Opera Browser Review
It is worth noting that the VPN feature looks very similar to the SurfEasy browser extension (although this should hardly come as a surprise). Unlike that extension, however, the VPN bundled free with Opera does not have a 500MB data limit.
Why browsing with Opera’s VPN is safer
A virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to protect yourself online, especially on public hotspots. Opera is the first major browser to have a built-in, no-log, unlimited browser VPN that is completely free. So how can you make sure your browsing is safer with Opera’s VPN?
For one thing, you don’t need any extra software, and you don’t need an account. Simply toggle on the VPN badge, and your Opera browser is protected by the VPN – you can surf the web normally without worrying about the security of the Wi-Fi at your favorite coffee shop. But now you are trusting Opera’s VPN instead of the public hotspot, so how do you know if it’s safer to use?
How secure is Opera’s VPN?
The safety and security of Opera’s VPN depend on two major factors: encryption of internet traffic to and from the VPN server and no-logging. When you enable Opera’s VPN, your browser creates a secure tunnel between you and one of our physical VPN servers, and encrypts your browser traffic with industry-standard 256-bit encryption.
256-bit suggests how long the encryption key is that encrypts the data sent over the VPN connection. This is the strongest encryption available in commercial applications today, and it would take a hacker with even the fastest computer more than a billion years to break using brute-force methods. In other words, a hacker will not be able to just guess the key and gain access to your browsing data.
Your connection to our secure VPN servers remains private and our no-log policy ensures that your browsing activity is never recorded or logged, making your browsing strictly your own business.
How does using a VPN protect me?
VPNs protect you in two major ways:
One, they encrypt traffic between your device and the VPN server so that no one, not even your ISP (internet service provider), can see your online activity.
And two, they disguise your IP address and location so that you cannot be identified by this data.
Online, security and safety are often used interchangeably, but with VPN providers, safety is more than just how secure your connection to the server is. Generally, the VPN server can see your internet traffic, but a good VPN provider will never log or store this data. This means that which VPN provider you choose depends on which one you trust with your data. This should be considered when looking through free VPN providers as well as paid ones. It’s a good idea to go with a well-known and transparent provider for a free safe VPN.
Which brings us to a very important question:
How does Opera’s VPN handle my data?
Opera’s VPN works in line with our Privacy Policy, which explains exactly what using Opera’s VPN means for your privacy:
When you use our built-in VPN service, we do not log any information related to your browsing activity and originating network address. Period.
No logs. No tracking. What you do online is your own business.
And what if the government makes you give up user data from the VPN?
Opera is based in Norway, and Norway has adopted the GDPR. Norway’s data protection authority, Datatilsynet, also oversees data protection in the country. As a result, we are subject to, and have to comply with, some of the strictest data protection regulations in the world.
Government authorities or law enforcement agencies may reach out to us during the course of investigations, as they reach out to any company. When this happens, they must do so by liaising through Norwegian authorities, who then contact us. In all such cases, we inform those authorities that we are not able to share user data because we do not have it.
But you’re offering the VPN for free. Are you doing that by monetizing my VPN data?
Actually, no. You see, the free VPN is not our core product. We make money through business partnerships and through advertising in our main browsers. We also provide a premium, device-wide VPN service called VPN Pro that we charge money for. And so we’re able to provide the in-browser VPN for free, and we don’t need to monetize it. So you can rest assured that we do not collect any data when you use the free VPN.
Okay, you say Opera’s VPN is safe and secure. Is there proof?
That’s a great question that you should absolutely be asking. When choosing any VPN, free or paid, it’s important to do your research and make sure the provider is trusted and the product is vetted by recognized reviewers and third-party auditors.
We are very aware of this ourselves. That’s why Opera’s VPN has been audited by Cure53, a renowned cybersecurity firm based in Berlin with more than 15 years of experience running software testing and code auditing.
How fast is Opera’s VPN?
When you enable Opera’s VPN, your browser automatically connects to the server that will provide you with the best user experience. But if you’d prefer a server in a different geographical area, simply go to your VPN settings and choose the region that you would like. With physical servers around the world, we offer users a choice between three regions: America, Asia, and Europe. The exact location of the server will affect your connection speed, especially if you choose a region that is not optimal.
