Vivaldi Browser 101: What You Need To Know


Vivaldi Browser 101Pin

From the ashes of the Opera browser, Vivaldi was born. It’s customisable as hell but is it a better browser than Chrome or Brave? Let’s find out…


When it comes to web browsers, there are now plenty of options – arguably too many. Chrome is still the biggest by far despite its Orwellian-levels of tracking which, ironically, is why browsers like DuckDuckGo and Brave are now becoming more popular.

Where does Vivaldi fit into this landscape? It is more private than Chrome but not so much as Brave or DuckDuckGo. But one area where it has carved out a niche for itself, alongside newer browsers like Arc, is with its myriad customisation options.

Is it worth switching to Vivaldi as your daily driver? Here’s what you need to know…

The Brains Behind the Vivaldi Browser

Vivaldi Browser 101: What You Need To KnowPin

First things first, let’s talk about the masterminds behind Vivaldi. The company was founded by none other than Tatsuki Tomita and Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, the latter being the co-founder and former CEO of Opera Software.

Yeah, you read that right – the guys who brought us the Opera browser are now the driving force behind Vivaldi. Opera is now dead, of course, but much of the ethos and ideology that went into Opera is present inside Vivaldi.

Vivaldi considers itself a privacy-first browser. It doesn’t track you, it comes with a built in ad blocker that you can toggle on, and it does not store cookies and temporary files from sites you visit which is great news for anyone looking to bulk-up their privacy settings in 2024.

One of the most compelling aspects of Vivaldi is its ownership structure. As an employee-owned company with no involvement from Big Tech or venture capital firms, Vivaldi is free to prioritize the needs and privacy of its users without the pressure to monetize user data.

The company’s primary revenue streams come from sponsored links and search engine partnerships, allowing them to maintain a focus on delivering a top-notch browsing experience without compromising user privacy.

Vivaldi’s commitment to privacy is further bolstered by its geographic location, with its headquarters in Oslo, Norway – a country known for its strict privacy laws.

And if you want to secure-up your email – Gmail is NOT private FYI – Vivaldi also has its own email client too which supports every major client from POP3 and IMAP to Gmail and Outlook.

Basically, using Vivaldi is a lot more secure and private than Chrome. Compared to Brave, probably not so much – Brave is the optimal choice for privacy experts right now. But Vivaldi is a good place to start if you’re not quite ready for the big leagues.

With Vivaldi, Customization is King

Vivaldi Browser 101: What You Need To KnowPin

One of the standout features of Vivaldi is its mind-boggling level of customization. Want to change the color scheme based on the website you’re visiting? Vivaldi’s got you covered.

Prefer your tabs on the bottom? No problem.

And let’s not forget about the ability to “stack” and “tile” tabs, annotate web pages, and add notes to bookmarks. It’s like having a personal assistant built right into your browser.

More recently, this is something The Browser Company has tried to replicate with its Arc browser which focuses heavily on customisation, giving users more control over the look and feel and aesthetics of their browser.

For sheer usability, Vivaldi’s customization options are worth downloading it and trying out. I love the way its tab system works and the fact you can move your tabs from the top of the screen to the bottom – it makes so much more sense!

Vivaldi Supports Chrome & Firefox Extensions

Now, I know some of you might be worried about leaving behind your beloved Chrome or Firefox extensions. Fear not, Vivaldi – which is built on Chromium – plays nicely with a wide range of extensions from both the Chrome Web Store and Firefox.

This means you can download and try out Vivaldi, see if it fits in with your workflow, and not lose access to

Sure, there might be a few hiccups here and there due to Vivaldi’s unique user interface, but for the most part, you’ll be able to keep your favorite add-ons.

Privacy Matters

Vivaldi Browser 101: What You Need To KnowPin

In this day and age, privacy is a hot-button issue. Vivaldi takes it seriously, with built-in ad blocking, tracker blocking, and even a unique user ID that helps the developers gather general statistics about the browser’s user base.

Now, some folks might raise an eyebrow at that last bit, but Vivaldi makes it easy to opt-out or delete the ID if you’re not comfortable with it.

Browsing in a Private Window means that any websites you visit, cookies and temporary files will not be stored by Vivaldi.

But, of course, this doesn’t take into account the services you might be using while you browse. If you’re using a Private Window to search the web, then your choice of search engine can play a big role in how “private” your actions actually are.

We’re collaborating with DuckDuckGo to offer a more private search experience. With this update, Vivaldi becomes the first browser to enable a default Private Search, and allows you to set a default search engine exclusively for Private Window browsing.

Unlike in other browsers, when you open a Private Window in Vivaldi, you will find DuckDuckGo enabled as your default search engine. When you search using DuckDuckGo, your search history is not tracked in any way.

This means that searches made in your Private Window will be just that – private.

Vivaldi Blog

As noted earlier, for the more privacy-focussed, Brave is likely a better option because it blocks literally everything and even has its own search engine, Brave Search.

For users simply looking to decrease the amount of data Big Tech soaks up from their browsing activities, however, Vivaldi is a massive improvement over Google’s Chrome and a step in the right direction.

Is Vivaldi Browser Worth It?

Vivaldi Browser 101: What You Need To KnowPin

As a workable, customizable alternative to Google’s Chrome browser, Vivaldi is a great option whether you’re running Android or iOS. It has more customization options, it does not track you, and there’s a built in ad-blocker – Chrome has and does none of these things.

The fact that it also supports many of the most popular Chrome and Firefox extensions is another huge plus for Vivaldi.

So, is Vivaldi the browser for you? If you’re the type who loves to tinker, customize, and make your browsing experience truly your own, then the answer is a resounding yes.

For me, Vivaldi ticks a lot of boxes. From a purely user-focussed angle, it covers plenty of ground and gives you so many options to tweak and refine your browsing experience.

With privacy and security, it is a damn sight better than Chrome and Edge. You can browse without having your personal data harvested, you can block ads if you wish, and Vivaldi doesn’t store any of your personal files or cookies on its server logs.

I’d still advocate DuckDuckGo or Brave for the truly privacy-focused, but for the general user that just wants to make a change to the level of data they’re sharing with ad companies like Google and Microsoft, Vivaldi is a simple, effective, and fun means of doing so.

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • Mint Mobile 15GB Plan

    If you don't use a lot of data, this plan is a great option. You'll get 15GB of data per month and 5GB hotspot data allowance. It's not a lot but for light users, it is likely more than you'll ever need

    +

    Data: 15GB

  • Visible+ Pro Plan

    Visible+ Pro is built for heavy users who want it all: 4K streaming, ultra-fast hotspot speeds, and premium 5G access on Verizon’s best network. No throttling. No compromises. Just pure, high-performance mobile.

    +

    Data: Unlimited

  • Visible+ Plan

    If you’re tired of overpaying for unlimited data, Visible is one of the best alternatives out there—especially right now. For a limited time, you can get Visible’s unlimited plan for just $20/month, and that price is locked in for an entire year when you use code SAVE5 at checkout.

    +

    Data: Unlimited