Maxthon vs Opera (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Opera grades higher than Maxthon: 3.6 against 3.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Maxthon grades higher on value for money. Opera grades higher on features and ease of use. They get the same grade on the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Maxthon
Chromium-based browser with notes, password manager and AI chat
Free plan
Opera
Browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN and sidebar messengers
Free plan · from $4/mo
Which one is for you
Pick Maxthon if
- Fits if you want notes and a password manager inside the browser itself
- Works for people who use a browser on both a computer and a phone
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the membership price isn't shown unless you log in, so we can't tell you what it costs
- Skip it if you want a built-in ad blocker on desktop, as it's an optional extension there
- Not for you if you use Linux, as the download page has no Linux version
- Watch out: the iOS version is listed through TestFlight on the download page
Pick Opera if
- Fits if you want an ad blocker and a browser VPN without hunting for extensions
- Works for people with WhatsApp, Telegram or Slack open all day next to their work
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a start page with no sponsored tiles or promoted suggestions on day one
- Not for you if you need a VPN for your whole device or one country: the free one covers the browser and three broad regions
- Pricey if you want the full VPN: VPN Pro starts at $4 a month on an unstated term, and only for desktop and Android
- Too light for anyone on an iPad, where reviewers say basics are missing and news alerts need switching off
- Watch out: on a computer the ad blocker and VPN start switched off, and Android lists unnamed in-app buys of $5.99 to $29.99
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAMaxthonVery good | 3.6GPAOperaExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe browser is free to download and use on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with sync and the built-in VPN. A paid membership exists, but its price wasn't readable. | BThe browser is free with the ad blocker and a no-data-cap VPN in it, where Brave and DuckDuckGo want $9.99 a month for a VPN, and VPN Pro from $4 sits in this category's lowest-priced quarter. Opera pays its way with sponsored Speed Dials and promoted address-bar suggestions instead. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe browser, sync, split screen and the VPN from Bright Data are free. | AFree outright: the ad blocker, a browser VPN with no data cap and no sign-up, Opera AI without a login, the sidebar, Flow and sync. In return the start page shows sponsored tiles until you switch them off. |
| Features | CPrivacy tools, notes, a password manager, media tools and AI chat. The ad blocker is built into the mobile versions only, and on desktop it's an optional extension. | AA built-in VPN, free, with no data cap and no sign-up, though it covers the browser only. WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord and Slack in the sidebar. Then Opera AI beside ChatGPT and Gemini, Tab Islands, split screen, Flow, translation and a 5x volume booster. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. You install it and browse, with the extra tools a click away. | A4.7 from about 260,000 App Store ratings, the top band for this category, and Chrome users say switching took little effort. Two things to know: there's a lot on the screen, and on a computer the ad blocker and VPN sit switched off until you find them. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Android and iOS, with sync between them. The iOS version is listed through TestFlight, and there's no Linux version. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iPhone and Android, tied together by a free Opera Account, and the desktop builds run Chrome extensions. Computers and both phones is a B on our scale: the top mark also wants a web app, and a browser isn't one. |
| Best for | a browser with notes, a password manager and a VPN built in | a free VPN and ad blocker built in |
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: Maxthon and Opera. How we grade
Where they differ
- Maxthon also covers notes and ad and tracker blocking.
- Opera also covers screenshots.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Maxthon | Opera | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $4 per month (VPN Pro; billing term for this rate not stated) |
| Free plan | The browser is free to download. A paid Maxthon membership exists, but its price could not be read without logging in. | The browser is free to download and use on desktop and mobile, including the ad blocker, the browser VPN with no data cap and Opera AI with no login. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Maxthon | Opera Norway |
| Price read from | maxthon.com | blogs.opera.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Maxthon
- The membership price is not shown to visitors who are not logged in, so it is not recorded here.
- The ad blocker is built into the mobile versions; on desktop it is an optional extension.
- The iOS version is listed through TestFlight on the download page.
- There is no Linux version on the download page.
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.
Key features
Maxthon
- Privacy tools
- Anti-tracking, incognito mode, automatic data cleaning on exit and a free VPN provided by Bright Data.
- Maxnote and Passkeeper
- Maxnote organizes notes and URLs, and Passkeeper fills passwords, addresses and payment details and syncs them across devices.
- Browsing tools
- Split screen, reading mode, read aloud, mouse gestures, super drag and tab search.
- Media tools
- A video float bar, video download, screen capture and a resource sniffer.
- AI chat
- The homepage describes a multi-model AI chat built into the browser.
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.
Plans
Maxthon
Free browser$0
The browser for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with sync, split screen and the built-in free VPN.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Maxthon or Opera?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Maxthon publishes no starting price, and Opera starts at $4 per month (VPN Pro; billing term for this rate not stated).
Which has a free plan, Maxthon or Opera?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Maxthon and Opera have a free plan.
Which platforms do Maxthon and Opera run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Opera lists a Linux app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android 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.