Opera is a Chromium-based web browser that ships with a built-in VPN, ad blocker, and AI assistant. It supports tab grouping through Tab Islands, a sidebar for quick access to messaging apps, and a flow feature for sharing files between devices. Opera runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
This guide covers three ways to install Opera browser on RHEL 10 and Fedora 42 – from the official RPM repository, via Flatpak from Flathub, and through Snap. We also walk through setting Opera as the default browser, enabling the built-in VPN and ad blocker, and compare Opera against Firefox and Chrome.
Prerequisites
- A system running RHEL 10, Fedora 42, Rocky Linux 10, or AlmaLinux 10
- Root or sudo access
- Active internet connection
- Desktop environment installed (GNOME, KDE, or any DE)
Step 1: Install Opera Browser from the Official RPM Repository
The recommended method is to install Opera from its official RPM repository. This gives you automatic updates through dnf and access to stable, beta, and developer builds. For a deeper look at dnf package management, see the DNF package manager guide for RHEL and Rocky Linux.
Import the Opera GPG signing key to verify package authenticity:
sudo rpm --import https://rpm.opera.com/rpmrepo.keyCreate the Opera repository configuration file:
sudo vi /etc/yum.repos.d/opera.repoAdd the following repository configuration:
[opera]
name=Opera packages
type=rpm-md
baseurl=https://rpm.opera.com/rpm
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://rpm.opera.com/rpmrepo.key
enabled=1Install the Opera stable browser package:
sudo dnf install opera-stable -yAfter installation completes, verify the installed version:
opera --versionThe output confirms Opera is installed – you should see the version number similar to:
128.0.5807.77You can also install beta or developer builds by replacing opera-stable with opera-beta or opera-developer. The Opera RPM repository page has full details on available packages.
Launch Opera from the application menu or run it from the terminal:
opera &Step 2: Install Opera Browser Using Flatpak
Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that runs independently of your system packages. This is useful if you want Opera isolated from the rest of your system. For background on managing Flatpak apps, check the guide on installing and managing Flatpak applications on Linux.
Flatpak comes pre-installed on Fedora. On RHEL 10 and Rocky Linux 10, install it first:
sudo dnf install flatpak -yAdd the Flathub repository if it is not already configured:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoInstall Opera from Flathub:
sudo flatpak install flathub com.opera.Opera -yLaunch the Flatpak version of Opera:
flatpak run com.opera.OperaTo update Opera installed via Flatpak:
sudo flatpak update com.opera.OperaStep 3: Install Opera Browser Using Snap
Snap packages are another option for installing Opera. Snap support is not enabled by default on RHEL or Fedora, so you need to install snapd first. See our guide on installing Snapd and Snap applications on Fedora for detailed setup.
Install and enable snapd:
sudo dnf install snapd -y
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snapLog out and log back in (or reboot) so the snap paths take effect. Then install Opera:
sudo snap install operaVerify the snap installation:
snap list operaYou should see Opera listed with its version and revision number:
Name Version Rev Tracking Publisher Notes
opera 128.0.5807.77 xxx latest/stable opera-software✓ -Step 4: Set Opera as the Default Browser
After installing Opera through any of the methods above, you can set it as your default web browser. Opera usually prompts you on first launch, but you can also set it manually from the terminal.
For the RPM-installed version, set the default browser using xdg-settings:
xdg-settings set default-web-browser opera.desktopFor the Flatpak version:
xdg-settings set default-web-browser com.opera.Opera.desktopVerify the default browser is set correctly:
xdg-settings get default-web-browserThe output should show opera.desktop or com.opera.Opera.desktop depending on your installation method.
Step 5: Enable the Built-in VPN in Opera
Opera includes a free, unlimited VPN that encrypts your browser traffic without needing a third-party extension. The VPN works at the browser level – it only covers traffic inside Opera, not your entire system.
To enable the VPN:
- Open Opera and go to Settings (press
Alt + Por click the menu icon and select Settings) - Scroll down to the Privacy and security section
- Find VPN and toggle Enable VPN to on
- A blue VPN badge appears in the address bar – click it to select your virtual location (Americas, Europe, or Asia)
When enabled, the VPN icon in the address bar turns blue. Click it to see connection details, change the virtual location, or turn it off. The VPN does not require an Opera account and has no bandwidth limits.
Step 6: Enable the Built-in Ad Blocker in Opera
Opera has a native ad blocker that removes ads and speeds up page loading. It works out of the box without installing any extensions.
To enable it:
- Open Settings (press
Alt + P) - Go to the Privacy and security section
- Toggle Block ads and surf the web up to three times faster to on
- Optionally enable Block trackers for additional privacy
A shield icon appears in the address bar on pages where ads are blocked. Click it to see how many ads and trackers were blocked on the current page. You can whitelist specific sites by clicking the shield and toggling off ad blocking for that domain.
Step 7: Opera vs Firefox vs Chrome – Comparison
Choosing a browser depends on your priorities – privacy, performance, features, or open-source principles. Here is a direct comparison of the three most popular browsers on Linux. If you want to try the alternatives, see our guides on installing Google Chrome on RHEL and installing Brave browser on Fedora as another Chromium-based alternative.
| Feature | Opera | Firefox | Chrome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Chromium (Blink) | Gecko | Chromium (Blink) |
| Built-in VPN | Yes (free, unlimited) | No (paid add-on) | No |
| Built-in Ad Blocker | Yes | Enhanced Tracking Protection | No (extension needed) |
| Open Source | No (proprietary) | Yes (MPL 2.0) | No (Chromium is, Chrome is not) |
| RAM Usage | Moderate | Lower | Higher |
| Extension Support | Chrome Web Store compatible | Firefox Add-ons | Chrome Web Store |
| Sync Across Devices | Opera Flow | Firefox Sync | Google Sync |
| AI Assistant | Aria (built-in) | No | Gemini integration |
| Linux Package Formats | RPM, DEB, Flatpak, Snap | Repo, Flatpak, Snap | RPM, DEB |
When to choose Opera: You want built-in VPN and ad blocking without extensions, use Chrome extensions but prefer more privacy features, or need the sidebar for quick access to messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.
When to choose Firefox: Open-source matters to you, you want the most privacy-focused mainstream browser, or you prefer a non-Chromium engine for web diversity.
When to choose Chrome: You are deep in the Google ecosystem, need maximum web compatibility for specific web apps, or rely on Chrome-specific developer tools.
Uninstall Opera Browser
If you need to remove Opera, use the command matching your installation method.
For the RPM installation:
sudo dnf remove opera-stable -yFor Flatpak:
sudo flatpak uninstall com.opera.Opera -yFor Snap:
sudo snap remove operaTo remove Opera’s user configuration and cache files after uninstalling:
rm -rf ~/.config/opera
rm -rf ~/.cache/operaConclusion
Opera is installed and running on your RHEL 10 or Fedora 42 system. The RPM repository method is best for most users since it integrates with your system’s package manager and receives automatic updates. Flatpak and Snap provide sandboxed alternatives if you prefer application isolation.
With the built-in VPN and ad blocker enabled, Opera provides a more private browsing experience without relying on third-party extensions. Keep Opera updated regularly through your package manager to get the latest security patches and features.
