Chrome may be the default browser on Android, but more people are trying this instead
What you need to know
- Opera says its monthly active users on Android grew 66% in the UK and 40% in the US year over year in Q2.
- Opera credits its growth to features Chrome lacks out of the box, like a free VPN, ad blocker, and built-in AI tools.
- The company says its European momentum has continued following the EU’s Digital Markets Act, boosting both new users and retention.
Chrome may come preinstalled on almost every Android phone, but Opera says more users are actively choosing its browser instead.
Google has been working hard to add more and more features to Chrome on Android. We recently saw Chrome rolling out Gemini features to more countries, but it seems that still isn’t enough to keep everyone on board. As it turns out, more and more users are switching to, or at least trying, third-party browsers, including Opera.
In its latest report, Opera says a growing number of users are making the move to its browser. According to the company, monthly active users of Opera on Android grew 66% in the U.K. and 40% in the U.S. year over year in the second quarter this year, suggesting that plenty of people are looking beyond the default browser on their phones.
More people are ditching Chrome than you’d think
The company says this isn’t limited to the U.S. and U.K. either. Opera reports that its momentum across Europe has continued following the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. It also notes that this isn’t just about acquiring new users, but retaining them too, thanks to the kind of features Opera offers on Android.
The company credits its growth to features Chrome doesn’t offer out of the box, including a free unlimited VPN, a built-in ad blocker, AI tools, and more.
Opera also says recent additions, like a dedicated football hub on its Android browser, have made it easier for users to check World Cup stats and details, which is bringing even more people to its browser.
Android Central’s Take
I’m still firmly a Chrome-first user on my Pixel 10 Pro, but I’ve been giving Opera a shot over the past few months, and it’s become my go-to second browser, if you will. Do you use different browsers for different tasks on your Android phone? Let us know in the comments below.
