Pick Safari if
You want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud.
The catch. It has no vertical tabs or split view, a smaller extension catalogue, and no Windows version.
Safari vs Opera
Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices. 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.
Safari vs Opera, feature by feature
| Safari | Opera | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | WebKit | Chromium |
| Vertical tabs | No | Yes, since 2026 |
| Sites on screen at once | One per window | Up to four, in Split View |
| Separate workspaces | Profiles and Tab Groups | Workspaces and Tab Islands |
| Ad and tracker blocking | Trackers, not ads | Built in, ads and trackers |
| Extensions | Safari extensions | Opera add-ons and Chrome Web Store |
| Platforms | macOS, iPhone, iPad | macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android |
| Open source | No (WebKit is) | No |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Development | Active | Active |
Questions
Is Safari better than Opera?
Neither wins everywhere. Safari is best for battery life and Apple devices; Opera is best for built-in extras like a free VPN. Pick Safari if you want the browser that is already on your Mac, easiest on the battery and tied into iCloud. Pick Opera if you want an ad blocker, a free browser VPN and Tab Islands without installing anything.
Do Safari and Opera block ads?
Safari: Trackers, not ads. Opera: Built in, ads and trackers.
Which extensions do Safari and Opera run?
Safari: Safari extensions. Opera: Opera add-ons and Chrome Web Store.
Where do Safari and Opera run?
Safari: macOS, iPhone, iPad. Opera: macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android.
Are Safari and Opera free?
Both are free.