Here we review both browsers to help you decide which will work best for you.
Overall Findings
Built-in ad blocker.
Pop out any video in a separate window and watch it while browsing the web.
Lifewire
Built-in virtual private data pipe (VPN).
Battery-saving mode promises longer browsing.
Compatible with many Chrome extensions.
User-friendly, with continuous support from Google.
Preinstalled on all Android and Chromebook devices.
Highly customizable, with extensions and themes available on the Chrome Web Store.
Part of the Google ecosystem.
Hogs a lot of resources.
Features like ad blockers and VPNs require third-party installation.
These are both great browsers, and they have more in common than they do not.
It’s the default web app for Android and the backbone of the operating system onChromebookdevices.
Opera began as a research project at Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor in 1994.
These days, Opera markets itself as an alternative to Chrome.
Ad Blocking: One Point for Opera
Increased browsing speed.
Ad blocking requires a third-party extension.
If you want an ad blocker in Chrome, you have to download it as an extension.
Opera comes with an integrated ad blocker.
Opera is the first major surfing app to build ad blocking into the surfing app engine.
The result is quicker page loads and a faster overall browsing experience.
The VPN feature results in low web connection performance.
VPN service requires a third-party extension.
As with the ad blocker, Opera is the only major web client with a built-in VPN.
It’s available without a subscription, and unlike Chrome, requires no third-party extension.
The VPN does have some great features.
The trade-off for extra security, however, is decreased speed and performance.
Your RAM will take a hit when you run Chrome.
Chrome is a memory hog because it’s more than a search engine.
It’s a collection of services and extensions that enable Chrome to provide a powerful multimedia experience.
However, each of those services and extensions has an impact on yourRAMand processing speed.
Opera provides a longer browsing experience through a feature called Battery Saver.
Battery Saver also monitors your box’s battery status and warns you when it reaches 20 percent.
Watching Video: Opera’s Pop-Out Window Rocks
Watch videos in a separate pop-out window.
See picture-in-picture with a third-party extension.
Opera offers an integrated feature called Video Pop-Out.
Chrome offers a similar experience through the GooglePicture-in-Picture extension, available from the Chrome Web Store.
Note, however, that the extension works only in the desktop version of Chrome.
It’s the default surfing app on Google devices.
It’s also user-friendly and highly customizable through the thousands ofChrome extensionsandthemesavailable on the Chrome Web Store.
You cancreate a Google accountfor free and sync your information across all your devices.
If you have an older computer or a sluggish internet connection, give Opera a try.
In addition, its turbo feature can speed up web browsing by compressing data found on websites.
It’s also a good choice for laptop users looking to save a bit of battery life.
