# Vivaldi vs Opera

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

Vivaldi is the top pick for most Mac users looking at browsers. It is free and installs in one Homebrew command. Opera is the stronger choice if you want browser. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask vivaldi and brew install --cask opera.

For most Mac users in 2026, Vivaldi is the better choice for browsers because it is a free, install-in-one-command replacement for Spark Premium. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Opera instead if you want browser.

## Head to head

| Factor | Vivaldi | Opera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | Spark Premium ($10/month) | — |
| Best for | browser, chromium, customizable | browser, web, chromium |
| Install | brew install --cask vivaldi | brew install --cask opera |
| Category | Web Browsers | Web Browsers |

## Vivaldi

Web browser with built-in email client focusing on customization and control

Install: `brew install --cask vivaldi`

[Vivaldi on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/vivaldi)

## Opera

Web browser

Install: `brew install --cask opera`

[Opera on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/opera)

## Features

- **Customisation depth.** Vivaldi wins customisation.
- **Tab management.** Vivaldi wins heavy tab workflows.
- **Built-in VPN.** Opera wins free-VPN convenience narrative.
- **AI assistant.** Opera wins built-in AI assistant.
- **Privacy positioning.** Vivaldi wins privacy-conscious power users.
- **Built-in Mail/Calendar.** Vivaldi wins productivity suite integration.
- **Ease of setup.** Opera wins out-of-box simplicity.
- **Pricing.** Both free.

## FAQ

### Is Vivaldi better than Opera in 2026?

For customisation, tab management, and privacy-oriented power users, yes. For free VPN convenience and built-in Aria AI with minimal setup, Opera can be better.

### Did Opera shut down?

No. Opera remains an active free browser and product family including Opera GX.

### Is Vivaldi made by the same people as old Opera?

Vivaldi’s CEO co-founded Opera; Vivaldi is a separate company and product line built later on Chromium.

### Which has a better free VPN?

Opera’s free VPN is a headline built-in. Vivaldi partners with Proton VPN. Compare logging policies and speeds yourself rather than trusting banners.

### Which is more private?

Many privacy-sensitive users prefer Vivaldi’s independence narrative and configuration control, but you should still harden either browser with good hygiene.

### Can I use Chrome extensions?

Both are Chromium-based and support a wide range of extensions, with occasional compatibility differences.

### Which is better on Mac battery?

Similar engine baseline; disable unused AI/VPN/mail modules and limit extensions for best Tahoe 26.x battery life.

### Does Vivaldi force AI features?

Vivaldi’s public positioning and community reputation emphasise optional/less central generative AI compared with Aria-first Opera marketing.

### Is Opera GX the same as Opera?

GX is a gaming-oriented variant with its own styling and features; core engine family is related.

### Which should a design agency standardise on?

Vivaldi for workspaces-per-client discipline; Opera only if the team explicitly wants Aria/VPN defaults.

### Do either cost money?

Core browsers are free.

### What changed since May 2026 content?

Vivaldi shipped 8.1 in July 2026; Opera remains active; editorial recommendation lists continue to reshuffle, always re-check current features before fleet rollout.

## Sources

- [Vivaldi 8.1 desktop](https://vivaldi.com/blog/vivaldi-on-desktop-8-1/)
- [Vivaldi official site](https://vivaldi.com/)
- [Opera browser](https://www.opera.com/)
- [PCMag best browsers (May 2026 update)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/brave-chrome-edge-firefox-or-safari-we-pick-the-best-browser)
- [Opera vs Vivaldi 2026](https://supasidebar.com/blog/opera-vs-vivaldi-2026)
- [Vivaldi mobile 8.1](https://vivaldi.com/blog/vivaldi-on-mobile-8-1/)
- [Vivaldi Proton VPN](https://vivaldi.com/protonvpn/)

## Related

- [Vivaldi vs Firefox](https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-firefox)
- [Arc vs Vivaldi](https://bundl.run/compare/arc-vs-vivaldi)
- [Brave vs Vivaldi](https://bundl.run/compare/brave-browser-vs-vivaldi)
- [Zen Browser vs Vivaldi](https://bundl.run/compare/zen-browser-vs-vivaldi)
- [Opera vs Google Chrome](https://bundl.run/compare/opera-vs-chrome)
- [Opera vs Brave](https://bundl.run/compare/opera-vs-brave-browser)

