Recs.
Updated
Vivaldi is a Chromium based browser with its UI written with web technologies (HTML/JS). Vivaldi advertises itself as a "power-user browser" as it tries to bring features built-in reducing the number of extensions needed.
Vivaldi was founded by Jón S. von Tetzchner, creator of Opera browser and its CEO until before the switch to Chromium.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Access to Chrome extensions
All of the standard Chrome extensions appear to be available.
Pro Custom search engines
You can add as many search engines as you like. For example you can set up one for YouTube, one for Wikipedia, or whatever you want: you need only the URL of the search and it can be used from the URL bar (by prefixing it's nickname, yt
for YouTube for example).
Pro Can be completely keyboard-driven
All actions required to interact with the browser like navigating webpages and changing settings can be performed using only the keyboard, no mouse required. It's possible to change and add keyboard shortcuts for basically all commands. It also has single key shortcuts to execute actions with one click.
Pro Tab behaviour can be customised
The order you toggle, open, close or clone tabs can be modified to match a workflow that best works for you. For example you can choose tabs to toggle in recent order so you can go back and forth between the last most useful tabs without needing to change their position on the tab bar.
Pro Add websites as web panels for easy access
You can add sites as panels for easy access them. It allows reading two websites side by side with a simple click on the panel button. Useful for social networks, like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook & Twitter. Panels can be hidden when not in use.
Pro Updates via dialog box
Unlike most modern browsers (but like most browsers of yesteryear), Vivaldi gives you a dialog box when a new version comes out; it doesn't just update silently in the background. The dialog box tells you about the changes that have been made, and lets you chose when you want to update.
Pro Built-in ad and tracker blocker
Vivaldi has a built-in blocker that allows you to select between blocking just trackers or both trackers and ads. With customizable blocking list sources, good performance, and support for all the standard blocker list features you find in ad blocker extensions (with more to come), you might not need an ad blocker extension at all.
This also comes in handy on Android, where Chromium/Vivaldi doesn't support extensions.
Cons
Con Comes with many Ads
After installation the first thing you have to do is to remove all the default bookmarks and quickdial links which is really annoying. There is more minor stuff like the default search provider or your start page things that could be easily managed with a wizard at the first startup.
Con Extensions lacking hotkey support
You can set your shortcuts at vivaldi://extensions, but they do not work.
Con Some non-optional telemetry
According to its privacy policy, Vivaldi sends an approximate location (country or major city), randomized ID, version, cpu architecture, screen resolution (to know what screen sizes to test on) and time since last message every 24 hours (to know amount of active users).
Con No silent background updates
Unlike most modern browsers, Vivaldi doesn't have the option to update silently in the background. It gives you a dialog box when an update comes out. Worse, the box doesn't warn you that not updating the browser could lead to security risks. That could be pretty bad for your average joe, who doesn't know computers that well.
Con No option to open saved tab stack as... tab stack!
You may save stack, but you can open it as separate tabs. Interesting that when you save session with stacks, you'll be able to open the stacks with inner settings of page tiling (size and zoom) as well. Contradiction worth of shame.
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Flagged Pros + Cons
Pro Web panels
Web Panels allow for easy access to any site from the side panel. They are useful for reading two websites side by side or for chatting (i.e. Facebook) and surfing at the same time. Panels can be hidden when not in use.
Pro Built for power users
Vivaldi includes lots of niche functionality such as the ability to move tabs to any side of the screen, turn images on and off, or render pages with monospace fonts.
Con Not available on the iPhone
There is an Android version Vivaldi, but no iOS version. iPhone and iPad users are out of luck.
Pro Programmable user interface
For you programmers out there: Since Vivaldi uses JavaScript, React, Node.js, Browserify and multiple npm packages to build the browser, it can be customized with ease by anyone who knows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Pro Full of customizable keyboard shortcuts (can be completely keyboard-driven)
It's possible to change and add keyboard shortcuts for basically all commands. It also has single key shortcuts to execute actions with one click.
Pro Custom keyboard shortcuts
You can change and add keyboard shortcuts for basically all commands. It also has single key shortcuts to execute actions with one click.