Iridium Browser vs Vivaldi (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Vivaldi grades higher than Iridium Browser: 3.8 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Vivaldi grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Iridium Browser if
- Fits if you want a Chromium browser that holds back partial queries and metrics by default
- Makes sense if you roll out browsers to staff, since Windows comes as an MSI
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want Chrome sync or Google sign-in, because neither works
- Not for you if you want automatic updates: you download each new build yourself
- Watch out: Google Safe Browsing is on by default and contacts iridiumbrowser.de and Google's servers
- Too light for phones: there is no Android or iOS version
Pick Vivaldi if
- Fits if you keep dozens of tabs open and want them stacked, split and sorted
- Works for people who want mail, calendar and feeds in the same window as their tabs
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a chatbot or page summaries built in, because Vivaldi leaves AI out on purpose
- Not for you if you want the free VPN on your phone, as it only works in the desktop browser
- Pricey if you want faster VPN speeds, more servers or extra devices, which need a paid Proton VPN plan
- Watch out: new installs come with partner bookmarks and search engines that earn Vivaldi revenue until you replace them
- Not for you if your Mac is older than macOS 13, which the current download needs
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAIridium BrowserGood | 3.8GPAVivaldiExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to use, with no paid plans listed, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. | AFree on every platform with no paid tier at all, and the reason is on Vivaldi's own blog: it earns from search and bookmark partner deals, a cut of Proton VPN upgrades and donations, rather than from you. There's nothing to buy and nothing withheld. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole browser is free, including an MSI package and a portable Windows zip, with no cap to reach. | AFree outright, with mail, calendar, feed reader, notes, the ad and tracker blocker, end-to-end encrypted sync, and Proton VPN on the desktop with no ads or data limit. New installs arrive with partner bookmarks you can swap out. |
| Features | CIt keeps the Chromium interface and extension model, but it lacks Google sign-in and Chrome sync because it ships without Google API keys. | AIt builds in an email client for several accounts, a calendar, a feed reader and notes, with an ad blocker, two-level Tab Stacks, tiling, Workspaces and Command Chains that fire a string of commands off one keystroke. The deliberate gap is AI: there's none, by choice. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Updates mean downloading and installing the latest build by hand, which is more upkeep than a normal browser. | A4.73 from about 4,400 App Store ratings. You can leave it exactly as it comes, or change shortcuts, themes and layout until it fits. There's a lot in here, so give it an evening. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, macOS and Linux only. The download page lists no Android or iOS version. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone, with history, passwords, bookmarks, tabs and notes synced end-to-end encrypted. Computers and both phones is a B here, because our top mark also wants a web app and a browser isn't one, and Proton VPN is the only integration listed. |
| Best for | a privacy-tuned Chromium browser on desktop | tab hoarders who like to customise everything |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Iridium Browser and Vivaldi. How we grade
Price against what you get
Iridium Browser has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Vivaldi has no paid plan and scores 3.7.
Vivaldi scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than Iridium Browser for less, and none scores higher than Vivaldi for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Iridium Browser is open source, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxWeb browser
At a glance
| Iridium Browser | Vivaldi | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to use. The site lists no paid plans. | Vivaldi is free on desktop and mobile with no paid tier. The company funds itself through search engine and bookmark partner deals, a share of Proton VPN upgrades and donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Red Cool Beans UG | Vivaldi Technologies |
| Price read from | iridiumbrowser.de | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Iridium Browser
- Iridium does not update itself: updates mean downloading and installing the latest build manually.
- Signing in to Google and Chrome sync does not work, because the browser ships without Google API keys.
- Google Safe Browsing is on by default and contacts iridiumbrowser.de and Google's servers unless you turn it off.
- Not available for Android, iOS or other mobile systems. The download page lists only source code tarballs, and the FAQ describes Windows, macOS and Linux installs.
Vivaldi
- Proton VPN for Vivaldi works only in the desktop browser, and faster speeds, more servers and extra devices need a paid Proton VPN plan.
- New installs come with partner bookmarks and search engines that earn Vivaldi revenue. They can be replaced.
- Vivaldi deliberately leaves out an AI assistant, so there is no built-in chatbot or page summarizer.
- The current Mac download requires macOS 13 or later.
Key features
Iridium Browser
- Chromium base
- Built from the Chromium code base, so it keeps the Chromium interface and extension model while changing privacy-related defaults.
- Privacy defaults
- Automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords and metrics to central services is blocked and only happens with the user's approval.
- Reproducible builds
- The project says all of its builds are reproducible and that its changes can be audited in a public Git repository.
- MSI deployment
- The Windows installer is an MSI package, which the site presents as a way for administrators to roll the browser out across an organization.
- Portable Windows version
- A zip-file portable edition runs without installing and can keep its data in a folder of your choice.
Vivaldi
- Mail, Calendar and Feed Reader
- A built-in email client handles several accounts, mailing lists and feeds in one inbox, next to a private calendar and a feed reader that does not rank items by algorithm.
- Tab Stacks, tiling and Workspaces
- Tabs group into two-level Tab Stacks, open side by side in a split-screen view, and sort into Workspaces for switching between categories of tabs.
- Ad and tracker blocker
- A blocker for ads and trackers is built into the desktop and mobile browsers, so no extension is needed to remove them.
- End-to-end encrypted Sync
- Browsing history, passwords, bookmarks, tabs and notes sync between desktop and mobile devices, protected by end-to-end encryption.
- Proton VPN for Vivaldi
- An opt-in VPN from Proton is built into the desktop browser. It is free with no ads or data limits after signing in with a Vivaldi account.
- Customization and Command Chains
- Shortcuts, themes and features can be personalized, mouse gestures trigger actions, and Command Chains run a custom sequence of commands from one keystroke or gesture.
Plans
Iridium Browser
Free$0
Free to use. The site lists no paid plans.
Vivaldi
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, including mail, calendar, feed reader, sync and the free tier of Proton VPN on desktop.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Iridium Browser or Vivaldi?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Iridium Browser and Vivaldi are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Iridium Browser or Vivaldi?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Iridium Browser and Vivaldi have a free plan.
Which platforms do Iridium Browser and Vivaldi run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Vivaldi lists iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.