Opera's free VPN for iOS competes with paid Apple and Google options

The new iteration of the app now includes a free virtual private network (VPN) service.

In its recent announcement, Opera highlighted that it has become the first browser to offer a free VPN service across all major computing platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and now iOS.

This development comes after Google expanded its VPN tool to desktop users on Mac and PC, but it is only available to paid subscribers on Google One Premium plans. On the other hand, Apple's iCloud Private Relay feature is not a VPN, and it's also available only as part of a paid subscription.

Opera's VPN service is free, and users do not have to create an account or share personal information. Additionally, the company does not collect any data relating to users' browsing habits or originating IP addresses. Users can activate the VPN feature from the main menu of the app, and it does not require any additional extensions to use.

Opera generates revenue through other channels, including search and ad revenues, as well as technology licensing fees. However, some users may have concerns about the Norwegian company being sold to a Chinese consortium in 2016. Some security researchers have also criticized Opera's default privacy settings with regard to advertising and personalization and raised other security concerns.

Apart from the VPN feature, Opera's mobile browser app for iOS includes other unique tools, such as a file-sharing tool called "My Flow," a native Crypto Wallet feature, a built-in ad blocker, and a security-focused cryptojacking protection feature.

The new update also introduces a Bookmarks feature for organizing favorite content and a Live Scores feature for tracking sports teams' latest scores via a scoreboard on the browser's homepage.

Although the features, including the VPN, are launching starting today, Opera cautions that the full rollout will take place over the weeks ahead. Therefore, users may not immediately see the new VPN feature when they launch the iOS app, but it should become available soon.