Top 10 Cons & Disadvantages of Opera

Opera is a feature-rich web browser known for its versatility and innovative tools. It offers a wide range of functionalities, including a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, integrated messengers, and a music player. In addition, the browser supports AI-powered features like Aria Browser AI, which enhances user interactivity and productivity. Opera also includes unique capabilities such as Tab Islands, enabling organized tab management, Split Screen for multitasking, and Video Popout, which allows users to watch videos while continuing to browse seamlessly.

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Despite these attractive and advanced features, Opera comes with several limitations. While its tools may appeal to tech-savvy or niche users, others may find it overwhelming or unsuitable for certain needs. As with any software, there are trade-offs, and Opera is no exception. Understanding these cons is essential before fully committing to Opera as your primary web browser, as these issues can impact your browsing experience, compatibility with certain websites, and overall satisfaction.

What is Opera?

Opera is a modern, multi-platform web browser built for people who want more control, speed, and privacy than default browsers offer. Developed by Opera Software and first released in 1995, it’s one of the oldest browsers still actively evolving. Today, Opera goes beyond basic browsing by combining performance, built-in privacy tools, and AI-powered features into a single, streamlined experience. Unlike browsers that rely heavily on extensions, Opera ships fully equipped. It includes a built-in ad blocker, free and paid VPN options, integrated messengers and social apps in the sidebar, and Opera AI for instant help, search, and content creation.

Features like Tab Islands help users organize work and research into clear visual groups, while Opera One introduces a clean, modular design with smooth animations that reduce clutter and distraction. Opera is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, including Opera Mini for low-bandwidth environments. Built on Chromium, it maintains full compatibility with modern websites while offering tools Chrome, Edge, and Safari simply don’t prioritize.

Real-Life Example: A freelance writer juggling research, client communication, and drafting can use Opera’s Tab Islands to separate projects, chat via built-in messengers without switching apps, and rely on the free VPN when working on public Wi-Fi—saving time, staying focused, and browsing securely in one place.

10 Disadvantages & Drawbacks of Using Opera

Choosing a web browser is a significant decision, as it can heavily influence your daily online interactions. Before making Opera your go-to browser, it’s important to understand its potential downsides. Considering these disadvantages will allow you to make an informed decision based on your individual needs and preferences, ensuring a smoother and more efficient browsing experience.

Disadvantage #1: Lower Market Share Leading to Potential Compatibility Issues

While having a dedicated user base, Opera holds a significantly smaller share of the web browser market compared to giants like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. This lower market share can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with certain websites or web applications. Developers often prioritize optimizing their sites for the most popular browsers first, potentially overlooking specific optimizations for Opera.

Some websites might not display correctly or function as intended on Opera.
New web technologies and features might be adopted later or not fully supported on Opera compared to more mainstream browsers.
You might occasionally encounter error messages or unexpected behavior on certain web pages when using Opera.

Real-Life Example: A user attempting to complete a mandatory online government registration may discover that interactive form elements fail to load correctly in Opera. Buttons may not respond, or pages may not submit properly, forcing the user to switch browsers mid-process, wasting time and creating unnecessary frustration during an otherwise routine task.

Solution: While you can’t directly influence website optimization, keeping your Opera browser updated to the latest version can help, as updates often include fixes and improvements for compatibility. If persistent issues arise, having a secondary, more popular browser installed can serve as a quick workaround for problematic websites.

Disadvantage #2: Privacy Concerns Regarding Built-in VPN

Opera’s built-in VPN is convenient and easy to enable, but it raises concerns for users with high privacy expectations. Unlike dedicated VPN services, Opera’s VPN functions more like a browser-level proxy. This means it may not protect all internet traffic equally and lacks the transparency, server choice, and independent audits offered by premium VPN providers.

The built-in VPN acts more like a proxy than a traditional VPN, meaning it might not encrypt all your internet traffic.
Data logging practices associated with the built-in VPN have been a subject of scrutiny and lack the transparency of dedicated VPN services.
For users with high privacy demands, the built-in VPN might not offer the same level of security and anonymity as a reputable antidetect browser.

Real-Life Example: A user relying on Opera’s VPN while accessing sensitive financial accounts may assume their entire connection is fully encrypted. In reality, certain traffic may fall outside the VPN’s coverage, potentially exposing metadata or activity patterns that a full-service VPN would normally protect.

Solution: Users who prioritize strong privacy should use a reputable third-party VPN alongside Opera. Dedicated VPN services typically offer full-device encryption, strict no-log policies, and independent security audits. Opera’s built-in VPN is best treated as a lightweight privacy enhancement rather than a complete security solution.

