NordVPN vs Opera VPN Pro 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

NordVPN is possibly one of the most recognizable names in the VPN industry. However, in Opera VPN Pro, we have a service that flies under the radar, with people being more familiar with the Opera browser than its VPN service. Can David beat Goliath?

We compared both VPNs across a wide range of metrics. We looked at broad aspects such as privacy, speed, and security, and then we zoomed in on specifics such as streaming, torrenting, and gaming. But this isn’t a fairytale, and there was only one winner.

NordVPN is bigger, faster, and better in almost every regard. It’s easier to use, has a far more extensive server network, and far more features. However, it’s possible that some users may prefer the more affordable but less feature-dense alternative. When it’s working, it’s not a terrible option, but it is considerably slower than the competition.

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Streaming — NordVPN Is Considerably Better and More Reliable

Unlike most VPNs, Opera VPN Pro doesn’t make any big boasts about its streaming capabilities in its marketing or on its website. That’s hardly surprising since Opera worked with hardly any platforms during our extensive testing.

Conversely, NordVPN let us watch almost all of the platforms we tried with it. Global services like Disney+ and Prime Video were no problem. We also securely accessed popular regional sites like Paramount Plus and Max in HD on the first attempt. We even tried all 4 UK locations with BBC iPlayer, and there were no quality drops or buffering. All in all, you’ll be able to watch your favorites in full, lag-free HD from anywhere with NordVPN.

We tested 5 US servers that all worked securely with Disney+

Opera VPN Pro was far less impressive. In fact, the big surprise was that it worked with Netflix at all since it wasn’t successful with most others. However, sports fans can rejoice that both NordVPN and Opera VPN Pro worked with ESPN.

We could also safely access Netflix UK with Opera VPN Pro

Winner

There was no real contest here — NordVPN is, by far, the better service for streaming. As well as securely accessing more platforms, it also worked with more Netflix libraries. And, with servers in 113 countries, it can safely access streaming platforms in HD from anywhere.

Server Network — NordVPN Has Far More Connections to Offer

With over twice as many servers in over 3 times as many countries, NordVPN provides, by far, the larger network. In addition to the sheer numbers, NordVPN has a far more diverse coverage. It has many more locations in Asia and Africa, whereas Opera’s coverage is mainly concentrated around Europe.

As well as a geographical victory, it also has the advantage from a technical perspective. NordVPN boasts Double VPN servers, as well as Onion Over VPN. The latter offers access to the dark web on regular browsers, so you can avoid the notorious slowdowns of the Tor browser.

Plus, on top of supporting file sharing on all 6,800 servers, NordVPN also offers specialty P2P servers. For a small additional charge, you can also get your own dedicated (private) IP address. These are available for 18 popular regions.

Unfortunately, Opera VPN Pro doesn’t offer any specialized servers or dedicated IPs. But, every server is P2P friendly.

Winner

NordVPN’s significantly larger network ensures faster speeds from anywhere in the world while offering a far more diverse range of IPs.

Speed — NordVPN Triumphs In Every Test

We put both VPNs through a rigorous set of speed tests to determine the fastest service. Our starting speed was around 250 Mbps, and our speed tester ran their tests from Glasgow in the UK. We used NordLynx for NordVPN since it’s the fastest protocol available with this service and IKEv2 for Opera since we had little choice. The results could hardly be more conclusive.

NordVPN's ping was also extremely fast

NordVPN’s local speeds saw a mere 8% reduction, which is barely noticeable. Meanwhile, Opera VPN Pro slashed our speed by a massive 77%. Upload speeds were similarly dramatic, with a 4% reduction from NordVPN compared with 28% from Opera.

Opera's speeds got even slower over longer distances

The chasm was even more noticeable over greater distances. When testing US speeds, NordVPN recorded a 17% reduction compared to a whopping 98% from Opera. With speed losses like these, all but the most basic of online activities are sluggish.

Winner

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, and it comfortably beats Opera VPN Pro in every speed test we carried out.

Gaming — NordVPN Offers Lower Latency for Slicker Play

Ping is the all-important stat when it comes to gaming. It measures the response time of your commands to the on-screen action. Under 100 ms is considered ideal for smooth gameplay. We tested each service’s ping from the UK with a base latency of 24 ms.

