Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Opera vs Qwant
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Opera |  Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free of charge, ad-supported; free built-in VPN and AI chat included | Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Edge extension, Firefox extension, Safari extension |
| Logging policy | Built-in free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log; Opera collects usage and ad-related data but states it does not log or store full browsing history | By default does not store search history or personal data; no advertising trackers or pixels |
| Jurisdiction | NO | FR |
| Privacy tool type | Browser, Ad blocker | Search |
| Price from | $8 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Lightway | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Not confirmed | No |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Qwant scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Platforms: only Opera offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- Platforms: only Qwant offers Web, Chrome extension, Edge extension.
- Support channels: only Opera offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Qwant offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at Opera: 1995 vs 2011.
- Privacy tool type: only Opera offers Browser, Ad blocker.
- Privacy tool type: only Qwant offers Search.
Our verdict on each
Opera
Opera packs a browser, an ad blocker and a free built-in VPN into a single download, which suits everyday browsing on a budget. VPN Pro costs $8 a month and falls to $4 a month on its 12 month term, and the free plan keeps the VPN included.
Qwant
Qwant suits readers who want a private search engine with no cost attached, since a free plan is included. It is the fit for people who put no stored search history above open source code, while the typical starting price in the site's private-search field is €6.93.
Score breakdown
| Area | Opera | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry price of $8 sits high among the 131 brands compared on price from, with an ad supported free plan underneath it. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.6Higher |
| Privacy | 9.9Higher | 8.8 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Opera | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Norway | France |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Opera | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 27 of 280 | 77 of 280 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 9 of 55 | 15 of 55 |
Where these facts come from
Opera
- opera.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Qwant
- about.qwant.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Opera | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Opera Norway AS | QWANT, SAS (RCS Paris B 532 867 256) |
| Headquarters | Norway | France |
| Founded | 1995Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | Opera | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $8 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | $4 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | 6 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | 48 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Deloitte 2024 | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Travel | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Opera Norway AS | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Opera | Qwant | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $8at the median | Not confirmed | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Opera
Pros
- The free plan costs nothing, is ad supported, and still carries the built-in VPN and AI chat.
- Both the free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log, and the free browser VPN no-log claim was audited by Deloitte 2024.
- VPN Pro reaches 48 server countries over Lightway, with 6 devices covered.
Cons
- The free plan is ad supported, and Opera collects usage and ad related data, so ads sit in the mix alongside the free VPN.
- VPN Pro covers 6 devices, near the lower end of a site range of 1 to 50.
- The $8 entry price leaves Opera at 73 of 131 brands on price from.
Qwant
Pros
- A free plan is included, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
- Search history and personal data are not stored by default, and no advertising trackers or pixels are run.
- It runs on web, iOS and Android and support covers email, phone and help centre.
Cons
- Open source: no, so the code behind the engine is not published for outside review.
- The unlimited free tier depends on signing up: Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
Who each suits
Opera
Who it suits
- People who want a browser with the VPN already inside it and left on at no cost.
- Readers who weigh an audited no-log claim highly, with Deloitte 2024 on record for the free browser VPN.
- Households that want the same tools across Windows, macOS and Linux.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers after an email hiding tool on its own: Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99.
- Readers who want a data removal subscription instead, where EasyOptOuts starts at $19.99.
Qwant
Who it suits
- Readers who want a search engine that keeps no search history or personal data by default.
- People in the Apple ecosystem, who can pair a Qwant account with Apple Hide My Email for aliasing.
- Anyone who wants one account across web, iOS and Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts, for readers whose main task is opting out of data brokers rather than searching; it has no free plan.
- Apple Hide My Email, for email aliases: its aliases are free with an Apple Account, which is a different job from private search.
Current offers
Opera
Current offer
Free trial
VPN Pro free trial: 7 days
Offered at Opera's discretion; unless cancelled before the trial ends the payment method is charged for the selected subscription period
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Opera
How much does VPN Pro cost?+
VPN Pro opens at $8, and the monthly rate is $8. The longest term runs 12 months. On price from, Opera sits 73 of 131 brands, so entry price is its weakest cost point.
What does the free plan include?+
The free plan costs nothing and shows ads, and it keeps the built-in VPN along with AI chat. The features listed for the free tier are no logs and travel, and the pricing model is free.
Qwant
Is Qwant really free?+
Yes. A free plan is included and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account, so the search stays free once an account exists. The only model listed is free, so there is no paid tier priced against it.
What does Qwant cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Qwant's free plan covers the search, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account. There is no introductory deal to time and no renewal step for a paid plan, since free is the only model listed. For scale, the typical yearly price across tools on the site is €65.76.