Vivaldi Plus: Is It Worth the Upgrade in 2025?Vivaldi has long positioned itself as the browser for power users — deeply customizable, privacy-oriented, and packed with niche features many other browsers lack. In 2024 the company launched Vivaldi Plus, a paid tier that adds cloud-powered benefits and extras to the core, free browser. In 2025 the Vivaldi ecosystem and web landscape have evolved, so deciding whether Vivaldi Plus is worth the upgrade depends on which features you value, how you use a browser, and whether you can justify a recurring cost for enhancements that some users might consider optional.
This article covers:
- What Vivaldi Plus includes in 2025
- Key benefits and who benefits most
- Drawbacks and limitations
- Practical comparisons with the free Vivaldi and alternatives
- Pricing considerations and whether you should upgrade
What is Vivaldi Plus in 2025?
Vivaldi Plus is the paid subscription tier of the Vivaldi browser that adds cloud-based features, expanded personalization options, and extra services not available in the free version. The core Vivaldi browser remains free; the Plus tier is optional and designed for users who want deeper syncing, more storage, and a few premium conveniences.
Typical Vivaldi Plus features in 2025 include:
- Encrypted cloud sync across devices (bookmarks, history, passwords, tabs, notes) with end-to-end encryption options.
- Increased cloud storage for Vivaldi Mail and Notes, and for syncing speed/deltas.
- Ad-free or premium versions of built‑in services (for example, more powerful built-in mail/calendar storage or priority support).
- Exclusive themes, UI customization options, and additional built-in images or wallpapers.
- Early access to some experimental features or performance optimizations.
- Integration perks (such as easier migration tools, additional session management, or extended tab history).
- Occasional bundled perks (discounts for partner services or digital goods).
Exact feature sets and names can change over time; Vivaldi has historically updated Plus offerings based on user feedback and product evolution.
Benefits: Who gains most from Vivaldi Plus?
Vivaldi Plus targets several types of users:
- Power users who heavily customize their browser and rely on consistent settings across devices. If you spend significant time configuring keyboard shortcuts, custom themes, tab stacks, and extensions, the ability to reliably sync everything (with encryption) is a strong reason to upgrade.
- Users who want private, encrypted cloud sync without relying on Big Tech accounts. Vivaldi Plus attempts to strike a balance between convenience (cloud storage) and privacy (strong encryption).
- People who use Vivaldi’s integrated services (Mail, Calendar, Notes) and need higher storage quotas or better performance for those services.
- Professionals or freelancers who manage many sessions, windows, and tab groups and benefit from enhanced session management and faster sync of large states.
- Fans of the brand who want to support Vivaldi’s continued independent development.
Concrete advantages:
- Reliable cross-device continuity — open tabs, sessions, and custom setups follow you across machines faster and more completely.
- More storage for mail/notes — useful if you use Vivaldi Mail as a daily driver.
- Extras and early access — you may get new features sooner or access to premium themes and UI tweaks.
Drawbacks and limitations
- Cost: Any subscription adds ongoing expense. If you’re a casual user or primarily use simple syncing (bookmarks and passwords via another password manager), the value may be marginal.
- Overlap with third-party tools: Many people already use cloud services (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud) and cross-device password managers (1Password, Bitwarden) that handle sync and storage needs well. Paying for another sync layer may be redundant.
- Not a requirement for privacy: The free Vivaldi already includes strong privacy controls. Upgrading for privacy alone is unnecessary unless you specifically want Vivaldi’s encrypted cloud sync instead of other providers.
- Platform differences: Some features may be stronger on desktop than mobile, depending on Vivaldi’s development priorities.
- Feature churn: As Vivaldi experiments, features in Plus could change, be removed, or be rolled back; subscribers should accept some product volatility.
Comparison: Vivaldi Free vs Vivaldi Plus (2025)
Category | Free Vivaldi | Vivaldi Plus |
---|---|---|
Core browser features (UI, customization) | Included | Included |
Cloud sync | Basic (limited items/less frequent) | Full, encrypted cross-device sync |
Mail/Notes storage | Limited | Increased storage / priority performance |
Premium themes & UI extras | Limited | Additional exclusive themes/customizations |
Early access / experimental features | Occasional | Priority or early access |
Cost | Free | Paid subscription |
Alternatives and where Plus stands
- Browser-sync alternatives: Chrome/Edge/Firefox offer their own syncing tied to accounts; they may be more integrated but are tied to large companies.
- Password managers & cloud drives: If you already use a strong password manager and cloud drive, you might replicate most sync needs without Plus.
- Other privacy browsers: Brave, Firefox, and Ungoogled Chromium focus on privacy, but none mirror Vivaldi’s UI depth. Plus is about enhancing the unique Vivaldi experience rather than matching other browsers feature-for-feature.
Pricing and value judgment
Whether Vivaldi Plus is worth it hinges on two practical questions:
- Do you need consolidated, secure cloud sync for a complex, highly-customized browser setup?
- Do you use Vivaldi’s integrated services enough to need the extra storage/performance?
If the answers are yes, Plus provides clear, tangible value: faster, fuller sync; more storage; premium theme and early access perks. If your browsing is simpler, or you already use other cloud tools, you may find the free version sufficient.
Quick decision guide
- Choose Vivaldi Plus if: you’re a heavy Vivaldi user who relies on complex customization, want encrypted cross-device sync tied to Vivaldi, or actively use Vivaldi Mail/Notes and need more storage.
- Skip Plus if: you’re a casual user, already covered by other sync services, or unwilling to add another subscription cost.
Final takeaway
Vivaldi Plus is not a must-have for everyone, but in 2025 it is worth the upgrade for power users and privacy-minded people who want integrated, encrypted cloud sync and expanded built-in services. For casual users the free browser remains robust, feature-rich, and privacy-friendly — and upgrading is a convenience, not a necessity.
Leave a Reply