Opera VPN Pro Review 2024: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

One of the Opera browser’s perks is that it comes with a free built-in virtual private network (VPN). Unfortunately, the free VPN is pretty limited and only protects your traffic on Opera browser. You need to upgrade to Opera VPN Pro to see it actually start looking like a VPN.

We tested the premium version extensively and weren't too impressed with it. We were surprised it lacks some essential features, like a kill switch. The performance could also be better, and our geo-unblocking tests felt like an endless game of hide-and-seek.

Read our full Opera VPN review to learn all about its features and how it performed during our testing circuit.

Overview

Price	$4-$8/mo
Free version	Yes
Max # of connected devices	6
# of servers	3,000+ servers in 30 countries
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
Encryption	AES 256-bit
No-logs policy	No logs
Headquarters	Norway
Netflix access	Mixed

Our experience

Opera VPN Pro is not a standalone app. You can use it only through the Opera browser. You can add a widget to your home screen or create a shortcut in Quick Settings for easier access.

When you first log in, you’ll need to permit system-wide encryption. The Pro version can operate even if you’re not using the Opera browser.

Opera VPN Pro client (or browser extension?) was very easy to use and navigate. You simply click the power button to turn it on or off. Clicking the current location will reveal the full server list. You can also set Opera VPN Pro to connect to a server automatically on device startup.

Who is Opera VPN Pro best for?

• Recommended for: Casual Opera users looking for a beginner-friendly VPN

The free version of Opera VPN is barely better than an average VPN browser extension. It can only mask your real IP and encrypt your in-browser traffic. The Pro version, on the other hand, expands VPN protection to your entire device.

Opera VPN Pro operates a decent server network and covers up to six devices. Premium users also have access to two-factor authentication and live chat support. However, it offers no standard security features besides DNS leak protection.

Opera is a bare-bones VPN that can help you stay anonymous online. Unfortunately, it can't do much more than that. If you want reliable geo-unblocking, torrenting support, and advanced security options, we recommend picking one of the best VPN services for this year instead.

Opera VPN Pro prices and subscriptions

Opera VPN has monthly, biannual, and yearly subscription plans. If you want to save money on a VPN, the 1-year package will save you 50% compared to the monthly plan.

Opera VPN looks affordable, but its price-to-value ratio is low. Other providers, like Surfshark, offer more features, better performance, and cheaper long-term subscriptions.

Plan	1-month plan	6-month plan	1-year plan
Price per month	$8/mo	$5/mo (billed every 6 months)	$4/mo (billed annually)
Price per year	$96.00	$30.00	$48.00

Opera VPN Pro features

Opera VPN lacks core security features usually included with other virtual private networks. However, it protects you against DNS leaks and has decent server coverage. Let's explore Opera VPN and its functionality.

Server count and countries

• 3,000+ servers in 30 countries

Opera VPN Pro’s servers didn’t impress us with their speed or geo-unblocking capabilities. 30 countries provide good coverage, but the performance was nothing to write home about. Top-tier providers typically offer VPN servers in 100+ countries.

The in-client server list doesn’t provide real-time info about pings and server loads. Fortunately, the client can pick the fastest server automatically. However, these tools are not perfect, and they can make mistakes. You also can’t make a list of favorites for easier access.

Most of the servers are in Europe, although Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan are also available. The U.S. and Canada are the only countries with multiple server locations. The U.S. locations include Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle. In Canada, there are servers in Quebec and Vancouver.

As mentioned, Opera VPN has a decent server network but lacks performance and some standard quality-of-life features. If you want more servers, better speeds, and all the conveniences of a top-level VPN, we recommend going with NordVPN instead.

NordVPN has6,800+ servers in 111 countries, which prevents server crowding and ensures a faster VPN connection. It’s also ideal if you’re looking to unlock regional content abroad.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• Opera VPN logs policy: No logs
• Opera VPN headquarters: Norway

According to its Privacy Policy, Opera VPN doesn't log your real IP address or the sites you visit. However, it says nothing about connection timestamps and other dangerous logs. Furthermore, the Pro version is provided by an unnamed third-party service, and Opera doesn’t guarantee its security.

You need an Opera account to use their VPN. You can create one with a valid email, and we recommend using a burner mail with no personal identifiers. Since Opera’s VPN and browser are so connected, we’d avoid sharing personal data with either.

NordVPN operates Opera VPN Pro servers, but we’re unsure whether it runs the entire service. Regardless, why wouldn’t you just get NordVPN instead? Overall, Opera VPN’s logging policy looks good, but the official document is missing some important points.

Opera VPN is headquartered in Norway, which is a member of the Eyes Alliance. Given its location, we’d like to see independent no-log audits in the future.

VPN protocols

Opera VPN supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. 

OpenVPN is ideal for general users thanks to its perfect balance of speed and security. IKEv2 has unique reconnection capabilities, which cater to mobile users and people who travel a lot. With IKEv2, you can switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks without dropping your VPN connection. 

That said, we noted the absence of WireGuard, the fastest and most popular connection protocol.

