The Vivaldi Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Vivaldi in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Vivaldi
The Insider’s Guide
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Vivaldi’s own pages.
Made by Vivaldi Technologies · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Vivaldi’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Vivaldi’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.8
GPA, above 13 of the 15 other browsers we grade
Vivaldi is a browser from Vivaldi Technologies, an independent company based in Norway and Iceland, for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. It builds in tools that other browsers leave to extensions, including an email client, a calendar, a feed reader, notes, an ad and tracker blocker and two-level tab stacks, and its shortcuts, themes and layout can be customized. Vivaldi says it does not track or profile users and does not include an AI assistant.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Vivaldi, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It leaves AI out on purpose, so there's no chatbot or page summarizer.
- 1
Best for tab hoarders who like to customise everything
Vivaldi builds mail, a calendar, a feed reader, notes and an ad blocker into the browser, and it's free with no paid tier.
- 2
It is free
Vivaldi has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.8 GPA, above 13 of 15
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Vivaldi is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Vivaldi at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Vivaldi Technologies
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 3.8 GPA, excellent
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 4,399 ratings
The report card
Best for tab hoarders who like to customise everything
Vivaldi builds mail, a calendar, a feed reader, notes and an ad blocker into the browser, and it's free with no paid tier. It leaves AI out on purpose, so there's no chatbot or page summarizer. New installs come with partner bookmarks and search engines that earn Vivaldi money, the free Proton VPN works only on the desktop, and the current Mac download needs macOS 13 or later.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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 | A | Free 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 | A | It 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 | A | 4.73 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 | B | Windows, 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Vivaldi is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Power users who keep dozens of tabs open
- People who want mail, calendar and feeds inside the browser
- Those who like to customize shortcuts, themes and layout
- Users who want a browser without a built-in AI assistant
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Vivaldi is free to use.
There's nothing to buy and nothing withheld.
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.
The free plan
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.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: end-to-end encrypted, notes, calendar, email client, screenshots, rSS reader, web browser.
The deliberate gap is AI: there's none, by choice.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Proton VPN
Who makes Vivaldi
Vivaldi is made by Vivaldi Technologies, a privately held browser company headquartered in Oslo with offices in Iceland and the United States. The browser is free, and the company says its money comes from search and bookmark partner deals, Direct Match links, a share of Proton VPN subscriptions and donations.
- Based
- Built in Europe, headquartered in Oslo, with offices in Reykjavík, Boston and Palo Altovivaldi.com
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held. Its own About page calls Vivaldi an independent browser company based in Norway and Iceland and says it has no external investors.vivaldi.com
- Funding
- Vivaldi says on its About page that it has no external investors. Its business-model post lists its income as partner deals with search engines, partner deals with bookmark partners, Direct Match links, a share of Proton VPN subscriptions since March 2025, and donations from users.vivaldi.comvivaldi.com
- Team
- 25 nationalities working across seven countries, with offices in Norway, Iceland and the USAvivaldi.com
- Founders and leaders
- Jón S. von Tetzchner, CEOvivaldi.com
- Tatsuki Tomita, COO and Co-foundervivaldi.com
- Anne Christiansen, Head of Office HR & Culture, Co-foundervivaldi.com
- Hiring
- The jobs page says every position is filled at the moment and the company is not hiringvivaldi.com
- Lately
- Vivaldi 8.2 for mobile: Your browser. Your rules. Your extensions. · Sep 10, 2026
- Vivaldi 8.2: we've done the math, and this is the browser you deserve · Sep 3, 2026
- Vivaldi 8.1 on Mobile: custom app icons on Android and improvements for the PDF reader · Jul 14, 2026
- Vivaldi 8.1: rowing in calm waters · Jul 9, 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/15
Other browsers it is graded above
Vivaldi's GPA of 3.8 is higher than 13 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on features (A, above 12 of 15) and worst on platforms and integrations (B, above 7).
Vivaldi has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Vivaldi’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 8 of 15
- AFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 15
- AFeaturesAbove 12 of 15
- AEase of useAbove 10 of 15
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 7 of 15
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 15 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Vivaldi is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Vivaldi is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.8 is higher than 13 of the 15 other browsers we grade.
What you could make
- Calendar, rSS reader and notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
- Capture tools hooked into the operating system.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
- The depth: we grade its features A, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Vivaldi’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Opera, Firefox, Brave, Arc and Google Chrome
The 5 tools Vivaldi is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Opera
Free plan · from $4/mo
Browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN and sidebar messengers.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client and rSS reader.
- 3.8GPA
Firefox
Free
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.
- Firefox is open source, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
- Firefox also covers password manager.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Brave is open source, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
- 3.4GPA
Arc
Free
Chromium-based browser with Spaces, Profiles and Split View.
- Only Vivaldi lists a Linux app.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
- 3.6GPA
Google Chrome
Free
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
- Google Chrome also covers password manager and passkeys.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Vivaldi free?
Yes. Vivaldi is free to use.
How much does Vivaldi cost?
Vivaldi lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Vivaldi work on?
Vivaldi is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
How is Vivaldi rated?
Vivaldi's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4,399 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Is Vivaldi open source?
Vivaldi is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Is Vivaldi end-to-end encrypted?
Vivaldi describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
What does Vivaldi integrate with?
Vivaldi's listing names Proton VPN. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Vivaldi?
Vivaldi is made by Vivaldi Technologies. Privately held.
What are the alternatives to Vivaldi?
The closest alternatives to Vivaldi in our directory are Opera, Firefox, Brave, Arc and Google Chrome.
How does Vivaldi compare with other browsers?
Vivaldi's GPA of 3.8 is higher than 13 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 2.
Is Vivaldi good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Vivaldi A for value for money. Vivaldi has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Vivaldi?
Vivaldi is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Vivaldi’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Vivaldi's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Vivaldi Technologies. Prices change, so check vivaldi.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Vivaldi, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/vivaldi
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Vivaldi: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/vivaldi
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/vivaldi/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Vivaldi, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 16 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Google Chrome Insider's GuideGoogle's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Vivaldi’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Vivaldi is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Vivaldi Technologies. Prices and plans change: check vivaldi.com before you buy.