Opera Browser – Fast Web Browser with Built-in VPN

What is Opera Browser?

Opera is a feature-rich, Chromium-based web browser that differentiates itself from Chrome, Firefox, and Edge through integrated VPN, built-in ad blocker, sidebar with instant messaging apps, battery-saving mode, crypto wallet, and innovative features that make browsing faster, more private, and more convenient without requiring extensions for functionality that competitors force users to add separately. Founded in Norway in 1995 and now operated by Chinese consortium, Opera has evolved from independent browser engine pioneer into Chromium-based powerhouse used by over 380 million people worldwide who appreciate its combination of Chrome compatibility, unique built-in tools, and focus on features that enhance daily browsing beyond basic page rendering. With versions spanning desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), mobile (Android, iOS), and specialized variants including Opera GX for gamers, Opera proves that browsers can innovate beyond competing to be “fastest” or “most minimal.”

Opera excels through built-in features that eliminate extension hunting—the integrated ad blocker removes advertisements and speeds up page loading without installing AdBlock or uBlock Origin, free unlimited VPN provides privacy and region-switching for accessing geo-restricted content without third-party VPN subscriptions, and sidebar integrates messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger for chatting while browsing without switching windows. Battery saver mode extends laptop battery life by reducing background activity and animations, while Flow feature synchronizes content between mobile and desktop Opera seamlessly. Tab management includes workspaces organizing tabs into groups, tab islands clustering related tabs automatically, and pinboards for saving web content. For users wanting powerful browser with thoughtful features included rather than endless extension marketplace browsing, Opera provides complete package out-of-box.

Beyond standard browsing, Opera offers Opera GX variant specifically designed for gamers with CPU/RAM/network limiters preventing browser from hogging system resources during gaming, gaming-inspired dark interface, and integration with gaming platforms like Twitch. The browser includes built-in crypto wallet for Web3 and cryptocurrency interactions, native screenshot and screen recording tools, video popout for watching videos while browsing, speed dials for quick access to favorite sites, and customizable interface themes. Chromium foundation ensures compatibility with Chrome extensions and web standards, while Opera’s innovations push browsing forward with features Chrome may adopt years later. For privacy-conscious users, ad-blocking enthusiasts, power users wanting features without extension overhead, or anyone simply tired of Chrome’s minimalism, Opera delivers feature-complete browsing experience.

Key Features

• Built-in VPN: Free, unlimited VPN service integrated without third-party subscriptions or extensions.
• Ad Blocker: Native ad blocking removes advertisements and speeds up page loading.
• Sidebar Messengers: Integrated WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, and more in sidebar.
• Battery Saver: Extends laptop battery life by reducing background activity and resource usage.
• Flow: Synchronize content between mobile and desktop Opera seamlessly.
• Workspaces: Organize tabs into separate groups for different projects or contexts.
• Tab Islands: Automatically cluster related tabs together for better organization.
• Crypto Wallet: Built-in cryptocurrency wallet for Web3 browsing and transactions.
• Video Popout: Detach videos to floating window for watching while browsing.
• Speed Dial: Customizable quick-access page with favorite sites and bookmarks.
• Screenshot Tools: Capture full pages or selections without extensions.
• Opera Turbo: Compress web pages on slow connections for faster loading.
• Chromium-Based: Compatible with Chrome extensions and latest web standards.
• Cross-Platform: Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
• Completely Free: All features available without payment or premium tiers.

What’s New in Opera 2024/2025

• AI Integration: Opera One with Aria AI assistant for browsing help and content generation.
• Tab Islands Enhancement: Improved automatic tab grouping with better organization algorithms.
• Opera One Design: Modern interface redesign with modular architecture and improved animations.
• Better VPN Performance: Faster VPN servers and improved connection reliability.
• Enhanced Ad Blocker: Updated blocking filters catching more ads and trackers.
• Improved Battery Saver: Even better battery life extension through optimized resource management.
• Chromium 120+ Base: Latest Chromium engine with performance and security improvements.
• Windows 11 Optimization: Native Windows 11 integration and design consistency.
• Better Synchronization: Improved sync across devices with faster data transfer.
• Security Updates: Regular patches addressing browser vulnerabilities.

System Requirements

Windows

• Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, or Windows 11
• Intel Pentium 4 or newer processor with SSE3 support
• 512 MB RAM minimum (2 GB+ recommended)
• 350 MB available disk space
• Screen resolution 1024×768 minimum

macOS

• macOS 10.15 Catalina or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) processors
• 512 MB RAM minimum
• 350 MB available disk space

Linux

• Ubuntu 18.04 or later, Fedora, Debian
• 64-bit operating system
• 512 MB RAM minimum
• Available as DEB and RPM packages

Mobile

• iOS 14.0 or later for iPhone and iPad
• Android 6.0 or later
• Separate mobile apps with touch-optimized interface

How to Get Started with Opera Browser

1. Download: Visit opera.com and download installer for your operating system.
2. Install: Run installer—Opera offers to import bookmarks from existing browser during setup.
3. Choose Settings: Select whether to import bookmarks, history, and passwords from previous browser.
4. Launch Opera: Browser opens to Speed Dial page with popular site suggestions.
5. Enable Ad Blocker: Click shield icon in address bar to activate built-in ad blocking.
6. Try VPN: Settings > Privacy & security > VPN to enable free built-in VPN service.
7. Explore Sidebar: Left sidebar provides access to messengers, bookmarks, and tools—customize in settings.
8. Set Up Workspaces: Create workspaces for organizing tabs by project or context.
9. Customize Speed Dial: Add favorite sites to Speed Dial for quick access on new tabs.
10. Sign In for Sync: Create Opera account to synchronize bookmarks, passwords, and settings across devices.
11. Explore Features: Try Flow for mobile-desktop sync, battery saver, and video popout features.
12. Install Extensions (Optional): Access Chrome Web Store for additional extensions if needed.