Disadvantage #3: Resource Intensive Compared to Some Alternatives

While Opera aims for speed and efficiency, it can sometimes be more resource-intensive compared to other lightweight browsers. This can be particularly noticeable on older or less powerful computer systems, potentially leading to slower performance and increased battery drain on laptops. This can make Opera less ideal for users who prioritize minimal system impact or need a browser that performs smoothly on low-end hardware.

Opera’s extensive feature set, while beneficial, can contribute to higher RAM and CPU usage.
Users with limited system resources might experience sluggishness or freezing, especially when multiple tabs are open or running complex web applications.
Browsers specifically designed for low-end systems might offer a smoother experience on less powerful hardware.

Real-Life Example: A student using a five-year-old laptop may notice Opera slowing down when running multiple research tabs, streaming video, and messaging apps simultaneously. The system fan may spin constantly, battery life may drop quickly, and simple tasks may feel sluggish during peak usage periods.

Solution: If you experience performance issues, try closing unnecessary tabs and disabling features you don’t frequently use in Opera’s settings. Consider exploring lightweight browser alternatives specifically optimized for lower resource consumption if your system struggles consistently.

Disadvantage #4: Limited Extension Ecosystem Compared to Chrome

While Opera supports extensions, its extension ecosystem is considerably smaller compared to the vast library available for Google Chrome. This means that users might not find as many specialized tools or customizations for Opera as they would on Chrome. As a result, users who rely heavily on browser add-ons for productivity, design, or development tasks may find Opera less flexible or slower to adapt to their specific needs.

The variety of extensions available for specific tasks or functionalities might be limited.
Popular extensions developed primarily for Chrome might not be readily available or fully compatible with Opera.
Finding niche or highly specific extensions for Opera can sometimes be a challenge.

Real-Life Example: A digital marketer dependent on multiple SEO, analytics, and automation extensions may find that some tools are unavailable or only partially compatible with Opera. This can disrupt established workflows and force compromises or additional setup steps to replicate the same functionality.

Solution: Opera is compatible with Chrome extensions, which can mitigate this issue. You can install the “Install Chrome Extensions” add-on from the Opera add-ons store to access and install extensions from the Chrome Web Store. However, full compatibility isn’t always guaranteed.

Disadvantage #5: Occasional Bugs and Instability

Like any complex software, Opera can occasionally experience bugs and instability issues. While the development team releases updates to address these problems, users might encounter unexpected crashes, glitches, or temporary malfunctions. These issues can sometimes disrupt productivity, especially for users who rely on Opera for work or multitasking across multiple tabs and web applications.

Certain updates might introduce new bugs that require subsequent patches.
Interactions between specific websites or extensions might sometimes lead to instability.
While generally reliable, Opera isn’t immune to occasional performance hiccups.

Real-Life Example: A freelancer editing content in an online document may experience an unexpected browser crash after an update. Unsaved changes could be lost, requiring them to rework sections and slowing down project delivery during tight deadlines.

Solution: Regularly updating your Opera browser to the latest version is crucial, as updates often include bug fixes and stability improvements. If you encounter persistent issues, consider reporting them to the Opera development team through their feedback channels.

Disadvantage #6: Less Community Support and Online Resources

Opera’s smaller user base results in fewer community-generated resources such as tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and forum discussions. Compared to Chrome or Firefox, users may find fewer step-by-step solutions for uncommon problems, making self-help slower when issues arise.

Fewer dedicated forums, tutorials, and online guides might be available for Opera.
The user base contributing to online discussions and providing support might be smaller.
Finding solutions to less common or niche issues might take more time and effort.

Real-Life Example: A new Opera user trying to configure advanced privacy or appearance settings may struggle to find detailed guides or video walkthroughs. This can lead to trial-and-error adjustments or reliance on official documentation that may not cover every edge case.

Solution: While dedicated Opera resources might be less abundant, the Opera community forum and official help pages are good starting points for support. You can also often find relevant information in broader web browser communities or forums, as many fundamental concepts apply across different browsers.

Disadvantage #7: Forced or Unwanted Features in Updates

Opera frequently adds new tools and integrations to stay innovative, but not all users welcome these changes. Some updates introduce features that feel unnecessary, clutter the interface, or alter workflows. Fully removing these features is not always possible, which can frustrate users who prefer simplicity.

Updates might include new tools or integrations that some users don’t intend to use.
Changes to the user interface or default settings might not always align with individual preferences.
While customization options exist, fully removing or disabling certain integrated features might not always be possible.

Real-Life Example: A user who prefers a minimalist browsing experience might find a new, prominent feature related to social media integration in an Opera update to be intrusive and cluttering their browser interface.

Solution: Explore Opera’s settings and customization options to disable or hide unwanted features if possible. Providing feedback to the Opera development team through their official channels can also help them understand user preferences for future updates.

Disadvantage #8: Data Collection Practices

Opera, like most modern browsers, collects usage data to improve performance and personalize features. While this data is often anonymized and disclosed in privacy policies, some users remain uncomfortable with any form of behavioral tracking, regardless of intent or scope.

