Opera — A free web browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and Opera AI assistant, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus the gaming-focused Opera GX variant.
By Noahlast updated pricing verified
Opera screenshots & video
Opera in 20 seconds
Best for: everyday users who want built-in ad blocking, a free VPN, and an AI assistant bundled into the browser
Pricing: Free with no subscription for the core browser; an optional Opera Pro VPN is a separate paid upgrade over the bundled free VPN.
- Opera is completely free with no subscription required for the core browser.
- Opera includes a free built-in VPN and ad blocker with no extension install needed.
- Opera is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Opera holds a 4.4/5 rating from 15 reviews on Product Hunt.
- Opera GX is a variant of the browser built specifically for gamers with CPU/RAM limiters.
Limitations: The bundled free VPN is a basic privacy feature, not a full-featured standalone VPN service.; Built on Chromium, inheriting the same rendering engine as Chrome and Edge rather than an independent engine.; Extra bundled features add UI complexity for users who want a minimal browser.
Top alternatives: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave — full list
What is Opera?
Opera is a web browser built on Chromium that differentiates from Chrome and Edge by bundling privacy and productivity features directly into the browser instead of requiring separate extensions. Its free built-in VPN masks IP address and location without a subscription, its ad blocker strips ads and trackers by default, and Opera AI adds a built-in chat assistant. Tab Islands let users group related tabs into visually separated clusters for context switching, and Flow lets a user share files and links between desktop and mobile Opera instances without a third-party app. Opera also publishes Opera GX, a variant tuned for gamers with CPU/RAM limiters and game-deal integrations. The core browser is entirely free across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android; an optional Opera Pro VPN subscription upgrades past the free bundled VPN for users who want more server locations or higher speeds.
Opera is a free web browser aimed at people who want built-in privacy and productivity tools instead of installing separate extensions for VPN, ad blocking, and AI chat. It targets everyday users switching from default browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Edge, and it ships with a free built-in VPN, an ad blocker, Opera AI chat integration, Tab Islands for grouping tabs, and a Flow file-sharing sidebar. Opera is completely free with no subscription required for its core browser; an optional Opera Pro VPN adds a paid upgrade over the bundled free VPN. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and is used by hundreds of millions of people, according to Opera.
Standout feature: A free built-in VPN and ad blocker shipped inside the browser by default, with no extension installs or subscription required, plus Opera AI chat and Tab Islands for tab organization.
Biggest weakness: Opera's free built-in VPN is a basic privacy tool, not a full-featured VPN service, with fewer server locations and less consistent speed than dedicated VPN products, and the browser's extra features (AI, Flow, Tab Islands) add complexity some users don't want in a simple browser.
Pros
- Free built-in VPN and ad blocker with no extension install or subscription required.
- Opera AI chat assistant is built directly into the browser sidebar.
- Tab Islands organize related tabs into visual groups for easier context switching.
- Available across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus the gaming-focused Opera GX variant.
Cons
- The bundled free VPN is a basic privacy feature, not a full VPN service, with fewer locations and less consistent performance than dedicated VPN products.
- Built on Chromium, so it inherits the same underlying engine (and market-power concerns) as Chrome and Edge rather than offering a truly independent rendering engine.
- Extra bundled features (AI, Flow, sidebar messengers) add UI complexity for users who just want a minimal browser.
- Smaller extension ecosystem than Chrome, though it can install most Chrome Web Store extensions.
Opera pricing
Free · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Opera browser | Free | Free browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and Opera AI; no subscription or account required to use the core browser. |
What reviewers say
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