Opera VPN Review 2024: Is This Free VPN Safe?

Some Servers Are Lightning-Fast and Others Incredibly Slow

I conducted a series of speed tests on different server regions within Opera VPN, and the results were not reliable. The closest server location to me (Americas) resulted in a 99% reduction in my speed, as did the Optimal Location option. On the other hand, distant servers in Europe and Asia produced speeds that were only 15% slower than my internet service provider.

Speed Test Results

The average speed I measured during my experiments was 42 Mbps, however, this value was influenced by extreme variations in speed across different servers. Most servers were not capable of providing sufficient bandwidth for activities such as streaming, gaming, and video chat.

In my tests, I first recorded my speed without using a VPN and then compared it to the speeds I obtained while connecting to 4 different server locations. The Optimal Location option turned out to be the slowest, followed by the server closest to me in the Americas. Interestingly, the servers in Asia and Europe were only slightly slower compared to my network speed without a VPN, despite being located on the other side of the world from me.

The latency on all four servers I tested was found to be unacceptably high. A high ping indicates a slow transmission time between your computer and the VPN server, leading to lagging during online gaming or streaming activities. With an average ping of 153.5ms, Opera VPN was found to be inadequate for online gaming as it resulted in frequent delays and disconnections.

In my assessment of the VPN performance, the fastest server proved to surpass my normal network speed, however, a significant majority of Opera VPN servers demonstrated a significant decrease in connection speed by a minimum of 96%. In contrast, real VPNs, particularly those with substantial server networks, demonstrate a marked improvement in speed. As a point of reference, ExpressVPN consistently demonstrated a speed reduction of no more than 35% during my evaluation.

Server Network — Supports 30+ Locations

Opera VPN Pro presents a comprehensive network of servers across 30+ countries with a total of over 3,000 servers. Prior to 2017, Opera VPN Pro outsourced the management of its VPN component to SurfEasy, a subsidiary located in Canada. However, after the acquisition of SurfEasy by Norton in 2017, Opera VPN Pro has taken on the responsibility of managing the project internally.

Individuals who subscribe to the paid service of Opera VPN Pro are provided access to all servers within the network. The servers have been strategically placed in five regions: Asia, The Americas, Europe, The Middle East, and Oceania, with Europe boasting the highest concentration of servers. In comparison to other prominent VPN providers, such as Cyberghost which offers server access in 11,800+ countries, this particular offering may seem limited.

Opera VPN’s free service provides a connection to servers located in three broad regions – The Americas, Asia, and Europe. However, the user interface does not display the exact country to which the connection is established. This absence of information can make it difficult to identify the specific location without utilizing an external online tool.

To determine the specific locations of Opera VPN’s free servers, I conducted a DNS leak test for each region. The results of my test revealed the following city locations for Opera VPN’s servers:

• Americas server — Washington, US
• Europe server — Groningen, Netherlands
• Asia server — Singapore

It is crucial to understand that the results obtained may not reflect complete accuracy due to the utilization of virtual servers by Opera VPN. Virtual servers enable the ability to alter their locations dynamically. As a result, it is feasible for the results of my experiment to vary from those that you may obtain.

Opera VPN offers an innovative feature known as “Optimal Location” that automatically determines the fastest server in proximity to the user. My check on the company’s security showed that it uses Google’s DNS instead of having its own. This makes me wonder about how they handle our information and if they keep our information private. It’s important to think about this when we look at the services Opera VPN offers.

Security — Passed DNS Leak Tests but Lacks Advanced Security Features

My evaluation of Opera VPN revealed that it lacks advanced security measures. This includes missing features such as Perfect Forward Secrecy, various tunneling protocols, IP switching, and the ability to conceal VPN traffic. Furthermore, Opera VPN operates as a proxy that only encrypts web browser traffic, leaving other programs like banking apps and torrent software unsecured. The absence of a kill switch also poses a security risk as sensitive information may become susceptible to compromise in the event of a VPN connection failure.

Opera VPN offers a few fundamental security features, including:

• AES encryption – Opera VPN has employed the use of AES 256-bit encryption, a method of encryption considered to be of the highest security standard. The utilization of this method is commonplace among military organizations, and it is deemed to be uncrackable even by government intelligence agencies.
• HTTPS, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocol – the Opera VPN Pro desktop version uses a protocol called IKEv2, which is not as strong as the standard OpenVPN. However, the Android version uses the better OpenVPN protocol, so it’s recommended. The free version of Opera VPN uses HTTPS over TLS 1.3 to keep information secure, which is a commonly employed technique for websites.
• Built-In Ad-Blocker – this feature is turned off when you first use Opera but can easily be turned on or off from the “Settings” menu. The purpose of this feature is to block any advertisements that might be intrusive or disruptive to your browsing experience.

