Firefox vs Opera

Firefox

• People who want tracker blocking switched on by default
• Users who prefer an open-source browser that is not based on Chromium
• Those who want to pick their own AI chatbot, or turn AI off
• Anyone moving between Windows, macOS, Linux and a phone

Opera

• People who want an ad blocker and a VPN without installing extensions
• Keeping messengers and music in a sidebar next to the page
• Trying Opera AI, ChatGPT and Gemini from one browser

Firefox

• The built-in VPN is capped at 50 GB per month and protects browser traffic only. Mozilla's paid VPN service costs $59.88 per year or $9.99 per month, plus tax.
• Firefox shows optional ads on its homepage to fund development. They can be turned off.
• The built-in VPN has not reached Firefox for Android or iOS; Mozilla's roadmap lists VPN on mobile as upcoming work.
• Windows 8.1 and below and macOS 10.14 and below are no longer supported by the standard release; they need Firefox ESR.

Opera

• The free VPN protects the browser only. VPN Pro, which covers the whole device, is a paid subscription from $4 per month.
• Opera earns revenue from ads, sponsored Speed Dials and promoted address-bar suggestions. The sponsored items can be replaced or switched off in settings.
• The Android app lists in-app purchases of $5.99 to $29.99 per item on the US Google Play store, without naming them.
• Opera GX, Opera Air, Opera Mini and Opera Neon, an AI browser at $19.90 a month, are separate products; this entry covers the main Opera browser.

Firefox

Tracking and cookie protection

Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks known trackers by default, and Total Cookie Protection keeps each site's cookies separate. The shield icon in the address bar shows what was blocked.

Built-in VPN

A VPN toggle in the desktop toolbar routes browser traffic through a proxy server to hide the IP address, free for up to 50 GB per month. It covers the browser only, not other apps on the device.

Tab groups, vertical tabs and sidebar

Tabs can be grouped and color coded or stacked vertically, and a customizable sidebar gives one-click access to bookmarks, history, synced tabs and other tools.

AI chatbots in the sidebar

The sidebar can host a third-party assistant such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude or Mistral Chat. AI features are optional and can be turned off entirely.

Sync with a Mozilla account

Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and open tabs sync across desktop and mobile with end-to-end encryption, and Send Tab pushes a page from one device to another.

Reader mode, PDF editor and translation

Reader mode strips clutter from articles, a built-in editor fills, signs and annotates PDFs, and pages are translated in the browser without sharing the data with anyone else.

Opera

Ad blocker and free VPN

The ad blocker removes ads and pop-ups without an extension. The browser VPN is free, has no data cap, needs no subscription or login and follows a no-logs policy; on Android it offers three virtual locations.

Opera AI, ChatGPT and Gemini

Opera AI is free with no sign-up and can read the current tab or a group of tabs for context. ChatGPT and Gemini open in the sidebar, and an AI image generator is included.

Tab Islands, workspaces and split screen

Tab Islands keep related tabs together in groups that collapse and expand, workspaces separate tab groups, split screen shows several tabs at once and vertical tabs are available.

Sidebar messengers and music

WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Discord, Slack and Bluesky open in the sidebar, as do Instagram, X and a music player that works with services such as Spotify.

Flow and sync

Flow sends files, links and notes between a person's own devices, and a free Opera Account syncs open tabs, bookmarks and speed dials between mobile and desktop.

Built-in utilities

Extras include a snapshot tool for capturing and editing screenshots, video pop-out, page translation, a unit and currency converter, a battery saver and a volume booster of up to 5x.

Firefox

• Free$0

  The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, including tracker blocking, sync and, on desktop, the built-in VPN up to 50 GB a month.

Opera

• Free$0

  The full browser with the ad blocker, the free browser VPN, Opera AI, sidebar messengers, Flow and sync through a free Opera Account.

• VPN ProFrom $4

  per month; billing term for this rate not stated

  Device-wide VPN for up to six desktop and Android devices at once, with servers in 48 countries. Sold on monthly or annual plans.