Is Opera free?

Hi All,

Some years back I looked at Opera and it was free but with ads and a fee for the ad-free version, so I passed on it.

I just download it to use Opera Mail which is proving to be an awesome leap ahead over Thunderbird.

I have checked the main website and I can't see any prices, so I am wondering am I on some sort of free-trial that is going to balk and demand payment or ads in 30 days or whatever?

Thanks

Opera is free.

It used to have ads more than a half decade ago.

Its still sponsored by advertising, but in a different and less obtrusive way.

FAQ: How does Opera generate revenues?

Basically, you get some default bookmarks and speed dials when you install Opera, and search engines provide further revenue.

Search at Top of Menu

Thanks,

It is unobtrusive, but I passed on Chrome for the Search-tracking reasons. Looks like my search needs to continue.

Forgot the default bookmarks, sorry, but then again they are easily deleted and forgotten.

Pretty much every browser have some sort of deals with search engine makers (google, bing, yahoo, etc), so if that is a reason for you to stop using a browser, then good luck finding one that doesn't.

Just change your default search engine in preferences, search, if you don't like Google or Bing.

Perhaps some clarification is needed.
There are no ads or banners or any other forms of advertising displayed on Opera's pages.

Originally posted by dogbrake2:

It is unobtrusive, but I passed on Chrome for the Search-tracking reasons.

Who is tracking your searches Opera, Chrome or Google
BTW, good luck with Chrome. It offers as much privacy as an average user can hope for

Originally posted by Leevi:

Pretty much every browser have some sort of deals with search engine makers (google, bing, yahoo, etc), so if that is a reason for you to stop using a browser, then good luck finding one that doesn't.

Are you saying Firefox allows tracking via search engine links?

I use Bing and Google, I rarely log into an account and even then, if I do, I have History turned off in both Bing and Google accounts.

Originally posted by Krake:

BTW, good luck with Chrome.

er, you must have missed the "that's why I passed on Chrome."

Originally posted by dogbrake2:

Originally posted by Leevi:

Pretty much every browser have some sort of deals with search engine makers (google, bing, yahoo, etc), so if that is a reason for you to stop using a browser, then good luck finding one that doesn't.

Are you saying Firefox allows tracking via search engine links?

I use Bing and Google, I rarely log into an account and even then, if I do, I have History turned off in both Bing and Google accounts.

Neither Opera or Firefox are tracking you, but Google is.

Search something using the search box on the top right corner, either with Opera or Firefox and compare those urls with the urls when doing exactly the same search on Google's homepage. You will notice those searches will include a string that identifies name of the browser you are using. Google search isn't the default search engine both on Firefox and Opera just because Google search is good, it is the default because Google has payed both of them for that privilege.

Google's deal with Mozilla is ending this year btw, so in few months you should see news about their new deal (or maybe some other search engine will take over as the default search engine in Firefox).

Originally posted by dogbrake2:

Originally posted by Krake:

BTW, good luck with Chrome.

er, you must have missed the "that's why I passed on Chrome."

Sorry, my bad

Originally posted by Leevi:

Search something using the search box on the top right corner, either with Opera or Firefox and compare those urls with the urls when doing exactly the same search on Google's homepage. You will notice those searches will include a string that identifies name of the browser you are using.

Well Dang me, you are correct Leevi, thanks. I will remove the Search box and use Bookmarks for them.

Please note that it doesn't track you personally in anyway. It only tells Google that this person might not be using their service unless they would have made a deal with the browser vendor.

Leevi,

Yup, I realize that, I just don't like people using my data to make money they don't share with me.

It's like those stickers that car dealers put on the back of cars. When I bought the wife's car I told them "no sticker unless you pay me $100/year for advertising your business."

When we went to pick up the car, guess what? No sticker.

The car dealerships aren't giving their cars away for free

And anyways, I don't think the browser vendors see that data.

Originally posted by Leevi:

The car dealerships aren't giving their cars away for free

Exactly, I paid for it and they make handsome commissions out of that money, so why should I advertise their dealership for free?

Can you think of any other product that carries advertising for the business that sold it? I mean, a Hoover vacuum cleaner will have "Hoover" on it, but it doesn't have a "Walmart" or "Sears" sticker on it, does it? A computer doesn't have a "Best Buy" or "Amazon" sticker?

You missed my point, dealership isn't giving you a free car, but Opera and Firefox are giving you a free browser. If you buy an operating system from Microsoft/Apple you are paying for the Internet Explorer/Safari, but since you are not paying anything for Opera/Firefox and they too need to make money somehow. So...

http://www.opera.com/press/faq/

How does Opera make money?

Opera has two basic revenue models:

For enterprise products, such as Opera preinstalled on a mobile phone or a set-top box, Opera receives revenue as a mix of engineering fees, maintenance fees and shares of sales income. The balance varies from contract to contract. This model accounts for the majority of Opera’s income.

Opera also derives revenue from its free products through revenue sharing with partners. For example, several search engines make usage payments to Opera for searches made by Opera users. This is the major source of income for Opera’s desktop browser, with revenue shares also in place on a variety of mobile products.

Emphasis added by me.

You are correct, I did miss that point. Sorry.

But, I offer some of my software for free and it is really free. No one makes money from it, that's my idea of "free" They may make money with it, but not from just using it.