Opera is a feature-rich web browser built on Chromium that comes with a built-in VPN, ad blocker, integrated messenger sidebar, and AI assistant. It supports all Chrome extensions while adding productivity tools that other browsers require third-party add-ons for.
This guide covers three methods to install Opera browser on Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 13 – from the official Opera deb repository, via Flatpak from Flathub, and via Snap. We also walk through configuring Opera’s standout features including the free VPN, ad blocker, and sidebar messengers. The current stable release is Opera 129.
Prerequisites
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or Debian 13 installed with a graphical desktop environment
- User account with sudo privileges
- Active internet connection to download packages
Step 1: Install Opera Browser from Official Deb Repository
The recommended way to install Opera on Ubuntu or Debian is from Opera’s official apt repository. This gives you automatic updates through your system package manager.
Download and add Opera’s GPG signing key to verify package integrity:
curl -fsSL https://deb.opera.com/archive.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/opera-browser.gpgAdd the Opera stable repository to your apt sources:
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/opera-browser.gpg] https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.listUpdate the package index and install Opera:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y opera-stableDuring installation, apt may ask whether to add the Opera repository automatically. Select “No” since we already added it manually.
Verify the installed version:
opera --versionThe command prints the Opera version string confirming a successful installation:
129.0.5823.15Launch Opera from the terminal or find it in your application menu:
opera &Step 2: Install Opera Browser via Flatpak
Flatpak provides sandboxed application packaging that works across Linux distributions. Opera is available on Flathub, the main Flatpak repository.
Install Flatpak if it is not already on your system:
sudo apt install -y flatpakAdd the Flathub repository:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoInstall Opera from Flathub:
flatpak install -y flathub com.opera.OperaLaunch the Flatpak version of Opera:
flatpak run com.opera.OperaTo verify the Flatpak installation, list installed Flatpak apps and filter for Opera:
flatpak list --app | grep -i operaYou should see Opera listed with its application ID and installed version:
Opera com.opera.Opera stable flathubStep 3: Install Opera Browser via Snap
Snap packages provide another sandboxed installation method. Snap comes pre-installed on Ubuntu. Debian users need to install snapd first.
On Debian 13, install snapd:
sudo apt install -y snapdInstall Opera from the Snap Store:
sudo snap install operaVerify the Snap installation:
snap list operaThe output shows Opera’s snap name, version, revision, and tracking channel:
Name Version Rev Tracking Publisher Notes
opera 129.0.5823.15 318 latest/stable opera-software✓ -Step 4: Set Opera as Default Browser on Ubuntu and Debian
After installing Opera, set it as the default browser so that links from other applications open in Opera automatically.
Use the xdg-settings command to set Opera as the default web browser:
xdg-settings set default-web-browser opera-stable.desktopConfirm the change took effect:
xdg-settings get default-web-browserThe command should return the Opera desktop entry filename:
opera-stable.desktopFor Flatpak installations, the desktop file name is different:
xdg-settings set default-web-browser com.opera.Opera.desktopYou can also set Opera as default from within the browser. Open Opera, go to Settings (Alt+P), scroll to the “Default browser” section, and click “Make default”.
Step 5: Enable Opera’s Built-in VPN
Opera includes a free, unlimited VPN that encrypts your browser traffic without requiring a separate VPN application. The VPN works within the browser only – it does not cover other applications on your system.
To enable the VPN:
- Open Opera and go to Settings (Alt+P)
- Click Privacy & security in the left sidebar
- Scroll down to the VPN section
- Toggle Enable VPN to on
Once enabled, a VPN badge appears in the address bar. Click it to select a virtual location – Americas, Europe, or Asia. Opera routes your browser traffic through that region’s servers. The VPN activates automatically for private browsing windows if you enable the “Auto-connect VPN in private windows” option.
Keep in mind that Opera’s VPN is a browser-level proxy. For full system-wide traffic encryption, pair it with a dedicated VPN solution like WireGuard or OpenVPN.
Step 6: Enable Opera’s Built-in Ad Blocker
Opera ships with a native ad blocker that removes ads and tracking scripts without needing extensions like uBlock Origin. Enabling it speeds up page loads noticeably.
To enable the ad blocker:
- Open Settings (Alt+P)
- Click Privacy & security in the left sidebar
- Toggle Block ads and surf the web up to three times faster to on
The ad blocker supports custom filter lists. Click “Manage lists” under the ad blocker toggle to enable additional filters like EasyPrivacy for tracker blocking or language-specific lists. To whitelist specific sites, click the shield icon in the address bar when visiting a site you want to support with ads.
Step 7: Configure the Opera Sidebar
Opera’s sidebar gives quick access to messaging apps, a music player, and an AI assistant – all without leaving the browser. This is one of Opera’s biggest differentiators from Chrome and Firefox.
Messenger Integration
The sidebar supports Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and Twitter/X without installing separate desktop apps. To add a messenger:
- Click the three-dot menu at the bottom of the sidebar
- Select the messaging services you want to enable
- Log in to each service in the sidebar panel that opens
Messages appear as notification badges on the sidebar icons. Click any messenger icon to open a split-screen chat panel while keeping your current page visible.
Music Player
Opera integrates Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music into the sidebar. Enable your preferred service from the sidebar settings, log in, and control playback directly from the sidebar without switching tabs.
Opera Aria – AI Assistant
Opera Aria is a built-in AI assistant accessible from the sidebar. It can summarize web pages, answer questions, generate text, and help with research. Click the Aria icon in the sidebar or press Ctrl+/ to open it. Aria connects to the internet so its responses include current information.
Step 8: Opera vs Chrome vs Firefox – Feature Comparison
Here is a quick comparison of Opera, Chrome, and Firefox to help you decide which browser fits your workflow. All three are available on Linux, but they differ significantly in built-in features. For more options, check out our guide on the best web browsers for Linux and Windows.
| Feature | Opera | Chrome | Firefox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium (Blink) | Chromium (Blink) | Gecko |
| Built-in VPN | Yes (free, unlimited) | No | No (paid add-on) |
| Built-in Ad Blocker | Yes | No | Enhanced Tracking Protection |
| Sidebar Messengers | Yes (Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.) | No | No |
| AI Assistant | Aria (built-in) | Gemini (separate) | No |
| Chrome Extensions | Yes | Yes | Own extension store |
| RAM Usage | Moderate | High | Low to moderate |
| Open Source | No (proprietary) | No (Chromium is open) | Yes (MPL 2.0) |
Opera stands out with its integrated productivity tools. Chrome has the largest extension ecosystem but lacks built-in privacy features. Firefox is fully open source with strong privacy defaults but requires extensions for features Opera includes natively.
Conclusion
Opera is installed and configured on your Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 13 system. The deb repository method is best for automatic updates through apt, while Flatpak and Snap provide sandboxed alternatives with their own update mechanisms.
With the built-in VPN, ad blocker, and sidebar tools enabled, Opera delivers a productivity-focused browsing experience out of the box. Check Opera’s official documentation for advanced configuration options including workspaces, tab islands, and keyboard shortcuts.
