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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Opera VPN Pro Review 2024 — Is It Worth the Money?

Our Score: 5.2/10
Ranked 114th out of 198 VPNs
Editor's Note: Opera VPN Pro and this site are in the same ownership group.
Doris Muthuri Updated on 1st October 2024 Fact-checked by Matthew Amos Senior Writer

Opera is seen as one of the more trustworthy browsers, making its free VPN popular. Opera VPN Pro is the premium version, which claims to be faster and more secure than the free option. But how does it compare to the best VPNs on the market?

After my global team and I ran various tests, I can’t recommend Opera VPN Pro. It lacks several crucial security features, and its privacy policy is vague. It also has a small server network. To get better value for your money, check out this list of our top-rated VPNs.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

Cons

Opera VPN Pro Features — 2024 Update

5.3
💸 Price 4 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 3000+
💻 Number of devices per license 6
🛡 Kill switch No
🗺 Based in country Norway
🛠 Support Live chat
📥 Supports torrenting No

Streaming — Decent Quality on Several Popular Platforms

7.0

Our global team could securely stream many popular streaming platforms while using Opera VPN Pro. However, all my colleagues had trouble streaming with the free version (they could only watch YouTube with an encrypted connection).

Opera VPN didn't have trouble securely accessing different Netflix libraries, although performance depends somewhat on the server used.

Editor's note. The VPNs we review usually keep your real location concealed so no one knows what you're doing online. However, you should respect all relevant streaming rules and guidelines. My team and I are strongly against copyright violations

Works With: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and DAZN

We had no issues securely streaming Netflix US, UK, Australia, or Japan libraries with Opera VPN Pro, and videos loaded without delays.

Screenshot of Netflix player streaming The Super Mario Bros Movie while connected to a US Opera VPN Pro serverVideos loaded quickly and played back without any buffering

My global testing team could all watch full libraries too, which was impressive because many VPNs downgrade you to Netflix Originals, which removes lots of popular content. Our testers also had no issues securely streaming Hulu with Opera VPN Pro. Opera VPN could safely access other US streaming platforms too, like Disney+ and Max.

Screenshot of Disney+ player streaming X-Men 97 while connected to Opera VPN Pro They didn't experience any buffering or dips in quality

Opera VPN Pro worked well with several Disney+ libraries, including those in the UK and Australia. We could even stream live sports on DAZN in HD, which is known for its robust VPN-blocking technology.

Doesn’t Work With: Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX

Unfortunately, we couldn’t safely stream Amazon Prime Video with Opera VPN Pro. Most streaming platforms have anti-VPN technologies to prevent anyone from watching in unapproved regions. Unfortunately, this can stop you from streaming securely, even if you’re in the proper country connected to a local server.

Screenshot of ITVX player displaying an error message when our tester tried to watch it while connected to Opera VPN Pro's UK serverEven though they were in the UK, each video was "unavailable"

Opera VPN Pro couldn't access BBC iPlayer in HD from anywhere. So, while I was impressed with how well it’s improved in this area, it’s still not perfect. To find a provider that can keep you safe with the widest range of streaming platforms possible, check out this list of the best VPNs for streaming.

Speed — Fast on Most Servers

8.8

Opera VPN Pro is fast, even on some servers far away. As usual, nearby locations always gave us the best speeds.

We try to do all our tests from the same location with the same connection to create fair comparisons. For the results you see in the chart below, our UK-based speed expert used the IKEv2 protocol (the only option available for Windows.)

Screenshot of a speed chart showing rates on a variety of Opera VPN Pro's international serversSpeeds fell 3% with nearby servers and 20% on distant ones

While we tested many servers, we barely noticed any slowdowns. Most VPNs reduce your speed by 10-20% on nearby servers, but Opera VPN Pro is significantly faster. When we tested the Optimal Location feature, my speeds dropped by 9%. This feature gives you the closest server.

Some distant servers were fast, but it’s not consistent. For instance, Australia is significantly farther away from the UK than Japan (by at least 5,000 km). But, the Australian servers were twice as fast. This could be due to server overcrowding in Japan, but Opera VPN Pro doesn’t display that information.

