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Opera VPN Review 2023: Summary
You may think of using Opera’s in-built service if you’re looking for a VPN-like, stealthy connection.
It provides unlimited data with no extra software or accounts and works well for a VPN-like service and watching Netflix abroad.
Nonetheless, it performed the poorest in our latest tests of any free VPN-like provider we’ve observed, falling well short of the findings from tests performed on the same company a little over a year ago.
While Opera’s VPN service is free and unlimited, we wouldn’t recommend it for anything other than using it as a proxy when viewing videos.
And even a regular free VPN, an intentionally slow service with no bandwidth caps, is quicker than Opera VPN.
Want to learn more about our findings? Check out our full Opera VPN review below.
Opera VPN Review 2023: In-depth
Safety
VPN service Opera is neither reliable nor secure. It deceptively promotes itself as a Virtual Private Network (VPN), has an intrusive privacy policy, and uses no tunneling mechanism.
Opera VPN is not a recommended VPN service due to the issues we’ve already discussed.
Opera’s connectivity service was breached in 2016. For almost 1.7 million active users, the issue exposed credentials, including passwords and login details.
A few Opera VPN customers have recently complained that the service is leaking their true IP addresses.
In the following sections, we’ll dive deeper into the topic of Opera VPN’s security.
You can also consider NordVPN if you’re looking for a VPN that will reliably disguise your IP address and protect you while you’re online.
AES-256 Encryption
If you’re concerned about the safety of any information you send using Opera VPN, you can rest assured that it will be encrypted using the military-grade AES-256 algorithm.
That’s right; this is the same type of encryption employed by the United States government, deemed unbreakable.
Unfortunately, unlike other VPN services, Opera VPN doesn’t complement this by using a VPN tunneling technology like OpenVPN or WireGuard.
Opera instead employs the industry-standard TLS encryption technology utilized by all HTTPS websites.
Despite its robust encryption, Opera VPN is not more secure than using a free plugin like HTTPS Anywhere.
Because it is a browser-based service, it cannot encrypt communication from other sources, including an external email client.
Privacy Issues
Issues and scandals surrounding the Opera browser are especially significant, given that it is the sole option to access this VPN.
There have been rumors that Opera has released a few fraudulent loan applications with extremely high annual percentage charges and ridiculous stipulations.
The Opera browser has a confusing approach to user privacy.
While it is true that the VPN will not log information about your browsing history or the IP address from which you connected, the same can be guaranteed for the website itself.
Opera and its apps, for instance, are rumored to exchange user data with third-party such as Facebook.
Performance
Due to its limited number of server locations, Opera VPN is not a good option for bypassing restrictions.
One of our regular test sites, BBC iPlayer, was unavailable since Opera VPN doesn’t offer a UK location.
Weirdly, even though we were accessing Netflix from a US IP address, the site still displayed our usual UK Netflix collection.
But we were able to stream videos without any complaints from Netflix, so you’ll likely have better luck.
When we expanded our search to include other sites, we discovered Opera VPN could not unblock either US Amazon Prime Video or Disney+.
We could see US-only videos on YouTube, but that’s so simple that any VPN worth its salt can do it.
At first, we were discouraged by all these unblocking failures, but after running some tests, we saw that they improved performance.
Our latest Opera VPN review discovered that download speeds were a quarter of what NordVPN offers, starting at just 9-10 Mbps to our top European server and down to only 4-5 Mbps while linking from the UK to the UK.
You may even be able to access a streaming service, but your connection might be too slow to support HD quality.
Even though our Opera VPN review came to a somewhat negative conclusion because no DNS breaches were discovered during our leak tests, this fact does not redeem Opera VPN from its many other flaws.
Compatibility
Now that Opera is essentially Chrome, it can display and function normally with any website compatible with Google’s browser.
There are still reports that it is incompatible with their site. Two separate financial institution websites warned us that your browser might not render the pages properly.
That, of course, is ridiculous. Unfortunately, Opera does not have the same native support for Flash that Chrome and Edge do.
Despite widespread claims to the contrary, many online properties still insist on employing Flash.
Similarly, Opera is almost as fast as Chrome on Niels Leenheer’s HTML5Test page.
This checks both Google’s internal standards for future development and the standards endorsed by the W3C for HTML5.
The test should be interpreted with caution because it does not check the correctness of the functions’ implementation, only whether the browser responds to function calls.
Should Businesses Use Opera VPN?
Alright, we’ll be honest that Opera VPN is not recommended for companies.
Management dashboards, consolidated billing, and administrative controls are noticeably absent, making them unsuitable for use in a professional setting.
Thus, you cannot have your IT department handle it from a safe distance and must instead rely on your staff to use it all day long.
Worse yet, Opera VPN’s poor security measures should put users’ minds at ease.
If we’re practical, it’s not a legitimate VPN because there is no routing protocol, it tracks your data, and it has no encryption.
Installing Opera VPN won’t help your company’s security because it’s only a VPN-like service offered through a single browser.
The truth is that you shouldn’t expect the finest results from any free VPN service.
They don’t provide any tools for running a business, their security measures frequently have flaws, and their customer service is nonexistent.
A reliable VPN membership, such as NordVPN, is your best option if you want to safeguard your company, and they aren’t that pricey to begin with.
Jurisdiction
In addition to its headquarters in Norway, Opera Software ASA maintains locations in Poland, Sweden, and China.
Meanwhile, a Chinese consortium led by Hong Kong-based billionaire tycoon Zhou Yahui acquired most of its shares in November 2016.