Opera’s VPN is fast and can keep up with good broadband connections. The most significant slowdown that you may experience is an increased ping (the time required to send a signal to a remote server and receive a response). Even then, the difference should only be a matter of milliseconds, a small compromise for the peace of mind that our VPN can provide.
Where do I find Opera’s free, secure VPN?
To enable Opera’s secure VPN, go to Settings > Go to full browser settings > Features > VPN and turn on Enable VPN.
When you enable the VPN, a blue badge will appear at the upper left corner of the combined address and search bar, indicating that the connection has been made. Click on the badge to see an on/off switch, information about the amount of data transferred, the virtual location, and the virtual IP address.
Okay, but this only protects my browsing in the Opera browser. What if I want to protect my entire device?
It’s true that our free VPN only protects your browsing within the Opera browser, and not your entire device. For those of you who need device-wide protection, we mentioned VPN Pro before: a premium VPN offering that lets you protect up to six devices simultaneously. You can choose from 3,000+ private servers in over 30 countries, so you can tailor your browsing to your needs.
To provide the VPN Pro service, we are collaborating with renowned VPN provider NordVPN, which operates the servers for VPN Pro. This is an additional guarantee of a private and secure experience when you use VPN Pro, as NordVPN is one of the most trusted and transparent VPN vendors in the world. This means that, just like Opera’s free VPN, VPN Pro is a secure, no-log service with strong industry-standard encryption that protects your entire device.
Download Opera to try our safe VPN. Online security can seem challenging, but we’re helping to make it easier. With simplicity, safety, and speed, Opera’s secure VPN can help you protect yourself online.
Opera Browser Review
Opera VPN is a completely free “VPN” built into the desktop versions of Opera browser. The reason we have added quote marks around “VPN” is that it is, in fact, a browser proxy rather than a true VPN. But hey, it’s free, has no data limits, and generally works well. So why quibble?
Opera is the fifth most popular browser in the world, and enjoys a relatively small (350 million users) but loyal fan base. This is in large part due to its pioneering of cutting edge technologies that are actually useful, such as Opera Turbo (compression technology designed to speed up web browsing) and built-in ad-blocking.
It is a fast and lightweight browser that can compete on features with the likes of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Unlike Firefox and its derivatives, though, it is closed source.
Opera is available for most platforms, but its free VPN is only featured in its Windows, masOS, and Linux versions. Update March 2023: the free VPN is now also available in Opera Browser with VPN for Android, but not Opera Touch for iOS. In Android, the VPN works pretty much identically to how it does on the desktop, as described in this review.
In this Opera VPN review, we take an in-depth look at various aspects of this service, including; features security and performance. We also show you how to set up OperaVPN on your device!
Our Score 2 / 5 Free option Available Visa/MasterCard No Amex No PayPal No Visit Opera Browser
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Opera VPN is a VPN service that works with the fifth most popular browser in the world, Opera has always maintained a small but loyal fan base. This is in large part due to it pioneering cutting-edge technologies that are actually useful, such as Opera Turbo (compression technology designed to speed up web browsing) and built-in ad-blocking.
Given that Opera acquired Canadian VPN service SurfEasy last year, it is hardly surprising that Opera has decided to integrate VPN technology into its flagship browser. According to Steve Kelly, Vice President of Marketing at Opera, the reason for the move is to improve users’ privacy and security.
“Everyone deserves to surf privately online if they want to. Today, it is too difficult to maintain privacy when using the web, and way too many people experience roadblocks online, like blocked content. By releasing an integrated, free and unlimited VPN in the browser, we make it simple for people to enhance their privacy and access the content they want.”
Pricing and Features
It is 100% free to use the VPN bundled with Opera, and there are no data limits. This in itself makes the service one of the most generous free VPNs around. Whether Opera will continue to offer this level of service is, of course, anyone’s guess.
Five VPN server locations are available – Canada, the US, Germany, the Netherlands, and VPN servers in Singapore. This is more limited that most commercial VPN services, but hey… it’s free! It also covers a good selection of popular VPN server locations, although the UK is conspicuously missing.
This means that you will not be able to use Opera to watch iPlayer. Unfortunately, those wanting to access the US version of Netflix are also out of luck… when I tried, Netflix successfully detected that I was running “a proxy” and refused to play. However, this VPN is able to unblock Youtube videos that are restricted in your region.