Opera Browser vs Alternatives

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Completely Free: All features including VPN available without payment or subscriptions.
• Feature-Rich: More built-in features than competitors without extension overhead.
• Integrated VPN: Free, unlimited VPN without third-party services or configurations.
• Excellent Ad Blocking: Native ad blocker performs as well as popular extensions.
• Chromium Compatibility: Access to Chrome extensions and latest web standards.
• Battery Saver: Measurably extends laptop battery life compared to other browsers.
• Sidebar Messengers: Chat without switching windows or separate applications.
• Innovative Features: Tab islands, workspaces, and Flow improve browsing workflow.
• Cross-Platform: Consistent experience across desktop and mobile devices.
• Active Development: Regular updates add features and improvements.

Cons

• Chinese Ownership: Owned by Chinese consortium raises privacy concerns for some users.
• Feature Bloat: Too many built-in features may overwhelm users wanting simple browser.
• Resource Usage: Uses more RAM than Chrome despite battery saver mode.
• VPN Limitations: Built-in VPN is browser-only, not system-wide like standalone VPNs.
• Less Private Than Firefox: Collects more user data than privacy-focused alternatives.
• Smaller Market Share: Less web developer testing compared to Chrome or Firefox.

Who Should Use Opera Browser?

Opera is ideal for:

• Privacy-Conscious Users: Those wanting VPN and ad blocking without separate subscriptions.
• Multi-Taskers: Users benefiting from integrated messengers while browsing.
• Laptop Users: Battery saver mode extends unplugged usage significantly.
• Chrome Refugees: Users wanting Chrome compatibility with better features.
• Gamers: Opera GX variant offers browser resource limiting during gaming.
• Feature Enthusiasts: Those appreciating built-in tools over installing many extensions.
• Travelers: VPN enables accessing home country content while abroad.
• Power Users: Workspaces and tab organization features suit complex browsing workflows.
• Crypto Users: Built-in wallet simplifies Web3 and cryptocurrency interactions.
• Mobile-Desktop Switchers: Flow feature seamlessly syncs content between devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Opera’s built-in VPN really free and unlimited?

Yes, Opera’s VPN is genuinely free and unlimited without bandwidth caps, time limits, or paid tiers. However, it’s browser-only VPN (not system-wide like standalone VPN applications), and it’s technically a proxy service rather than full VPN. The service protects browsing privacy and enables accessing geo-restricted content within Opera browser, but doesn’t secure other applications or system traffic. For browser privacy and content access, it works well. For comprehensive device-wide VPN protection, dedicated VPN services like ProtonVPN or Mullvad are more appropriate despite their costs.

Is Opera safe to use given its Chinese ownership?

Opera’s Chinese ownership by consortium including Zhou Yahui raises valid privacy questions. The browser collects usage data and has privacy policy allowing data sharing with affiliates and partners. However, Opera maintains it complies with European GDPR privacy regulations and doesn’t send data to China. Independent security audits haven’t found malicious behavior. For users with high privacy requirements or concerned about Chinese ownership, browsers like Firefox or Brave provide better privacy guarantees. For typical browsing with VPN and ad blocking, Opera remains functional choice, though privacy-focused users should carefully review privacy settings and consider alternatives.

Can Opera use Chrome extensions?

Yes, Opera is Chromium-based and fully supports Chrome Web Store extensions. Most Chrome extensions work in Opera without modification—simply visit Chrome Web Store, browse extensions, and install directly into Opera. The browser’s built-in features (VPN, ad blocker, messengers) reduce need for many popular extensions, but specialty extensions install and function identically to Chrome. Occasionally, extensions specifically checking for Chrome browser may not work, but compatibility exceeds 95% of Chrome extensions.

How does Opera make money if everything is free?

Opera generates revenue through partnerships, default search engine deals (Google pays to be default search), sponsored content on Speed Dial page, affiliate commissions from promoted sites, and freemium model for other products like Opera News. The browser itself remains free because user acquisition enables profitable partnerships and data licensing (anonymized usage statistics). Unlike Chrome (subsidized by Google’s advertising business) or Firefox (Mozilla’s search deals), Opera relies on diverse monetization not requiring paid subscriptions or premium browser tiers—though some question whether “free” justifies data collection practices.

Final Verdict

Opera has carved a distinct niche in the browser market by prioritizing integrated features over minimalism, providing users with VPN, ad blocking, messengers, and innovative tools built-in rather than forcing reliance on extension marketplace—creating more complete, convenient browsing experience than competitors focused solely on rendering speed. The Chromium foundation ensures web compatibility and Chrome extension access while Opera’s unique features like workspaces, tab islands, battery saver, and Flow provide genuine value that Chrome and Edge don’t match. For users wanting powerful browser with thoughtful features included rather than bare-bones foundation requiring extensive customization, Opera delivers feature-complete package that respects the reality that browsers are tools for productivity and convenience, not just page viewers.

Privacy concerns about Chinese ownership and data collection practices prevent Opera from being universal recommendation for security-conscious users who should consider Firefox or Brave instead. However, for users prioritizing features, convenience, and built-in tools over maximum privacy, Opera provides compelling Chrome alternative with genuine innovations that push browsing forward. Download from opera.com to experience the browser that proves innovation isn’t dead—just concentrated in smaller players willing to differentiate rather than merely copying Chrome’s minimalist approach while offering nothing new besides different logos.