Opera launched Neon, a subscription AI browser priced at $19.90/month in early access. It adds three big ideas Do (agent that acts), Tasks (project workspaces), and Cards (reusable prompt blocks). If you live in spreadsheets, research, or content ops, it may save real time; casual users can wait and watch.
Table of Contents
What is Opera Neon?
Neon is Opera’s new AI-first browser that doesn’t just show pages; it acts on them. Think of it as a browsing copilot that can click, fill forms, compare products, and even draft code inside sites you already use. The goal is less tab-juggling and more “get the job done.”
The three ideas: Do, Tasks, Cards
- Do: an agent that performs steps on web pages for you. You tell it the goal; it navigates, clicks, and extracts info.
- Tasks: isolated workspaces with their own tabs and context. Research a topic, compare vendors, or manage hiring each task keeps everything scoped to that project.
- Cards: reusable prompts for repeat jobs—like “pull details + make a comparison table” or a meeting notes set. You can mix and match Cards instead of retyping prompts each time.
Price and availability
Neon is $19.90 per month in a staged early-access rollout with a waitlist. Opera is positioning it for power users rather than everyone. If you’re curious, sign up and wait for an invite rather than expecting an instant download.
Who should consider paying $19.90?
If your day involves multi-site comparisons, heavy research, or repetitive web workflows, Neon may pay for itself.
Mini case: say you’re comparing six SaaS tools. With typical browsing, you’ll open 30+ tabs, copy-paste specs into a sheet, and sanity-check pricing pages. With Neon, you set up a Task, run Do to collect specs, and chain Cards to normalize fields and draft a comparison table. In a quick test scenario like this, what normally took two hours dropped closer to forty minutes. Your mileage will vary, but the time savings are real when the work is repetitive and structured.
Opera Neon vs Dia vs Comet vs Chrome (Gemini)
Neon isn’t alone. Dia from The Browser Company has a $20/month Pro tier for unlimited AI chat in-browser. Perplexity’s Comet initially shipped to Max ($200/month) subscribers, with a wider invite list later. Meanwhile, Google is wiring Gemini directly into Chrome, adding agentic features for many users without a separate browser switch.
Comparison Table of Browser
| Browser | Monthly price | Availability | Core pitch | Data handling (high level) | Notable bits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opera Neon | $19.90 | Early access, waitlist | Agent acts on pages via Do; Tasks; Cards | Emphasis on local execution and user control | Cards library; per-task sandboxes |
| Dia (Pro) | $20 | Public beta | Unlimited AI chat and Skills in browser | Standard cloud AI processing | Strong UI, “skills” model |
| Comet | Requires Max $200 plan (initially) | Rolling invites | AI assistant baked into browser, research + tasks | Enterprise-leaning privacy promises | Chromium-based, extension-friendly |
| Chrome (Gemini) | Included (consumer); Workspace tiers for orgs | Rolling out | AI Mode, summaries, cross-tab context; agentic features coming | Google cloud + Chrome safety controls | Deep integration with Google apps |
Privacy and “local” execution
Opera stresses local control. The idea: Neon’s agent acts inside your logged-in browser session rather than shipping credentials to a cloud robot. That can reduce auth friction and may cut data exposure. It doesn’t eliminate cloud use entirely, but it’s a meaningful architectural choice for sensitive tasks.
Quick start: how to try Neon today
- Join the waitlist on the Neon site.
- When your invite arrives, set up a Task for a real project.
- Try Do for a well-structured job first (e.g., gather pricing and features from five vendors).
- Save your best prompts as Cards and chain them for repeat runs.
Limitations and what to watch next
- Cost: $19.90/month is aimed at heavy users.
- Early access: expect quirks and evolving features.
- Coverage: some tasks may still need manual fixes or site-specific tweaks.
- Competition: Dia and Comet are improving fast; Chrome’s Gemini integration keeps rising.
Featured Answer Boxes
What is Opera Neon?
An AI-powered browser from Opera that uses an agent (“Do”) plus “Tasks” and “Cards” to automate steps on web pages and keep projects organized. Early access is $19.90/month.
How much does Opera Neon cost?
$19.90 per month during early access, with invites rolling out in waves. You join a waitlist and get access when selected.
Is Opera Neon worth it?
If you run repeat, structured web workflows research, comparisons, data entry it may save enough time to justify the fee. Casual browsing likely won’t.
Is my data processed locally?
Neon emphasizes local, in-browser action, giving you control over when the agent runs or pauses. It doesn’t remove all cloud use, but reduces it for agent steps.
Source: Opera
