Opera GX is free to download on desktop and iPhone. Opera's privacy statement (last updated October 2, 2026) says nearly all its apps are free, that VPN Pro is a paid subscription and some GX Cloud content is paid, and that the company earns "primarily by selling advertising within the Applications themselves." The same paragraph adds: "We do not sell users' personal data to anyone, either to monetize or to provide advertising."
That statement covers Opera's browsers, including Opera GX on desktop and mobile. Opera Norway AS is the data controller.
Where the advertising shows up
The desktop section, which covers Opera and Opera GX on Windows and Mac, names three places:
- Targeted ads. Some apps serve ads based on IP address, a hashed user ID and general location (country or city). The ads come from Opera's monetization partners, and ad choices can be changed in the app's settings or in the operating system.
- Speed Dials. Some default Speed Dials are ads from advertising partners. Clicking one may route you through Opera's partners or other third parties, which can collect cookies, device IDs and session statistics on their own. You can delete the preset dials or turn off Speed Dial suggestions.
- Search. Google is the default search engine in most cases; Bing or another provider can be the default depending on the version. Opera says it doesn't share personal data with search providers to enable search, and that some search services come through partners of CodeFuel Ltd.
What it collects, and the switches
| Data | Detail from the statement | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Feature usage and device info | Random installation ID, machine ID, hardware specs, OS and feature usage. Kept up to three years | Privacy and security: "Help improve Opera by sending feature usage information" |
| Crash logs | Browser version, OS, some memory data. Kept up to five months | Privacy and security: "Automatically send crash reports to Opera" |
| Interest profile for ads | Categories of sites you visit, Speed Dial clicks, whether an ad blocker is on, general location. Consent-based, kept up to one year | Withdraw consent in the browser's settings |
| Sale or sharing for ads (California) | Opt-out available | Opera > Settings > search for "Privacy consent settings" |
Opera says it has "no practical way" of using the usage data to identify you personally.
GX accounts and the store listing
GX Cloud (GX Games, GX Store, GX Dev and GX Me) uses a separate GX Me account. At sign-up it asks for a date of birth, which Opera says it uses to check eligibility, plus an optional avatar. You can modify or delete the account or ask for a copy of your data.
On the US App Store, Opera GX for iPhone is free, rated 16+, and marked as containing advertising. Its privacy label lists all collected data as not linked to you (as of Nov 9, 2026).
Sources
- Opera — Privacy Statement (last updated Oct 2, 2026) (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- Apple App Store (US) — Opera GX (checked Nov 9, 2026)