The only problem is, VPN services cost money if you need unlimited data. Its new VPN service for iPhone and iPad — which comes just two weeks after Opera added free VPN to its. Download the Opera browser for computer, phone, and tablet. Opera for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS. Free VPN, Ad blocker, built-in messengers.
Following the March 28 U.S. Congress vote to repeal restrictions preventing Internet Service Providers from selling personal browsing data and information, interest in VPN's greatly increased. Browser maker Opera claims interest in their Mac browser, which includes a built-in, free VPN, more than doubled in just a few days.
How to Use the Opera Browser's Built-In Free VPN on Your Mac
Since the VPN is included in the Opera browser, it is quite easy to enable it, allowing users to protect their online privacy and data. Here's how to use it.
1.) Download the Opera browser for Mac (DUH!)
2.) Run the browser
3.) Go to 'Preferences'
4.) Click 'Privacy & Security' and then toggle the free VPN on
5.) An icon labeled 'VPN' will appear in the browser to the left of the address field, from which you can activate the VPN and choose your preferred location.
You can also choose to have the Opera browser automatically select the optimal server for your location, based on factors such as network speed, latency, location, and server capacity.
It should be noted that only your browsing through the Opera browser is protected by the VPN connection. Your other Internet usage, such as emails and other online tasks are still business as usual.
Opera says their VPN feature in the browser is a 'no-log service,' meaning information on their users is not stored outside of the basic information needed to set up their account and make sure the VPN is working correctly. The VPN service is provided by SurfEasy Inc., which is a Canadian company operating under Canadian privacy laws.
For more tips and tricks on how to make better use of your Mac, iOS device, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, be sure to visit the 'How To' section of our website.
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With Opera Free VPN, you can enjoy online privacy without spending a dime. It's not the most sophisticated VPN service we've tested, but as a free taster, Opera VPN is a good start. It may even persuade you to consider paying for a full VPN service.
Why Use Opera Free VPN?
There are two good reasons. Firstly, it's built into the Opera browser, so you only need to download and install the browser, then enable the VPN to switch on the service. That's it!
Secondly, it's free to use and offers unlimited bandwidth. That's pretty rare for any free VPN – most free services will cut your bandwidth down to a couple of gigabytes, making them less useful for streaming video or heavy downloading.
So, using Opera's VPN won't cost you a single cent. Beyond that, it's very easy to use – and Opera is a great browser with some brilliant features in its own right. The browser keeps evolving, too – the latest version of Opera has a crypto-wallet, dark mode and web 3.0 support.
We've rated Opera Free VPN a 3.0. See how it compares to our top ten rated VPNs:
Test Score Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value. | No. of Devices | Zero Data Logging | Email Support | Ease of Use | Privacy | Help & Support | Free Trial | Try Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.1/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.5/5 | ||||
Fast, effective, low-cost and simple – the best VPN we've tested |
Opera Browser VPN: The Good
Ufc for mac. Free VPNs are often rather limited, and the cons can run further than the pros. But, Opera VPN is pretty respectable for a free service.
Effortlessly Simple
It's very easy to use the Opera VPN service – mainly because it gives you so few settings to dabble with. You can also see at a glance whether the VPN is active just by looking at the icon in the address bar.
Strong Encryption
Provided you're using the Opera browser, a more secure connection is only ever one click away. Opera uses 256-bit AES encryption – translation? That's good. In fact, this level of encryption is every bit as good as the big commercial VPNs.
Surprisingly Good Speeds
It's also speedy. Speed tests we ran over the Optimal location weren't significantly slower than speed tests ran without a VPN.
Opera For Mac Vpn Zenmate
BEST ON TESTOpera VPN: The Not-So-Good
Ozone izotope 5 for mac os 10.13. Now, onto those limitations we mentioned before.
No App Versions
Opera has reduced its level of support for the VPN and has also halted work on its free mobile VPN apps, which are no longer available to download. That means Opera VPN is only usable on a laptop or desktop, not a smartphone or tablet.
Few Server Choices
Opera Vpn For Android Downloads
The list of locations is tiny, with just Optimal (chosen for you), Europe, Americas and Asia, and when you pick Americas as your location you just get a VPN link to a server within Europe, making the Opera VPN useless if you want to undo region locks on US video streaming services, or unlock, say, the BBC iPlayer from outside the UK.
Private Vpn Mac Os
Privacy Leaks
And while Opera gives you the improved security of an encrypted VPN connection, your privacy doesn't seem to be so well protected. Leak tests threw up warnings about potential DNS leaks – a serious red flag for a VPN. While these won't pinpoint your identity or location, they do indicate that you're connecting through a VPN.
Download Opera Vpn For Pc
Browser Only
One other thing to make clear: the Opera VPN only works for what you do inside the browser – it doesn't help at all with any apps that run outside it.
Infogram
Opera Free vs Paid VPN Prices
Opera is free and there's no paid-for, upgraded VPN service. on the plus side, this means no nagging messages or even adverts. If you like the Opera browser already, then the VPN is a fantastic option to try out, but we wouldn't recommend it for anyone who's serious about using a VPN with all the trimmings.
If you're serious about your online privacy, and want the flexibility of a VPN that will work with any of your apps, or on your phone or tablet, then it's worth spending some money to upgrade to a paid-for service. This can be as little as a couple of dollars per month. Our top-choice VPN for 2020 is NordVPN – read our full NordVPN review to find out why we rate it so highly.
