Does Opera VPN work?

Opera is among the most popular browsers worldwide, and much of its fan base is loyal – thanks to its integration of useful cutting-edge technology. However, is its VPN service worth it?

While the browser is available on all platforms, the free VPN service is only available in Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Before you spend time on it, it helps to know whether it works like other VPN services, since it is your internet security you need to consider. The service is free and does not have bandwidth restrictions, but it uses proxy servers to encrypt your traffic instead of OpenVPN.

So does Opera VPN work? Not really, as it functions more like a proxy than a VPN service. It secures your connection using HTTPS, making it an HTTPS Proxy. Since it also uses Chromium as its basis, it supports TLS 1.3 (the latest version). There is little customer support, although its ease of use means you will not need it anyway.

Note that with a VPN service, you get the service according to what you pay. In the case of a free VPN like Opera VPN, it proves a risky choice to rely on it exclusively when there are better options you can get to ensure your online privacy and security.

Summary of Opera VPN features

Features	Rating
Server locations	10 servers in 5 countries
Log files	It has some logging policy
Usability	Easy to use and setup
Support	None
Torrenting	None
Cost	Free
Encryption	Absent. It only uses proxy

Setting up Opera VPN

1. Download and install the Opera browser (since the VPN service is not a standalone service).
2. Enable the VPN feature by going to the Settings menu, selecting ‘Privacy & Security’, tap on ‘VPN’, and then ‘Enable VPN’.
3. Note that this feature has a similar appearance to the VPN browser extension on the SurfEasy browser (Opera owns both companies). Unlike SurfEasy VPN, Opera VPN does not have a data limit.

Analysis of Opera VPN features

Performance

Since the Opera VPN does not require much from your bandwidth, its performance is quite fast. According to our tests, the average connection time is 4.3 seconds, making it among the fastest among free VPNs. Streaming videos and music is also quick, and the network latency is at acceptable levels – about 2.5 times the pre-VPN speed.

On the other hand, its average download rate is only 5.9 Mbps, a drop of 97% from the pre-VPN speed, while its upload rate drops by 92% to 2.8 Mbps. This is the poorest performance even when compared to other free VPNs, and shows that you should not use it extensively for heavy-bandwidth activities.

Privacy

Opera VPN’s policy mainly involves getting and storing information about your general location, which is a major drawback if you are looking for a good VPN service. It serves you targeted ads and news, but this is already bad news when your browser is already collecting information about you – Opera VPN does not guarantee your security. The only positive is that you will not need to give away your payment details, email address, or any other sensitive information.

Apps

The Opera VPN service does not have a standalone app and is instead integrated into the Opera browser. The good news is the easy setup, which only takes a moment and does not have complex procedures.

If the server location does not suit your needs, you are free to select Asia, the Americas, or Europe. However, the exact server you are choosing is vague, and the VPN does not give you information on the best locations.

Pros of Opera VPN

• Free to use
• It works with Netflix
• Easy to set up and use

Cons of Opera VPN

• They keep logs of your browsing data
• It has unclear jurisdictions (their headquarters are different from the country where their VPN services are managed)
• It is not an actual VPN – instead, it is a proxy
• It only functions within the Opera browser (it lacks a standalone VPN product)
• Lacks customer support
• Tends to leak your IP address (especially on Chrome)
• Suffers from slow speeds
• Lacks torrenting features
• Very few servers and limited features

Conclusion

If you want a good VPN service, Opera VPN does not stand among the best. While it is free to use, it is not worth the risk due to its leaks, logging, non-existent customer support, absence of torrenting, and jurisdiction issues. In many ways, it functions more like a proxy than an actual VPN service.

FAQs

Is the VPN on Opera free to use?

Yes, as it comes in-built in the browser itself. You will not need to download add-ons or additional extensions to use it.

Does Opera VPN hide IP addresses?

No, it does not, even though it helps you save your data. Its proxy only lets optimized browsing traffic pass through its servers, but it will not compress the data.