-134-0-5952-0-developer-update/ -
Tab groups & workspaces Yes verified 2026-07-11
Keep tabs in separate workspaces and organize your browsing the way you want.
https://www.opera.com/features/workspaces -
Extension ecosystem compatibility Yes verified 2026-07-11
To install extensions from the Google Chrome webstore into Opera, you must first download and install the Install Chrome extensions addon from the Opera addons store.
https://help.opera.com/en/latest/customization/ -
Sync (E2E encrypted) Partial verified 2026-07-11
By default, your passwords are encrypted using your Opera credentials.
https://help.opera.com/en/opera36/sync-your-browser/ -
Battery / memory saver mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
Battery Saver adjusts your browser's settings to reduce battery drain.
https://www.opera.com/features/battery-saver
FAQ
Yes. Vivaldi, Brave and Waterfox have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Brave, Waterfox and Firefox — every license claim links its source.