Maxthon vs Vivaldi (2026): which should you pick?

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Maxthon

• Free browser$0

  The browser for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with sync, split screen and the built-in free VPN.

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.