Is Opera GX Safe? A Clear Look at the Gaming Browser

If you play games and want a browser that fits your setup, you have probably asked yourself: is Opera GX really safe to use every day. It is a fair question. The browser looks bold, ships with gaming extras, and asks for a fair amount of trust in return. So before you make it your main web browser, it helps to know what sits under the hood.

The short answer: Opera GX is generally considered safe for everyday browsing and gaming. It is considered a solid pick because it runs on the same engine as Chrome, includes several built-in protections, and follows European privacy rules. But “safe” depends on what you care about — casual play, or handling sensitive accounts. This guide breaks down the trade-offs so you can decide with clear eyes.

What Is Opera GX?

Opera GX is a gaming-focused browser released in 2019 by Opera. It is a Chromium browser, which means it runs on the same open-source core as Chrome and Edge. On top of that base, Opera GX adds a look and a set of tools aimed at players — sidebar messengers, Twitch integration, and a control panel called GX Control.

That panel lets you cap how much RAM, CPU, and network bandwidth the browser uses, so it does not starve your game of resources. That focus on customization is the main reason Opera GX stands out as a browser for gamers. It is free to download, and its core features stay free. Alongside it, the standard Opera browser shares the same underpinnings.

Because it shares that engine base, Opera GX behaves like other browsers on the same core. If you have used Chrome or Edge before, the experience will feel familiar right away.

Is Opera GX Safe to Use?

For most people, yes. Opera GX is fine for personal use and casual gaming. Chromium underpins Chrome and many other browsers, and it brings a mature safe browsing system that flags dangerous pages before they load. Opera builds on that foundation rather than replacing it.

Note that Opera GX is not spyware, despite claims you may read online. Opera GX collects user data such as usage statistics — as nearly every modern browser does — but there is no evidence it secretly records your activity. Opera GX doesn’t ship malware, and it passes the same phishing and malware checks that protect other browsers built on the same core.

Where the picture gets more nuanced is professional use. Opera GX may not be the right pick for handling client data, credentials, or work that demands strict compliance. For those cases, a locked-down, audited setup matters more than a flashy interface. For everyday safety and privacy, though, the browser holds up well.

Opera GX Security Features

Opera GX offers a solid stack of built-in security features that many rivals leave to add-ons. Here is what comes ready out of the box:

• Ad blocker and tracker blocker. Opera GX’s ad blocker strips intrusive ads, and its blocker cuts scripts that follow you between sites. Together they trim a common source of online threats and speed up page loads.
• Free VPN. Opera GX’s built-in VPN routes traffic through a remote server and hides your real IP address from the sites you visit. It is a light layer of protection, useful on public Wi-Fi.
• Fraud and malware protection. The browser warns you before you land on a known malicious page, drawing on the browser’s protection lists.

Opera GX also flags suspicious downloads before they open. These privacy features make Opera GX’s security stronger than a plain Chromium build with nothing added. The adblock and tracker tools alone remove a lot of clutter and reduce exposure to shady scripts. If you want to go further, our guide on how to optimize Chrome for maximum privacy covers hardening steps that carry over to any Chromium-based browser.

Still, a browser-bundled VPN is limited. It is fine for masking your IP address on a coffee-shop network, but it does not match a full VPN app for coverage across every app on your device.

Data Collection Practices and Your Privacy

The biggest question around Opera GX is not the code — it is the data. Its data collection practices cover usage statistics and feature interactions, and how that data is collected shapes the privacy debate.

Opera GX is headquartered in Norway. That matters. Norway follows the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through the European Economic Area, so Opera is held to the same data protection rules as companies inside the EU. GDPR gives you the right to access, export, and limit data collection tied to your account. Is Opera safe to trust with that data? Under European law, it faces real oversight.

Here is the wrinkle many people flag: Opera is owned by a Chinese company. Since 2016, a Chinese consortium led by Kunlun Tech has held the majority stake. Opera states that this ownership does not give shareholders access to your personal data, and that Chinese jurisdiction laws do not apply because the firm is headquartered in Norway and bound by European rules. Critics still raise it as a reason to weigh your comfort level.

