Opera vs Opera GX

If you are looking for the Opera vs Opera GX comparison, my experience and testing of these two browsers might help you decide which is better for you.

If you love customization, faster browsing, sleek UI, and a feature-rich browser, you might be familiar with Opera browser. However, Opera has another version, Opera GX, specially designed for gamers.

I have spent considerable time using both of these and while they are both built on the same foundation, they are different in some ways and cater to different user types.

Here’s my detailed comparison of both browsers based on various factors.

Opera vs Opera GX: Features

1. Performance and Resource Management

Performance-wise, both browsers do pretty well. The Opera browser is highly optimized and designed to deliver fast browsing while keeping minimal strain on the system. Features like a battery saver, ad-blockers, anti-trackers, and more come in handy in enhancing page load time and optimizing resource usage.

On the other hand, in addition to the abovementioned features, Opera GX has some additional features to control your system’s CPU and RAM usage. There’s a dedicated GX Control, which can be accessed from the left pane. It allows you to set limits on how much CPU and RAM the browser can use.

This is ideal for gamers who don’t want their browsing activities to interfere with their gaming performance. Further, you get the Network Limiter for restricting the amount of bandwidth your browser can utilize.

2. Privacy and Security

Opera is well known for its privacy and security features. It comes with a free unlimited VPN to unblock restricted websites, anti-trackers to prevent advertising agencies from tracking your online activities, ad-blockers to block irritating ads on the websites you visit, and more.

Further, there’s phishing protection and incognito mode for a private browsing session. I find Opera’s free VPN not as robust as the dedicated ones, but it works fine for basic use. You can also purchase VPN Pro for advanced features, dedicated support, and faster browsing with VPN on.

Opera GX has all these features as well. It doesn’t have anything specific for improving privacy and security for gaming.

3. Gaming-Specific Features

Regarding gaming-specific features, Opera is just a regular browser for regular browsing, so it doesn’t have any gaming-specific tools. It is a fast and efficient browser and that’s just it. 

On the other hand, Opera GX is a dedicated browser for gamers. You can access the GX Corner, which gives information on upcoming game releases, gaming deals, and gaming news. Further, there’s a Twitch and Discord integration that lets users stay updated with their favorite streamers right from the sidebar.

4. Media Features

Opera browser comes with some cool media features. Its integrated music player on the sidebar allows you to directly access Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and other music apps from the browser. Then, there’s a Video Pop-Out feature that allows you to watch videos in a floating pop-up window while browsing other websites.

Like Opera, Opera GX has all these features, including a built-in player, but the integration of Twitch makes it more useful for streamers or gamers.

5. Customization and Extensions

Opera is famous for its customization options. It lets you add shortcuts to the most used features like Messenger apps, ChatGPT, Aria Chatbot, and more to the sidebar. You can also change the theme and wallpaper. Since it’s a Chromium-based browser, it supports the wide range of extensions available on the Chrome Web Store. In addition to that, it also has its own add-on collection.

Opera GX has the same customization features as the Opera browser but with more custom themes, background sounds, and access to exclusive gaming-related extensions. It also supports Chrome web store extensions.

6. Accessibility and Additional Tools

Opera has a collection of tools, such as My Flow, which allows you to transfer files between desktop and mobile using the Opera browser. I find this feature incredibly useful. It also has a snapshot tool for taking screenshots on the browser and various accessibility features, such as zoom and keyboard shortcuts. Further, Opera offers Crypto Wallet support that helps you manage cryptocurrencies right from the browser itself.

Opera GX, on the other hand, includes all the same tools as Opera, with additional features like GX Cleaner, which helps delete unnecessary cache and files from the browser to keep it optimized.

Opera vs Opera GX: Ease of Use and User Interface

The first time I installed Opera was because of its clean, minimalistic, and modern user interface. Compared to other Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Chrome, Opera is better at navigation and provides a clutter-free experience.

I also like Opera’s customization options. You can tweak everything from the browser’s theme to the start page. The sidebar gives you access to messenger apps, ChatGPT, a media player, and more. I found it pretty convenient for everyday browsing.

Opera GX, on the other hand, is top-notch with its pleasant design and gamer aesthetics. The first thing that struck me was its bold, customizable look. GX has a neon-lit design that appeals directly to gamers, and you can change the colors and themes to match your setup.

I also found the interface to be intuitive despite its more flashy appearance. The addition of sound effects and background music (GX Sound) might seem gimmicky, but surprisingly, it adds to the overall experience, especially if you enjoy a fully immersive environment.

Opera vs Opera GX: Resource Usage

Opera has always been efficient when it comes to resource usage. Even after being so feature-rich, I didn’t notice much performance degradation on my 8 GB RAM and Intel i5 11th-generation laptop. However, if you open multiple tabs and run numerous browser extensions, you might feel some sluggishness. 

Opera GX is also lightweight on your PC, especially with the GX Control panel, which has features to limit RAM and CPU usage. This useful feature lets you multitask between gaming and browsing, as it prevents the browser from eating into resources that your games might need. So, if you have a low-end PC, Opera GX is for you. I tested this by running Opera GX while playing a graphics-heavy game, and I really liked how it kept my system running smoothly without sacrificing browsing performance.

Opera vs Opera GX: Head-to-Head Comparison

Here’s a head-to-head comparison of the two browsers.

Feature	Opera	Opera GX	Winner
Target audience	General users, productivity-focused	Gamers, users who need resource control	Opera (for regular users) / Opera GX (for gaming)
Customization	Customizable themes, sidebar adjustments	Neon-lit customizable themes, GX Control, sound effects	Opera GX (for aesthetic customization)
Resource usage	Lightweight but can become resource-heavy with many tabs/extensions	GX Control allows users to limit CPU, RAM, and bandwidth usage	Opera GX
Built-in tools	Integrated messengers, ad blocker, free VPN, Opera Flow	Integrated messengers, GX Control, GX Corner, Twitch integration	Opera GX (for gaming-centric tools)
VPN and privacy	Free built-in VPN, ad and tracker blocker	Same as Opera, but focused on gamers’ privacy needs	Tie
Ease of use	Clean, modern, easy to use for general purposes	Intuitive with additional gaming features and aesthetic customization	Opera (for simplicity)
Interface design	Clean, minimalistic design	Bold, gamer-oriented neon design	Opera GX (for a dynamic design)
Performance for gaming	Decent, but no dedicated gaming features	Optimized for gaming, with GX Control for resource management	Opera GX
Platform support	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, with mobile versions optimized for gaming	Opera
Unique features	Free VPN, Opera Flow, Integrated messengers	GX Control, GX Corner, Twitch integration, sound customization	Tie

Opera vs Opera GX – Verdict

Both Opera and Opera GX browsers are excellent in performance, features, and ease of use. So, which one should you choose? Well, it depends on what you require from your browser.

To make your choice simple, here’s a final breakdown.

Choose Opera if you:

• Are a general user looking for a simple yet customizable browser
• Prefer privacy and productivity tools like VPN and Opera Flow over gaming tools.
• Need a multi-platform browser
• Like the integration of messaging apps, ChatGPT extension, and more tools

Choose Opera GX if you:

• Are a gamer who wants more control over resource usage while playing or streaming
• Like gaming aesthetics, sound effects, and more
• Want regular gaming news and deals
• Want integration with Twitch and Discord

To simplify it, if you are a gamer and enjoy the Opera browser, switch to the Opera GX. If you are a general user who wants a modern browser with good customization and privacy features, go for Opera.

If you are still confused, try both browsers once and continue with the one you like better. I hope this Opera vs Opera GX comparison helps you decide which browser is better for your needs.