Security features

As mentioned, Opera is a bare-bones VPN service with an unrealistic price tag. For the price, it’s a surprise to see all these missing VPN features:

• kill switch
• split tunneling
• obfuscated servers
  
• malware protection
• ad blocking

A kill switch is an essential VPN feature that cuts your internet connection if the VPN stops working. It prevents data leaks and gives you peace of mind. We recommend Proton VPN for its internet kill switch, which prevents internet access if you’re not connected to a VPN server.

Opera VPN Pro encrypts your traffic with AES-256, a cipher used by banks, hospitals, and the military.

Opera VPN Pro test results

During our extensive testing circuit, we checked Opera VPN Pro’s speed, privacy, and geo-unblocking potential. Take a look at our final results below.

Speed tests

• Speed test results: Opera VPN Pro passed its speed tests.

VPN encryption will always affect your connection speed to an extent. However, it shouldn’t cause crippling speed drops where you can’t even stream a movie.

We conducted our speed test in the U.S. on an Android device. Here’s our benchmark speed without a VPN.

We tested various servers around the globe. We primarily wanted to check for noticeable impacts. Naturally, our speed drops increased the further we went from our location.

We got good performance on the U.S. servers, while the U.K. locations cut our speed almost in half. We lost around a third of our speed on the Australian servers, but the ping was extremely high. If you want to use Opera as a gaming VPN, we recommend using nearby servers. The same goes if you’re on a slow network.

Test type	No VPN	U.S. to U.S.	U.S. to UK	U.S. to AU
Download speed	98.1 Mbps	88.3 Mbps	59 Mbps	66.1 Mbps
Upload speed	83.2 Mbps	74.9 Mbps	32.6 Mbps	53.6 Mbps
Latency (ping)	25 ms	117 ms	307 ms	433 ms
Download speed % difference	N/A	-10%	-40%	-33%
Upload speed % difference	N/A	-10%	-61%	-36%
Latency % difference	N/A	368%	1,128%	1,632%

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: It struggled and didn't pass overall
  

Streaming Netflix with a VPN can help you unlock regional streaming content worldwide. For example, you can access Netflix U.S. from anywhere and stream the best library.

Opera VPN Pro on our desktop browser allowed us to access the regional Netflix home pages of several countries, including the U.K.

However, when we actually tried playing something, Netflix either logged us out or gave us an error message. This happened even when we were testing the U.S. servers (from the U.S.).

We got completely different results on our Android; it allowed us to stream Netflix U.K. and Canada on some servers, but finding them took some time. It still didn’t work with Netflix U.S. and Australia. Overall, Opera is not a good VPN for streaming.

	US to US	US to UK	US to Canada	US to AU
Did it work with Netflix?		Mixed (Not on the Opera browser, but it did on the app)	Mixed (Not on the Opera browser, but it did on the app)

DNS leak test

• DNS leak test results: Opera VPN Pro passed its DNS leak test.

DNS (Domain Name System) requests allow you to find a specific website once you’ve typed its address into your browser. In other words, it acts as a phone book for websites. DNS leaks can reveal your true IP address, location, and the sites you visit. 

Fortunately, Opera VPN Pro didn’t show any DNS leaks during our tests.

WebRTC leak test

• WebRTC leak test results: Opera VPN Pro passed its DNS leak test.

We also didn’t see any WebRTC leaks, meaning our real IP was hidden at all times. 

WebRTC stands for Web Real-Time Communications. It enables real-time voice and video connections to be established through your browser. A WebRTC leak could expose your IP address to hackers or other unwanted third parties.

Opera VPN Pro compatibility

Opera VPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android; iOS users still can’t install it on their devices. 

If you’re looking for an option for iOS, we recommend checking our list of the best VPNs for iPhone and iPad.

Opera VPN Pro customer support

There are three ways to contact Opera VPN Pro’s customer support:

• Help Center
• Submit a ticket
• Live chat (available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CET)

Help Center

The Help Center covers the usage basics and offers some troubleshooting tips. It separates the FAQ sections depending on which device you use, or you can visit the general help section. 

Submit a ticket

Opera Pro VPN allows you to submit a ticket to customer support if you're having an issue. However, there's also no indication of how long it will take to get a response to your ticket.

Live chat

The lack of a 24/7 live chat makes it more difficult to reach customer service if you have a complicated question or need immediate support. 

Overall, the customer support helps with basic questions. But if you need more assistance, you may need to wait for office hours.

Opera VPN Pro alternatives

If Opera VPN Pro doesn’t work for you, we recommend one of these top-tier services:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Opera VPN Pro good?

Opera VPN Pro is a basic service that can mask your IP and encrypt traffic on up to 6 devices. It has a decent server network but can’t reliably unblock streaming platforms like Netflix. We didn’t see any data leaks during our tests, and the company’s logging practices look safe.

However, Opera VPN Pro doesn’t have a kill switch and can expose you to data leaks. It’s also expensive for the value it offers. Furthermore, it lacks some other standard VPN features like split tunneling.

Overall, we can’t recommend this VPN in its current state. It simply doesn’t offer enough to compete in the current VPN market. If you’re looking for services that can actually protect you and deal with censorship and geo-block, check our recommended alternatives for some of the best VPNs.