Microsoft Edge vs Opera
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Opera
Browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN and sidebar messengers
Free plan · from $4/mo
Where they differ
- Microsoft Edge is free. Opera starts at $4 per month (VPN Pro; billing term for this rate not stated).
- Microsoft Edge also covers password manager and passkeys.
- Opera also covers screenshots.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Microsoft Edge | Opera | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $4 per month (VPN Pro; billing term for this rate not stated) |
| Free plan | Edge is a free download, listed as free on the App Store. Copilot is included with a usage allowance; Microsoft sells higher limits through Microsoft 365 subscriptions. | 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 | Microsoft | Opera Norway |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | blogs.opera.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Microsoft Edge
- Windows users who want Copilot inside the browser
- Comparing options across many open tabs
- People who use Bing, Microsoft Rewards and the Microsoft 365 web apps
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
Worth knowing
Microsoft Edge
- Copilot has usage limits; Microsoft says higher limits, agents and complex multi-step tasks need a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- The iPhone and iPad app lists Microsoft 365 Personal and Premium as in-app purchases, from $9.99.
- Microsoft notes that feature availability varies by device type, market and browser version, and that supported extensions differ between operating systems.
- Password Generator works only when signed in to Edge with password sync turned on.
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
Microsoft Edge
- Copilot in Edge
- Copilot sits in the browser to summarize pages, PDFs and videos, answer questions about the page being viewed and compare details across open tabs.
- Journeys and the Copilot new tab page
- Journeys group related pages, searches and chats so earlier research can be picked up again. The Copilot new tab page takes a question, a search or a web address in one box.
- Workspaces and split screen
- Workspaces keep sets of tabs separate and color coded, split screen shows two pages side by side in one tab, and tabs can be grouped by topic in one click.
- Microsoft Password Manager and passkeys
- Password Generator, Password Monitor and Password Health suggest strong passwords, sync them between devices and flag saved credentials found in known leaks. Passkeys are supported too.
- Built-in security tools
- Microsoft Defender SmartScreen blocks known phishing sites and malicious downloads, a scareware blocker targets fake warnings and support scams, and InPrivate clears history, cookies and form data on close.
- Performance and gaming features
- Energy saver extends battery life, PC gaming boost cuts the browser's resource use when a game launches, and Edge for Game Bar is an in-game browser for PC gaming.
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
Microsoft Edge
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with Copilot built in and sync between signed-in devices.
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.