Screenshot of a speed test showing rates not connected to the VPN vs connected to a server nearby in AustriaMy download and upload rates didn't change much testing servers near me

As you might expect, the results weren’t as impressive when we tested the free browser VPN. With all 3 server options, our speeds always dropped by more than 50%. The Europe server was consistently the fastest, but not by much.

Overall, Opera VPN Pro is fast and performs much better than the free version. Some VPNs are more impressive on distant servers, but few can match it with local speeds.

Gaming — Low Ping Lets You Play Without Lag

8.0

Opera VPN Pro provided good ping rates for smooth gaming. While gaming, you want a ping under 85ms, with 50ms the best. If your ping exceeds 100ms, your character won’t respond to your commands immediately like you need them to.

Screenshot of Roblox being played while connected to Opera VPN's Pro's UAE server I didn't experience significant lag with any games I tested

I also tested multiple servers in Europe and North America, and most allowed me to play without delays. I couldn’t get the game to load with the servers in Japan, but that’s actually quite common. I’ve never found a VPN that works well for gaming on distant servers.

Although I was using a closer server, the game wouldn’t load with the free app either. Therefore, while Opera VPN Pro is good for gaming, the free version is not.

Server Network — Decent Number of Servers in Limited Locations

5.0

Opera VPN Pro gives you 3,000 servers in 30 countries. It has the most servers in Europe and decent coverage in Asia and North America. However, I was disappointed that it has no server locations in Africa. I had a hard time finding a server near my location in Nairobi. You can see the other countries it offers in the table below:

Austria Australia Belgium Bulgaria Canada
Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Finland France
Germany Hong Kong Hungary Ireland Italy
Japan Mexico Netherlands Norway Poland
Portugal Romania Serbia Singapore Slovakia
Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom

Opera VPN Pro's Optimal Location feature is designed to automatically select the fastest server based on your location — typically choosing a server in your country or a nearby one. During my tests from Nairobi, it always connected me to a server in the UAE.

You can’t pick city-level servers. This means you have much less control over which locations you get. For example, most top VPNs, like PIA, will give you several cities in the US to choose from (sometimes 10+).

The free version offers 3 server locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It also doesn’t allow you to choose a specific country or city.

When we tested this service previously, the customer support agent confirmed that all of its servers are virtual. When I asked customer support again this time, I was surprised when the agent said they are all physical servers.

Screenshot of customer support chat response When I probed, the agent insisted all servers are physical.

The support team member also said that it rents most of its servers. For clarity, I prefer when a VPN owns its servers because this assures me that no third party can tamper with them, which could affect my data privacy.

It also doesn’t offer dedicated IPs. I like dedicated IP addresses because they provide a consistent and unique internet identity, which is useful for things like running a website. Most of the top VPNs offer this service at an additional fee. If you want a VPN with a larger server network that is more secure, check out this list.

Security — Barebones Security Features

4.0

Opera VPN Pro is less secure than the top VPNs. It’s missing several features most of its competitors offer. There’s no split tunneling, double VPN, obfuscation, or perfect forward secrecy. The Opera browser itself comes with an adequate ad blocker, but it won’t work on any other site or app you use, which makes it weak compared to the ad blockers other VPNs provide.

Most importantly, there's no kill switch. This is a feature you definitely need because it blocks your internet connection if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly. In its place, Opera VPN Pro offers a reconnect feature that attempts to encrypt your connection again if the VPN disconnects. However, your information is vulnerable during this time.

Encryption

Opera VPN Pro doesn’t publicly disclose its encryption levels, which is strange to me. On its website, it only states that it encrypts data and doesn’t elaborate further. When we tested the service previously, a customer support agent told our tester that the encryption level varies between 128 and 256 bits. The free version is only a proxy with HTTPS/SSL encryption.

I contacted customer support again this time, and the agent said that they couldn’t specify which encryption level it uses. The top VPNs use military-grade encryption (AES 256) and clearly state this on their websites, so this is disappointing.