Getting Started With Opera VPN
As we said, there's no need to sign-up for anything; you simply visit the Opera website, download the latest version and install it.
There are versions of Opera for Windows, MacOS and Linux.
Once the browser is installed, it's time to turn on the VPN service. To do this, go to Settings (or Preferences on the Mac version), select Privacyand Security, then turn the Free VPN option on.
From here on in, a small VPN icon appears in the address bar, and you can click on this to turn the VPN off and on. The control panel is deliberately simple, with just a switch to enable the VPN and a drop-down menu with a handful of locations, plus a bandwidth meter to tell you how much data has run through the VPN recently.
The Verdict
Opera's built-in VPN doesn't offer the best protection for your privacy or anonymity, and also doesn't do anything for you outside the Opera browser. It's good, though, as a quick, easy option when you connect through a public WiFi network, but it won't keep you or your activities as safe or private as a proper, paid-for VPN.
Why Use Opera Free VPN?
There are two good reasons. Firstly, it's built into the Opera browser, so you only need to download and install the browser, then enable the VPN to switch on the service. That's it!
Secondly, it's free to use and offers unlimited bandwidth. That's pretty rare for any free VPN – most free services will cut your bandwidth down to a couple of gigabytes, making them less useful for streaming video or heavy downloading.
So, using Opera's VPN won't cost you a single cent. Beyond that, it's very easy to use – and Opera is a great browser with some brilliant features in its own right. The browser keeps evolving, too – the latest version of Opera has a crypto-wallet, dark mode and web 3.0 support.
We've rated Opera Free VPN a 3.0. See how it compares to our top ten rated VPNs:
Test Score Our scoring is based on independent tests and assessments of features, privacy settings, ease of use and value. | No. of Devices | Zero Data Logging | Email Support | Ease of Use | Privacy | Help & Support | Free Trial | Try Click to find the latest offers, deals and discounts from the VPN provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.1/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.5/5 | ||||
Fast, effective, low-cost and simple – the best VPN we've tested |
Opera Browser VPN: The Good
Ufc for mac. Free VPNs are often rather limited, and the cons can run further than the pros. But, Opera VPN is pretty respectable for a free service.
Effortlessly Simple
It's very easy to use the Opera VPN service – mainly because it gives you so few settings to dabble with. You can also see at a glance whether the VPN is active just by looking at the icon in the address bar.
Strong Encryption
Provided you're using the Opera browser, a more secure connection is only ever one click away. Opera uses 256-bit AES encryption – translation? That's good. In fact, this level of encryption is every bit as good as the big commercial VPNs.
Surprisingly Good Speeds
It's also speedy. Speed tests we ran over the Optimal location weren't significantly slower than speed tests ran without a VPN.
Opera For Mac Vpn Zenmate
BEST ON TESTOpera VPN: The Not-So-Good
Ozone izotope 5 for mac os 10.13. Now, onto those limitations we mentioned before.
No App Versions
Opera has reduced its level of support for the VPN and has also halted work on its free mobile VPN apps, which are no longer available to download. That means Opera VPN is only usable on a laptop or desktop, not a smartphone or tablet.
Few Server Choices
Opera Vpn For Android Downloads
The list of locations is tiny, with just Optimal (chosen for you), Europe, Americas and Asia, and when you pick Americas as your location you just get a VPN link to a server within Europe, making the Opera VPN useless if you want to undo region locks on US video streaming services, or unlock, say, the BBC iPlayer from outside the UK.
Private Vpn Mac Os
Privacy Leaks
And while Opera gives you the improved security of an encrypted VPN connection, your privacy doesn't seem to be so well protected. Leak tests threw up warnings about potential DNS leaks – a serious red flag for a VPN. While these won't pinpoint your identity or location, they do indicate that you're connecting through a VPN.
Download Opera Vpn For Pc
Browser Only
One other thing to make clear: the Opera VPN only works for what you do inside the browser – it doesn't help at all with any apps that run outside it.
Infogram
Opera Free vs Paid VPN Prices
Opera is free and there's no paid-for, upgraded VPN service. on the plus side, this means no nagging messages or even adverts. If you like the Opera browser already, then the VPN is a fantastic option to try out, but we wouldn't recommend it for anyone who's serious about using a VPN with all the trimmings.
If you're serious about your online privacy, and want the flexibility of a VPN that will work with any of your apps, or on your phone or tablet, then it's worth spending some money to upgrade to a paid-for service. This can be as little as a couple of dollars per month. Our top-choice VPN for 2020 is NordVPN – read our full NordVPN review to find out why we rate it so highly.
Getting Started With Opera VPN
As we said, there's no need to sign-up for anything; you simply visit the Opera website, download the latest version and install it.
There are versions of Opera for Windows, MacOS and Linux.
Once the browser is installed, it's time to turn on the VPN service. To do this, go to Settings (or Preferences on the Mac version), select Privacyand Security, then turn the Free VPN option on.
From here on in, a small VPN icon appears in the address bar, and you can click on this to turn the VPN off and on. The control panel is deliberately simple, with just a switch to enable the VPN and a drop-down menu with a handful of locations, plus a bandwidth meter to tell you how much data has run through the VPN recently.
The Verdict
Opera's built-in VPN doesn't offer the best protection for your privacy or anonymity, and also doesn't do anything for you outside the Opera browser. It's good, though, as a quick, easy option when you connect through a public WiFi network, but it won't keep you or your activities as safe or private as a proper, paid-for VPN.
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