I conducted a DNS leak test on Opera VPN to ensure that my personal data remained private. This test checked for any instances where my actual location and IP address were visible to external parties, such as website administrators. After connecting to a server in Asia, I was pleased to find that the DNS test only revealed IP addresses associated with Opera VPN, indicating that my data was indeed secure.

DNS leaks are not the only way that your IP address can be exposed. Some common browsers and messaging apps use a technology called WebRTC for real-time communication features like voice or video. To check if Opera VPN would also expose my IP address through this protocol, I ran a WebRTC leak test. I am pleased to report that Opera VPN successfully kept my IP address hidden.

Finally, I performed an IPv6 leak test to determine if Opera VPN could still hide my IP address when using the Internet Protocol’s newest version. Opera VPN pleasantly surprised me by keeping my IPv6 address hidden.

Privacy — Collects Data and Has a Complex Organizational Structure

The Opera browser claims to have a no-log policy, but its privacy statement contradicts this statement. Despite Opera’s VPN service claiming to keep your browsing history, search queries, and other data private and secure, it assigns a unique device identification number to each account. This allows Opera to collect and track data on the user and the performance of advertising campaigns.

While you have the option to opt out of this program, it’s important to note that web activity can still be monitored and shared with Opera’s marketing partners, even with a VPN enabled. This raises questions about the level of privacy protection offered by the Opera browser.

Opera permits third-party entities, such as Facebook, Google, and Yandex, to integrate their code into Opera’s applications. This integration enables these companies to collect data from Opera’s users. According to Opera’s privacy policy, these third-party companies are categorized as “data controllers,” which grants them the authority to determine the utilization of personal data. This situation raises concerns as it highlights potential weaknesses in safeguarding users’ personal information.

Opera VPN’s privacy policy is complicated due to its complex structure, making it unclear what laws the company is subject to for data retention and web surveillance. The company has headquarters listed in Norway but is officially based in Singapore and subject to the laws of England and Wales. It is owned by a Chinese company and uses servers from a Canadian-based VPN provider, potentially subjecting it to multiple countries’ laws. Opera may be required to share data with law enforcement from the 9 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, and its privacy policy states that personal data may be shared with partners outside of Singapore.

In the year 2016, a breach occurred in Opera’s synchronization service resulting in the exposure of sensitive information belonging to over 1.7 million users, including passwords and login details. Hence, it is imperative to exercise caution when sharing personal information with a VPN provider. As a privacy-focused individual, I choose VPN services that do not retain records of my data. ExpressVPN is a trustworthy and dependable option as it has been verified to abide by a strict no-logging policy.

Torrenting — Not Supported

Opera VPN Pro’s poor speed hindered my ability to download any torrents. Additionally, the VPN’s logging practices, unclear jurisdiction, and lack of a kill switch pose a significant risk to your online privacy and anonymity.

If you want to download torrents anonymously and safely, it’s important to have a VPN that can protect your entire internet connection from malware and third-party threats. Instead of using Opera VPN, which may not provide adequate security, it’s a safer bet to go with CyberGhost. This VPN has dedicated servers specifically designed for torrenting, which allows for fast and secure downloading of large files.

Just remember that downloading copyrighted material is still illegal in many countries, even if you torrent with a VPN. To avoid criminal and civil penalties, only download content that’s in the public domain.

Does Opera VPN Work in China? No!

Opera VPN Pro’s reliability for internet access in China is uncertain due to the lack of necessary security features to bypass China’s firewall. I attempted to contact Opera’s customer support for further information on its effectiveness in China, but no response was received.

Even if Opera VPN were to function properly in China, I would not recommend using it due to the fact that the Opera browser tracks and logs users’ device activity. This would make me uncomfortable using it in a country with such extensive internet surveillance.

Additionally, Opera is owned by a Beijing-based consortium, which is subject to Chinese electronic surveillance laws. This means that if the company were to be forced by local law enforcement to release user data, they would be obligated to comply.

Chinese authorities do not typically arrest tourists or visitors for using VPNs, but they do use advanced technology to detect and block unauthorized VPN connections. It is important to note that even if you are using a VPN for protection, it does not give you the right to break local laws. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of and abide by Chinese laws while using a VPN in the country.

Opera provides a comprehensive support service that includes a live chat option (only available for the Pro version), a contact form, a forum, and a knowledge base. The support team available through the live chat function is well-informed and equipped to provide assistance. However, their accessibility is confined to the hours between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

I encountered difficulties in locating the contact form section on the Opera website due to the centralized integration of all Opera’s offerings. Despite my efforts, I was unable to receive a response from the support department after submitting inquiries through the form.

The knowledge base serves as a centralized source for general information, including FAQs, setup guides, and account and billing details. While the section does offer several articles, it should be noted that the level of detail provided may not meet all expectations.

You won’t find Opera VPN FAQs very helpful if you have a technical query

The forum on the website presents an opportunity for you to engage in discussions regarding browser-related topics. However, there are currently no specific discussions or questions regarding Opera VPN.