Security Protocols

Opera VPN Pro provides two security protocols: IKEv2 for desktop users and OpenVPN for Android users. Despite both protocols being recognized for their speed and security, I’m unsatisfied with the lack of choice.

Most VPNs offer a larger selection of protocols for each device. For example, most top VPNs support WireGuard, and from my experience, it's the fastest protocol. While I didn't encounter any speed issues, I believe WireGuard could have delivered even faster results than IKEv2.

DNS leak protection

It has strong protection against DNS leaks. I ran DNS and IP leak tests using our own tool.

Screenshot of tests done on ipleak.net while connected to an Australia Opera VPN Pro serverI tested more than 10 servers, and none leaked my IP address

Luckily, it passed all my leak tests on ipleak, including WebRTC detection. So, it’ll keep your online identity private as long as it stays connected. This is nice, but it’s the minimum a VPN should do.

Overall, Opera VPN Pro has a long way to go before it’s as secure as the best VPNs available today. To find a VPN with top-level encryption and a kill switch, look into this list of the safest options around.

Privacy — Bad Location with a Vague Privacy Policy

3.0

Opera’s privacy policies are unclear, especially when it comes to its premium VPN. I also don’t like that it’s based in Norway, part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.

When you connect to a VPN, you hand over your private information. So, you should never use one that you can’t trust with your data. To get a provider that offers clear policies about what it does and doesn’t store, read this list of the best no-log VPNs.

Does Opera VPN Pro Keep Logs? Yes

Unfortunately, Opera's privacy policy doesn’t mention the VPN at all, and I couldn’t find the policy dedicated to the VPN. I tried asking customer support about this, but the agent was very dismissive and unhelpful. They sent me a link to the main privacy policy which doesn’t say anything about the VPN’s data retention policies.

Screenshot of a chat response from Opera VPN Pro supportYou want a VPN that clearly states what it does and doesn't log

The Opera browser uses Google’s geolocation tech to send you targeted ads. Because the privacy policy leaves out so much information, I can’t be sure the VPN doesn’t do it, too.

On top of that, I do not recommend using the Opera browser without a VPN. The privacy policy related to the browser is open about recording your location and browsing history to create targeted ads. It also shares your data with several third parties, like Facebook. Plus, its cloud sync service was hacked in 2016, leaking 1.7 million users’ passwords.

Was Opera VPN Pro Audited? No

Unfortunately, an independent third party has not audited this VPN or its policies. When I contacted support to ask about this, the agent told me Opera carries out internal audits, but no external audits have taken place. Honestly, this wasn’t very surprising, considering that the privacy policy is so shallow and doesn’t even cover the VPN.

An audited privacy policy assures me that the service does what it claims. This is one more reason I don't trust Opera.

Based in Norway

Opera VPN Pro operates out of Norway, a country that’s part of the 14 Eyes Alliance. This alliance involves member countries agreeing to exchange their citizens' personal data with each other. Therefore, there's a potential risk that any member country could pressure Opera to change its operating procedures despite its official policies.

Does Opera VPN Pro Work in China? Maybe

An Opera VPN Pro customer support agent indicated that it could work in China. This was surprising because the VPN lacks so many security features, including the ability to hide your VPN traffic with obfuscation.

Screenshot of chat response where Opera VPN agent claims it can be used in ChinaThey recommend downloading the app before entering the country

China bans many VPNs, but there have been no publicly-reported cases of them going after individuals for using them. My team and I don't endorse any illegal actions, so we encourage you to check your local laws before using a VPN. If you’re unsure about Opera’s claims, you may want to read our recommended list of VPNs proven to work in China.

Torrenting — Didn’t Work with P2P Networks

0.5

I was disappointed that I couldn’t get Opera VPN Pro to connect while torrenting. I contacted support to ask whether the VPN was optimized for P2P, but they just said that the service works with all activities. I tried downloading a file, but the download wouldn’t even start. I tested multiple servers in different locations, and none were successful.

