# Desktop Browser vs Opera Browser with VPN

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Opera Browser with VPN at none against Desktop Browser's 6. Opera Browser with VPN also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (258K vs 16K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Desktop Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days. Opera Browser with VPN asks for nothing beyond the download.

Opera Browser with VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opera Browser with VPN has 258K ratings behind it against 16K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Desktop Browser's written reviews are positive against 59% of Opera Browser with VPN's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Desktop Browser | Opera Browser with VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser/id940076212/reviews) | **[4.7 (258K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opera-browser-with-vpn/id1411869974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16K | **258K** |
| Positive reviews | 52.3% of reviews | **58.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#33** |
| Size | 18 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Spicy Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/299136020) | [Opera Norway AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1282065940) |

## What reviewers say

### Desktop Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser/id940076212)

Access full desktop versions of websites on your mobile device, overcoming content limitations and enhancing productivity. Enjoy a customizable browsing experience with tabbed browsing and bookmarks, seamlessly integrated with other apps.

**Highlights:** View desktop website versions, Tabbed browsing, Bookmarks, Customizable settings, Seamless app integration, Enhanced productivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly | $1.49 | per 7 days |
| monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| yearly | $7.49 | per year |
| remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| browse plus | $1.99 | one-time |
| all features pack | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for desktop browsing on mobile
- 🚀 Reliable in forcing desktop mode
- 💡 Helpful for accessing desktop-only features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent performance on some websites
- 💸 Aggressive monetization with ads and in-app purchases
- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many toolbars

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to upload images
- Reloads pages unexpectedly when interacting with text fields
- Fails to properly display desktop versions of certain websites

**Requested features**

- Add PDF export/download functionality
- Improve tab management and background browsing
- Provide more customization options


### Opera Browser with VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opera-browser-with-vpn/id1411869974)

**Currently charting:** #33 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

This AI-powered web browser offers lightning-fast speeds, enhanced privacy with a built-in VPN, and an ad-free experience. Customize your interface and enjoy seamless one-handed browsing with intuitive gestures and a smart AI assistant.

**Highlights:** AI-powered browsing with Aria, Built-in private VPN, Native ad blocker, One-handed browsing design, Customizable wallpapers, Lightning-fast search

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 🔒 Blocks ads and crypto mining
- 👍 Customizable UI
- 💡 AI integration
- 🔋 Battery efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 News pages keep popping up
- 🐛 Glitches with search bar and tab management
- 👎 Lack of reader mode and extensions
- 🔒 Security concerns due to Chinese ownership
- 💤 Forced new tabs on startup

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Incompatibility with certain websites
- Download and file saving limitations
- Inconsistent ad blocking performance

**Requested features**

- Bookmark management
- Password sync across devices
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Webpage zoom
- Customizable dark mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Desktop Browser free?

Desktop Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Opera Browser with VPN free?

Opera Browser with VPN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Desktop Browser or Opera Browser with VPN?

Opera Browser with VPN is rated higher. Desktop Browser averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Opera Browser with VPN averages 4.7 from 258K ratings.

### Do Desktop Browser or Opera Browser with VPN have ads?

Both Desktop Browser and Opera Browser with VPN show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Desktop Browser or Opera Browser with VPN?

Desktop Browser ships an update fortnightly, and Opera Browser with VPN fortnightly. Most recently, Desktop Browser was updated on September 24, 2026 and Opera Browser with VPN on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*