Both VPNs performed well on nearby servers. True, NordVPN’s 22 ms was almost twice the responsiveness of Opera’s 43 ms, but both make for a fun gaming experience. The glaring difference is apparent on more distant servers.

I didn't notice any lag or buffering when playing online games with NordVPN

Despite being over 3,000 miles away, NordVPN managed a surprisingly game-friendly ping of 96 ms from the US. However, Opera’s ping of 632 ms makes everyday browsing feel extremely clunky, let alone all-action gaming.

Plus, NordVPN can be configured to routers to support game consoles that don’t usually work with VPNs. Whereas, with Opera, you’re restricted to the games you can play on desktop and mobile devices.

Winner

NordVPN’s lower latency makes it an easy choice for the avid gamer. It even improved our ping on nearby servers!

Torrenting — NordVPN Offers Faster Downloads and Better Integration

NordVPN is by far the better option for torrenting. Not only does it work with all major torrenting clients, but it also offers a seamless SOCKS5 proxy integration with clients like uTorrent and BitTorrent, enhancing your torrenting experience. While it doesn’t encrypt your data like a VPN, it offers faster downloads. On the other hand, Opera VPN Pro works but doesn’t integrate with these applications.

Secondly, NordVPN offers dedicated P2P servers, which offer faster downloads. While Opera’s server network supports torrenting, you have to rely on its regular servers.

Port forwarding is another strong suit for NordVPN, which significantly boosts your torrent health and seed ratios, and is another option that Opera doesn’t provide.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature blocks unwanted ads and potential malware effectively, adding an extra layer of security while you access torrent sites. This feature is absent in Opera VPN Pro, leaving you more susceptible to online threats.

Please note that downloading copyrighted material is illegal in most regions. We advise you to use your VPN responsibly; the vpnMentor team does not condone copyright infringement.

Winner

NordVPN provides enhanced P2P support, more robust security features, and superior speed and stability for torrenting. Unfortunately, Opera’s bare-bones service is really noticeable here.

Security — NordVPN Wins With Far More Features

The first thing to note is that NordVPN offers a choice of protocols. Its proprietary NordLynx fixes a security flaw with the industry-standard protocol for speed, WireGuard. Plus, you get UDP and TCP options for OpenVPN, which can be an advantage on less stable networks. Opera offers no such options — you’re stuck with IKEv2 on Windows, macOS, and iOS, and OpenVPN for Android.

Regarding server security, NordVPN's RAM-only servers ensure that all data is wiped upon reboot, which enhances your privacy. Opera VPN Pro does not specify whether its servers are RAM-only or not, and again, the lack of transparency is a concern.

NordVPN has demonstrated robust protection during IP/DNS leak tests, ensuring your online identity remains secure under various network conditions. While testing, my real IP address never leaked once.

Unfortunately, Opera VPN Pro has exhibited some vulnerabilities, particularly with IPv6 leaks. While it has a degree of leak protection, several servers leaked my DNS and IPv6 data. This could expose your real IP address and other information, which is less than ideal.

Threat Protection Pro can block any combination of ads, trackers, scams, and malware

Finally, NordVPN has a highly effective and customizable ad blocker. Opera VPN offers no such feature. While its encryption alone was better than no protection whatsoever, it fell way short of NordVPN in blocking ads, trackers, and other online threats.

Opera VPN Pro stopped just 21% of ads, trackers, and malicious files in our tests

Winner

NordVPN is the better choice for security because it offers a broader range of protocols, more robust leak protection, and more safety features overall.

Privacy — NordVPN Has Clear Privacy Protections, Opera VPN Isn’t So Transparent

NordVPN operates under a strict no-logs policy confirmed by independent audits. This means it doesn’t store your internet activity, offering a high level of privacy. Opera VPN Pro, however, does not provide the same transparency in its logging practices.

Going even further, NordVPN has thoroughly vetted its entire service structure by commissioning reputable third-party auditors like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG. This is not the case with Opera VPN Pro, which hasn’t disclosed any comprehensive audits, potentially leaving gaps in your knowledge about its privacy safeguards.