Opera might collect data on browsing habits, feature usage, and system information.
The collected data is used for analytics, personalization, and product development.
Users concerned about privacy might prefer browsers with a stronger emphasis on minimal data collection.

Real-Life Example: A privacy-conscious individual may feel uneasy knowing their browsing patterns and feature usage contribute to analytics, even if the data is aggregated. This concern may discourage them from fully trusting the browser for daily or sensitive use.

Solution: Review Opera’s privacy policy to understand their data collection practices. Adjust privacy settings within the browser to limit the data being shared according to your preferences. Consider using privacy-focused browser alternatives if you have significant concerns about data collection.

Disadvantage #9: Less Popular for Web Development Testing

While Opera adheres to web standards, its lower market share can sometimes make it a less prioritized browser for web developers during the testing phase. This means that some websites might have minor visual or functional discrepancies when viewed on Opera compared to more mainstream browsers.

Developers might primarily focus their testing efforts on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari due to their larger user bases.
Opera-specific rendering bugs or compatibility issues might occasionally slip through initial testing.
Users who frequently encounter cutting-edge web technologies might experience more inconsistencies on Opera.

Real-Life Example: A user visiting a website still in its beta testing phase might notice that certain animations or interactive elements render incorrectly or don’t function smoothly on Opera, while they work fine on other browsers.

Solution: As a regular user, there isn’t much you can do to directly influence developer testing priorities. However, reporting any website rendering issues you encounter to the website owner can help them identify and address potential Opera-specific bugs.

Disadvantage #10: Niche Focus Might Not Suit All Users

Opera’s focus on integrating specific features like a built-in VPN, ad blocker, and cryptocurrency wallet caters to a particular segment of users. Those who don’t prioritize these features might find the browser to be overly complex or prefer a more streamlined experience offered by other browsers.

Users who already have preferred standalone VPN or ad-blocking solutions might find the built-in options redundant.
The inclusion of niche features might add to the browser’s complexity without providing tangible benefits for all users.
Some users prefer a more basic and lightweight browser focused primarily on core browsing functionality.

Real-Life Example: A user who primarily uses their browser for basic web surfing and doesn’t require advanced privacy tools or cryptocurrency features might find Opera’s interface cluttered with options they don’t need or intend to use.

Solution: Consider your specific browsing needs and preferences when choosing a browser. If you find Opera’s integrated features unnecessary or overwhelming, exploring alternative browsers with a more tailored feature set might be a better option.

How Could These Disadvantages Be Overcome Globally?

Addressing the disadvantages of Opera and similar browsers requires a multi-faceted approach involving the browser developers, web developers, and the user community. Many of these drawbacks stem from market dynamics and the prioritization of development efforts. However, these issues can be significantly mitigated with collective attention and strategic initiatives over time.

Increased Collaboration with Web Developers: Opera could proactively engage with web developers to ensure better compatibility testing and optimization for their browsers. This could involve developer outreach programs, providing resources, and actively participating in web standards discussions.
Enhancing Transparency and Control over Built-in Features: For features like the VPN, Opera could provide greater transparency regarding its data handling practices and offer users more granular control over its functionality. This would build trust and address privacy concerns.
Community Engagement and Feedback Integration: Actively soliciting and incorporating user feedback can help Opera prioritize feature development and bug fixes that are most important to its user base. A strong and responsive community can also contribute to peer-to-peer support.
Lightweight Mode and Modular Design: Offering a lightweight version of the browser with essential features or a modular design that allows users to choose which components to install could address the resource intensity and unwanted features concerns.
Strategic Partnerships and Feature Integration: Collaborating with popular extension developers or integrating widely used services directly into the browser could help bridge the gap in the extension ecosystem and provide users with the tools they need.

Videos About Opera

Video resources can be incredibly helpful for users looking to learn more about Opera and its features. Visual guides often make it easier to understand how to navigate the browser’s interface and utilize its various functionalities effectively. Here are some examples of video topics that could help you learn to use Opera:

Conclusion

Opera presents itself as a compelling alternative in the crowded web browser market, offering a unique blend of speed, integrated features, and a focus on user convenience. Its built-in VPN, ad blocker, and battery saver are undoubtedly attractive features for many users seeking enhanced privacy, a cleaner browsing experience, and better battery life on their devices. However, as with any software, Opera has its limitations, like compatibility issues, concerns surrounding the privacy aspects of the built-in VPN, and the smaller extension ecosystem compared to major browsers like Chrome.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use Opera depends on individual needs and priorities. While its unique features offer distinct advantages, understanding the potential drawbacks is crucial for making an informed choice. Carefully weighing the pros and cons will help determine if Opera aligns with your browsing habits and provides the best overall experience for your online activities.