Without a kill switch, I wouldn’t feel comfortable torrenting with Opera anyways. You never know who you’re connecting to on these P2P networks.

To be clear, torrenting is legal in most countries, but downloading copyrighted material is not. My team and I don’t condone any illegal activities and ask that you stick with torrents in the public domain. If you want to torrent safely with fast speeds, check out this list of the best VPNs for P2P.

Installation & Apps

5.0

Installation & Apps — Only Works With 3 Operating Systems

Opera VPN Pro is simple to install and use. While that’s a good thing, this is also because there’s really not much to it. Besides connecting to servers, there aren’t any more useful features.

Screenshot of the Opera VPN Pro UI on Windows highlighting the The cog wheel just takes you to the Opera browser settings

It supports a pretty limited selection of operating systems too.

Setup & Installation

It’s pretty easy to use although it can be confusing at first. When I started, I couldn’t find the download link from my Chrome browser. It took me a minute to realize that I needed to use the Opera Browser to access the VPN service.

Screenshot of Opera browser's download page for WindowsThe VPN is activated in the upper-left corner of the browser

Also, its interface doesn’t work the same as other VPNs. Once you install the app, you can access it from your device’s system tray. It doesn’t have a full VPN app like most VPNs do. If you want to change the server location, you have to visit the Opera browser and use the VPN Pro badge in the address bar.

Device Compatibility

Opera VPN Pro doesn’t work for Linux or iOS devices, but you can use the free version with these operating systems. There are also no browser extensions since you need to keep an Opera browser open to use the Pro version. Plus, there’s no easy way to connect it to devices that don’t support VPNs, like game consoles and smart TVs.

If you want to use a VPN on a device Opera VPN Pro doesn’t support, check out this list of VPNs that work for all major devices.

Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac

You can download Opera VPN Pro for Windows 8+ and above. For Mac, you can use Opera VPN Pro on devices running 10.15 (Catalina) and up. It offers a similar interface and features across both Windows and Mac platforms.

Android

Opera VPN Pro for Android is pretty similar to the desktop versions, except it offers extra features like its automatic connection feature. It also allows you to choose between OpenVPN or IKEv2 protocols and gives you the option to use the VPN in private tabs only.

Router Compatibility

Opera VPN Pro doesn’t support routers, which is my favorite way to protect all my devices simultaneously. For a list of the best VPNs for routers, have a look here.

Simultaneous Device Connections

The maximum number of devices you can connect at once is 6. This is a decent number, similar to what most top VPNs offer.

When testing, I could connect Opera VPN Pro on 2 of my Windows laptops and Android devices. The VPN allowed all devices to stream YouTube simultaneously without any problems, living up to its promises.

Pricing

5.4
One Year Opera VPN Pro
$ 4 / month per month
Six Months Opera VPN Pro
$ 5 / month per month
One Month Opera VPN Pro
$ 8 / month per month
Editor's Note: Opera VPN Pro and this site are in the same ownership group.

Pricing — Expensive for What it Offers

Opera VPN Pro isn’t worth the price. It has 3 pricing tiers, and each one comes with a free 7-day trial. If you must, I recommend going with the longest plan for the best value.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. To claim a refund, you need to download a VPN Pro withdrawal form from the website, complete it, and then send it to vpn-pro@support.opera.com.

Screenshot of the withdrawal form available on Opera websiteYour refund might take 2 weeks after filling out this form

There is a free version of the VPN, but it's quite basic. It offers only three locations to choose from, and these function as proxies, not full VPNs. This means your data isn't encrypted, and anything you do outside the Opera browser won't be protected.

You can only pay through credit cards. It supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and more. I’d like to see them accept Paypal or cryptocurrency in the future since it’s easier to keep your information private with those methods. I recommend you look into one of these top VPNs that give you great value for your money.

Reliability & Support

5.4

Reliability and Support — Available But Not Very Helpful

Opera VPN Pro has a live chat, but it’s only available at limited hours. You can access it from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PM (CEST). When I first contacted support, I was disappointed because I had to wait over 10 hours before I got a response. When an agent finally got in touch, I was able to chat and get answers almost instantly.