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization",
      "name": "Bundl.run",
      "url": "https://bundl.run",
      "logo": {
        "@type": "ImageObject",
        "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png",
        "width": 1200,
        "height": 630
      },
      "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.",
      "sameAs": [
        "https://github.com/abhiofficial/bundl-mac-setup",
        "https://x.com/bundlrun",
        "https://www.producthunt.com/products/bundl-run"
      ],
      "foundingDate": "2024",
      "contactPoint": {
        "@type": "ContactPoint",
        "contactType": "customer support",
        "url": "https://bundl.run/faq"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "WebSite",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website",
      "name": "Bundl.run",
      "url": "https://bundl.run",
      "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.",
      "publisher": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization"
      },
      "inLanguage": "en-US"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person",
      "name": "Alex Chen",
      "jobTitle": "Senior Developer Tools Specialist",
      "url": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen",
      "worksFor": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization"
      },
      "description": "Alex Chen has been evaluating developer tools and productivity software for over 12 years, with deep expertise in code editors, terminal emulators, and development environments. As a former software engineer at several Bay Area startups, Alex brings hands-on experience with the real-world workflows these tools are meant to enhance. Alex tests each application extensively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, documenting performance metrics, integration capabilities, and workflow efficiency. When not reviewing software, Alex contributes to open-source projects and writes technical tutorials for the developer community.",
      "knowsAbout": [
        "Code Editors & IDEs",
        "Terminal Emulators",
        "Version Control Tools",
        "DevOps & CI/CD",
        "API Development",
        "Performance Benchmarking"
      ],
      "image": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen.svg"
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera#breadcrumb",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "Home",
          "item": "https://bundl.run"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Apps",
          "item": "https://bundl.run/apps"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Compare",
          "item": "https://bundl.run/compare"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 4,
          "name": "Vivaldi vs Opera",
          "item": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera",
      "url": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera",
      "name": "Vivaldi vs Opera",
      "description": "For most Mac users in 2026, Vivaldi is the better choice for browsers because it is a free, install-in-one-command replacement for Spark Premium. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Opera instead if you want browser.",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website"
      },
      "publisher": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization"
      },
      "inLanguage": "en-US",
      "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z",
      "image": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png",
      "author": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera#article"
      },
      "breadcrumb": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera#breadcrumb"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Article",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera#article",
      "headline": "Vivaldi vs Opera — Which is Better in 2026?",
      "description": "For most Mac users in 2026, Vivaldi is the better choice for browsers because it is a free, install-in-one-command replacement for Spark Premium. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Opera instead if you want browser.",
      "image": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png",
      "speakable": {
        "@type": "SpeakableSpecification",
        "cssSelector": [
          "h1",
          ".quick-answer",
          ".tldr-summary"
        ]
      },
      "author": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/alex-chen#person"
      },
      "publisher": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization"
      },
      "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z",
      "mainEntityOfPage": {
        "@type": "WebPage",
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera"
      },
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website"
      },
      "about": [
        {
          "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
          "name": "Vivaldi",
          "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/vivaldi"
        },
        {
          "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
          "name": "Opera",
          "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/opera"
        }
      ],
      "mentions": [
        {
          "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
          "name": "Vivaldi",
          "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/vivaldi"
        },
        {
          "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
          "name": "Opera",
          "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/opera"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "FAQPage",
      "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera#faq",
      "mainEntity": [
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Is Vivaldi better than Opera in 2026?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "For customisation, tab management, and privacy-oriented power users, yes. For free VPN convenience and built-in Aria AI with minimal setup, Opera can be better."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Did Opera shut down?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "No. Opera remains an active free browser and product family including Opera GX."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Is Vivaldi made by the same people as old Opera?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Vivaldi’s CEO co-founded Opera; Vivaldi is a separate company and product line built later on Chromium."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Which has a better free VPN?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Opera’s free VPN is a headline built-in. Vivaldi partners with Proton VPN. Compare logging policies and speeds yourself rather than trusting banners."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Which is more private?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Many privacy-sensitive users prefer Vivaldi’s independence narrative and configuration control, but you should still harden either browser with good hygiene."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Can I use Chrome extensions?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Both are Chromium-based and support a wide range of extensions, with occasional compatibility differences."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Which is better on Mac battery?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Similar engine baseline; disable unused AI/VPN/mail modules and limit extensions for best Tahoe 26.x battery life."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Does Vivaldi force AI features?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Vivaldi’s public positioning and community reputation emphasise optional/less central generative AI compared with Aria-first Opera marketing."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Is Opera GX the same as Opera?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "GX is a gaming-oriented variant with its own styling and features; core engine family is related."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Which should a design agency standardise on?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Vivaldi for workspaces-per-client discipline; Opera only if the team explicitly wants Aria/VPN defaults."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "Do either cost money?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Core browsers are free."
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Question",
          "name": "What changed since May 2026 content?",
          "acceptedAnswer": {
            "@type": "Answer",
            "text": "Vivaldi shipped 8.1 in July 2026; Opera remains active; editorial recommendation lists continue to reshuffle, always re-check current features before fleet rollout."
          }
        }
      ],
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://bundl.run/compare/vivaldi-vs-opera"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```