It’s unclear what this means for the “VPN” and the legal framework within which it operates.
It appears that the “VPN” infrastructure, which was not included in the sale of the consumer browser segment, is still in Opera Software ASA’s possession even though the company sold it to a Chinese consortium.
But since June of 2016, Yahui Zhou has held the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.
Despite its perfect score of 100 in Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2022 survey, Norway participates in the US-led Nine Eyes spying partnership and conducts substantial surveillance programs.
It is unclear whether VPN services are included in the six-month retention period mandated for all internet service providers and telecom.
Slow Speeds
With a virtual private network (VPN), we sacrifice some throughput to ensure data safety. That’s how the animal kingdom works.
To make matters worse, it becomes problematic when large portions of efficiency are lost in the name of privacy.
Concealing your online actions while enjoying high speeds by using a VPN is possible.
Because of this, you won’t have to accept a slow experience. On the other hand, Opera VPN will significantly reduce your computer’s performance.
We recorded the speeds achieved when testing Opera’s European server and one located in the United States. In this case, the outcomes were less than ideal.
No Torrenting
Several browsers and VPN services don’t allow torrenting. One such system is Opera VPN, which prohibits all forms of torrenting.
Though, that could be a good thing, given how insecure they are. Protecting your data from hackers is the primary motivation for using a VPN when torrenting.
Whenever you torrent, you open your computer to other people’s networks.
In most cases, this would be good and fine. Torrenting is convenient, but cybercriminals have started utilizing it for cybercrime, so a VPN is a good idea for protection.
Even if Opera permitted torrenting, it could not guarantee users’ privacy because of the company’s lack of encryption.
It’s also important to understand that when you employ a VPN, none of your information may be accessed by anybody else.
A browser-based proxy, such as Opera VPN, will only conceal your IP address for browsing done within the browser.
In other words, you would be completely vulnerable if you linked to their server and attempted to utilize an external tool like uTorrent.
Ad-Blocker
Advertisement blocking in Opera can be enabled or deactivated in the preferences panel.
While ad blockers are available for other browsers like Chrome, Opera already includes one, so you don’t have to worry about annoying pop-ups.
The built-in ad blocker uses three filter lists to identify and block advertisements, banners, and crawlers automatically. The user can add more filter lists for even greater security.
Mobile Apps
Opera VPN is utilized on smartphones and tablets running Android with a specialized app.
When used on mobile, Opera VPN modifies the real connection instead of just the browser on a computer.
Because of this, you can utilize the proxy network with any app without switching browsers. There is no longer an iOS version of the app to download.
Pricing
Opera has a free VPN service provider called Opera VPN right in the browser.
It’s a VPN service that doesn’t cost anything, has no hidden fees, and comes with unlimited data transfer.
Most VPNs that don’t cost money make money by either selling users’ personal information or inundating their devices with ads.
People living in nations with widespread internet censorship can thank their lucky stars for free VPNs.
The Opera browser VPN is in the group of VPNs that offer poor security but are useful for bypassing geographical restrictions on the internet.
Opera includes a VPN service called Opera VPN. This VPN service has no fees, period.
Most VPNs that are free to use make money by either selling users’ personal information or inundating their devices with ads.
Despite this, people living in countries with strict internet censorship regulations will find free VPN services a godsend.
The Opera browser VPN is in the group of VPNs that offer poor security but are useful for bypassing geographical restrictions on the internet.
You should check out if you’re looking for a service like NordVPn, but at a lower price.
Customer Support
No specialized customer care is available for Opera VPN users because it is not a full-fledged Internet service. Opera’s Help Center is your primary resource for learning about the VPN.
You may also find Opera’s email or phone number online.
Nevertheless, as stated on the support page, the listed phone numbers are not to be utilized for product assistance.
There’s a feedback form, too, albeit it’s not possible to get a response.
In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;
| Rating | VPN Service | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Top Rated#1 | NordVPN - #1 VPN in the industry | FREE Trial |
| #2 Top Rated#2 | Surfshark - top budget VPN | Start Now |
| #3 Top Rated#3 | Atlas VPN - best free VPN | Start Now |
Review Verdict
This Opera VPN review goes in-depth, covering topics including the service’s essential features and installation instructions. Opera VPN was recently remarkably quick, but now it’s not.
This is due to the advancements in security and privacy protocols offered by other VPNs. The service didn’t unblock hugely, and even the simplest basic browsing took a long time.
Simple operations, like switching to US dollars on a website, are still possible with this service, but NordVPN is your best choice for more advanced VPN needs.
A dependable and trustworthy resource One of the greatest VPN services is NordVPN.
This VPN provides its users with several advantages, including access to unlimited bandwidth, perfect confidentiality, and a no-logs policy that external authority has verified.
The advanced capabilities of NordVPN’s apps aren’t getting in the manner of the customer experience, though, because the apps aren’t overly complicated.
Opera VPN Review 2023: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam? - EarthWeb
In this Opera VPN review, we will walk you through the program's operation and highlight both its advantages and disadvantages.
Price: Free
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Android & iOS
Application Category: VPN
1.25
Pros
- It requires no downloads or installations.
- Easily implemented
- No limits on how much data you can use
- Fully compatible with Netflix
Cons
- Bad network performance
- Not a real VPN
- Works exclusively with the Opera desktop browser
- Some worries about privacy
- Logs your usage
- Provides a marketplace for your personal information while also
- Serves you adverts
- Gives your information to the police
- Indeterminate authority
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Written by Trevor Cooke
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