Chrome vs Opera

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Chrome and Opera are popular web browsers with distinct strengths. Chrome excels in its extensive extension library and seamless integration with Google services. Opera, however, prioritizes user privacy and convenience with a built-in VPN, ad blocker, and a cleaner interface. The best choice depends on individual needs and priorities, with Chrome favoring customization and Google integration, while Opera emphasizes privacy and a streamlined experience.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 1745 reviews and 60 websites, saving 10 hours, 11 minutes of reading.

Chrome

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Opera

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About

Chrome is a free web browser created by Google, designed to provide a fast and modern web browsing experience. It's known for its speed, security features, and wide range of available extensions to customize functionality.

Opera is a web browser known for its speed and user-friendly features. It offers a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and a visually clean interface. Opera emphasizes user privacy and security and is available across various devices, including computers and mobile phones. It aims to provide a smoother and more secure browsing experience compared to default browsers.

Summary

Main difference

Chrome offers a broader extension library and deeper integration with Google services, while Opera provides a built-in VPN and ad blocker for enhanced privacy and a streamlined browsing experience.

Relative strengths of Chrome (compared to Opera)

Wider Extension Support: Chrome offers a significantly larger library of extensions compared to Opera, providing greater customization and functionality.
Strong Google Integration: Chrome seamlessly integrates with other Google services, enhancing productivity for users within the Google ecosystem.
Generally Faster Performance: Chrome is often perceived as faster and more responsive than Opera, especially for resource-intensive tasks.

Relative weaknesses of Chrome (compared to Opera)

Lacks Built-in VPN: Unlike Opera, Chrome does not offer a built-in VPN, requiring users to rely on third-party extensions for enhanced privacy.
No Built-in Ad Blocker: Chrome users need to install extensions for ad blocking, whereas Opera includes this feature by default.
Higher Resource Consumption: Chrome is known to consume more system resources (RAM) compared to Opera, potentially impacting performance on less powerful devices.

Who should use Chrome VS. Opera

Chrome is a fast and versatile web browser favored by users for its speed, customizability, and seamless Google integration. It's suitable for individuals and businesses of all sizes, across various industries. While praised for its user-friendly interface and extensive extensions, some users have noted high RAM usage and privacy concerns.

Opera is a fast and secure web browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, and customizable interface. Users praise its privacy features and integrated tools but note occasional performance issues. Ideal for privacy-conscious users and those with limited data connectivity.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes (1-1000+ employees).
Excellent fit for industries like Healthcare, Finance, E-commerce, Education, and Software/IT.

Best for small businesses (1-100 employees), suitable for medium and large enterprises.
Suitable for various industries, especially Software, IT & Telecommunications.

Chrome and Opera features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Performance Optimization

Supported

Chrome prioritizes performance with features like Memory Saver and a Performance Detection tool.

Supported

Opera optimizes performance with features like hardware acceleration and battery saver.
Cross-Platform Compatibility

Supported

Chrome runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Supported

Opera runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Built-in Security

Supported

Chrome has several built-in security measures, including Safe Browsing, site isolation, and password management.

Supported

Opera offers built-in protection against malware, phishing, and other online threats.
Extension Support

Supported

Chrome supports the ability to extend browser functionality with extensions.

Supported

Opera browser supports extensions, including those designed for Chrome.
Chrome integration

Supported

Chrome supports integration with the Chrome browser in a business context.

Supported

Opera supports Chrome extensions.
Customizable Settings

Supported

Chrome supports customizable settings, allowing users to change browser settings according to their preferences.

Supported

Opera allows extensive customization of appearance, functionality, and performance.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

-0.5

Rather negative sentiment

+0.33

Rather positive sentiment
Customer Service

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

No data
Ease of Use

+0.98

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.55

Rather positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+0.1

Neutral sentiment

+0.22

Neutral sentiment
Ease of Implementation

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.78

Strongly positive sentiment
Scalability

+0.33

Rather positive sentiment

No data

Chrome and Opera Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.5

We couldn't find a pricing page for Chrome.

No data

User sentiment

Rather positive

+0.33

We couldn't find a pricing page for Opera.

