Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox… the web browser market isn't exactly a peaceful little village where everyone has an equal chance of making a name for themselves. There are the big players, the very big players, and then there are the others trying to exist in a different way…
To give an idea of the imbalance, Chrome represents approximately 69,6% of the global browser market in June 2026ahead of Safari at 15,3%, Edge at 5,2%, and Firefox at 3,3%. In Europe, Chrome also remains far ahead with 62,7% market sharefollowed by Safari, Edge and Firefox. In other words, to stand out in this landscape, you need more than just a nice logo and a promise of speed.
Vivaldi chose a different path.
Created by Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, the co-founder of Opera, Vivaldi is a web browser available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It is based on Chromium, like Chrome, Edge, and Brave, which allows it to benefit from good compatibility with current websites and extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
But Vivaldi never really sought to be just "another Chrome". His thing is personalization, real personalization : moving tabs, organizing workspaces, tweaking shortcuts, displaying side panels, adjusting menus, changing appearance… in short, regaining some control over a tool that we sometimes use all day without even thinking about it.
A browser for organized messers
Let's be honest: most of us have a rather shameful relationship with tabs.
We open an article "for later." Then a video. Then a search. Then a comparison. Then a shopping cart we'll never open. Then an important document. Then another article "really for later this time." Result: three days later, the tab bar looks like a barcode on its last legs.
Vivaldi clearly understood the problem.
Its tab management tools are one of its major strengths. You can stack them, display them in a mosaic, put them to sleep, place them at the top, bottom, left, right… in short, treat them with a little more respect than those unfortunate tiny rectangles that we sometimes close by accident before letting out an inner scream.
And then there are the workspacesThe idea here is quite simple: instead of mixing work, personal, monitoring, shopping, holidays and strange research based on "how long does a snail live", you organize your tabs by universe.
One space for work. Another for leisure. Another for projects. Another for that thing you don't really want to close but also don't want to see. Don't pretend, you can see perfectly well.
It's a silly idea, but it changes a lot of things. We no longer just endure the mess, we organize it. Or at least we try. Which is already a big step for humanity.
Functions everywhere, but not just for show.
Vivaldi has a bit of a Swiss Army knife feel to it, but not the brand-new, boxed kind you give to someone who'll never go camping. More like the kind that sits in a drawer and you always end up using because there's bound to be a useful tool in it.
Among the features worth noting are:
- the Workspaces, to separate the tabs according to your activities;
- tab stacking, to group several pages without turning the bar into a battlefield;
- the mosaic of tabs, useful for comparing two pages, following several pieces of information or pretending to be very productive;
- the side panels, to keep sites, favorites, notes or downloads at your fingertips ;
- the built-in ad and tracker blocker;
- screenshots, notes, tasks and integrated translations;
- keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures and menus that can be tweaked to suit your needs.
Put like that, it sounds like a lot. And yes, it does sound like a lot.
But Vivaldi at least has the merit of not hiding its intentions. The browser embraces its "I can do lots of things, come and explore" side. It's not about zen minimalism with an interface that evokes warm sand and mindful meditation. It's more like the tidy workshop of a handyman who knows exactly where every screwdriver is.
Finally… neatly arranged according to him.
Email, calendar, RSS: might as well put everything in there
Where Vivaldi really goes the extra mile is with its integrated tools. The browser offers an email client, a calendar, an RSS feed reader, notes, tasks, translation, an ad and tracker blocker… At this point, it's practically a Swiss Army knife with a corkscrew, a flashlight, and a mini raclette grill.
The RSS reader, for example, is a welcome sight. RSS is an old web trick. Simple, clean, almost too discreet for its time. You choose the sites you want to follow, and you see their new articles without waiting for an algorithm to decide that your top priority for the day is a video of a dog sneezing to dramatic music.
The email client, on the other hand, allows you to manage multiple accounts directly within Vivaldi. This isn't necessarily what everyone expects from a browser, but the idea makes sense: if you're already spending your day in that window, you might as well find a part of your tools.
The same goes for the calendar and notes. These aren't flashy gadgets. They're practical little building blocks that gradually transform the browser into cockpit.
Of course, you have to like it. Some prefer a browser that simply opens pages and remains silent. Vivaldi, on the other hand, tends to say, "Hey, I have a tool for that too."
Personalization, the real thing
The main challenge is personalization. And in that respect, Vivaldi doesn't hold back.
You want the tabs on the left? Very well. At the bottom? That too. Some keyboard shortcuts Home? Go ahead. Mouse gestures? Help yourself. Modified menus? Why not. A toolbar tailored to your workflow? Of course.
You can really tweak the interface until you get something that reflects your own style. Which, in the world of modern browsers, almost feels like an act of rebellion. A small act of rebellion with buttons and dropdown menus, admittedly, but an act of rebellion nonetheless.
So yes, Vivaldi can be intimidating at first. There are a lot of options. A lot of settings. A lot of little nooks and crannies to explore. If you like ultra-minimalist interfaces, where every button looks like it was removed after three meetings of turtleneck-wearing designers, you might find it overwhelming.
But that's also what makes it so charming.
Vivaldi isn't trying to be the most discreet browser in the world. It's aiming to be useful, flexible, and generous. Perhaps a little too generous at times. But in a web where we spend our time accepting choices made by others, this slight excess of freedom isn't unpleasant.
Ultimately, Vivaldi won't replace Chrome, Safari, or Edge for everyone. And that's perfectly fine.
If you simply want to open three websites, play a video, and check the weather, your current browser will probably do the job. No need to get out the toolbox to stick a thumbtack in.
But if you live in your browser, juggling 40 tabs, three projects, two email accounts, readings put aside, and a mental organization that even you only half understand, Vivaldi is seriously worth a try.
It's not the most popular browser. It's not the most minimalist. It's not the one your computer will put in front of you by default.
But it's a browser with real personality. A browser that makes you want to click into the settings just to see. A browser that lets you touch the buttons.
And frankly, sometimes it feels good.
