Opera's download page does not print a version number, so the version here comes from Opera's public file server. Its desktop directory listed 138.0.6044.24, dated 20 October 2026, as the highest version number, and a listing is not an announcement, so confirm the number in Opera's About page after installing. The Windows download offered is Opera One, stable, 64-bit.
The Opera site says the browser is available for free, with a "free VPN and Ad blocker built right in" and Opera AI included, and offers "Free & Pro VPN" as a feature. It gives no price for Opera One itself, and no Windows requirement on the download page. A tech-specs page that might state one could not be loaded.
Recent versions on Opera's file server
| Version | Date in the listing |
|---|---|
| 138.0.6044.24 | 20 Oct 2026 |
| 137.0.6036.63 | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 137.0.6036.39 | 7 Oct 2026 |
| 136.0.6008.80 | 30 Sep 2026 |
| 136.0.6008.52 | 24 Sep 2026 |
| 136.0.6008.22 | 17 Sep 2026 |
Computed from the six dates above: gaps of 7, 6, 7, 7 and 6 days between listed builds, an average of about 7 days, so a new build roughly every week. The newest was 3 days old on the check date of 23 Oct 2026. The listing page was cut off in the reading, so older builds may exist.
A weekly build, six in five weeks, is a faster pace than a monthly app. It also means that an installer you downloaded last month may already be several builds behind, which is normal for a browser that updates itself.
What Opera lists
| Feature | Opera's statement |
|---|---|
| VPN | Free and Pro options; the free tier is described as built in |
| Ad blocker | Named as a feature, without Opera One specifics |
| Opera AI | Included, with a free chat offered on the page |
| Messaging from the sidebar | Listed on the page |
Scope: opera.com and opera.com/download, read 23 Oct 2026. The page says nothing about the VPN's limits, logging policy or the cost of the Pro tier, so this page does not describe them.
The free VPN, as Opera describes it
Opera's page on its free VPN gives more detail than the home page. It says there are no bandwidth limits, data caps or speed throttling, and that traffic goes through three server locations: Ashburn in the United States, Amsterdam in Europe and Singapore in Asia. An "optimal location" setting picks the lowest-latency server by default.
| Question | What the VPN page states |
|---|---|
| Scope | Protects only activity inside the Opera browser; system-wide coverage is a VPN Pro feature |
| Encryption | AES-256 tunnel between the browser and Opera's servers |
| Logging | Claims a strict no-log policy and cites a Deloitte audit and a Cure53 security test; the reports themselves are not on the page |
| Setup | No account, login, extension or separate app; switch it on from the VPN badge beside the address bar |
| VPN Pro | 48 locations, all apps on up to six devices, the Lightway protocol; no price printed on this page |
| How Opera earns money | Search partnerships, browser features and paid subscriptions such as VPN Pro |
Scope: opera.com/features/free-vpn, read 23 Oct 2026. These are Opera's statements, and the audit reports were not read. A browser-only VPN does not cover other programs on the PC.
The built-in ad blocker
Opera's ad blocker page says no extension is needed and that the blocker removes ads and trackers before they load. To turn it on, click the shield icon beside the address bar and switch on Block ads. The page says it uses uBlock-optimised filtering to remove video ads before they play, lets you allow ads on specific sites, and claims content-rich pages can load up to 90% faster. It does not mention EasyList or other named filter lists, and the 90% figure is Opera's claim with no test conditions shown.
Before you install: a short check
- Opera's download page offers a Windows 64-bit build and states no Windows minimum, so confirm your PC runs 64-bit Windows in Settings, then System, then About.
- Read each setup screen. The page makes no statement about default-browser offers or extra software in the installer.
- Treat the VPN as a browser feature. Opera says the free VPN protects only activity inside the browser, so a game, a mail app or another browser on the same PC is not covered.
- Look at the Pro VPN terms before paying. The page lists 48 locations and six devices and prints no price.
Because the version here comes from Opera's file server, the number you see in About Opera after installing is the one to trust. Builds appeared about weekly in the October listing, so a copy installed this week should update within days.
Alternatives in this directory
Opera GX is the same company's gaming-oriented edition. Brave and Vivaldi are Chromium-based browsers with built-in ad blocking, and Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are the two most common Chromium browsers on Windows. Mozilla Firefox is the main non-Chromium choice.