Jurisdiction plays a pivotal role in user privacy. NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly location that doesn’t legally mandate data retention. Opera VPN Pro is under Norway’s laws, which might necessitate some form of data compliance that could infringe on your privacy.

Furthermore, NordVPN’s support for cryptocurrency payments adds an extra layer of anonymity to your subscription process. Opera VPN Pro does not support cryptocurrency payments, potentially limiting your options for keeping your payment information private.

Winner

NordVPN stands out as the better choice for privacy due to its verified no-logs policy and comprehensive third-party audits. These elements demonstrate a proactive approach to safeguarding user data.

Works in China — Draw

Most VPNs don’t have the infrastructure nor the customer demand to provide a service in China, let alone the resources to keep up with the Great Firewall. Unfortunately, neither NordVPN nor Opera VPN Pro currently works in the country. If you’re looking for a reputable service, then check out our top VPNs for China.

Winner - draw

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NordVPN offers some tips for using its service in China on its website, but it makes no guarantees. Opera VPN Pro doesn’t make any claims at all. We don’t recommend either VPN for use in China.

Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN is Far Smoother for VPN Newcomers

In theory, Opera is the simpler service. The app has 2 views, the home screen, and the location list, plus a cog button that integrates with Opera’s in-browser settings. However, we found Opera VPN Pro’s setup process surprisingly tricky.

I initially couldn’t get the download button to work, and I had to sign out and go back into my account numerous times. Once it was working, I frequently got error messages after restarting my device. My colleagues had similar issues.

Opera VPN Pro was full of bugs, glitches, and error screens

So, in practice, NordVPN is an easier service to set up and use. It took under 2 minutes to install and was far more reliable. Seemingly complex settings like Threat Protection Pro are actually pretty easy to configure. I particularly like that these more advanced settings are well-described in plain language within the settings menu, so it’s easy to understand what they do.

NordVPN's many settings are easy to configure

Winner

Opera VPN Pro looks like the easier option at face value, particularly if you already use the browser, but it’s trickier in practice. Despite its many settings, NordVPN is the more user-friendly option.

Reliability & Support — NordVPN Has You Covered With Multiple Support Channels

NordVPN is a clear winner when it comes to reliability and support. Its live chat is quick and responsive, with friendly and knowledgeable agents. Plus, there is plenty of info and resources on its website. If I ever had a question, it usually took me less than 5 minutes to solve it using these support channels.

Opera VPN doesn’t offer live chat at all, which isn’t great for a premium VPN. I found it took up to 22 hours to respond to emails and support tickets. When I finally got a response, the agent was friendly enough but couldn’t answer some basic questions about protocols and encryption, which was disappointing.

Winner

NordVPN offers a wealth of support, whereas Opera VPN’s is minimal. Should you run into any issues, NordVPN is far the better option.

Pricing

	NordVPN	Opera VPN Pro
Starting Price	$2.99/month	$4/month
Price (On Renewal)	$139.08 per year (subject to change)	$95.88 per year (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	30 days	30 days
Number of devices per license	10	6
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Easy manual setup	No router support

Both VPNs offer a range of plans. NordVPN offers 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year deals, while Opera VPN offers 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year plans. In both cases, you can save significantly with the longer plans.

At first glance, Opera VPN Pro’s plans may seem more enticing, with more affordable pricing pricing and less commitment. But, when you consider the features and level of service each VPN offers, I’d suggest NordVPN represents far better value.

Winner

NordVPN offers a more reliable service with better features and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Our Methodology for Testing NordVPN vs Opera VPN Pro

We subjected both VPNs to a high level of scrutiny. We tested each service regarding specific use cases such as streaming, torrenting, and gaming. We also took a broader look at speed, security, and privacy. Lastly, we took all this into context when looking at each service’s pricing plans to determine which offers the best value for your money.

For more details on our testing criteria, take a look at our testing methodology page. There, you’ll find a breakdown of our processes, which you can use as the basis for your own testing.

NordVPN vs Opera VPN Pro — Reddit Opinions

NordVPN gets praise for its speed and reliability on Reddit. True, it also gets some cynicism based on it being regarded as the most popular VPN. On the other hand, Opera VPN Pro gets little feedback other than frustrations at its general unreliability and poor customer support.

Opera VPN Pro's bugs and poor customer service gets criticism