Free 'Opera VPN' App Launches on iOS With Ad Blocking and Preventative Tracking Features - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Free 'Opera VPN' App Launches on iOS With Ad Blocking and Preventative Tracking Features

by

Opera today announced the launch of a brand new privacy-focused app, called Opera VPN, which allows users to block ads and even change their virtual location to circumvent restricted internet access (via TechCrunch)

In addition to these features, Opera VPN will stop ad-tracking software from gaining information about your internet habits that create personalized advertisements within browsers like Safari and Chrome.

“Every day, millions of people, from students to working people, find that social-media sites like Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook are blocked when they surf on their campus or workplace Wi-Fi. The same goes for video-streaming sites,” Chris Houston, President of Surfeasy, Opera’s VPN division, said in an announcement released this morning. “With the new Opera VPN app, we help people to break down the barriers of the web and enjoy the internet like it should be,” he added.

Opera introduced a similar virtual private network feature into its OS X-based web browser in April, following its acquisition of VPN app company SurfEasy last year. Thanks to a VPN's ability to shield a user's true IP address, Opera's acquisition has let the company introduce new security-focused updates into its internet browser desktop and mobile apps.

At launch, users will be able to choose from five virtual locations, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Singapore and The Netherlands. The app will also be available in English, Arabic, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Those interested can download Opera VPN from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

131 months ago
Ehm.

We collect data to:

* Improve, debug, and maintain Opera products and services
* Study and personalize user experiences
* Fulfill legal requirements
* Conduct business analysis and research, and marketing campaigns
* Ensure better security and fraud protection

We may share your data:

* To government bodies and law enforcement agencies to comply with the law, for example in judicial proceedings, by court order or other legal process
* To third parties (including professional advisors) to enforce or defend our legal rights, including our terms and conditions
* To a third-party purchaser or seller (including professional advisors) in connection with a corporate event such as a merger, business acquisition or insolvency situation
* As described elsewhere in this statement

What data we collect?
The information we collect may include: personal data, for example your name, email, IP-address, location; and non-personal technical data, for example who manufactured your device, your screen's resolution, your mobile operator's region and code. A complete list of the data we collect and purpose of collection may vary between our products and services. You can find detailed descriptions in the product/service-related sections below.
Hi Remoteworks:

I am not sure where these terms are conditions are coming from but they are not from Opera VPN's T&C.
Anonymized data means that data collected is not linked to any user’s identity or personally identifiable information.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
Who is going to pay for all of that? Connecting with a VPN, means that you are routing your traffic through another computer. There is massive potential for collecting data. Opera is also not a non-profit organisation, but a company, a company who is also doing business in online advertising.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
frankbillson Avatar
131 months ago
Is anyone know any other VPN which provides free vpn service and never keep logs because I read information about opera that its free version keep logs.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
Awesome. Finally something useful.
As long as it goes through servers who keep records it is not.

PIA Private Internet Access has worldwide servers where you can be in many countries and regions, but they erase your real IP regularly and do not keep any records.
If OPERA keeps records for bug fixing or any reason that is not okay.

PIA functions well and allows to avoid Geotagging, i.e. you can see content that is only available in a specific country.

On a side note, I always wonder why content owners make a big deal about watching something that is for instance part of a webpage, FREE for local watchers, but blocked for foreigners. I know it's all about legal usage rights, but if I can't watch it , I shrug my shoulders, but I wouldn't pay for it anyway.

Life goes on.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vooke Avatar
131 months ago
Wonderful, now I have less use of $7.99 a month Tunnel Bear VPN

but is the freebie sustainable?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
131 months ago
User must take extra caution for anything that installs a profile to your phone or iOS devices. Also VPN means your internet traffic is routed through Opera's servers. While this new service is great, I recommend users to enable it only when they need to.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

opera one video features2

Opera Browser Gains Per-Tab Volume Booster, Video Popout

Wednesday April 22, 2026 7:29 am PDT by
Opera has pushed another update for its flagship browser, with new changes aimed at making video streaming and conferencing better. Here are the details. Opera users now get direct access to YouTube and Twitch from the browser sidebar, allowing them to pin the panel for side-by-side viewing or snap the video out with the Video Popout feature, which creates a floating overlay that they can...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Apple Card Promo to Offer Free AirPods Pro 3

Friday May 15, 2026 8:59 am PDT by
Starting as early as next week, customers who sign up for an Apple Card at Apple's retail stores in the U.S. will receive $249 cash back when they purchase AirPods Pro 3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The promotion has yet to be officially announced by Apple, so exact terms and conditions are not available at this time. AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the U.S., so customers who...
Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 CarPlay Light mode 250609

Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based...