Pick Dia if
You want an assistant that reads your tabs and does writing and research with you.
The catch. It needs an Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 14 or later, and its best AI features are paid.
Dia vs Opera
Dia is best for AI in the browser. Opera is best for built-in extras like a free VPN.
Pick Opera if
You want an ad blocker, a free browser VPN and Tab Islands without installing anything.
The catch. It comes with a lot of bundled features and AI, and it is not open source.
Dia vs Opera, feature by feature
| Dia | Opera | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium | Chromium |
| Vertical tabs | Yes | Yes, since 2026 |
| Sites on screen at once | Two or more, in Split View | Up to four, in Split View |
| Separate workspaces | Profiles, each in its own window | Workspaces and Tab Islands |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Built in, ads and trackers | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Chrome Web Store | Opera add-ons and Chrome Web Store |
| Platforms | macOS (Apple Silicon) | macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android |
| Open source | No | No |
| Price | Free; Dia Pro $20/month | Free |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Dia better than Opera?
Neither wins everywhere. Dia is best for AI in the browser; Opera is best for built-in extras like a free VPN. Pick Dia if you want an assistant that reads your tabs and does writing and research with you. Pick Opera if you want an ad blocker, a free browser VPN and Tab Islands without installing anything.
Do Dia and Opera block ads?
They block the same way: built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Dia and Opera run?
Dia: Chrome Web Store. Opera: Opera add-ons and Chrome Web Store.
Where do Dia and Opera run?
Dia: macOS (Apple Silicon). Opera: macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android.
Are Dia and Opera free?
Dia: Free; Dia Pro $20/month. Opera: Free.