Opera has launched Neon, a brand-new AI-powered web browser built from scratch to handle tasks, not just display pages. Released on September 30, 2025, Neon is currently in early access and costs $19.99 per month. Opera calls it its first “agentic browser,” designed to “browse with you or for you.”
An AI That Acts on Your Behalf
Neon’s standout feature, Neon Do, lets the browser perform actions – opening tabs, summarizing articles, filling out forms, even shopping online – while asking for your permission before completing transactions. Opera explains, “Tasks are self-contained workspaces that understand context and make it possible to use the AI to analyze, compare, and act across multiple sources at once.”
These Tasks act as mini workspaces that group tabs, chats, and AI actions for each project. Meanwhile, Cards are reusable AI prompts you can mix and match to automate tasks, like comparing products or summarizing data. Opera describes Cards as an “IFTTT for AI,” letting users create custom workflows without coding.
The “Make” Tool and Local Privacy
Neon also includes Make, a creative tool that can generate websites, games, videos, or other digital projects from a simple description. According to Ghacks Tech News, Make can even continue working offline on a cloud machine, then output editable source files for customization.
Privacy is a key selling point. Opera says all AI processing happens locally on your device, with no data sent to external clouds. User logins and form data are cleared after 30 days, and all servers are based in Europe, complying with strict EU privacy laws.
Subscription Model for Power Users
Opera is positioning Neon as a premium browser for power users. While basic browsing is free, all AI features – Neon Do, Tasks, Cards, and Make – require the paid plan. Access is currently invite-only, with sign-ups available at operaneon.com.
Competing in a Crowded Field
Neon joins a growing lineup of AI browsers, including Perplexity’s Comet, The Browser Company’s Dia (Arc), and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agent, alongside AI-powered versions of Chrome (Gemini) and Edge (Copilot).
Most of these offer AI tools for free, making Neon’s $20 monthly fee a bold move. Still, as one reviewer put it, “If something is free, you are the product,” suggesting Neon’s privacy-first approach could appeal to those wary of big tech data practices.
The Vision: Toward the “Agentic Web”
Opera sees Neon as a step toward what it calls the “agentic web” or “Web 4o,” where AI agents actively help users complete real tasks online – planning trips, comparing products, or even coding. EVP Krystian Kolondra explains that Opera “built [Neon] for ourselves – and for everyone who uses AI extensively in their day-to-day life.”
A Risky but Ambitious Leap
With its automation tools, creative AI builder, and strong privacy stance, Opera Neon offers a unique take on browsing. But at $19.99 a month, it faces an uphill battle against free alternatives. Whether users will pay for a browser that “does” things instead of just showing them remains the big question.
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