Do we like Vivaldi?
Makes the Vivaldi web browser, with built-in email, calendar and ad blocking. Based in Oslo, Norway.
Our score: 7 out of 10. Yes, with small reservations. It's a small independent browser maker with a clear no-tracking, no-AI stance, but the interface is closed source and it runs on Google's Chromium.
Jon von Tetzchner co-founded Opera and later started Vivaldi in 2013 with Tatsuki Tomita. The first browser preview came out in January 2015. Vivaldi is a Norwegian company with a development office in Iceland, and says it is independent and employee-owned.
It's a small outfit. PitchBook lists around 65 staff. Vivaldi says its browser is free, with no tracking and no data selling. PrivacyGear's review says the money comes from search-engine defaults and partner bookmarks, not from personalised ads.
The big talking point is AI. In 2025 von Tetzchner published a post rejecting generative AI in the browser, and The Register covered it. He argues it pushes traffic away from publishers. Vivaldi still uses AI for in-browser translation. Reportedly it passed 4 million users in 2026.
It isn't perfect. PrivacyGear's review says the interface is closed source and there's a daily ping with an installation ID you can't turn off. ITdaily points out the browser is built on Chromium, where Google plays a major role. Our score reflects a decent, principled small company with a few caveats.