Opera's 'VPN' is a browser proxy only. It does not protect apps, torrents, or anything outside the browser. Opera was acquired by a Chinese consortium in 2016.
Opera VPN Review 2026
By ChrisFounder & Lead AnalystFree browser-only proxy, not a real VPN
Opera's built-in 'VPN' is technically a proxy that only encrypts browser traffic. It doesn't protect apps or your full device. The Chinese majority ownership since 2016 raises serious privacy questions.
We do not recommend this VPN for any use case. See the warning above for details.
Performance Scores
Privacy & Security
What Opera VPN Actually Protects
This is the single most important thing to understand, and it is the reason Opera VPN scores where it does. Opera states directly that the free built-in VPN keeps your activity within the Opera browser private but does not apply to your internet use outside of Opera.
So your other browsers, your email client, your torrent client, your games and every background app on the machine are untouched. A conventional VPN protects the whole device. This protects one application. That is a different product, and the shared word in the name causes real confusion.
It is also worth being precise about what that means for privacy: traffic leaving the browser is encrypted to Opera's endpoint, but nothing else on the machine is. If you want device-wide coverage, look at the full VPN rankings rather than a browser feature.
The Free Built-In VPN
The free tier is genuinely free, with no account required, no data cap and unlimited bandwidth. That is unusual and it is the strongest thing about it. You pick from a small number of broad regional locations rather than specific countries.
Opera states that the free VPN does not log your activity or collect information, and that this policy has been independently audited by Deloitte. An audit is meaningful and more than most free browser proxies can point to, though it does not change what the product covers.
For free tools that protect the whole device rather than one browser, see our best free VPNs guide.
How Opera VPN Pro Differs
Opera also sells a separate paid product, VPN Pro, and it is a different proposition from the free browser feature. VPN Pro covers the whole device rather than only the browser, works across multiple devices on one subscription, and offers a far larger set of locations and servers than the free tier's handful of regions.
If you have read that Opera VPN is free and unlimited and then found it does not protect your other apps, this distinction is why. The scores on this page describe the free built-in browser VPN, which is the product most people mean by the name.
Streaming and Unblocking
The free browser VPN is not a streaming tool. The location choices are broad regions rather than specific countries, and browser-based proxies are among the easiest things for streaming platforms to detect and block.
For providers that actually maintain unblocking, see our best VPN for streaming guide.
Who Opera VPN Is For
The free Opera VPN is worth using for exactly one thing: hiding your browsing from the local network when you are on untrusted Wi-Fi and you are already using Opera. It costs nothing, needs no account and has no data cap, so for that narrow job it is hard to argue with.
It is not a substitute for a VPN. If you want your whole device covered, a real country selection, or a provider you can hold to a published no-logs audit covering the full service, start with our full VPN rankings or our best VPNs for privacy guide.
Pricing & Plans
Pros & Cons
- Free
- One-click in browser
- Not a real VPN, browser proxy only
- Chinese consortium ownership since 2016
- Only 5 regions
- No app protection
Bottom Line
For a real free VPN, use Proton VPN or Windscribe instead.
Opera VPN FAQ
Is Opera VPN a real VPN?
Not in the usual sense. Opera states that its free built-in VPN keeps activity within the Opera browser private but does not apply to your internet use outside of Opera. A conventional VPN protects every application on the device, so the free Opera feature is closer to an encrypted browser proxy.
Is Opera VPN free?
Yes. The built-in browser VPN is free with no account required, no data cap and unlimited bandwidth. Opera separately sells a paid product called VPN Pro.
Does Opera VPN keep logs?
Opera states that its free VPN does not log your activity or collect information, and that the policy has been independently audited by Deloitte.
What is the difference between Opera VPN and Opera VPN Pro?
The free built-in VPN covers only traffic inside the Opera browser and offers a small number of broad regional locations. VPN Pro is a paid product that covers the whole device, works on multiple devices per subscription, and offers a much larger set of locations and servers.
Can Opera VPN unblock streaming services?
It is not built for it. The free tier offers broad regional locations rather than specific countries, and browser proxies are among the easiest connections for streaming platforms to detect.
Does Opera VPN protect my other apps?
No. The free built-in VPN applies only to traffic inside the Opera browser. Everything else on the device, including other browsers and background applications, connects normally.
Should I use Opera VPN instead of a paid VPN?
Only if your need is limited to keeping your Opera browsing private on an untrusted network. For device-wide protection, country selection or an audited no-logs guarantee covering the whole service, a full VPN is the right tool.
Where to Go Next
Builder, tinkerer, privacy advocate. I believe privacy is a right, not a product feature.