Best for: People who want a capable free AI sidebar in a familiar browser
Price: Free
Free: Free with no login required
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Made by: Opera, Oslo, Norway

What it is

Opera's mainstream browsers include a free AI assistant, Aria, that understands the page you're on. It summarises across multiple pages, analyses PDFs and spreadsheets, works with YouTube transcripts, generates images and takes voice input, using models from OpenAI and Google.

What the AI does

Page-aware answers from short prompts
Summaries across multiple pages
PDF and spreadsheet analysis
YouTube transcript tools
Image generation
Voice input and output

Pros and cons

Completely free, no account needed
Works with files, tabs and videos
Built into a mature, full-featured browser

No agent that acts on websites
You can't choose the model
Less independent testing than rival assistants

How it scores

Agent quality6.5

Ease of use8.5

Features6.5

Value for money9

Platforms6

Generous free assistant; it answers rather than acts, and we could only confirm it on desktop.

Feature checklist · 4 of 9

AI agent that clicks, types and completes tasks on websites (no)
Summarise or chat with the page you're on (yes)
Ask questions across several open tabs (yes)
Useful AI features free without a subscription (yes)
Choice of AI models (no)
On-device or local AI option (no)
Connects to email, calendar or work apps (no)
AI browser on iPhone and Android (no)
Available on both Windows and Mac (yes)

How we score apps →

Alternatives

See all Opera with Aria alternatives, ranked →

Perplexity Comet 8.7/10People who want the most capable free AI browser on every device
Google Chrome with Gemini 8.2/10Chrome users who want AI help without switching browsers
Microsoft Edge with Copilot 8.0/10Windows and Microsoft 365 users who want AI in the browser they already have
Brave Leo 8.0/10Privacy-minded people who want a free AI helper in a fast everyday browser

Perplexity Comet vs Opera with Aria

Sources

Opera AI (Aria)