Security and Privacy
Jurisdiction
Opera Software ASA is a Norwegian company with offices in Poland, Sweden and China. As of November 2016, however, it is mainly owned by a Chinese consortium based in Hong Kong and headed by billionaire businessman Zhou Yahui. Where this leaves the “VPN,” and under which jurisdiction it operates under, is very unclear.
Opera Software ASA sold the consumer browser division to the Chinese consortium, but this does not appear to include the “VPN” infrastructure which, as far as we can tell, remains in Opera Software ASA’s hands. But Yahui Zhou has served as the company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since June 2016.
Although rated 100 out of 100 in Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2023 report, Norway is a member of the US-led Nine Eyes spying alliance and performs extensive domestic surveillance. All ISPs and telecoms companies are required to store records of metadata and web browsing histories for six months, although it is not clear if this applies to VPN services.
China is very keen on restricting its citizen’s access to the open internet, and polices domestic dissent through monitoring online forums and social media platforms. Despite many suspicions, however, there is no evidence that it has any interest in listening in on the internet traffic of international internet users.
Hong Kong has traditionally enjoyed a very free and open internet, although tensions with a Chinese government keen to exert greater control over the ex-British territory raises suspicions that it may be subject to increased surveillance from the mainland.
Just to confuse matters further, the privacy statement for non-EU members refers to “Opera Unite Pte. Ltd. (‘Opera’), an Opera group company” which is based in Singapore.
Privacy Policy and Logs
The “Browser VPN” part of Opera’s privacy policy simply states that:
“When you use our built-in VPN service, we do not log any information related to your browsing activity and originating network address.”
Technical security
OperaVPN is proxy, not a VPN service. Connections are secured using HTTPS, the encryption scheme which protects sensitive websites, making OperaVPN an HTTPS proxy. Because it is based on Chromium, the Opera browser supports TLS 1.3. This is the latest version of the protocol, and it is reasonable to assume that the VPN also uses TLS 1.3.
There is little in the way of support for the VPN feature, although it is so simple to use that it hardly needs it. If for any reason you do get stuck, you can ask questions on the Opera forums.
How to setup OperaVPN
Download and install Opera VPN.
Once the software is installed, you must enable the VPN feature by going to Menu -> Privacy & security -> VPN -> Enable VPN. Note that I had an old version of Opera installed, and needed to uninstall it and reinstall the latest version in order for this option to become available.
Using the VPN is then just a matter of clicking on the “VPN” label to the left of the Search/URL bar, selecting a server location, and clicking “On”
It is worth noting that the VPN feature looks very similar to the SurfEasy browser extension (although this should hardly come as a surprise). Unlike that extension, however, the VPN bundled free with Opera does not have a 500MB data limit.
Other platforms
Opera has removed it’s Android VPN and iOS VPN apps from their respective stores. Unlike the desktop feature included in the browser, these were are true VPN apps. But this is academic as they are no longer available.
If you are an android user and you are looking for something similar to Opera, check out our VPN browsers for Android article for a list of alternatives.
Alternatively, if you are an iOS user, you may want to check out our free VPNs for iOS list. These services are slightly different to VPN browsers like Opera VPN, however, they route all the traffic from your iOS device through an encrypted tunnel which is more secure.
Performance (Speed, DNS leak and WebRTC tests)
Speed tests were performed on a 50Mbps/3Mbps UK broadband connection using TestMy.net.
These results are pretty darn good, especially when you consider that the service is free! Color me impressed!
WebRTC leak protection is now built-in. This is great!
DNS resolution is performed using Google DNS servers located in the same country as the VPN server you are connected to. So when connected to a USA VPN server, DNS resolution is also performed using US DNS servers. This is good for geo-spoofing.
From a privacy perspective, as far as Google is concerned your DNS requests will appear to come from Opera (rather than your real IP address).
Final thoughts
Free is everyone’s favorite price, and in many ways, Opera’s free “VPN” delivers a fantastic service (although it is really a proxy for the browser, not a VPN). Unlike most free VPN services, it is both unlimited (no data limits) and fast. For those simply wishing to bypass censorship, geospoof their location, or protect their browsing while using public WiFi hotspots, Opera may hit just the spot.
It is not, however, a good choice for anyone who uses a VPN to protect their privacy, wants to use a VPN for Netflix, or who wants to use a VPN for torrenting.