Chrome and Opera review insights

1745 reviews analysed from

Users love

Fast browsing experience
User-friendly interface
Wide range of extensions and plugins
Seamless integration with Google services
Syncs bookmarks, passwords and history across devices

Built-in free VPN for enhanced privacy and security.
Integrated ad blocker for a cleaner browsing experience.
Customizable UI with themes and wallpapers.
Sidebar with integrated messaging apps and other tools for enhanced productivity.
Chromium-based, allowing access to some Chrome extensions.

Users dislike

High RAM usage, even with a few tabs open
Frequent updates can be disruptive
Privacy concerns due to data collection
Some websites perform better on other browsers

Lags and slow performance compared to other browsers.
Limited extension support compared to alternatives.
Occasional freezing and crashing issues, especially with multiple tabs.
UI can feel bloated and overwhelming with various bars and options.
Some websites display incorrectly or have compatibility issues.

Chrome and Opera Ratings

G2

4.7/5

(1556)
Glassdoor

3.5/5

(2)

G2

4.2/5

(205)

Company health

Employee growth

No data

Web traffic

No data

Financing

No data

How important is built-in VPN functionality for your browsing needs?

Opera's built-in VPN is a significant advantage if you prioritize privacy and need to bypass geo-restrictions, while Chrome relies on extensions for VPN functionality. If a built-in VPN is a must-have, Opera is the better choice. If you prefer a wider extension ecosystem and are comfortable installing a separate VPN extension, Chrome may be preferable.

Which browser is better for users prioritizing a minimalist interface?

For users prioritizing a minimalist interface, Chrome is the better choice. While Opera offers a customizable UI, user reviews suggest it can feel "bloated and overwhelming." Chrome, on the other hand, is known for its user-friendly and relatively clean interface, focusing on essential browsing elements.

What are the advantages of Chrome?

Chrome offers superior performance and a wider range of extensions compared to Opera. User reviews highlight Chrome's speed and seamless integration with Google services as key advantages. Additionally, Chrome boasts broader cross-platform compatibility.

What are the disadvantages of Chrome?

Chrome's disadvantages include high RAM usage, which can slow down performance, especially with multiple tabs open. Frequent updates can be disruptive to workflows. There are also privacy concerns regarding Google's data collection practices. Finally, some websites may perform better on other browsers due to compatibility issues.

Alternatives to Chrome and Opera

Firefox Multi-Account Containers

Firefox Multi-Account Containers is a free browser extension that lets you separate your online activities into different, color-coded tabs. This means you can use multiple accounts on the same website at the same time, without having to log in and out. It also helps prevent websites from tracking your browsing activity across different containers, better protecting your privacy.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is Microsoft's web browser, offering a fast and secure browsing experience. It features built-in tools for productivity, like the ability to search directly from the address bar and sync your browsing data across your devices. Edge aims to give you control over your online privacy and streamline your workflow.

Brave

Brave is a free web browser that prioritizes speed and privacy by blocking ads and trackers by default. It offers a built-in ad blocker, VPN, and a private search engine. Brave also allows users to opt-in to viewing privacy-respecting ads in exchange for rewards in the form of cryptocurrency. With a focus on user experience, Brave aims to provide a faster, safer, and less intrusive browsing experience.

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a free web browser available for desktop and mobile devices. Developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, Firefox prioritizes user privacy and internet health. It offers a range of features including tracker blocking, enhanced privacy controls, and a built-in password manager. Firefox is compatible with multiple operating systems and allows for customization through themes and extensions.

Chromium OS

Chromium OS is a Google-developed operating system designed to make your computing experience fast, simple, and secure. Ideal for users who primarily rely on web-based applications, it centers around the Chrome browser and cloud storage. With a focus on speed, security, and ease of use, Chromium OS offers a streamlined alternative to traditional operating systems for a modern, web-centric workflow.

Symlex VPN

Symlex VPN is a virtual private network service that prioritizes speed and security. It encrypts your internet connection, protecting your online activity on public Wi-Fi. With servers in 95+ locations, Symlex VPN lets you bypass geographic restrictions to access blocked websites and content. They offer different pricing plans to fit individual and business needs and promise a strict no-logging policy to protect user privacy.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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