Vivaldi start page on macOS 13.
Vivaldi is a private Chrome alternative loaded with features. The browser is based off Chromium, and is available on macOS, Windows, and Linux. There is also a mobile version for Android. In this article, I will review the desktop version, giving an overview of its features and benefits. I will then grade it in the categories of privacy, features, and interface to see how it stacks up to other browsers.
Adding a new web panel.
Tiled tabs in Vivaldi.
Vivaldi's interface has all of the main elements of the Chrome interface, so it is relatively easy to transition from Chrome. one key feature that sets Vivaldi apart is the side panel. This panel opens on the side of the browser and contains various widgets, like bookmarks, browsing history, and integrated browser features including a translator, notes app, and email client. You can also add your own by using the plus icon at the bottom and entering the link of the site you want to add.
On the new tab page, you see speed dials (aka. shortcuts), a search bar, and a count of all the trackers Vivaldi has blocked. The panel is on the side, and the tab bar is above it (though you can configure it to be on the bottom or either of the sides). The tab bar is similar to Chrome, but it is hiding some very interesting features. You can configure it to either squish tabs like Chrome when it runs out of room, or allow them to scroll. Vivaldi has also put its own spin on tab groups, using layered tab stacks (which is another tab bar above the main one) instead, though you can also use a more Chrome-like 'accordion' layout.
When it comes to features, Vivaldi beats basically any browser you stack it against. In addition to the integrated features I mentioned earlier, it has a calendar, to-do list, contacts, a reading list, a QR code generator, what is arguably the best no-internet game of any browser, split-screen tabs, and of course, a tracker blocker. One feature that I have found really useful is the split-screen tab viewer. When taking notes on an article or video, it always annoys me that I have to open two browser windows, drag them next to each other, and size them to fit the screen. However, on Vivaldi, you can just tile the tabs without ever leaving the window.
In terms of privacy, Vivaldi is a very good browser. It has one of the strongest privacy policies I have ever seen. While its tracker blocker isn't quite as good as Brave, in most cases they are pretty similar. Vivaldi blocked 1 item on google.com, to Brave's 15, while on weather.com, Vivaldi blocked 21 to Brave's 10. Based on my testing, the discrepancy seems to be caused mainly by Brave's aggressive blocking of first-party trackers, while Vivaldi blocks mainly third-party trackers, although it does still block first-party ads and ad-trackers. Its protections are a bit worse in the fingerprinting department. When tested with Panopticlick, it was found to have a 'nearly-unique' fingerprint. However, it still received 'strong privacy protection' overall. Update 07/30/23: While Vivaldi has a unique fingerprint, its fingerprint changes every session, and even website-to-website, giving it the best anti-fingerprinting measures of any browser I have tested.
All in all, Vivaldi is a very good browser. While it is not quite as private as Brave, its powerful features and still good privacy protections make it a good choice for those looking for lots of functionality. Vivaldi is also incredibly customizable, allowing you to choose how many features you want, make a custom theme, or even move the tab bar around, making it one of the most versatile browsers on the market.
Panopticlick results for Vivaldi with default settings.
This section is a comparison of Vivaldi with other browsers. It is graded on privacy, interface, and features. You can see my other browser reviews here to compare.
Vivaldi's privacy policy is very strong. The developers of Vivaldi are clearly committed to privacy and do not collect your data. Its tracker blocker is not as good as Brave's, but it's close. It is also impossible to fingerprint, so much so that fingerprinting features used to keep users signed in to websites do not work because they think it is a different browser every time.
Browsers are graded by how good their tracker blockers are, support for FLoC, malware/nefarious script blocking, and collection of user data.
Browsers are graded on the quality of their interface. Interfaces should be easy to use and should look good.
Vivaldi's interface is clear and easy to use. It has a lot of features, and therefore a lot of buttons, but they are well labeled, organized, and most of them hide when you don't need them. Some features need to be configured away from the defaults to make it easier to use, but once you set it up, the interface is very good. You can also customize it to choose what parts to show and where.
Vivaldi is loaded with features. It has several integrated apps, including search, translate, calendar, and notes. It also has a split screen tab viewer, a screenshot tool, and lots of customization so you can decide exactly how you want your browsing experience.
Browsers are graded on the presence of several useful features (tab bar, tab groups, bookmarks), as well as customizability and extra features that the browser has.
This article was published on January 12, 2023, under Browser Reviews.