However, the support staff were sometimes rude and unhelpful. I was especially unhappy with the answers I received when I tried to ask if there was a specific privacy policy for its premium VPN. They dismissively sent me links to its knowledge base rather than providing any concrete answers.

Screenshot of OpenVPN Pro live chat support conversation where I asked how to make it work for torrenting and they couldn't help They couldn't provide me with any help to make it work

Opera VPN Pro also has ticketing and email support, but I never got any direct responses to my emails. However, its staff did attempt to answer the questions I made through the ticketing system when I contacted them via the chat.

I also found the Opera VPN Pro knowledge base to be pretty basic. It has a few articles and barely any FAQs. I also didn't find video tutorials, which is my favorite learning medium.

Compare Opera VPN Pro With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
Our Score: 9.7
Our Score: 9.6
Our Score: 9.5
Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

The Bottom Line

Final Verdict — Not Worth Your Money

Overall, Opera VPN Pro is an unimpressive service. While it has decent speeds, it’s missing important security features, and its privacy policy is vague. Plus, it supports very few devices.

So, I do not recommend this VPN. It’s expensive for what it has to offer, and it might even put your security at risk. I suggest you check out our top VPNs that offer better value and come with clear privacy policies that you can trust.

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  • Decent speeds
  • Works well for online gaming

FAQs on Opera VPN Pro

Is Opera VPN Pro safe?

No, it’s not safe since it doesn’t have a kill switch. This is a necessary security feature that blocks your connection if the VPN unexpectedly disconnects. Additionally, Opera VPN Pro hasn't shared details about its encryption strength, unlike leading VPNs that typically use 256-bit military-grade encryption.

It also doesn’t have a solid privacy policy and is headquartered in Norway. This country is a member of the data-collecting 14 Eyes Alliance, a group of countries that share private information about their citizens.

Is Opera VPN Pro any good?

No, Opera VPN Pro is unreliable, and I can’t recommend it. Its security features are weak, and it doesn’t come with a kill switch. Its privacy policy is non-existent, and it’s located in a country that shares information with several other governments.

Will Opera VPN Pro slow my speeds down?

Slightly, but compared to most VPNs it offers fast speeds, especially on nearby servers. All VPNs lower your speeds at least a little since your traffic is being encrypted and rerouted. The only issue is that Opera VPN Pro has a small server network, so you might encounter big slowdowns if you can’t find any closeby locations.

Can I get Opera VPN for free?

Yes, a free version of Opera VPN is available when you download the browser. However, it’s quite limited. You only get 3 locations, and it’s a proxy. This means it doesn’t encrypt your information, and it only hides what’s in your browser. So, the other apps on your device won’t have any protection.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 6
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Opera VPN Pro User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
6.2
Based on 91 reviews in 11 languages

Write a Review on Opera VPN Pro

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
Sleepy
Sleepy
4/10
Hiding free trials .-.

Hiding free trials and pulling in people saying it's there and now it's just a normal payment page. Wanted to test out the newer option and see if it was "okay" enough for minor things, then got sent to a page where I could find no trial listed unless you refund-? gross :/

Anonymous
Anonymous
10/10
This is really good

It has so many ads and trackers blocked for me. There are a couple of games etc that are blocking me from using the ex: my cafe restaurant recipes and stories also Netflix is blocking the use of a VPN and if you are blocking trackers, it won't work. Google also does not like it. I'm seeing issues, where I will need to change some settings. But, I see that it is working...and I'm seeing the culprits that are the problems...

Blackgod
Blackgod
8/10
Speed and service

Superfast browser is awesome but my network provider gave me a red flag for a download just that once other than that it's awesome and it's worth using the actual browser gives easy access to a lot of social media.

About the Author

Doris is a tech writer and a cybersecurity researcher for vpnMentor. She is enthusiastic about educating people about their rights to online freedom and provides actionable ways to protect their data.

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