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Side-by-side comparison ยท AI Browsers & Agents

Google Chrome vs Opera GX vs Opera One

Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.

Best overall

Google Chrome

4.1

From $19.99/mo

Opera GX

3.7

Free to start

Opera One

3.9

Free to start

Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.

At a glance

Best overall

Pick it if: Anyone already using Chrome and Google's apps who wants AI help reading, comparing and researching without switching browsers.

Pick it if: Gamers and streamers who also work in their browser and want free AI help plus control over how much of their PC the browser takes.

Pick it if: Anyone who wants a free Chrome alternative with a capable AI sidebar, tab organisation and a built-in VPN, without paying for anything.

Overview

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
In one lineThe world's most used browser, now with Gemini built in to read pages and do tasks.Opera's free gaming browser with resource limits, mods and a free AI sidebar.Opera's free everyday browser with a built-in AI sidebar that reads your tabs.
Pricing modelFreemiumFreeFree
Starting price$19.99/moFreeFree
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code No No No

Rating breakdown

Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
Overall rating4.1Winner3.73.9
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
4.5
4.0
4.5
FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
4.0
3.0
3.0
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
3.5
3.5
3.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
4.5
4.5
4.5
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.0
3.5
4.0

Feature comparison

A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Mobile app Yes Yes Yes
Desktop app Yes Yes Yes
Browser extension Yes No No
API access No No No
Teams & business
Team workspace Yes No No
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes No No
Connects to other apps Yes Yes Yes
Open source or self-hosted No No No
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes Yes
Understands images Yes Yes Yes
Makes images Yes Yes Yes
Makes video No No No
Writes code No No No
Runs agents or automations Yes No No
Learns your brand or style No No No
Works in many languages Yes Yes Yes
Capabilities score12/ 178/ 178/ 17

Pricing

Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
Plans

FreeOur pick

Free

Most people: summaries, tab comparisons and AI search.

Free

Free

Everyone. There is no paid tier for the AI.

Free

Free

Everyone. There is no paid tier for the AI.

Google AI Pro

$19.99/mo

US users who want Gemini to do tasks on websites for them.

Free with an Opera accountOur pick

Free

Anyone who wants saved chats and more images.

Free with an Opera accountOur pick

Free

Anyone who wants chat history across devices and more images.

Google AI Ultra

From $99.99/mo

Heavy users who hit Pro's limits.

Which plan to pickUse it free. The side panel is what most business owners will actually use, and it's free in Australia. Only pay for AI Pro if you're in the US or India and want auto browse, or you want Gemini's better models anyway. Nobody needs Ultra for the browser.It's free. Sign in with a free Opera account if you want your chats saved and 100 images a day. Nothing to buy for the AI.It's all free. Sign in with a free Opera account if you want your chats saved and more images; otherwise just download it and click Ask AI. Opera sells a separate VPN Pro, but you don't need it for the AI.

Key features

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
Standout features
  • Gemini side panel
  • Auto browse
  • Works with Google apps
  • AI Mode in the address bar
  • Skills
  • Scam protection
  • Opera AI
  • GX Control
  • Hot Tab Killer
  • Mods and themes
  • GX Corner
  • Browser Connector
  • Opera AI sidebar
  • Tab Islands
  • Files and video
  • Browser Connector
  • Built-in extras
  • Privacy switches

Pros and cons

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
Pros
  • Most people already use it, so there's nothing to switch
  • Free Gemini side panel, available in Australia
  • Works with Gmail, Calendar and YouTube
  • Huge extension library
  • Asks before sign-ins and purchases during auto browse
  • Free AI with no account needed
  • GX Control keeps the browser from slowing your PC
  • Same AI quality as Opera One
  • Mods, GX Corner and streaming sidebar that no other browser has
  • Free VPN and an ad blocker that now takes uBlock lists
  • Free, with no account needed for the AI
  • Tab Islands make the AI's context easy to control
  • Handles files, YouTube videos and images, not just web pages
  • Free VPN, ad blocker and translator built in
  • Page access is off until you allow it
Cons
  • Auto browse is paid, US and India only, and not on iPhone
  • Early reviews found auto browse unreliable and prone to claiming tasks it hadn't done
  • Page content you share with Gemini is sent to Google
  • Not yet available in the EU
  • Gemini prompts are increasingly pushed into the browser whether you want them or not
  • No agent: it can't click or fill in forms for you
  • Heavy at idle unless you set the limits
  • Gamer styling and game promos can feel out of place for work
  • A GX Mods security bug was found and fixed in 2026, so keep it updated
  • No agent: it can't click, fill in forms or finish tasks on sites
  • Browser Connector for ChatGPT and Claude is still an opt-in test feature
  • Opera doesn't say which Gemini model you get or publish chat limits
  • Sponsored speed dials and news on the start page by default

Who each one is for

AttributeGoogle ChromeOpera GXOpera One
Best for
  • Summarising pages and YouTube videos
  • Comparing products or suppliers across tabs
  • Adding events to Google Calendar from a page
  • Google Workspace users who don't want a new browser
  • Working and gaming on the same PC without slowdown
  • Summarising guides, patch notes and YouTube videos
  • Quick answers about a page without leaving it
  • Free AI wallpapers and images
  • Summarising long pages and YouTube videos
  • Comparing suppliers or products grouped in a Tab Island
  • Quick drafts and translations while you browse
  • Keeping work and personal tabs organised
You'll find it used by
  • Small business owners
  • Marketers
  • Students
  • Google Workspace users
  • Gamers
  • Streamers
  • Students
  • Creators
  • Small business owners
  • Students
  • Researchers
  • Anyone switching from Chrome

Questions people ask

Which is better, Google Chrome, Opera GX or Opera One?

Google Chrome scores highest overall in our ratings (Google Chrome 4.1/5, Opera GX 3.7/5 and Opera One 3.9/5). Google Chrome is best for summarising pages and YouTube videos and comparing products or suppliers across tabs. Opera GX is best for working and gaming on the same PC without slowdown and summarising guides, patch notes and YouTube videos. Opera One is best for summarising long pages and YouTube videos and comparing suppliers or products grouped in a Tab Island.

Which is cheaper, Google Chrome, Opera GX or Opera One?

Google Chrome: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $19.99/mo. Opera GX: It's free to use. Opera One: It's free to use.

How we compare

Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.

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