In practice, the amount of data Opera GX gathers is broadly in line with other mainstream browsers. It does not obviously collect more data than Google Chrome, which is itself a heavy data collector. If deep privacy is your priority, Firefox — built by the non-profit Mozilla — is often the stricter choice. To dig deeper into the trade-offs between big-name browsers, see our roundup of the best Chrome alternatives.

How Opera GX Compares to Chrome and Other Browsers

Against Chrome, Opera GX offers more built-in tooling: an ad blocker and VPN that Chrome leaves to extensions. On privacy and security, the two land in a similar place — both build on the same core with strong built-in protection, and both collect telemetry. The real gap is look-and-feel and gaming polish, where Opera GX wins, and enterprise controls, where Chrome wins.

Against Firefox, the story flips on data. Firefox is not built on that engine; it uses its own and leans harder into tracker blocking and data minimisation by default. If cybersecurity and strict privacy top your list over gaming flair, Firefox has the edge.

No mainstream option is a magic shield. Every browser has software vulnerabilities that surface over time, which is why keeping any browser updated is the single most important safety habit. If you suspect something has slipped through, our walkthrough on how to remove a browser hijacker can help you clean things up.

How to Make Opera GX Safer

Whether Opera GX is safe enough for you depends partly on how you set it up. A few quick moves tighten its privacy and security:

• Keep it updated. Updates patch known security flaws fast — a fresh vulnerability can appear at any time, so turn on automatic updates and let them run.
• Turn on the built-in ad blocker and VPN. Both ship with the browser — flip them on in settings to cut trackers and mask your IP address.
• Customize your data settings. Head to privacy settings and switch off optional telemetry and personalised ads.
• Turn on two-factor authentication. 2FA protects your logins even if a password leaks.
• Layer a dedicated VPN. A browser VPN only covers browser traffic. Using a VPN app protects every connection on your device.

Do these and you shrink your exposure to malicious sites, trackers, and network snooping — without giving up the gaming features you came for.

Protect Every Connection with Planet VPN

The bundled VPN in Opera GX is a handy start, but it only shields what happens inside the browser. Planet VPN protects your whole device — every app, every connection — and it keeps your core protection free, for good.

You get reliable encryption that protects your data on public Wi-Fi, 6 locations at no cost, and no registration hassle. Want more locations and higher speed for streaming and gaming? Premium adds those on top — the same solid protection, more room to move.

See the free plans or get the browser extension and add a real layer of privacy to your everyday browsing today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Opera GX leak info?

There is no credible evidence that Opera GX leaks your personal information. Like most browsers, it collects some usage statistics, and its data collection is disclosed in its privacy policy. To reduce what is shared, open privacy settings, turn off optional telemetry, and enable the built-in tracker blocker.

Is Opera GX more safe than Chrome?

They are close. Both share the same core with the same underlying protections, so on security they are comparable. Opera GX edges ahead on convenience because it bundles an ad blocker and a built-in VPN that Chrome leaves to extensions. On data, both gather telemetry, so neither is a clear privacy winner over the other.

Why is Opera GX not recommended?

The main hesitation comes from ownership. Because Opera is majority Chinese-owned, some security-minded users prefer to avoid it for sensitive work, even though the firm is based in Norway and follows the GDPR. It is also aimed at gamers rather than business use, so it lacks enterprise controls. For casual browsing, these concerns are minor.

Which is the No. 1 secure browser?

There is no single “safest” pick for everyone, but Firefox is widely regarded as one of the strongest choices for privacy, thanks to its default tracker blocking and non-profit backing. The best option for you is the one you keep updated, pair with a VPN, and lock down in settings.

What is the most unsafe browser?

The riskiest browsers are outdated ones and obscure apps that skip security updates. Any browser left unpatched becomes a target, and unknown browsers from untrusted sources can hide malicious code. Sticking with a maintained, mainstream browser and updating it promptly is the safest habit you can build.