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.
Opera vs Orion
Opera is best for built-in extras like a free VPN. Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension.
Pick Orion if
You want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
The catch. It is Apple-only, it has no split view, and some extensions only partly work.
Opera vs Orion, feature by feature
| Opera | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium | WebKit |
| Vertical tabs | Yes, since 2026 | Yes, in the View menu |
| Sites on screen at once | Up to four, in Split View | One per window |
| Separate workspaces | Workspaces and Tab Islands | Profiles, each as its own app |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Built in, ads and trackers | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Opera add-ons and Chrome Web Store | Chrome and Firefox extensions |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | macOS, iPhone, iPad |
| Open source | No | No |
| Price | Free | Free; Orion+ from $5/month |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Opera better than Orion?
Neither wins everywhere. Opera is best for built-in extras like a free VPN; Orion is best for Safari’s engine with any extension. Pick Opera if you want an ad blocker, a free browser VPN and Tab Islands without installing anything. Pick Orion if you want Safari’s engine and battery life with Chrome and Firefox extensions on top.
Do Opera and Orion block ads?
They block the same way: built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Opera and Orion run?
Opera: Opera add-ons and Chrome Web Store. Orion: Chrome and Firefox extensions.
Where do Opera and Orion run?
Opera: macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android. Orion: macOS, iPhone, iPad.
Are Opera and Orion free?
Opera: Free. Orion: Free; Orion+ from $5/month.